jenaudionetwork, Author at THE EDIT

Jul 26 2021

FUN FACTS ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC

Our Classical Music Fun Facts

1. Compoer Trivia: Grieg

Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg always kept a frog doll made from cloth in his pocket, and every time he performed he would pat the frog on the head for good luck. Hearsay suggests that Grieg was given the frog by a little girl who was visiting his hometown of Troldhaugen. Discover more Grieg facts in the video below.

2. Obscure Classical Composers: Schoenberg

American-Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg had an irrational fear of the number 13: a condition officially named triskaidekaphobia. His fear was so extreme that he deliberately misspelt his opera Moses und Aron (missing out one of the As from 'Aaron') to ensure the title had 12 letters, not 13. Scarily enough, the composer passed away on 13th July 1951. Perhaps the number really is cursed...

3. A Hungover Genius

Mozart wrote the overture to his opera, Don Giovanni, in three hours on the morning of its debut, and he did this whilst suffering from a hangover. Reportedly, he was out drinking with friends the night before when, fortunately, one of them reminded him that he was yet to write the opera’s opening orchestral piece. Is this a sign that we should all get drunk more often? Possibly.

4. The Red Hedgehog Tavern

It’s hard to believe that Romantic-era composer Johannes Brahms was a regular pub-goer, but it’s true! The man responsible for lullaby composition Wiegenlied would visit his favourite pub in Vienna – The Red Hedgehog Tavern – almost every day. Is this further evidence of a link between alcohol and creativity? We’d like to think so.

5. Greedy Guts George

George Frederic Handel was well known for ordering enough food for three people when he was eating out for dinner. All we can say to that is, we feel you bro, and we’re grateful that the food provided you with the energy to compose Largo – one of our all-time favourite compositions. Never heard it? Check out the video below.

6. Trainspotting

Dvorak, was a keen trainspotter.

19th Century Czech composer Antonín Dvořák had two passions in life: music and trains. His affinity for the latter – which first developed when he was just nine years old – led the composer to frequently visit various train stations across Prague. He would also ask others, (including his daughter’s boyfriend and locomotive engineers) to provide him with details of their train journeys. We wonder if trains were the inspiration behind his New World Symphony (Symphony No.9).

7. Little Mushroom

Austrian composer Franz Schubert – the man behind the Lied Erlkönig – was a stout man who was only around five feet tall. His size and stature earned him the nickname Schwammerl: a word which means ‘little mushroom’ in German (the Austrian and Bavarian dialects of German, to be specific).

8. Precise Coffee Order

Like the best of us (sorry, not sorry), Beethoven was an avid coffee drinker, but his coffee order was a lot fussier than ours. The composer would meticulously count 60 coffee beans to ensure that his hot beverage was just as strong as he liked it each and every time. Perhaps a caffeine rush inspired his exhilarating masterpiece Symphony No.5.

9. Pigtails

Austrian composer Joseph Haydn was aggravated when he had to drop out of his church choir after puberty stole his angelic voice from him. To channel his frustration, Haydn cut the pigtails off of the head of a fellow male member of the choir. As a consequence, Haydn was caned in public.

10. Napkin Notes

If you’re a creative, you’ll know that inspiration often strikes when you least expect it. A famous example of this is when English composer Edward Elgar awoke from his dental surgery experience and swiftly jotted down the main theme to his last work of note, Cello Concerto.

11. Holst and Horoscopes

Gustav Holst was inspired to writeThe Planets after being introduced to astrology by writer Clifford Bax. The composer cast his friends’ horoscopes for the rest of his life, and referred to astrology as his ‘pet vice’.

12. Opera Buffa

The Marriage of Figaro is a comic opera - also known as an opera buffa - which is where we get the term ‘opera buff’.

13. Spiders Prefer Bach to Outkast

During an experiment, when they listened to rap, they made their webs as far from the speakers as possible, but made their webs near to the speakers when Bach was playing!

14. The Radetzky March, the Victorious Anthem

The Radetzky March was written by Johann Strauss Senior to commemorate Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky’s victory at the Battle of Custoza, which is why it became a popular tune for military bands and became an unofficial Austrian national anthem.

15. Beethoven's 9th Symphony

Beethoven conducted the premiere of his 9th Symphony without hearing a single note.

16. Bizet's Carmen

Bizet died thinking his opera Carmen had been a failure - it was only after his death that it took off.

17. Haydn's Head(s)

There are two skulls in Haydn’s tomb. His head was stolen by phrenologists, and a replacement skull was put in his tomb. When the real skull was restored in 1954, the substitute remained there…

18. A Cancelled Booking Gone Right

The London Symphony Orchestra was booked to travel on the Titanic’s maiden voyage, but they changed boats at the last minute.

19. The Symphony Which Needs 800 Musicians to Perform It

Havergal Brian’s Symphony No. 1, the ‘Gothic’, requires over 800 musicians to perform, including 82 string players.

20. Music & Money

Edward Elgar appeared on the £20 note until 2010. He was replaced by the Scottish philosopher Adam Smith.

21. The Child Prodigy

Mozart wrote his first opera when he was only 14, and had composed 30 symphonies by the age of 18. In total, Mozart wrote more than 600 musical works.

22. Traditions

During the first London performance of Handel’s Messiah, King George II stood up as soon as the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ kicked in - after that, it became traditional for audiences to stand for this famous chorus.

Want to Find Out More about the Classical Collection’s Composers?

DISCOVER THE CLASSICAL COMPOSERS

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Jul 26 2021

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

Leave a Comment / FEATURED, MUSIC / July 26, 2021

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READY TO FIND YOUR PERFECT SOUNDTRACK?

Interested in facts about the orchestra industry? Don’t know your arias from your overtures? Our guide will demystify the top classical music forms.Ever felt daunted by orchestral music? If you’ve never formally studied it, it can be hard to know where to start. What’s the difference between a symphony and a concerto? Who sings an aria? How many members are there in a chamber group?

W’re also keen to remind you that we’re a production music catalogue with orchestral music of every style imaginable – including action orchestral, horror orchestral, romantic orchestral and more. All of our high-quality orchestral tracks – composed by some of the best musicians in the world – are ready to be licensed for use worldwide, and can be used in anything from a podcast to an advertisement to a blockbuster. Without further ado, let’s get on with the guide.

Different Types Of Orchestral Music: Your Guide

What Is Orchestral Music
Different Types of Orchestral Music/ Types of Symphony Genres
- Classical Orchestra
- Orchestral Pop
- Orchestral Hip Hop
- Electronic Orchestra
- Orchestral Jazz
The Top Types of Orchestral Music
- Overture
- Symphonic Poem
- Symphony
- Concerto
- Ballet
- Opera
  - Types of Opera
- Chamber Music
  - Types of Chamber music

What Is Orchestral Music?

Simply put, orchestral music is music created by an ensemble of instruments called – you guessed it – an orchestra. Instruments from different families come together to form the orchestra, which means you can expect to hear the sounds of string instruments, percussion instruments, brass instruments and woodwind instruments in an effective orchestral piece.

Typically, an orchestra usually consists of around 70-100 musicians, and these orchestras are often called symphony or philharmonic orchestras. The term philharmonic is made up of two Greek words: Philos which means ‘to love’ and harmonikos which means ‘harmony’.

If an orchestra consists of less than 50 musicians, the correct term for this type of orchestra is a chamber orchestra. In French, chamber means room, which makes sense considering an orchestra of this size would fit comfortably inside one room.

Is Orchestra a Genre?

Although bands are commonly associated with rock music, you would not call a band a genre. The same goes for an orchestra: although orchestras are commonly associated with classical music, it is not appropriate to categorise orchestra as a genre. Also, like a band, an orchestra can embrace a wide variety of genres. Discover just five of those genres below.

Different Types of Orchestral Music / Types of Symphony Genres

Classical Orchestra
Orchestral Pop
Orchestral Hip Hop
Electronic Orchestra
Orchestral Jazz

Classical Orchestra

As mentioned above, the most recognised genre of orchestral music is classical orchestra music. Classical music follows traditional forms of making music. Strictly speaking, classical music describes music composed during the Classical period of 1750-1820. The most famous composers of this time were Mozart, Bach and Beethoven.

Orchestral Pop

Orchestral pop is, quite simply, pop music that’s performed by an orchestra. Personally, the sub-genre reminds us of the most recent James Bond theme tunes – including Adele’s Skyfall, Sam Smith’s Writing on the Wall and Billie Eilish’s No Time to Die; but if you’re not a fan of the spy franchise, you may be more familiar with pop songs such as Clean Bandit’s Rather Be and Ariana Grande’s ghostin.

Orchestral Hip Hop

When hip hop rhythms are created by an orchestra, the song can be categorised as orchestral hip hop. The sub-genre has been growing ever since the 90s, and has blessed us with anthems such as Coolio and L.V.’s Gangsta's Paradise and Kanye West’s Flashing Lights.

