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DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

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    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.

    symphonic poem

    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

    orchestra in studio 2 abbey road studios audio network

    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.

    sonata form flicr

    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.

    concerto picture flickr

    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?

    ballerinas on stage

    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

    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.

    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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    ELECTRONIC MUSIC GENRES

    ELECTRONIC MUSIC GENRES

    Leave a Comment / FEATURED, MUSIC /
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      Electronic music and the electronica genre dates back further than you might think when, in the 1920s and 1930s, the first electronic musical instruments were created, leading to the electro music genre. Subsequent technological developments and techniques (such as editing recorded, natural and industrial sounds, and changing the tape speed and direction) developed in the 1940s and 1950s across Europe, Africa, Asia and America.

      Fast forward to the 1960s and 1970s, when digital computer music began to be developed across the world. As these approaches to electronic music blended with popular genres, such as disco and early hip hop in the 1980s, it led to the emergence of electronic music genres as we know today.

      From that moment on, electronic music has evolved and given birth to a seemingly endless number of genres, plus infinite sub-genres and interpretations of genres. Here, we’re going to attempt to breakdown the main genres and their subgenres. However – as with all creative things – there is an element of subjectivity at play here!

      So what one person would call deep house; another would call tech house. What one person would dub dubstep (sorry, cheap pun); another would name brostep. Depending on where you are in the world, these all have very different interpretations and definitions. For this article, we’re going to stick to the main ones, as we recognise them here at Audio Network HQ in London. So let’s get into it.

      Contents

      • Bass music
        • Bass Music Subgenres
      • Disco
        • Disco sub genres
      • Drum and Bass
        • Drum and Bass sub genres
      • Dubstep
        • Dubstep Subgenres
      • ​EDM
        • EDM Subgenres
        • EDM Artists
      • Garage
        • Garage Sub Genres
      • Jungle
        • Sub genres of jungle
      • Hardcore
        • Hardcore sub genres
      • House
        • House Subgenres
      • Techno
        • Techno Subgenres
      • Trance
        • Trance Subgenres

      Electronic Music Genres

      The main types of electronic music genres are well recognised and largely agreed on. However, this particular type of music evolves and develops as quickly as its technology, so an advance warning: this may become incomplete just months after this post is published (we’ll do our best to keep it updated!).

      We’ll also be taking a pretty UK/US-centric view in this article, whilst referencing as many notable global viewpoints as possible – but a definitive global view on this topic is another long article in itself. For the purpose of this piece, the main electronic music genres are:

      • Bass music
      • Disco
      • Drum and Bass
      • Dubstep
      • EDM
      • Jungle
      • Hardcore
      • House
      • Techno
      • Trance
      • Garage

      Bass Music

      Bass music can be quite hard to define. It is a bit of a catch-all term, used to umbrella a load of sub-genres and interpretations of other genres. For example, bass house, some interpretations of trap and niche interpretations of moombah and garage can sit in this category. But the main ones, in our opinion are below.

      Bass Music Subgenres

      This list could be exhaustive, but again, we’ve stuck to the main ones. Others should arguably be included (UK bass music, moombahton and more) but these two encapsulate the genre best and are less ambiguous, in our humble opinion.

      • Bass House
      • Trap

      Bass House

      This is a far more dancefloor-centered version of house. its origins are debateable but one source traces it to the mid-2010s, when dubstep was declining in popularity and the UKG, house and bassline scenes were on the rise. It’s high energy, bass-heavy (obviously) and designed to get the crowd going.

      Trap

      Now, this one could’ve easily sat under dubstep, or even hip hop (if we had included in this article). We’ve gone for bass music though, as, again, it’s a bit of a hybrid genre. It evolved in the early 2010s out of the dubstep scene, blending with more American-influenced trap hip hop from Atlanta.

      Disco

      Evolving from Philadelphia’s 1960s and 1970s R&B scene, as well as other African-American and Latino music scenes at the time, it was major players such as Stevie Wonder, The O’Jays, Gloria Gaynor and Donna Summer who pioneered this ground-breaking sound, which dominated the 1970s and 1980s. Seriously influential, it’s continued to evolve and is arguably the reason many other genres on this list exist.

