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We're all used to big budget movies spawning mountains of merchandise. Films such as the Batman franchise have everything from lunch boxes and crisps to sticker sets and action figures. But, in my opinion, the worst piece of merchandising is the movie soundtrack.
Obviously I'm not saying all movie soundtracks are bad. A good soundtrack can make a film brilliant (The Exorcist) or can ruin a film (IMO Bonnie and Clyde). But in recent years film soundtracks seem to put together purely to promote the film in the singles charts.
Bridget Jones's Diary is a recent example of this. The soundtrack includes pop stars who are only there to gain exposure for the film. Geri Halliwell for instance CAN NOT SING! Why would you want her on your soundtrack? Clearly only for financial reasons. The scene in the film where the song appears (Darcy and Hugh Grant's character fighting) needs a pounding, tension building song not a piece of hi-energy pap.
The horror genre is also suffering from marketing opportunity soundtracks. Gone are the days of atmospheric, suspenseful soundtracks (Halloween, Exorcist, Psycho). The marketing men have realised that horror fans often listen to rock music, so now we get soundtracks featuring Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Godhead, etc. As much as I like some of these bands they just DO NOT work on a horror film soundtrack. Even the new Jack the Ripper movie, From Hell, is rumoured to feature Marilyn Manson on the soundtrack -and this is a film set in the 19th century!
A film's soundtrack should be carefully crafted/compiled to exactly complement the visuals on screen. A great soundtrack should be barely noticable but should subconciously reinforce the on screen action. In my opinion, if a soundtrack is too noticable (either because it is terrible or excellent) it can detract from the film itself.
I just hope that movie makers remember how important the soundtrack is to a film, and not just an opportunity to round up Madonna, Robbie Williams and a few rock bands to sell some records.
Obviously I'm not saying all movie soundtracks are bad. A good soundtrack can make a film brilliant (The Exorcist) or can ruin a film (IMO Bonnie and Clyde). But in recent years film soundtracks seem to put together purely to promote the film in the singles charts.
Bridget Jones's Diary is a recent example of this. The soundtrack includes pop stars who are only there to gain exposure for the film. Geri Halliwell for instance CAN NOT SING! Why would you want her on your soundtrack? Clearly only for financial reasons. The scene in the film where the song appears (Darcy and Hugh Grant's character fighting) needs a pounding, tension building song not a piece of hi-energy pap.
The horror genre is also suffering from marketing opportunity soundtracks. Gone are the days of atmospheric, suspenseful soundtracks (Halloween, Exorcist, Psycho). The marketing men have realised that horror fans often listen to rock music, so now we get soundtracks featuring Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Godhead, etc. As much as I like some of these bands they just DO NOT work on a horror film soundtrack. Even the new Jack the Ripper movie, From Hell, is rumoured to feature Marilyn Manson on the soundtrack -and this is a film set in the 19th century!
A film's soundtrack should be carefully crafted/compiled to exactly complement the visuals on screen. A great soundtrack should be barely noticable but should subconciously reinforce the on screen action. In my opinion, if a soundtrack is too noticable (either because it is terrible or excellent) it can detract from the film itself.
I just hope that movie makers remember how important the soundtrack is to a film, and not just an opportunity to round up Madonna, Robbie Williams and a few rock bands to sell some records.
Unfortunately, you've nailed it already.
Hollywood is about money, and tie-ins are where they make their costs back.
So they'll stick soundtrack compilations together because people will buy them, they like the songs.
However, there are decent sountracks out there.
Most of David Lynch's stuff done by Angelo Badalamenti is beautiful, haunting stuff.
Peter Greenaway used Michael Nyman a lot, Tim Burton uses Danny Elfman...all of these are soundtracks created to match the film, instead of songs to match your lifestyle.
It's a case of what movies appeal to you.
If it's the mainstream, Hollywood fare, then the soundtrack will feature artists there solely to sell more units.
If it's slightly off-centre movies, then the soundtracks are usually a lot better (even the ones with groups on are pretty eclectic).
What happens a lot of the time is that two soundtrack albums are released.
One will feature the actual score to a movie, whilst the other will contain "songs inspired by the movie", ie: An excuse to repackage back catalouges.
And a lot of the time, a movie company will use songs it already owns the rights to through their publishing arm.
20th Century Fox are linked to EMI, hence a lot of their artists appear on Fox sountracks.