Electronic Orchestra

The electronic orchestra genre consists of compositions that are either performed by an orchestra and later manipulated electronically, or combine orchestral instruments with electronic instruments. One of the best examples of electronic orchestra music is Daft Punk’s score for Disney’s Tron Legacy that was created with an 85-piece orchestra and electronic instruments.

Orchestral Jazz

The genesis of orchestral jazz dates back to New York City’s 1920s jazz scene. This structured style of jazz is created when an orchestra embraces the rhythms of New Orleans jazz whilst sticking to their European practices. This genre is comparable to the sounds of another sub-genre of jazz, big band jazz.

The Top Types of Orchestral Music

Now that we’ve covered the basics, We’re going to look at the top types of orchestral music, including:

Overture
Symphonic Poem
Symphony
Concerto
Ballet
Opera
Chamber Music

For an instant overview, check out our ultimate classcal playlist, which features a range of the best orchestral pieces by celebrated composers.

The Overture

In the earliest days of music being performed, the overture signalled when the audience should take their seats (much as the bell being rung in the concert hall does today). Now, the overture is usually a musical work’s orchestral introduction – the word comes from the French, ouverture, or ‘opening’.

The overture originated in 17th Century opera as a sung prologue – or a short instrumental flourish. Jean-Baptiste Lully was the first major to use a full-scale overture, in works such as his opera Thésée. The form he used was then imitated not only by opera composers such as Henry Purcell (Dido and Aeneas), but also in oratorios – such as Handel’s Messiah.

Lully’s form became known as the ‘French overture’. Alessandro Scarlatti was the originator of the ‘Italian overture’; it’s in three sections from quick, to slow, and back to quick, and served as a model for the earliest, three movement, symphonies.

Later operatic overtures helped to prepare the audience for the play’s plot; merging the music into the opening act, instead of closing before the curtain rises was a technique that Wagner used in his later operas, such as Tristan und Isolde.

Concert overtures became established in the 19th century as independent, one-movement works, the first of which is generally regarded as Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1826); his overture The Hebrides – also known as Fingal’s Cave – is another celebrated example of the form.

The Symphonic Poem

In the 1850s, the concert overture began to be overtaken by the symphonic poem. This was a form devised by Franz Liszt in works that began as overtures. As a form, it was taken up by more ‘progressive’ composers, such as Camille Saint-Saens, Richard Strauss and Arnold Schoenberg.

The Czech composer Smetana was one of the great proponents of the symphonic poem. His set of six, published under the title of Ma Vlast is agreed to be his best. Composed between 1872 and 1879, the cycle presents selected episodes and ideas from Czech history.

Symphony

Loosely, a ‘symphony orchestra’ is a large group of string, brass, woodwind and percussion players – so a work written for this kind of ensemble is known as a symphony. These large-scale orchestral works are intended to be played in concert halls and are usually in four movements.

The standard classical form is:

First movement – allegro (brisk and lively) in sonata form
Second movement – slower and more lyrical
Third movement – an energetic minuet (a dance)
Fourth movement – allegro – a rollicking finale, to show off the orchestra’s prowess

The Sonata Form

The sonata has two musical themes, or melodies – the first, usually loud and forceful; the second, quiet and lyrical. The first theme is introduced and then the softer second theme comes in – as this section’s purpose is to expose the two melodies, it’s known as the ‘exposition’.

The ‘development’ follows – the composer varies and makes musical associations between the two themes.

Finally, the main themes are restated in a slightly different form in the ‘recapitulation’ section.

For great examples of piano sonatas, listen to Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata, or Mozart’s Sonata in C, or explore the fantastic symphonic collection.

Concerto

The concerto features a solo instrument – such the piano, violin, flute or cello - and an orchestra, showcasing what they can do both independently and together. Concertos have three movements – fast, slow, fast.

For an introduction to concertos, listen to the stately baroque of Bach’s Brandenburg 4, Elgar’s Cello Concerto, or Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto.

Finally, the main themes are restated in a slightly different form in the ‘recapitulation’ section.

Ballet

For dramatic orchestral music, look no further than the best ballet scores. Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake (1876) was a game-changer in terms of ballet music, as it marked the first time an exclusively symphonic composer had composed a ballet score. Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet is another ballet that you might know as much for its music as its dance moves. A suite is usually a selection of short movements taken from a ballet - what would the festive period be without a performance of The Nutcracker Suite?

Opera

If you’re looking for intense orchestral music, then opera has plenty to choose from. The difference between an opera and a musical is that operas are generally entirely sung, while musicals combine singing with spoken dialogue. Most agree that Monteverdi was the ‘founding father’ of opera, and his L’Orfeo (c1607) ranks as the first great opera. For dramatic intensity, look to Verdi’s Rigoletto or perhaps his most performed work, La Traviata, which contains all the elements of operatic drama: a beautiful, fallen-woman heroine, grand party scenes, a troubled father and a deathbed scene.

Opera songs are known as arias, many of which have been used over the years commercially and in films.

Popular Operas

'O Mio Babbino Caro', Giani Scicci, Puccini

‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ (Oh My Dear Papa) is a emotional soprano aria from Puccini’s Giani Scicci sung by young protagonist Lauretta, who is begging her Father to help her get married to the lover of her life, Rinuccio. This piece has earned wide acclaim for its emotional effect, just see for yourself this two-year old getting emotional whilst listening to Puccini:

‘La donna è mobile’, Rigoletto, Verdi

‘La donna è mobile’, from one of Verdi’s most popular operas, Rigoletto. This canzone is often thought to be the centrepiece of the opera, occurring at a turning point in a much-loved story of deceit, love lust and desire. Musical themes established in the short ‘La donna è mobile’ repeat throughout the opera, driving the tale forward.

‘Habanera’,Carmen, George Bizets

Habanera from Carmen – also known as ‘Love is a Rebellious Bird’ is an aria sung by the lovestruck femme fatale title character. Carmen sings how ‘Love is a rebellious bird that none can tame’.

Types of Opera

Opera Seria

Opera Seria is an Italian term that literally translates into ‘serious opera’; naturally, this refers to the weighty, humourless type of operas that were popular during the 1700s such as Mozart’s Idomeneo and Vivaldi’s L'Olimpiade. Apart from being serious, an Opera Seria is defined by its lack of spoken dialogue, emphasis on grand vocals and tragic or heroic narrative.

Opera Buffa

Opera Buffa is the Italian term for ‘funny opera’, a type of opera that’s also known as ‘comic opera’. An Opera Buffa is usually more grounded than an Opera Seria and therefore features relatable characters and an everyday plot. Examples include Menotti’s Amelia Goes to the Ball, Bizet’s Don Procopio and Ristori’s Calandro.

Opera Semiseria

As you may have suspected, Opera Semiseria is the Italian phrase for ‘semi-serious opera’. It is a midway point between an Opera Seria and Opera Buffa that became popular during the 1800s; it combines emotion with humour to keep an audience entertained. Famous examples of Opera Semiseria include Donizetti’s Linda di Chamounix, Bellini’s Adelson e Salvini and Paer’s Leonora.

Opera Comique

French opera style Opera Comique alternates between spoken dialogue and musical numbers – much like a modern-day musical. This type of opera shares its name with a Parisian theatre which was founded under the reign of Louis XIV in 1714. Although its name seems to suggest that this type of opera is always comedic, some of the most famous operas are in fact tales of tragedy – take Bizet’s Carmen, for example.

Grand Opera

A Grand Opera is a spectacular type of opera of four or five acts that originates from the 1800s. Often revolving around a historic event or a dramatic tale, a grand opera is comparable to an Opera Seria as it takes on a serious tone and features no spoken dialogue. Early examples of Grand Opera include Auber’s La Muette de Portici, Halévy’s La Juive and Donizetti’s Dom Sébastien, Roi de Portugal.

Chamber Music

Chamber music is composed for smaller ensembles of instruments – as it was originally intended to be played in a ‘chamber’ at home. The standard arrangement of instruments for chamber music include the string quartet (two violins, a viola and a cello) and a woodwind ensemble, often accompanied by a piano or harpsichord.

The small number of musicians gives chamber music its characteristic intimacy and subtlety. Explore different chamber music moods with a peaceful Lullaby from Brahms, Mozart’s thoughtful Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Romanze, or have some fun with Saint-Saëns’ Donkeys as the quartet make asses of themselves as part of the Carnival of the Animals.

Types of Chamber Music

Historical Chamber

Historical Chamber Music is inspired by the era in which chamber orchestras had their inception – during the medieval period. Often, a chamber orchestra would be accompanied by a folk singer who would sing over the rustic rhythms created by the musicians. Our collection of historical chamber tracks includes Ian Hughes’ Courtesans, Royal Consent and Gloriana, all of which you can find over on our Orchestral, Small Ensemble, Historical page.