      Disco Subgenres

      Some would argue every other genre in this list is a sub-genre of disco, but we’ll be looking at some of the more direct, modern offshoots of this pioneering and classic genre.

      • Electro Disco
      • Nu-Disco
      • Italo/ Euro Disco

      Electro Disco

      Loads of funk and a futuristic vibe, electro disco is strongly influenced by German luminaries Kraftwerk – and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Most, if not all, instrumentation is replaced with synthesisers and other electronic alternatives such as vocoders.

      Nu-disco

      Not to be confused with disco house or French disco, nu-disco appeared in the mid to late 1990s. DJ Harvey and Gerry Rooney get the lion’s share of the credit, as their label Black Cock Records released unofficial edits and remixed funk, rock and disco tracks. Other notable pioneers are Dave Lee (FKA Joey Negro) and Crazy P.

      Italo/ French/ Euro Disco

      It’s probably not fair to lump these all together, but the European disco scene is a thriving one with many components and scenes in it, so we’ll approach the continent as a whole. Emerging in the 1970s and consistently adapting, we’d look to the uplifting takes of Mark Ashley, Irene Cara and Laura Branigan to get a feel for this sound.

      Drum and Bass

      A truly British genre (and a great British export), drum and bass was born as many subcultures collided in the UK underground dance scene – most notably breakbeat and jungle. It stripped elements from the aforementioned genres and has had a thriving scene in the UK – and now globally – for over 25 years. With a seemingly endless number of sub-genres, even the scene itself can’t decide which ones are ‘official’, so we’ve stuck to the ‘main’ ones.

      Drum and Bass Subgenres

      • Tech Drum and Bass
      • Neurofunk
      • Liquid
      • Jump Up
      • Dancefloor Drum and Bass

      Tech Drum and Bass

      With more of an organic sound and feel, tech drum and bass tends to be deeper, with a raw percussive sound that sticks to the core elements of the genre and delivers more of a rolling rhythm. Some of the bigger names are Break, DLR, Konflict and Bad Company.

      Neurofunk

      One of the more extreme and futuristic takes on the genre, Neurofunk has been heavily influenced by trailblazers across Europe and New Zealand. With a robotic edge and plenty of funk (as the name suggests) this could only be listened to in a club – or maybe a fight club. Head to NOISA, Black Sun Empire, State of Mind and, more recently, AKOV to get a feel for it.

      Liquid

      The Liquid sound is centred on more melodic elements and has absorbed many influences, from jazz to an EDM vibe. Look to London Elektricity, Camo & Krooked, Calibre and Netsky for the bigger proponents.

      Jump Up

      Not for the faint-hearted, the jump up sound is one of the more aggressive-sounding; a UK-centric contingent– and a divisive one. DJ Hazard, Taxman, Annix and Macky Gee are a good representation of the jump up vibe.

      Dancefloor

      This is a relatively new sub-genre of drum and bass, and though all drum and bass could be classed as dancefloor, this definition speaks to the sound that doesn’t quite fit into any of the above. The likes of RAM Records and artists including Dimension, Grafix, Metrik, Wilkinson and Sub Focus are your go-tos here.

      Dubstep

      Originating in the UK underground dance music scene in the early 2000s, dubstep took the world by storm over the next 15 years or so. Some say it blew up too quickly, leading to what many felt was a bastardisation of its roots. This is another genre that, due to its relative infancy, tends to provoke arguments about how you define a true subgenre…

      Dubstep Subgenres

      We’ve tried to stick to what we feel are the main subgenres – you will most likely have different names for each of these – but we’ll explain what we mean by each one. We tended to approach dubstep in a more linear fashion, as a technique to break it down, so let’s delve in.

      • Classic
      • Tear Out
      • Brostep
      • Deep
      • Chilled

      Classic

      This is the original dubstep: garage, dub and reggae-influenced with a major focus on the lower end of the frequencies. This emerged in the very early 2000s and was pioneered by the likes of Hatcha, Coki, DMZ, Skream, Benga and N-Type.

