(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Try to assume the helicopter attack in “Apocalypse Now” without “Ride of the Valkyries” playing within the background. It’s almost unimaginable. That speaks volumes in regards to the importance of music in visual storytelling.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)While soundtracks are – by definition – background music, video creators working on industrial projects must keep music selections top of mind. The right song or rating creates an emotional reference to audiences, whether or not they’re watching their favorite series or a pre-roll ad. When done well, music and visual selections grow to be inseparable. Microsoft arguably perfected the practice, paying $3 million to pair The Rolling(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*) (*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Stones’ “(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Start Me Up(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)” with its Windows 95 launch.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)So which tracks are creating those magic moments for video creators and marketers today? To discover, we broke down three of the leading trends from Musicbed’s (*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Music in Film Trend Report 2025(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*).
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Y2K is Back, Baby!
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Back in 1999, people thought Y2K would bring in regards to the end of technology as we comprehend it. While that crisis was averted, turn-of-the-century music is having one other moment. Understanding – and tapping into – people’s need for nostalgia is crucial for brands attempting to break through the noise with their campaigns.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Today’s consumers are looking for out like-minded corporations, each in values and in taste. Whether you are a fan of Robbie Williams’ “Millennium” or not, statistics show the late Nineteen Nineties and early aughts are cool again. A recent (*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Spotify poll(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*) found six in 10 people are more likely to have interaction with an ad that feels nostalgic and reminds them of past memories, and three out of 4 respondents say feelings of nostalgia connect people. The goal for brands is to create an implicit memory, wherein a song, feeling, and moment are stored together.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Hence, brands are turning to Guster, MXPX, and other bands Millennials grew up listening to for his or her latest video ad campaigns and content. Taco Bell recently employed this strategy by featuring Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta” to reintroduce a menu item in late 2024. It was the talk of social media.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)“As a millennial, music from the early 2000s holds a special place in my heart — specifically the punk-style music that defined my youth,” said (*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Musicbed(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*) Creative Director Spencer Cogburn. “Experiencing a resurgence on this variety of music in promoting is fun, feels relatable, and creates brand love immediately.”
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Winning With the Classics
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Brands are also having success turning back the clock much further. Classical scores are resonating with notable ads equivalent to Nike’s “(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Winning Isn’t for Everyone(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)” campaign.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Rest assured, it’s not only you: There’s something about Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 that screams importance. While these songs are old, their age isn’t as relevant because the gravitas they establish. A song’s longevity and craftsmanship can reflect well on the content, services or products a brand is promoting.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)With its “Winning” campaign, Nike takes it to a different level, (*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)adding Willem Dafoe’s iconic narration. The combination of the actor’s unmistakable voice with Beethoven’s dramatic touch (*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)elevates winning into an artform, Musicbed notes.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Quirky Is In
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Music, perhaps greater than other art form, is a matter of non-public taste. Today, brands are striking the right chords with somewhat offbeat musicians who speak to area of interest goal audiences.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Video creators and marketers at corporations like Apple are adding personality to their work by choosing independent musicians who could also be described as quirky. Jamie Drake, The Walters, and Abby Holliday are amongst the preferred musical artists whose work is now being spotlighted by significant brands.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Using under-the-radar or emerging artists can create lasting connections between a brand and a musician’s work. This results in situations where anytime an individual hears a certain song, they think back to hearing it within the context of an ad, which ultimately leads back to the services brands are promoting.
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)Musicbed sees the quirky angle as increasingly effective. “Quirky indie isn’t a trend: it’s a brand-building superpower,” (*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)the report says(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*).
(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)The brands that make probably the most emotional connections through their video content over the following yr will likely be those that use music the perfect. Learn more in regards to the trends Musicbed is seeing (and hearing) in (*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)the total report(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*)(*3*).
Read the total article here