Elegant Chamber

Elegant Chamber Music is thoughtful and soothing: it combines the transportive sounds of the world’s most angelic instruments and vocals to create a touching composition. Frequently optimistic, music of this style is used in media projects to cause the listener to reflect on the narrative. Our collection of Elegant Chamber Music features eight beautiful tracks composed by Gallant, Meegan, Tobin and Kelly, including New World, Butterfly Dream and Lullaby for Dolly.

Light, Playful Chamber

Chamber orchestras are ideal for performing light, playful compositions that are suitable for use in fairytales, comedies, romances and other jocund genres. The sprightly rhythms of this style of Chamber Music evokes images of mythical creatures, friendly beings, sweet animals and enchanted settings. Our collection of Robert Bruce’s Light, Playful Chamber Ensembles includes pieces named Applause, Applause, Clockwork and Ladies in Waiting.

Classical Chamber

How to License the Best Orchestral Music

Looking to license orchestral music? This can sometimes be a challenge because of sound recording copyright.

Audio Network, however, has a huge variety of specially recorded orchestral music, from chamber music to full symphony orchestras, which is simple and fast to license. The breadth of classical music means that you can find the perfect track for any sort of content:

Epic orchestral music – with everything from thrilling action featuring urgent strings and soaring brass to majestic and poignant memorials, go epic to create blockbusters and superhero soundtracks or trailers.
Dramatic orchestral music, with high-octane percussion, heroic brass and triumphant choirs is ideal for soundtracking those huge, edge-of-the-seat moments to wow your audience on both the small and big screen
Intense orchestral music comes into its own when you’re building the atmosphere and tension for horror movies.

Or check out Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, as it was used to spine-tingling effect in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

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This page was updated 12/03/2024.

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Jul 14 2021

BEST SELLING ALBUMS OF 2021, A COMPLETE LIST

What To Expect

What exactly are we going to cover in this article? Check out the below to find out.

Best Selling Albums of 2021

Evermore – Taylor Swift
Folklore – Taylor Swift
BE – BTS
Sour – Olivia Rodrigo
Fearless (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
Fine Line – Harry Styles
Starting Over – Chris Appleton
Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
Power Up –AC/DC
Greatest Hits – Queen

Five Most Popular Albums of 2021

Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
Sour – Olivia Rodrigo
Shoot For The Stars Aim For the Moon – Pop Smoke
Evermore – Taylor Swift
Certified Lover Boy – Drake

Ones to Watch

30 – Adele
Red (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
= – Ed Sheeran
Live Life Fast – Roddy Rich

Best Selling Albums of 2021

Evermore – Taylor Swift

Evermore came about after Taylor Swift and The National’s Aaron Dessner were keen to continue collaborating after creating the former’s eighth studio album, Folklore.

The surprise album encapsulates the feeling of being beside the fireplace on a winter’s day; Swift’s voice wraps around the listener, giving them a warm hug.

Is the singer leaving pop behind to return home to her pastoral roots for good? All will be revealed in due course, we’re sure.

Folklore – Taylor Swift

As mentioned above, Folklore is the “older sibling” of Evermore, secretly recorded between April and July of 2020 when COVID forced Taylor to cancel her world tour for previous LP Lover.

Listen to the album, and you can hear how the album-making process was a therapeutic, cleansing experience for the international superstar.

BE – BTS

There’s never been a better time to be part of a Korean band, just ask BTS (Bangtan Boys): a seven-member Korean boy band that’s become a global phenomenon.

Hell, even our grandparents recognise their songs from the Samsung commercials.

Originally realeased in 2020, BTS’ BE became of 2021’s top-selling albums too, helped along by the fact it features some of the band’s biggest hits yet, including ‘Dynamite’ and ‘Life Goes On’.

Genre-wise it’s an extremely chart-friendly mix of pop, hip-hop, funk and disco influences.

Sour – Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo was best known as a Disney+ actress in 2020, but this year she became the standout performer of this year’s BRIT Awards, and the youngest solo artist ever to achieve the UK chart double with her single ‘Good 4 U’ and her debut album Sour.

Essentially, If you fancy an energetic pop-punk mash-up of Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift, then Sour is very much for you.

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift

ICYMI, Taylor Swift lost her masters to music tycoon Scooter Braun which triggered the singer to re-record all of her albums prior to 2019’s Lover.

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) was the first of six scheduled re-recorded albums, and features all of the tracks from the Platinum edition of Swift’s debut (initially released in 2009), including fan favourites ‘Love Story’, ‘You Belong With Me’ and ‘Fifteen’.

Personally, we love how Swift’s mature vocal cords take to her early country-inspired hits.

Fine Line – Harry Styles

Ever since One Direction split, Harry Styles has been on a journey of self-discovery.

Fine Line, the singer’s phenomenally successful second studio album, suggests it’s time to stop the search: he’s already one of Britain’s very best popstars.

Featuring the singles ‘Treat People With Kindness’, ‘Adore You’, ‘Golden’, ‘Lights Up’, ‘Falling’ and ‘Watermelon Sugar’, Fine Line remains a hit machine, more than two whole years since its original release.

Starting Over – Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton is preserving the classic country music genre, most recently with his album Starting Over which has found its way onto the top-selling albums of 2021.

The 14-track record is raw, warm and quintessentially Stapleton.

Most of all, it’s a record that provides solace during these particularly difficult times. Just like the country singer, we’re ready to start over.

Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish

Released on 30th July, Billie Eilish's highly-anticipated second album went straight to the top of the UK album charts, making the 19-year-old superstar the first international female artist to reach number one with her first two albums since Lana Del Rey.

And the records continue to roll in: Eilish has already been announced as the Friday night headliner at next year’s Glastonbury, making her their youngest solo headliner ever.

Power Up – AC/DC

Australian rock band AC/DC proved they’ve still got it in 2020 with the release of their 17th studio album, Power Up – their first without late guitarist Malcolm Young.

Both Consequence and Rolling Stone included the album in their list of Top 50 Albums of 2020.

Plus, critics raved about the 12-song record – most especially, lead single ‘Shot in the Dark’ which was nominated for two Grammys. Now, AC/DC can celebrate having one of the top-selling albums of 2021.

Greatest Hits - Queen

Are Queen the biggest band in rock history? The stats certainly seem to suggest so.

For a compilation album to be released in 1981 and appear within the top 10 top-selling albums 40 years later is no mean feat.

Collectively, it seems we just can’t get enough of classic rock hits like ‘Another One Bites the Dust’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’.

Five Most Popular Albums 2021

Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen

We won’t pretend we weren’t surprised to see Morgan Wallen leading the pack with the most popular album of 2021, but here we are.

The country singer-songwriter is perhaps the biggest success story to come from NBC’s The Voice; after being eliminated from the TV show, Wallen signed to the independent record label, Panacea Records.

Now, he’s enjoying success with his 30-track record that features Chris Stapleton and Ben Burgess.

Sour – Olivia Rodrigo

As mentioned above, Olivia Rodrigo may be the new girl in town, but she knows how to launch a pop career.

Her debut album Sour, is a mixture of emotional ballads (‘Driver’s License’), nostalgic pop-punk hits (‘Brutal’) and Tik Tok-ready heartbreak singles (‘Déjà vu’).

Oh, and, FYI, this isn’t just an album for teens – our whole team is obsessed with the record!

Shoot For The Stars Aim For the Moon – Pop Smoke

Pop Smoke’s posthumous career marches on across the world; here in the UK, the Brooklyn rapper is responsible for one of the biggest selling albums of 2021.

Shoot For the Star Aims For the Moon was exec-produced by 50 Cent and features stars including Quavo, Future and Swae Lee.

A second album from the late drill icon dropped at the end of July, entitled Faith.

Evermore – Taylor Swift

Not only is Evermore the best selling album of 2021, but it’s also one of the year’s most popular albums.

A whole generation has grown up with Taylor Swift, and they’re keen to continue exploring her story.

Swifties have already taken this latest chapter to their hearts, with ‘Champagne Problems’, 'Tis the Damn Season’ and ‘Willow’ joining the list of all-time fan faves.

Certified Lover Boy – Drake

Toronto’s finest returned in September with his sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy – from the get-go, the album was divisive, and so was the Damien Hirst-designed artwork.

In case you care, we’re fans of both the music and the cover.

One thing’s for sure: it’s one of the starriest albums of 2021 so far – there’s Jay-Z, Travis Scott, Future, Kid Cudi (yes, really), Lil Baby, Yebba and more. Our favourite track? It’s got to be ‘Papi’s Home’.

Albums To Watch

30 – Adele

To no one’s surprise, Adele’s done it again. In November 2021, the Tottenham icon released her fourth studio album, which immediately went to number one and became the fastest-selling album of the year.

This is Adele’s fourth UK number one album, and we imagine it’ll be one of the top-sellers of 2022 too.