      Tear Out

      Far more mid-frequencies and with more of a raucous approach, this was one of the first evolutionary steps of the dubstep sound. Up to this point, there wasn’t as much of a focus on getting the dancefloor rocking, but the likes of Caspa, Rusko, Coki, Emalkay and Doctor P changed that.

      Brostep

      It’s from this point that the dubstep scene started to really fracture and divide. As the sound was exported to the US and producers interpreted it with more of a rock or metal sentiment, many of the original fans felt it was too much of a departure from its roots.

      Others, though, couldn’t get enough of it and it transported the scene to stadiums, festival headline slots and commercial radio. Skrillex, Zomboy, Datsik, Eptic and Flux Pavilion are a good representation of this sound.

      Deep

      This is essentially the modern interpretation of the classic sound that pays homage to those early days. It was this contingent of the scene that opposed the ‘bro’ sound the most. Artists such as J Kenzo, Truth, Kaiju and Kryptic Minds.

      EDM

      Now then, we have a seriously contentious entry on this list. EDM. Standing for Electronic Dance Music. Is it even a genre? Or is it just a catch-all statement abbreviated and overly used to describe specific types of electronic music?

      All of those questions and more have been debated for over a decade now. So, we’re going to just let you know how we’re defining this type of electronic music – purely for the sake of this article. When we reference EDM in this sense, we’re looking to that ‘big room’, stadium or Tomorrowland-festival style house music. Think Guetta, Swedish House Mafia and the like.

      EDM Subgenres

      With the above in mind, it kind of means sub genres here aren’t as relevant, as all EDM is, within this article at least, is that big house sound that dominated the UK and US charts for virtually the whole of the 2010s. With that in mind, we’re going to list a few artists instead, so you get what we’re calling EDM.

      EDM Artists

      • David Guetta
      • Martin Garrix
      • Deadmau5
      • Marshmello
      • Avicii
      • Calvin Harris
      • Steve Aoki

      Garage

      Born at Paradise Garage in 1970s and 1980s New York, garage is often associated with the UK scene, with many Brits unaware of its American roots. Since the 1990s, the UK grew obsessed with the sound and it helped set the foundations for many new subgenres.

      Garage Subgenres

      We wanted to show just how much this genre led to new sounds, so we’ve gone against our criteria for other genres in this article, to illustrate the point.

      • UK Garage
      • Speed Garage
      • 4/4
      • Bassline
      • Grime

      UK Garage

      When you say garage in the UK, this is what most people will think of. The 90s were its heyday. It was a vibe created through the UK underground dance club scene and seemingly nothing could stop it from hitting the mainstream. Artists like M. J. Cole, Artful Dodger, Zed Bias, So Solid Crew, Craig David and Ms Dynamite are major players of this sound.

      Speed Garage & 4X4

      These are the more high-octane takes on the garage sound. By taking 4-to-the-floor New York garage, speeding it up, and combining it with breakbeats, a far more chaotic sound was born. We know, 4x4 and speed garage aren’t technically the same thing, but their origins and sounds are so linked we’ve put them together. Some would even argue 4x4 is an umbrella term for speed garage and our next subgenre. Check out artists like 187 Lockdown, Todd Edwards, Double 99 and Groove Armada.

      Bassline

      For a while this sound was massive in the UK, it then went through a period of becoming almost comical. Now though, the UK bassline scene is thriving. Similar to speed garage in many ways, this takes that 4X4 vibe to new levels of energy. Artists such as DJ Q, Flava D, TS7 and Platnum are a good representations.

      Grime

      This is a seriously contentious subgenre for the garage section. However, if there was no garage, there would certainly be no grime. In fact, most of the pioneering grime vocalists, producers and DJs started out in the garage scene. Grime went on to become a British institution in its own right. If you’re not familiar, listen to the likes of Kano, Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, Skepta, Ghetts and D Double E.

