The decline of iconic film scores and soundtracks?
In the golden age of the 1980s, movie soundtracks were a powerful marketing force, driving significant record sales and artist exposure. Blockbuster soundtracks like those from films such as "Dirty Dancing" and "Flashdance" launched or boosted the careers of numerous artists, creating a strong link between films and mainstream music success.
However, the music industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, and the impact of movie soundtracks has diminished as a result. This decline can primarily be attributed to changes in music consumption and industry dynamics, including the rise of digital streaming, shifts in marketing, and fragmentation of audiences.
The advent of digital streaming platforms has shifted revenue from album or soundtrack sales to track-by-track streams, often diminishing the commercial impact of movie soundtracks as cohesive entities. Music is now more discoverable independently of films, spreading listener attention across many sources beyond movie tie-ins.
Modern content platforms like TV series and streaming shows use music more intentionally in storytelling, but their soundtracks tend to be more niche and tailored to specific audiences rather than generating widespread commercial hits. For example, series like "Too Much" showcase a more targeted approach to music selection.
Further, corporate control over content and algorithmic curation can limit the reach of certain music styles, reducing the chance that a movie soundtrack will breakthrough commercially across broad demographics.
Despite these challenges, movie soundtracks can still be successful with the right film, vibe, and idea. The song "Golden" from the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack is currently at No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, demonstrating that original soundtracks can find strong audiences, especially when attached to well-known stars.
In the past, music labels invested heavily in soundtracks, often forcing the inclusion of songs that may not work in the film as part of the deal. Today, however, you can find a song from a film online without having to pay for the whole album.
The 1980s were indeed the sweet spot for multiartist compilation soundtracks, as highlighted by Keith Caulfield, managing director of charts at Billboard. However, the landscape has changed, and today, the success of a soundtrack requires intentional collaboration between music labels and movie studios.
Julia Michaels, a music supervising partner who has worked with Academy Award-winning music supervisor Julianne Jordan for over a decade, has been instrumental in creating soundtracks for films like "Pitch Perfect" and "A Star Is Born". Together, they continue to push the boundaries of what a soundtrack can be, adapting to the changing landscape of the music industry.
In conclusion, the decline in soundtrack impact reflects broader structural changes in music distribution, consumption, and cultural gatekeeping, where soundtracks no longer drive music trends or artist success as they did in the 1980s. However, with the right approach, movie soundtracks can still make a significant impact, capitalizing on the popularity of genres such as K-pop ("KPop Demon Hunters") and country music ("Twisters"), which have seized the moment to create massively successful albums in recent years.
News of the success of "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack demonstrates that original soundtracks can find strong audiences, even in the transformed music industry of today. However, the impact of movie soundtracks on music trends and artist success has diminished compared to the 1980s, with modern entertainment platforms like movies-and-tv series and streaming shows incorporating music more intentionally in storytelling, often through niche and tailored soundtracks.