It's a pernicious business for sure.
Hollywood is about money, and tie-ins are where they make their costs back.
So they'll stick soundtrack compilations together because people will buy them, they like the songs.
However, there are decent sountracks out there.
Most of David Lynch's stuff done by Angelo Badalamenti is beautiful, haunting stuff.
Peter Greenaway used Michael Nyman a lot, Tim Burton uses Danny Elfman...all of these are soundtracks created to match the film, instead of songs to match your lifestyle.
It's a case of what movies appeal to you.
If it's the mainstream, Hollywood fare, then the soundtrack will feature artists there solely to sell more units.
If it's slightly off-centre movies, then the soundtracks are usually a lot better (even the ones with groups on are pretty eclectic).
What happens a lot of the time is that two soundtrack albums are released.
One will feature the actual score to a movie, whilst the other will contain "songs inspired by the movie", ie: An excuse to repackage back catalouges.
And a lot of the time, a movie company will use songs it already owns the rights to through their publishing arm.
20th Century Fox are linked to EMI, hence a lot of their artists appear on Fox sountracks.
It's a pernicious business for sure.
We're all used to big budget movies spawning mountains of merchandise. Films such as the Batman franchise have everything from lunch boxes and crisps to sticker sets and action figures. But, in my opinion, the worst piece of merchandising is the movie soundtrack.
Obviously I'm not saying all movie soundtracks are bad. A good soundtrack can make a film brilliant (The Exorcist) or can ruin a film (IMO Bonnie and Clyde). But in recent years film soundtracks seem to put together purely to promote the film in the singles charts.
Bridget Jones's Diary is a recent example of this. The soundtrack includes pop stars who are only there to gain exposure for the film. Geri Halliwell for instance CAN NOT SING! Why would you want her on your soundtrack? Clearly only for financial reasons. The scene in the film where the song appears (Darcy and Hugh Grant's character fighting) needs a pounding, tension building song not a piece of hi-energy pap.
The horror genre is also suffering from marketing opportunity soundtracks. Gone are the days of atmospheric, suspenseful soundtracks (Halloween, Exorcist, Psycho). The marketing men have realised that horror fans often listen to rock music, so now we get soundtracks featuring Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Godhead, etc. As much as I like some of these bands they just DO NOT work on a horror film soundtrack. Even the new Jack the Ripper movie, From Hell, is rumoured to feature Marilyn Manson on the soundtrack -and this is a film set in the 19th century!
A film's soundtrack should be carefully crafted/compiled to exactly complement the visuals on screen. A great soundtrack should be barely noticable but should subconciously reinforce the on screen action. In my opinion, if a soundtrack is too noticable (either because it is terrible or excellent) it can detract from the film itself.
I just hope that movie makers remember how important the soundtrack is to a film, and not just an opportunity to round up Madonna, Robbie Williams and a few rock bands to sell some records.
Obviously I'm not saying all movie soundtracks are bad. A good soundtrack can make a film brilliant (The Exorcist) or can ruin a film (IMO Bonnie and Clyde). But in recent years film soundtracks seem to put together purely to promote the film in the singles charts.
Bridget Jones's Diary is a recent example of this. The soundtrack includes pop stars who are only there to gain exposure for the film. Geri Halliwell for instance CAN NOT SING! Why would you want her on your soundtrack? Clearly only for financial reasons. The scene in the film where the song appears (Darcy and Hugh Grant's character fighting) needs a pounding, tension building song not a piece of hi-energy pap.
The horror genre is also suffering from marketing opportunity soundtracks. Gone are the days of atmospheric, suspenseful soundtracks (Halloween, Exorcist, Psycho). The marketing men have realised that horror fans often listen to rock music, so now we get soundtracks featuring Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Godhead, etc. As much as I like some of these bands they just DO NOT work on a horror film soundtrack. Even the new Jack the Ripper movie, From Hell, is rumoured to feature Marilyn Manson on the soundtrack -and this is a film set in the 19th century!
A film's soundtrack should be carefully crafted/compiled to exactly complement the visuals on screen. A great soundtrack should be barely noticable but should subconciously reinforce the on screen action. In my opinion, if a soundtrack is too noticable (either because it is terrible or excellent) it can detract from the film itself.
I just hope that movie makers remember how important the soundtrack is to a film, and not just an opportunity to round up Madonna, Robbie Williams and a few rock bands to sell some records.