      Jungle

      Jungle is the UK-export that came before drum and bass. It’s far more percussive in approach, it has very strong Caribbean influences and was born out of the Soundsystem Culture in the early 1990s UK underground scene. It’s widely accepted that, without this, you wouldn’t have drum and bass.

      Subgenres of Jungle

      Emerging out of the breakbeat and hardcore scenes of the late 80s in the UK, it’s actually debateable that jungle itself was a sub-genre of those scenes. It’s also largely debateable if jungle really has sub-genres. However, for the purpose of this article, there’s one we’re highlighting.

      • Ragga

      Ragga

      Ragga jungle is the far more reggae-influenced sound within the jungle scene. You’ve got some awesome artists that have been flying this flag for years but some of the more recent ones to know about are Chopstick Dubplate, Krinjah and Congo Natty. The difference between this jungle and the ‘original’ jungle is that is has more completely original productions, whereas the original jungle was heavily reliant on samples.

      Hardcore

      Without question one of the unapologetically intense genres within the universe of electronic music, hardcore is even heavier than its name suggests. There are three sub genres we’re going to look into here, all of which may be a shock to the system if you’ve not heard this particular genre than was a product of many scenes colliding – including techno, metal and rock.

      Hardcore Subgenres

      The three sub genres of hardcore may be hard to differentiate between to the newer listen, but they actually have very unique takes on this in-your-face sound.

      • Gabber
      • Happy Hardcore
      • Hardstyle

      Gabber

      Started in Rotterdam and gaining huge popularity in the Netherlands and north of the UK, gabber first came to fruition in the 1990s. Its never quite broken the mainstream, much to the joy of its most passionate followers, but saw a slight change in perception in the 2010s when tastemaker DJs were flirting with the sound in their sets. Head to artists like Paul Elstak, Out Of Cookies and Renae.

      Happy Hardcore

      Probably one of the most joyous yet intense genres to have ever existed, Happy Hardcore is quite an acquired taste. Also born in the 1990s, this time across multiple European countries on the continent and also from the UK’s breakbeat scene, Happy Hardcore is often argued as the most popular of the hardcore sounds. Check out Force & Styles, Toytown and Sy & Demo.

      Hardstyle

      Largely regarded as the most successful out of this scene, Hardstyle has held a loyal following across Europe ever since its inception in the 1990s. As you’re probably noticing a theme emerging, this was also born in the Netherlands and has been a mainstay in the region ever since, with some of the biggest festivals dedicated to the sound. Notable artists include The Prophet, Technoboy and Tweekacore.

      House

      Debatably the most easily recognised and popular of the genres on this list, house music can be traced back to 1980s at pioneering clubs in Chicago. Since then, the genre has taken on many different forms as different nations and cultures interpreted the sound. Like many others on this list, this genre can seemingly have an endless amount of sub genres depending on where you’re from. So let’s take a look.

      House Subgenres

      As we said, this is a subjective question. We could’ve had a house subgenre list twice this size, however, to keep it more succinct, the below are what we’ve agreed are the main ones. Notable absentees from this include; Balearic, Tropical, Tribal, New Jersey, Latin, Jersey, Italo, French, Dutch and Chicago. We could go on, but let’s get into what we see as the main house genres.

      • Acid House
      • Ambient House
      • Classic House
      • Deep House
      • Electro House
      • Funky House
      • Future House
      • Progressive House
      • Tech House

      Acid House

      Starting in the mid-1980s in Chicago, Acid House was quickly adopted in the UK. Connected by what can only be described as a ‘squelching’ sound the Roland TB-303 synthesizer-sequencer helps to create – as well as the accompanying basslines, this type of house completely exploded in the UK into the late 1980s. Listen to DJ Pierre, Phuture and A Guy Called Gerald.

      Ambient House

      Delivering what it says on the tin, Ambient House is credited to being born by The Orb at the nightclub, Heaven. It first emerged a little after Acid House in the late 1980s. Head to artists including The Orb, The KLF and Bull Drummond.

      Classic House

      Essentially the type of house that stays true to the genre’s roots of the clubbing seen in 1980s Chicago, classic house is less of a sub genre and more of a reference point. You want artists like Marshall Jefferson, Todd Terry, Frankie Knuckles and Kerri Chandler.