Red (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift

When Taylor Swift announced that she planned to re-record her first six albums, fans of the singer were super excited to hear an updated take on what many consider her pièce de résistance: Red.

At the time of writing, Red (Taylor’s Version) is just behind Adele’s 30 as the top-selling album of the week, and we can only imagine that this take on a classic will continue to soar.

Perhaps the most exciting addition to the album is the extended version of ‘All Too Well’, which broke the Billboard record as the longest number one hit ever.

= – Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran’s Equals (stylised as =) is the singer’s fourth studio album and, like always, is a cocktail of pop, R&B and folk music.

Sheeran pleases old fans by staying true to his rustic roots and draws in new fans by playing with bleeding-edge beats and rhythms.

Singles so far include ‘Bad Habits’, ‘Shivers’ and ‘Visiting Hours’, and more and more people are streaming and purchasing the album. So, watch this space.

Live Life Fast – Roddy Rich

23-year-old Roddy Rich may have only released one studio album prior to his upcoming record Live Life Fast, but he’s already a world-renowned star with accolades including a Grammy Award and an American Music Award.

Will the album become one of the top-selling albums of 2022? Only time will tell.

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Jul 14 2021

BEST SOUNDTRACKS OF THE 90S

Best Soundtracks of the 90s

Pretty Woman (1990)
Until The End of the Wolrd (1991)
Wayne's World (1992)
Singles (1992)
Malcom X (1992)
The Bodyguard (1992)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Lion King (1994)
Pulp Fiction (1994)

Pretty Woman (1990)

The Pretty Woman album kickstarts our list of best 90s soundtracks, and for good reason – it encapsulates the musical identity of the year 1990.

The soundtrack explores the audience’s relationship with the familiar sounds of 80s pop/rock music and the new sounds of 90s music, all on one record.

Explore our selection of the 80s and 90s music right now.

Until The End of the World (1991)

Next on our list is the experimental soundtrack to 1991's Until The End of the World.

The director of the science fiction flick, Wim Wenders, had a lot of input when it came to the soundtrack as all but one of the songs was created especially for the film.

And, because the film was set a few years in the future, Wenders asked the artists involved to create the kind of music they imagined they’d be making a decade down the line.

Wayne's World (1992)

In 1992, Penelope Spheeris comedy Wayne's World was released, and with it came one of the best soundtracks of the pre-millennial decade.

The film – led by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey – follows two twenty-something guys who host a public-access television show.

Both of the main characters are avid rock fans which explains why the soundtrack consists of rock songs, such as Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Are you a rock fan? Make sure you check out our selection of rock sub-genres.

Singles (1992)

Grunge was key to the 90s music scene, and the soundtrack to 1992s Singles is well known for popularising the genre.

In fact, it's viewed as so influential that Rolling Stone included the soundtrack in its list of 50 Greatest Grunge Albums.

Set in Seattle, Washington, the rom-com soundtrack gave the city a new sound, as shortly after the film was released, the North West city experienced a grunge phenomenon.

What artists are featured on the soundtrack? None other than Pearl Jam, Mudhoney and Alice in Chains.

Malcolm X (1992)

Directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington, every element of 1992s Malcolm X film was destined to be special – but no one quite expected the soundtrack to be as special as it is.

The Malcolm X album consists of songs by friends of the African-American activist – including Sam Cooke – and songs that capture the experience of being Black in America.

The Bodyguard (1992)

The soundtrack to 1992's The Bodyguard is the best-selling soundtrack album of all time, and it's all thanks to one woman – Whitney Houston.

Some of the R&B soul singer's greatest hits appear on the 13-track album, including I Will Always Love You, Run to You and I Have Nothing – songs which are still played all around the world.

Why did Houston's songs prove so popular? Well, because everyone's a fan of Whitney, no matter your age, gender or background.

Looking for some R&B production music? Check out our R&B playlist.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

In 1993, cinema-goers took a trip inside of the minds of Tim Burton, Henry Selick and Danny Elfman with the release of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

In case you're not film nerds like us, Elfman is the man behind the film's spooky soundtrack, which features tracks such as This is Halloween, What's This? and Kidnap the Sandy Claws.

Like the film, The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack combines the worlds of Halloween and Christmas to provide young 90s audiences with a palatable way to embrace the gothic genre.

For this reason, we feel as though it deserves a place on our list of the best 90s soundtracks.

The Lion King (1994)

The soundtrack to Disney's African-set animation The Lion King is one of the best of all time; unsurprisingly, some of the greatest talents in the music industry are behind it – viz. Elton John, Tim Rice and Hans Zimmer.

The cinematic, multi-award-winning soundtrack is jam-packed with memorable compositions and songs, some of which combine the winning Disney music formula with the unique sounds of Africa. Take Circle of Life, for example.

Explore our selection of songs dedicated to the continent over in our African playlist.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

As mentioned earlier, the 90s was a time in which it was acceptable to be a fan of multiple music genres, which may help explain why the soundtrack to Tarantino's mid-90s flick Pulp Fiction is so diverse.

The super-listenable soundtrack features an array of songs from different genres – from blue-eyed soul to pop to country – which works well with the film's winding story.

Music For Movies

Without music, the movie industry would struggle to retain the attention of its audience – hence, it’s paramount that a producer takes time to consider what type of music is appropriate for their project.

Here at Audio Network, we’ve got a whole host of playlists for you to explore to help you find the production music for your next project.

Additionally, we’ve got a slew of movie music articles (just like this one) to help you decipher what kind of soundtrack is most appropriate for you. From best hip hop soundtracks to best classical music in movies and best Disney songs, you can find all of these articles and more, over on our inspiration page.

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This page was last updated 23/05/2024.

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Jun 29 2021

BEST ACTION MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS: THE DEFINITIVE LIST

Best Action Movie Soundtracks

Enter the Dragon (1973)

The first action movie soundtrack to make it to our list comes from the early 70s kung-fu classic, Enter the Dragon.

The flick is led by martial arts legend Bruce Lee and Argentine-American composer Lalo Schifrin – a combination that proves to be a match made in heaven. We love how Schifrin adds oriental elements to the classic action soundtrack to create something fresh, yet familiar.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas’ Raiders of the Lost Ark is a flick that incorporates every single one of the elements you crave in an action film – including an unforgettable John Williams soundtrack.

The music that accompanies the Indiana Jones’ adventure is filled with so much character that the music is instantly recognizable – even to someone who hasn’t actually seen the film.

If that isn’t movie soundtrack gold, we don’t know what is…

Top Gun (1986)

Top Gun contains many memorable movie moments, many of which are soundtracked by a stellar selection of pieces by Harold Faltermeyer.

One of our favourite tracks plays near the end of the film, with the iconic line: ‘You can be my wingman anytime.’ The music that accompanies it sums up the mid-80s zeitgeist – it’s those hazy electric guitars…

Total Recall (1990)

Total Recall has got to be one of the most underrated 90s action films in existence – and it doesn't help that the Colin Farrell-led reboot was such a flop.

But if you know, you know, as this sci-fi action-adventure is bucketloads of fun. One of the prime reasons we have such an affinity for the film is because of its supercharged soundtrack.

Listen and learn, because that’s how you pull an audience into the action.

Casino Royale (2006)

Daniel Craig’s first outing as super spy 007 is magnificent; and one of the key reasons why Casino Royale proved so enjoyable is because of its elite-level soundtrack.

David Arnold’s selection of action movie songs introduces a new type of Bond – one that’s a little more rugged, a little less silly and embraces powerful females – which is reflected in compositions that are more unpredictable than ever before in the franchise.

Inception (2010)

During the four year gap between The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer teamed up to create Inception.

The German composer supported Nolan’s labyrinthine narrative by creating a soundtrack that constantly reminds the audience to pay close attention.

How? Masterful use of daunting strings and demanding percussion.

Bad Boys For Life (2020)

Bad Boys For Life surprised cinema-goers and critics alike with its refreshing plot, developed characters and expertly crafted soundtrack.

Improving on the original films, the third film in the franchise embraces its Miami setting by adding some choice urban percussive ingredients to the mix.

Music For Action Movies

Now that you’ve worked your way through our list of the best action movie soundtracks, you’re hopefully feeling a little more inspired to ensure music is a top priority when putting together your action film.

We have music for any kind of film, no matter the genre. Check out our roster of music suitable for a variety of film styles, from historical to horror to rom-com and vintage.

Need Music for Your Project?

This page was last updated on 07/03/2024 and 23/05/2024.

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Jun 29 2021

WHAT IS INDIE MUSIC?

