Have you ever noticed that when you watch a movie trailer like ‘INSIDIOUS’ without any sound, it changes how you feel about it? This demonstrates the importance of background music in any kind of visual media, such as movies, ads, or marketing videos.
Background music is often overlooked in ad production, but it has the power to create the right mood, tell a compelling story, and make the audience feel something. Whether you’re a filmmaker or a video marketer, music is a key element that connects your viewers to your content. The combination of music and video can grab your audience’s attention in just a few seconds.
In advertising, music is not just background noise; it’s a crucial element that can make a big difference in how effective an ad is.
The Emotional Power of Well-Chosen Background Music
To understand just how important music is in your video, let’s go back to the time of silent movies. In those days, silent films were incredibly effective at telling captivating stories and evoking a wide range of emotions like excitement, sadness, and enthusiasm, all without any spoken dialogue. How did they do it? They used music!
Think about the 1937 movie “Way Out West,” featuring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. It tells a moving story through its soundtrack, “The Teenage Wedding.” This example shows how music can deeply affect our emotions and enhance the impact of visual content.
Types of Background Music
Choosing the appropriate background music for your video can feel overwhelming due to the vast array of options at your disposal. To make a well-informed decision, it’s crucial to grasp the different music genres and how they can effectively complement your video’s requirements.
Here are some key genres to consider:
1. Cinematic Music
Are you creating a video that aims to be intense and gritty? Cinematic music, with its powerful and grand compositions, can hold your viewers captive. Think of adjectives like “big,” “sweeping,” and “grand,” and you’ll find that cinematic music is the perfect choice.
2. Ambient Music
When you don’t want music to overshadow your message, ambient music strikes the right chord. Its soothing tone doesn’t distract your audience but rather enhances the overall viewing experience. An example of this can be seen in Square’s video, a credit card processing SaaS service, which utilises a simple yet stark ambient soundtrack to maintain a calm and non-intrusive atmosphere.
3. Comedic Music
Funny videos tend to garner the most shares and likes on social media. Behind every hilarious video is equally lively background music that instantly brings a smile to the viewer’s face. Adobe marketing cloud’s video is a perfect example, where well-timed pauses in the victory music add a humorous element to the content.
4. Acoustic Music
Viewers often appreciate the warm tones of acoustic music, thanks to its flexible genre that suits a wide variety of videos. With the calming strum of the guitar, acoustic music is ideal for inspirational content. Salesforce’s video, for instance, uses acoustic music to evoke an expressive, soulful, and empathetic feel.
5. Classical Music
Classical music creates a soothing and dramatic atmosphere in videos. A powerful and uplifting orchestral piece can inspire passion and set your brand apart. Apple’s video is again a notable example, where the background music deviates from the usual fast-paced choices to create a stimulating experience that captivates the audience’s attention.
How to Choose the Right Background Music
Selecting the perfect background music is a crucial aspect of your content creation process. It’s a decision that requires thoughtful planning and consideration. Here are some helpful tips and strategies to guide you in making the right choice:
Set the Right Mood
One common mistake is leaving the choice of background music until the editing stage. To streamline your creative process and avoid unnecessary confusion, it’s essential to have a clear idea of the mood you want to convey in each scene from the outset.
Begin by brainstorming the emotions and atmosphere you wish to evoke in your video. Consider whether you want it to be mysterious, funny, entertaining, dramatic, playful, or edgy. Each mood can be complemented by specific genres or styles of music. To ensure a perfect match, watch the edited video several times while experimenting with different music genres. This hands-on approach is the most effective way to determine if the music aligns seamlessly with your content.
Customise Music for Your Target Audience
While you may have a personal playlist filled with your favorite tracks, it’s important to resist the temptation to incorporate them into your videos indiscriminately. Instead, tailor your music selection to resonate with your specific audience.
Begin by conducting a thorough analysis of your target audience, considering factors such as age, affiliations, and musical preferences. Understanding your audience’s musical tastes is key to selecting music that will captivate and engage them effectively.
For a broad and safe appeal, options like corporate tones, classic rock, and ambient music are suitable choices. However, if you are targeting a younger demographic, genres like indie rock, electronic music, and hip hop may be more appropriate.
By customising your background music to align with your audience’s sensibilities, you can create a more profound and lasting impact with your content. Remember, the right music not only enhances your message but also forges a stronger connection with your viewers.
Conclusion
In the world of visual media, background music is an unsung hero that can make or break the emotional connection between your audience and your content. As seen in our exploration of different background music genres, it’s evident that the right choice of music can set the mood, convey a story, and elicit powerful emotions.
At Izrom, we understand the significance of background music in enhancing your content. That’s why we offer custom music solutions tailored specifically to your advertising needs. Whether you’re aiming for an intense cinematic experience, a soothing ambient backdrop, a humorous touch, an inspirational journey, or a dramatic statement, we can craft bespoke music that complements your brand and message perfectly.
Don’t settle for generic background music that might not align with your vision. We can create custom music that’s uniquely designed for your ads, ensuring they stand out and leave a lasting impression on your audience.
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