      Deep House

      Making use of a deeper aesthetic, muted basslines and allowing more room for the percussion to breathe, deep house started in the 1980s as fusion between Chicago House, jazz-funk and elements of soul. Listen to Miguel Migs, Kaskade, Lisa Shaw, Saison and Sebb Junior.

      Electro House

      A far more commercial sound, the electro house style can be very varied (some would argue many we’ve put in “EDM” are in fact electro house artists). It first emerged late 1990s and it arguably reached a peak in popularity in the 2010s. Head to people such as Daft Punk, Bloody Beetroots, Basement Jaxx and Feed Me.

      Funky House

      Blending the worlds of funk, disco and house, with influences from across many decades dating back to the 1970s, funky house is another subgenre that lives up to its name. Record labels such as Defected Records, Ministry of Sound and Hed Kandi will give you a good idea of this sound, including artists such as Dave Lee, Dennis Ferrer, Armand Van Helden and Shapeshifters.

      Future House

      Emerging in the 2010s, Future House blends elements of UK Garage and deep house. It’s a bass-driven, as opposed to melodically or funk driven subgenre and very popular in the UK. Lucky Luke, Nu Aspect, The Him and Tchami will give you a good idea of this scene.

      Progressive House

      Emerging in the early 1990s, the progressive style is largely credited with being produced from the developing UK scene. Long, drawn out build ups and plenty of melody can be found within this sound. Made particularly popular by the likes of Martin Garrix, Swedish House Mafia and Deadmau5 in the early 2010s. Artists include Tiesto, Hardwell, Deadmau5 and Cid Inc.

      Tech House

      Blending the worlds of techno and progressive house, tech house features more rough basslines and hard hitting beats mixed with melodics and groove to create a pretty unique and hugely popular sound. Kicking off in the mid to late 1990s you want to check out the likes of Jamie Jones, Carl Cox, Hot Since 82 and  Patrick Topping.

      Techno

      Dating back to 1970s Europe, with some of its main influences including Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream and C.J. Bolland, techno has spawned many subgenres since then. From the more experimental, ethereal and melodic to the dancefloor-catered, bass-heavy and industrial cuts, techno is a great genre to explore so let’s get into it.

      Techno Subgenres

      The spectrum of techno is one of the most diverse in this list, and many producers from the different genres in this list, such as drum and bass, directly reference techno as an influence on their production approaches. Just as a quick caveat, many think you could include genres such as hardcore, trance and tech house in this list below as the genre directly influenced them, however, we’ve tried to keep to the main subgenres – rather than the other genres this one inspired.

      • Minimal
      • Ambient
      • Industrial
      • IDM
      • Detroit
      • Trance
      • Deep Techno

      Minimal

      It is what it says on the tin. It’s stripped back, it’s repetitive and it’s understated. Originating in Detroit in the early 1990s, key artists here include Richie Hawtin, Robert Hood, Ricardo Villalobos and Jeff Mills.

      Ambient

      Sometimes known as intelligent techno, ambient techno has bundles of atmosphere and rhythm. This genre is seen as being very close to tech house and if you’re looking for a taster you should check out Aphex Twin, Autechre, Orbital, The Black Dog and Laurel Halo.

      Industrial

      Sitting at the heavier and darker end of the techno scale, industrial techno originates from the 1990s and can be the style gets the biggest reaction in the rave. Artists here to go to are Adam X, Orphx, Blawan, Karenn and Ancient Methods.

      IDM

      Intelligent Dance Music dates back to the early 1990s and is less catered to dancefloors and more suited to lounges and home chilling. Many artists that are maybe closer aligned to other sub-genres on this list will also create IDM. However, some key players of this genre include The Future Sound Of London, Luke Vibert, Squarepusher, Ventian Snares and Boards of Canada.

      Detroit

      This is essentially the source. Detroit techno is the original, easy-to-recognise techno from the 1980s, pioneered by the “Belleville Three” – Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunserson and Derrick May. Other artists to head to are Carl Craig, Aril Brikha and Fabrice Lig.