Leave a Comment / FEATURED, MUSIC / June 29, 2021

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What's indie music? What is the history of indie music? What's an indie artist? The Indie genre as a whole can seem pretty ambiguous, as everyone seems to interpret it differently. This is partly because of its multitude of subgenres (something we’ll get into later); and the fact it continues to evolve…

But we can all agree that there’s often a certain off-kilter edge in the sound, and that it contains sonic elements of the independent spirit of the original artists of the post-punk era. In the DIY punk spirit, artists bypassed the major record labels to release music on their own terms, got creative with their marketing by making their own cover art, launched their own labels and clubs, and generally marked themselves out by their can-do attitude? Why? To get their sound out there without big marketing budgets.

Nowadays, indie music is a kind of catch-all term for a conglomeration of sounds, looks and attitudes that have splintered off from its original pioneers. Let’s look back to its origins, almost fifty years ago in the late 70s.

What Is the History of Indie Music?

So although indie music once came from the originally independent labels, it now overlaps a huge number of genres, from indie-rock to indie-folk to indie-pop, but all share a certain off-kilter sensibility.

Speaking of indie music, if you’re intrigued by the genre and perhaps have an offbeat project to bring to life with a cool soundtrack, we have hundreds of indie tracks for you to sample, download and use in our catalogue. Start exploring our indie discovery page and our indie playlist once you’ve galloped through the history below.

What is Indie Music?

So, ‘indie’ is short for independent, a term first used to describe artists who recorded and released records themselves, rather than through a label. But the term now stretches far beyond the original definition. These days, many indie music artists are signed to major labels, and the genre is more descriptive an attitude, a sound, or an alternative way of making music (which, confusingly, can often serious commercial successes anyway). Nowadays, indie music is rarely ‘indie’ in the original sense!

Its roots stretch back to the 70s and the DIY punk ethic. In the 1970s, artists who pushed the boundaries of the accepted pop sound weren’t signed to major record labels, as their maverick approach wasn’t deemed commercial enough.

Music lovers found this boundary-pushing a refreshing antidote to the contrived pop and rock pushed by big record labels. Today, indie music retains elements of its roots – although the jury’s still out on how to define it!

Inspired? To discover great new indie music to license for your projects, take a look at our Indie Top 40.

The Scene

Pre-social media, bands had to get out and create a following IRL Some music venues have attained legendary status as they were such were an essential part of fledgling indie bands’ success, including:

The Hacienda

The Manchester club feted during the Acid House and early Rave era was originally a rock club. Founded by Factory Records and the band New Order in 1982, it hosted early gigs by the likes of The Smiths and Echo And The Bunnymen.

Later, a host of others including Blur, Placebo and Supergrass gigged there before it finally shuttered in 1997. And perhaps in a wry comment of the increasingly commercialised nature of indie music, the building was demolished in 2002 to make way for… The Haçienda Apartments.

King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow

This legendary Glasgow venue is now marked in history as the place Alan McGee first saw Oasis play in 1993, leading the Creation label boss to sign the Manchester band on the spot. Founded in 1990, it has played host to Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers, The Verve, Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Muse, Elbow, The Killers and many more.

The 100 Club, London

This basement club opened in 1942 but has only operated under its current name since 1964, Its Punk Festival in September 1976 changed everything: the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Buzzcocks, The Jam, The Stranglers and The Damned all performed. Siouxsie And The Banshees made their live debut at the event with Sid Vicious on drums.

The 100 Club is one of the few music venues left in the West End and recently IDLES, The Specials, Turin Brakes, Babyshambles and Florence + The Machine have played there.

What Else Made it Happen?

Two notable indie record labels were Factory Records and Rough Trade, which were behind the success of iconic bands such as Joy Division and The Smiths. Bands also pushed the boundaries of working with what they had – pushing the capabilities of their instruments, creating memorable vinyl cover art (think Joy Division’s iconic Unknown Pleasures album cover), and building up a following through setting up and promoting their own clubs. This DIY route to music stardom gave independent artists a unique sound (broad though it was), that was un-embellished, relatable and – that now overused word – authentic.

While we’re on the subject of authentic indie music, if you’re creating a vlog, podcast, TV show, or film, our indie tracks can take your creative project to the next level.

Indie Music in America

And we can’t write about indie without a nod to the great music that’s emerged from across the pond. A large number of indie bands and artists crossover into rock, chiefly because of their borderline discordant sound and rebel attitude. Indie rock is customarily loud, energetic and led by a charismatic frontman or woman. Compared to classic US rock, indie sounds a little more homemade and is often lyrically more experimental – think Nirvana, Pixies and Jane’s Addiction.

All-Time Great Indie Artists and Bands

The Buzzcocks

The Bolton-based band are often credited with inventing indie. The band was formed solely to support the Sex Pistols, at a time when you could buy a guitar in Woolworths (the retro, high-street equivalent of Amazon – now sadly defunct). The band’s timely punk-rock sound, gritty, nonchalant aesthetic and independent status (they created their own record label) helped their debut EP, Spiral Scratch, reach the Top 40 in 1977.

Joy Division

To die-hard indie fans and music aficionados alike, Joy Division are deities. Their ultra-experimental producer, Martin Hannett, played a key role in their groundbreaking sound. The four-piece band – formed in Salford, Manchester during the post-punk era, split after singer Ian Curtis committed suicide in 1980.

New Order

Following the demise of Joy Division, founder members Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris were joined by Gillian Gilbert to form New Order. They fused post-punk with electronic and dance music and became the flagship band for Manchester indie label Factory Records. Their 1983 hit, ‘Blue Monday’ became the best-selling 12-inch single of all time.

The Smiths

The Smiths were one of the most important indie bands to emerge in the early 80s, formed by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, who bonded over their love of poetry and literature. Their jangly guitar, bass and drum sound was a conscious reaction to the prevalent synth-pop of the time. In 2012, all four Smiths albums – and a compilation album – appeared in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

The Fall

Cult post-punk band The Fall formed in Manchester in 1976. With their abrasive, guitar-led sound and the caustic lyrics of frontman Mark E Smith, they maintained a fierce, longstanding cult following, despite never really achieving mainstream success. By far the most prolific band of the post-punk movement, they were famously championed by BBC DJ John Peel, who notably commented that they were: ‘always different, always the same…’ The death of their charismatic frontman in 2018 closed a chapter on one of the greatest indie bands ever.

The Strokes

One of the leading bands of the early 2000s, indie became the genre du jour thanks to The Strokes. The Grammy-award winning band released their debut album Is This It in 2001. This time around, the indie sound was super-commercial: they won a BRIT for Best International Breakthrough Act in 2002 and an NME award for Best Band in the World – twice.

Arctic Monkeys

Even if you’re not the biggest fan of indie music, you can admire the impact of Sheffield’s Arctic Monkeys. Fronted by natural-born performer Alex Turner, they’ve sold 20 million records worldwide and won over 42 awards, including seven BRITs and a Mercury Prize. Their 2006 debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s what I’m Not was the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history.

Florence + The Machine

Florence + The Machine are a contemporary indie brand with a super-charismatic frontwoman, Florence Welch. Formed in London in 2007, three of the band’s four albums reached number one in the UK. Now pretty much a household name, Florence Welch is estimated to be worth $28 million.

If you’re looking for production music along the lines of the bands above, find the perfect track using our intelligent search bar, filterable by mood/emotion, instrumentation, production genre and musical style.

New Indie Music

And the indie music scene is still very much alive, with a raft of recent releases drawing on everything from post-punk to pop and country. Want to hear some contemporary indie? Uproxx’s top 5 Indie albums of 2020 showcases some bangers:

1. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters

2. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud

3. Yaeji – What We Drew

4. Yves Tumor – Gospel for a New Century

5. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher

Indie Music for Your Next Project

Check out our line-up of great indie bands and artists, from the vibrant beats and colourful lyrics of John Vella, lead singer and guitarist of Sydney group Tenderfoot, to Waiting for Smith, aka singer and songwriter Harry Lloyd, widely hailed as one to watch; with his narrative, imaginative songs he’s been compared to David Bowie, George Ezra and Leonard Cohen. And there are plenty more to discover…

Want to read more about indie and other music? Head over to our inspiration, expertise and news updates.

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This page was last updated 07/03/2024.

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Jun 23 2021

CLASSICAL MUSIC IN COMMERCIALS

Leave a Comment / ADVERTISING / June 23, 2021

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The trick to getting ad music right is to pull the audience into the narrative without distracting them from the point, and one of the best ways to do this is with classical music.

What kind of commercials use classical music? Every kind! Whether an advertiser is promoting a brand new company or spreading the word an all-new instant coffee, there’s sure to be a classical piece out there to complement it. (When we say out there, what we really mean is in our production music catalogue of over 200,000 tracks!). Register now for the full experience.

To inspire you to use a classical music track in your next ad, we’ve rounded up the best examples of classical music in advertising, including some of our own.

The Best Examples of Classical Music in Advertising

British Airways

The ‘Flower Duet’ from Lakmé by Léo Delibes

We don't knowabout you, but when we think of British Airways, one classic composition instantly plays in our head – we refer, of course, to the ‘Flower Duet’. As the music plays over the 1989 ad, viewers get a bird’s eye view of people from around the globe uniting to create a striking image in the airline’s flagship colours.

Find similar music to set your ad apart in our Opera & Oratorio Classical Collection.

Alton Towers

‘In the Hall of the Mountain King’ from Peer Gynt by Edvard Greig

Many are familiar with the Alton Towers’ theme music, but not everyone knows this magical piece dates back to 1875. Peer Gynt was originally created by Norwegian Romantic-era composer Edvard Grieg for Henrik Ibsen’s eponymous play. In case you’re wondering, it’s loosely based on a fairytale of a lonely hunter who embarks on a series of adventures. We wonder if Disney will ever adapt it?

Discover music inspired by the 19th century in our Romantic Period Playlist.

Old Spice

‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff

Many, many years ago (in 1978), American grooming brand Old Spice added a splash of drama to its aftershave ad by putting German composer Carl Orff in the mix. The iconic music keeps the viewer in a state of anxiety as huge waves threaten to engulf an embattled surfer. Considering we still remember it today, there’s no denying this is a very effective piece of advertising.

Explore similar pieces in our Dramatic Symphonic Classical Collection.

Lloyds TSB

‘Eliza’s Aria’ from Wild Swans by Elena Kats-Chernin

The Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin originally created the piece for Meryl Tankard’s ballet Wild Swans, based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen, but we still find it hard to believe it wasn’t created especially for the emotional tale of the advert’s animated couple.

Check out our Opera Playlist to browse and sample beautifully opulent opera production music.

Sony Bravia

‘Overture’ from La Gazza Ladra (aka The Thieving Magpie) by Giachino Rossini

The Japanese brand teamed up with Phoenix Fireworks in an epic production that saw huge vats of colourful paint blasted into the sky around a residential tower block in Glasgow. It was set to the tune of Rossini’s wildly exuberant ‘Overture’ from his 1817 opera La Gazza Ladra. The result? An ad that looks and sounds spectacular.

Listen to a selection of songs inspired by Rossini’s epoch in our Classical Period Playlist.

Music for Your TV Commercial

If you’re in the process of putting together your own television ad, we’d like to draw your attention to our catalogue of production music compositions.

Here at Audio Network, we have music of every genre to suit the needs of creatives worldwide – including electronic music, indie music, pop music and hip hop music. To find the right track for you, visit our website and find your playlist or collection of choice and sample the tracks – there are 200,000+, so you’re bound to find something that tickles your fancy.

Need Music for Your Project?

This page was last updated 27/06/2024.

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Jun 23 2021

BEST SELLING ARTISTS OF 2021… A ROUND UP

Best Selling Artists of 2021

Adele
Olivia Rodrigo
Ed Sheeran
The Weeknd
Lil Nas X
Dua Lipa
David Guetta
The Kid Laroi
Tom Grennan
Ella Henderson
Doja Cat
Little Mix
Joel Corry
Glass Animals
Drake
Taylor Swift
Morgan Wallen

2021's Best Selling Artists

1. Adele

Who else but the queen of the break-up ballad could top our end of year list?

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of months, Adele’s fourth studio album, 30, dropped on the 19th November.

She dominated the UK charts with a double No. 1, scoring the highest opening week for an album in 2021 and the biggest first-week sales since Ed Sheeran’s Divide in 2017.

Want some more amazing stats? As Adele’s three previous albums all reached No. 1, no other female act has had as many albums all go to No. 1 in the UK. 30’s release has also shot previous albums 19, 21 and 25 back into the charts.

The lead single from the album, ‘Easy on Me’, has become Adele’s longest-running chart topper. Plus, it smashed the record for the number of UK streams in a week, with an astonishing 24 million.

The previous title holder was ‘7 Rings’ by Ariana Grande, which clocked up 16.9 million listens on its release in January 2019.

In the US, 30 became the year’s biggest-selling album after just three days on sale. Adele’s recently announced a Las Vegas concert residency, ‘Weekends with Adele’, spanning January-April next year.

The residency will see her following in the iconic footsteps of Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Britney Spears and Elton John.

2. Olivia Rodrigo

US singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album, Sour, went straight in at No. 1 on the Official Albums Chart in June, and has clocked up over 320,000 chart sales to date, making it one of the best-selling albums of the year on both sides of the Atlantic.

The breakout star has three entries in the year-to-date Top 40 singles. Her two chart-toppers, ‘Drivers License’ and ‘Good 4 U’ have well over two million sales between them, and top five hit, ‘Déjà vu’ is in the Top 30.

According to Spotify’s global stats, ‘Drivers License’ was the most-streamed song globally this year, with more than 1.1 billion streams, and Sour was the most-streamed album.

3. Ed Sheeran

It’s no surprise to see perennial chart-topper Ed in the year’s biggest-selling singles artist list, as ‘Bad Habits’ spent a monster 11 weeks at No. 1 over the summer!

Judging by the video, the previously mild-mannered Ed’s bad habits look to be considerably worse than most people’s, as he and a gang of vampiric pals cause havoc in town after dark.

4. The Weeknd

Spending a fortnight at No. 2 in June was The Weeknd’s 80s-inspired, synth-driven ‘Save Your Tears’, whilst ‘Blinding Lights’ has also been a massive seller.

Both tracks are from the Canadian singer’s fourth studio album, After Hours, which was released last year. ‘Save Your Tears’ has benefitted from a second remix, featuring Ariana Grande, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

5. Lil Nas X

The ‘Old Town Road’ singer and rapper claimed the No. 1 spot for five weeks with ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’.

Taken from his debut studio album Montero, released in September, the single has been followed by ‘Sun Goes Down’, ‘Industry Baby’ and ‘That’s What I Want’.

The album’s eclectic guest list includes everyone from Doja Cat to Elton John, Megan Thee Stallion to Miley Cyrus.

6. Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa was triumphant at this year’s BRIT awards, picking up both Best Female Solo Artist and Album of the Year.

Four of the singles from Future Nostalgia went to No. 1, and she’s fast becoming one of the biggest female artists around. The album was released over a year ago and has been boosted by the Moonlight Edition, which came out in February.

Single ‘Levitating’, featuring DaBaby, peaked at No. 5 on the Official Chart, but comes in at No. 5 in the ‘Most Streamed Songs Globally’ list released by Spotify, and Future Nostalgia rocketed in at No. 2 on the ‘Most Streamed Albums Globally’ for 2021.

Not only that, but Dua is the most-streamed UK artist globally, beating Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, One Direction and Queen.

The Biggest Streaming Artist of 2021

According to Spotify’s stats, between 1st January and 27th November, for a second year in a row, the most-streamed artist is Puerto Rican vocalist Bad Bunny.

Having notched up 8.3 billion streams in 2020, he went a whole lot further in 2021, with his songs streaming 9.1 billion times.

The rest of the top 5 are made up of Taylor Swift, Drake, Justin Bieber and BTS. However, if you’re just looking at the most-streamed artist in the UK, it’s Drake, followed by Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber and Juice Wrld.

Who Else Has Had a Great Year?

Tom Grennan features on two of the 40 biggest sellers of 2021 - ‘Little Bit of Love’, which peaked at No. 7, and his duet with Ella Henderson, ‘Let’s Go Home Together’.

The singer-songwriter’s first three singles all hit the Top 10.

Also doubling up are Joel Corry, with Raye and David Guetta on ‘Bed’, and MNEK on ‘Head & Heart’, together with Doja Cat – ‘Kiss Me More’ and ‘Streets’ both lit up the charts.

Is anyone more ubiquitous than David Guetta?

The super-producer appears on no fewer than three of the top 40 bestselling singles of the year, joining forces with everyone from the aforementioned Joel Corry and Raye to Galantis and Little Mix (‘Heartbreak Anthem’) and Becky Hill (‘Remember’).

Who Are the Big Breakout Artists of 2021?

Well, Olivia Rodrigo, obviously, but Australian singer and rapper The Kid Laroi is another artist with two singles in the chart.

His first big hit, ‘Without You’, peaked at No. 2 in February.

He repeated that chart position with latest single ‘Stay’, with Justin Bieber, both of which appear in the top 20.

Want to keep ahead of the viral smashes? Look no further than ‘Heat Waves’ by Oxford indie rockers Glass Animals.

It’s been in the top 100 for most of the year and claims the crown for the biggest song by a group or band.

The band formed in 2010, and their second album, How to be a Human Being, earned them a spot on the Mercury Prize shortlist in 2017.

However, it’s the chorus from ‘Heat Waves’, which has been used by hundreds of thousands of TikTokers to soundtrack their videos about missing someone or something, that’s sent them into the stratosphere.

Who Is the Biggest-Selling Artist in the US in 2021?

Hits Daily Double were claiming it’ll be Morgan Wallen.

His record-breaking Dangerous: The Double Album is projected to finish the year ahead of Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, and was the longest-running No. 1 album of the year (10 consecutive weeks).

If he does claim the crown, he’ll be the first country artist since Taylor Swift to end the year with the best-selling album of any genre.

Other big hitters Stateside are, as mentioned, Olivia Rodrigo, plus Taylor Swift and Drake.

Drake’s sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy, had the biggest opening week of this year and Rolling Stone’s most-streamed artist chart showed that he held onto the No. 1 slot for 36 weeks, racking up over 242 million streams.

His top track is ‘Way 2 Sexy’, featuring Future and Young Thug. We take our hats (and probably our shirts off) to anyone taking inspiration from Right Said Fred.

Taylor Swift has had three number ones so far, with her 2020 studio album Evermore, and 2021 re-recordings of Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version). Folklore was also the bestselling album in the US in 2020.

Want a fun fact? Ms Swift is the first artist in the MRC Data era (going back to 1992) to claim bestselling album of the year an impressive five times.

Plus, she’s continuing to make headlines; her new version of ‘All Too Well’ has broken the record for the longest track to top the Billboard Hot 100, deposing ‘American Pie’, which has held the title for the past 50 years!

So, that’s our round-up of the best and biggest-selling artists of 2021!

For more inside knowledge on everything from the history of rock music to the huge variety of pop genres, and iconic women in hip hop, check out our blog. And for up-to-the-minute playlists and new releases to license, keep an eye on our Discover page.

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Jun 23 2021

THE BEST (AND MOST CONTROVERSIAL) GILLETTE ADS OF ALL TIME

Leave a Comment / ADVERTISING, FEATURED / June 23, 2021

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In 2019, the well-known men’s grooming brand Gillette totally changed its marketing tactic to put social justice messages at the heart of their advertising.

The recent – and hugely controversial – 2019 ad was the first to explore toxic masculinity. Here, we also take a look at Gillette ads, from the 80s and throughout subsequent years, and also examine the role music plays in each one. After all, for an ad to be truly unforgettable, it has to have a great soundtrack…

If you do happen to be working on a TV, online ad or other creative project, why not explore our sizeable catalogue of production background music? Start by heading over to our keyword search bar then just filter by musical style, instrumentation, production genre and more.

Gillette Ads

Controversial Gillette Ad - Toxic Masculinity
- Gillette Ad Backlash
- Gillette Sales After Ad
- Gillette Stocks After Ad
Gillette Ads Through The Years
- The Best A Man Can Get (1989)
- The Best A Man Can Get (1993)
- Mach3 – The Best A Man Can Get (2000)
- First Shave, The Story of Samson - Transgender Ad (2019)
- Raheem Sterling – Made of What Matters (2020)
- New Gillette Ad (2021)

Controversial Gillette Ad – Toxic Masculinity

Gillette shocked millions of viewers worldwide with their ‘We Believe: The Best Men Can Be’ commercial. The advert looks back to the brand’s ‘The Best A Man Can Get’ commercial from way back in 1989, rephrasing its tagline to ask the question: Can men do better?

Touching on topics such as the #MeToo movement, the male gaze, the media’s portrayal of women and gender stereotypes, the ad encourages the audience to embrace a new age and suggests that men should hold themselves accountable for toxic masculinity. Aptly, the orchestral track amplifies the serious tone of the ad and underlines the brand’s stance on the issue.

Take a look for yourself, below:

Gillette Ad Backlash

It’s common sense to assume that you’ll face a backlash if you wade into advertising that deals with controversial social issues; however, we imagine Gillette didn’t quite expect the storm that followed the release of ‘We Believe: The Best Men Can Be’. Why did the brand touch such a nerve in so many people? Well, there are two key reasons...

Firstly, viewers complained it wasn’t appropriate for Gillette to comment on social issues, feeling it was wrong for a personal care brand to explore issues around toxic masculinity for commercial benefit. By doing so, they felt it undermined the seriousness of the issue.

The second reason it didn’t go down well with the public is that, ironically, it appeared to stereotype men. In this day and age, a considerable number of men eschew sexist ideologies and have helped form new and progressive norms and values. Unfortunately, Gillette managed to alienate many potential customers, who found the ad pretty offensive.

Gillette Sales After Ad

Did the Gillette Ad Hurt Sales?

According to the chief financial officer of Gillette’s owners, P&G (Procter and Gamble), it didn’t. According to CNN Business, after the commercial aired, Gillette sales were in line with pre-campaign levels, by which we can infer that it didn’t make any difference, either positive or negative, to sales. He defended the commercial, explaining it was a genuine effort to ‘connect more meaningfully with younger consumer groups’.

What Was Wrong with the Gillette Ad?

And in general, despite the backlash of a vocal minority, consumers didn’t boycott Gillette? Why? There are four reasons: 1) the media exaggerated the controversy around the ad; 2) there were more people who supported the commercial than who didn’t; 3) those who complained didn’t actually feel strongly enough to go as far as a boycott 4) the CFO was lying about its sales. And after looking at the statistics around parent company P&G’s stocks, we’re inclined to believe the latter.

Gillette Stocks After Ad

According to acclaimed statistician Georgi Georgiev, the market share in P&G’s blades and razor category in fact did decline in 2019 after the release of the toxic masculinity advertisement. He reports that this was the biggest change ever and speculates the dip was largely due to YouTube and other reastions on social media. In the light of this, it’s hard to believe Gillette’s sales were unaffected by the controversy.

Gillette Ads Through The Years

The Best A Man Can Get (1989)

The original late 80s ad takes us through some of the most important moments of a ‘typical’ man’s life – from his career and sporting successes to the birth of his first child. The commercial plays on a deeply traditional ideal of masculinity and underlines the message that Gillette supports them to look their best throughout their life.

The music is exactly as you’d expect in an 80s American ad – a bona fide, hard-hitting power ballad (well, at least it got the point across!). With elements of rock and pop, its led by male vocals, supported by electric guitars over a booming percussive background.

The Best A Man Can Get (1993)

In the early 90s, Gillette released a new version of the ad, which followed much the same structure as the original. The main difference between them was that the 90s commercial focussed on a range of Gillette products – including the brand’s shaving gel and aftershave skin conditioner – as well as the razors. In expanding the brand’s offer with the ‘Gillette Series’ it acknowledges that men’s grooming rituals are changing.

The 1993 ad uses the same track as the original The Best A Man Can Get commercial, as it is consistent and familiar. It The only addition to the audio is that the narrator of the ad now goes on to call attention to the brand extensions.

Mach3 – The Best A Man Can Get (2000)

For the new millennium, Gillette switched up their marketing approach; their 2000 ad, which focuses on the new Mach3 razor, moved away from the focus on seminal moments in a man’s life to focus instead on the synergy between their products and aerospace technology (random, we know). The commercial uses a pulsing, futuristic track that helps link the Mach3 razor with the aerospace industry.

First Shave, The Story of Samson - Transgender Ad (2019)

After the famous toxic masculinity ad of January 2019, Gillette continued to create conversation with its spring commercial focusing on a Black transgender male, Samson Bonkeabantu Brown. Fortunately for the brand, viewers seemed to support the inclusive advert more than its predecessor, as many felt this was a more positive and sincere message. That said, some viewers still felt Gillette’s attempt to be ‘woke’ felt a bit desperate…

As the young man’s father teaches his son how to shave, a thoughtful, delicate and earnest track plays, ebbing and flowing smoothly, just like the ProGlide razor on the young man’s skin. How poetic.

Raheem Sterling – Made of What Matters (2020)

Gillette then moved in a safer direction for 2020, with an ad starring the young English footballer Raheem Sterling. It combined the strong brand identity of the pre-2019 ads with an important message for men that didn’t seem too controversial: stay determined and stand up to prejudice.

Here, Gillette opted for a punchy instrumental track that works well for an piece that pivots around the sports star. The repetitive beat aids the visuals in keeping momentum, ensuring the audience pays attention.

New Gillette Ad (2021)

Interestingly, it now seems Gillette has taken a back-to-basics approach with their 2021 ad. Much like the brand’s 20th-century commercials, the ad is product-focused and reminds the audience that Gillette is here to help them look dapper on their life’s journey. But unlike the late 80s/90s ads, Gillette uses a momentum-filled pop music track to accompany the visuals: ‘Human’ by Rag’n’Bone Man.

The song is not only instantly recognisable, but it’s also fitting for a commercial that takes a pretty traditional approach to appeal to masculinity, and the combination of gritty vocals, bold percussion and emotive strings is an appropriate soundtrack.

Photo Credit: http://www.abancommercials.com

Music For Your Commercial

As you can see, music plays a vital role in television and online advertisements; thus, if you’re in the process of creating one of your own, why not consider using one of our high-quality production music tracks?

To start exploring our catalogue, we suggest you start at our Playlists page where you can find some of the most popular, regularly updated playlists, including New Releases, and head over to our Discover page, where you can find explore the hottest artists and composers, albums and more.

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Jun 17 2021

BEST SELLING ALBUMS OF 2020: THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL

Top 10 Most Sold Albums

1. Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent , Lewis Capaldi

Singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi’s debut collection topped the Official Album Charts for a second year in a row. Originally released in May 2019, it was the fastest-selling album of the year (outselling all the top 10 combined in the UK and Ireland). He hit a million sales in September 2020. The album logged four weeks at number 1 last year (following a six-week run in 2019).

Capaldi’s unbroken 77-week run in the Top 10 is a record for a solo artist. Spotify ranked Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent the most-streamed album of 2020 in the UK.

2. Fine Line, Harry Styles

Another album bridging two years’ sales is Harry Styles’ second, Fine Line, released in December 2019. Boosted by huge pop-rock hits ‘Watermelon Sugar’, ‘Falling’, ‘Golden’ and the joyous ‘Treat People with Kindness’, the album notched up 293,000 chart sales in 2020.

Harry Styles’ album took second place in Spotify’s rankings of the most-streamed albums of 2020, reflecting the fact that pop was the most popular genre of the year – presumably because we yearned for happy music during the pandemic.

Fine Line was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2020 Brit Awards and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2021 Grammys, but perhaps its biggest accolade was its spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2020.

The old-skool Hollywood glamour of the ‘Treat People with Kindness’ video, starring Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, has clocked up over 30 million views since it premiered on 1st January 2021, and we can see why. If you can’t nail the dance routine, join in with the clapping.

3. Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa takes the crown for the UK’s biggest album released in 2020. Her second album was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and spent four weeks at the top of the charts. The Guardian hailed its ‘pristine club-pop’ and loved Lipa’s references to Olivia Newton-John, turn-of-the-millennium Madonna, 1980s INXS and Lily Allen, giving it the number 2 slot on its 50 Best Albums of 2020 list and calling her, ‘one of pop’s most exciting major players: she out Gaga’d Gaga and out Kylie’d Kylie’. The artist told Variety, ‘this album is purely about dancing and having fun and being free and being in love.’

Dua Lipa was nominated for six Grammys (including Album of the Year) and won Best Pop Vocal Album, selling 265,000 copies and topping the charts in 15 countries. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Future Nostalgia was the tenth most successful album of 2020 worldwide, with 3.3 million album-equivalent units sold.

Check out Dua Lipa’s video for ‘We’re Good’, which has had over 50 million views (stay tuned for the twist at the end…)

4. When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go, Billie Eilish

The American singer-songwriter’s debut studio album, which she co-wrote with her brother, Finneas O’Connell, was released in March 2019, after her viral hit, ‘Ocean Eyes’, which was released when she was just 13. Its blend of pop, electropop, avant-pop and art pop was apparently inspired by night terrors and lucid dreaming (hence the cover art) and explores dark themes of mental health and addiction – but there’s more to her than horror.

The album’s immediate success made Eilish the youngest female solo star to chart at number 1 in the UK. She’s the youngest artist to do lots of things: write a Bond theme (‘No Time to Die’) and win Album of the Year at the Grammys (stealing that particular crown from Taylor Swift). She’s even the first artist born in the 21st Century to have an American number one.

She swept the board at the 2020 Grammys: Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Engineered, Non Classical, whilst monster international hit ‘Bad Guy’ won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Overall, the album is Spotify’s eighth most streamed ever.

The blood-spattered video has over a billion views on YouTube, but as Vogue says of its latest cover star: ‘Voice of a generation. Avatar of internet mega-fame. Icon of body positivity. A lot rests on Billie Eilish’s 19-year-old shoulders’. It’s clearly just the beginning.

5. Heavy is the Head, Stormzy

Released in December 2019 on the artist’s own #Merky label, Heavy is the Head is Stormzy’s second studio album. Featuring collaborations with everyone from Aitch and Burna Boy to H.E.R., Yebba and Ed Sheeran, the album debuted at number 2 and topped the chart on 10th January 2020.

NME described it as, ‘a broad-reaching, genre-buckling romp’, while the Observer highlighted that, ‘it is a mark of artistic integrity that Stormzy manages to transcend genre (again), without sacrificing his core griminess, or losing too much in the way of accent, word choice, content or theme.’

Stormzy claimed the Official Chart Double in January 2020, as ‘Own It’ ft Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy and Heavy Is The Head both hit number 1; something that no other British rapper has ever achieved. It marked the first of four official chart doubles in 2020, as Eminem, Drake and Ariana Grande also hit double top.

‘Vossi Bop’ had previously become the Glastonbury headliner’s first chart-topping single in the UK – check out the video, which has had over 115 million views to date, and was one of the best of 2019.

6. Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, Pop Smoke

The UK’s biggest debut album of 2020 was Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. It debuted in July at number 2, topping the chart 12 weeks later. This made it both the first chart-topping debut of the year, and the first ever posthumous number 1 debut album by a solo artist.

Bashar Barakah Jackson, aka Pop Smoke, was a US rapper, singer and songwriter, considered by many to be the face of Brooklyn drill. He released his debut mixtape, Meet the Woo, in July 2019, and his first top 10 US hit was Meet the Woo 2, released in February 2020.

Just two weeks later, Pop Smoke was fatally shot during what was believed to be a botched robbery in LA. 50 Cent exec-produced his posthumous debut studio album, which was released in July 2020. It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, with international top 10 singles including ‘For the Night’ and ‘What You Know Bout Love.’

7. No.6 Collaborations Project, Ed Sheeran

The Guardian’s four-star review described Ed Sheeran as an ‘affable everyman dabbling in grime, hip-hop, balladry and Latino love songs as he zooms down the middle of the road to world domination.’

The songs feature duets with everyone from Cardi B to Camila Cabello, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and Skrillex, Stormzy, J Hus and even Eminem, with the result that the album, ‘sounds not unlike a Top 20 rundown or Spotify’s Hot Hits UK playlist,’ according to the Guardian.

Sheeran’s fourth studio album, released on 12th July 2019, was nominated for a Best Pop Vocal Album Grammy. By the end of 2019, it had sold 1.1 million pure (physical and digital) copies worldwide, ranking seventh bestselling album of the year.

8. Greatest Hits, Queen

2020 was a good year for Queen. Their Greatest Hits – the UK’s bestselling album of all time – became only the third album ever to log over 900 weeks on the chart. Yup, that’s over 17 years. And it appropriately achieved the chart milestone 50 years after Queen’s first gig (when the group were known as Smile), at the City Hall in Truro, Cornwall.

Their live album, Live Around the World, also hit number 1 in October, making 2020 the first year since 1994 to have two live albums at the top of the charts.

No doubt boosted by Bohemian Rhapsody, the Oscar-winning biopic, featuring ‘Killer Queen’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘We Are The Champions’ and ‘We Will Rock You’, Queen’s Greatest Hits initially peaked in second place on the UK album chart before rising to number 1, where it remained for four weeks.

9. Diamonds, Elton John

Another greatest hits compilation boosted by a biopic (2019’s Rocket Man), is Elton John’s Diamonds. Spanning 1970-2016, it was originally released in November 2017 to commemorate 50 years of Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin’s professional partnership.

In August 2020, the BPI certified Diamonds 2x Platinum for sales of 600,000 units, while in the US, it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of American for sales of one million units. From ‘Your Song’ and ‘Tiny Dancer’ to ‘I’m Still Standing’ and the Disney classics, ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ and ‘Circle of Life’, Diamonds brings all the landmark hits together.

Elton supports artists as varied as Ed Sheeran (who’s signed to his Rocket music management group) and Dua Lipa (who headlined his annual AIDS Foundation pre-Oscars party this year) and is, by his own admission, obsessed by the charts. ‘I’m Still Standing’ seems an appropriate choice.

10. 50 Years – Don’t Stop, Fleetwood Mac

As you might expect, 50 Years – Don’t Stop, the box set by Fleetwood Mac, originally released in November 2018, marked 50 years since the band’s formation. The three CDs span 1967 to 2013. And what a history: as LouderSound.com says, ‘They began as a British blues boom band, complete with obligatory back-alley album cover shot and a repertoire of amped-up R&B numbers, evolved into a proper early-70s rock band, moved towards a more melodic repertoire, and then turned into a multi-platinum rock-pop soap opera, which they remained as pretty much for three decades, before fading gracefully into stadium nostalgia.’

With plenty of remastered tracks and a few live ones, the hits span everything from ‘Albatross’ to ‘Rhiannon’, ‘Little Lies’ to ‘Go Your Own Way’ and ‘The Chain’ on the first collection to explore their entire career, from their early days to their success as one of the most enduring bands in rock history.

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