      Deep Techno

      This is a wide sub genre in itself, with many crossover elements from IDM, ambient and minimal techno. The main difference here is deep techno is far more dancefloor orientated than the others mentioned above. Listen to Jamie Jones, Aril Brikha, Joris Voorn, Solomun and Maceo Plex.

      Trance

      Originating in the 1990s as an offshoot from German techno and British hardcore scenes, the trance sound is another that emulates the connotations of its name. Long, drawn out build ups, bags of atmosphere and euphoric builds are a common theme in this genre.

      Trance Subgenres

      There are five key subgenres to the trance sound that we’re going to stick to. Others that you may have expected to see on here would be deep, acid and euro. We’ve deliberately left these out as we see these five as the core ones, with the others having a lot of crossover.

      • Goa
      • Hard
      • Progressive
      • Psychedelic
      • Tech

      Goa

      India, and Goa in particular, have one of the most thriving trance scenes in the world. Their beach parties, all day raves and festivals are becoming something of an iconic centre for the genre for many. Fairly similar sounding to minimal techno in many cases, as well as borrowing many elements from psychedelic trance, head to the likes of Astral Projection, Hallucinogen, Infected Mushroom and Hux Flux.

      Hard

      Originating in Western Europe, the hard trance scene emerged in the early 1990s as a breakaway from the breakbeat and hardcore scenes. Having similarities with the industrial techno sound, artists such as Scot Project, Cosmic Gate, Kai Tracid and, arguably most famously, Scooter.

      Progressive

      This is quite a hard one to define, but it definitely exists in the minds of the people most engaged with the trance scene. Sometimes it can be called uplifting but, seeing as most trance is progressive in nature, it can sometimes be difficult to categorise. By the early 2000s this sound was everywhere and dominated the dancefloors. Artists include Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Faithless and Sasha.

      Psychedelic

      Otherwise known as psytrance or psy, psychedelic trance comes in many different forms but all offer up a high-energy, high-tempo and , as the name suggests, a psychedelic atmosphere. Psychedelic preceded the Goa style and is often the type of trance you immediately think of when you hear the term. There is some crossover here but check out Astrix, Infected Mushroom, Shpongle, 1200 Micrograms and Talamasca for a feel for this genre.

      Tech

      Also known as techno-trance, tech trance draws from, as you might have guessed, the techno scene. Pioneered by Oliver Lieb, along with a few other producers in the European scene, the sound is a little more complex, technical and is driven by impactful kick drums. It’s a real party-catered sound which is led by Marco V, Sander van Doorn, Simon Patterson, W&W and Mark Sherry, to name a few.

      So these – more or less! – are the mainstays in the UK, US and Europe which simply couldn’t be missed. Think you’d call something here by a different name? We’d love to hear it on socials!

      Need Music for Your Project?

      At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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      This page was last updated 12/03/2024.

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      WHAT IS INDIE MUSIC

      WHAT IS INDIE MUSIC?

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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.

        Contents:

        • What is indie music genre? Indie music definition
        • The Scene
        • Album Art and other stuff…
        • Great Indie Bands
          • The Buzzcocks
          • Joy Division
          • New Order
          • The Smiths
          • The Fall
          • The Strokes
          • Arctic Monkeys
          • Florence + The Machine
        • New Indie Music
        • Indie music for your next project

        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.

        Need Music for Your Project?

        At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

        SIGN UP

        This page was last updated 07/03/2024.

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        gillette ads

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

        Leave a Comment / ADVERTISING, FEATURED /
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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.

          gillette put your best face forward

          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.

          Need Music for Your Project?

          At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

          SIGN UP

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

          MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS

          TOP 10 BEST SELLING MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS OF ALL TIME

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            What are the most played songs in movies and the best selling movie soundtrack? From Grease Lightning to the Circle of Life, many of the world’s most famous songs originate from films, so it’s not surprising that some of the most profitable albums in history are movie soundtracks.

            Here, we take you on a musical trip as we round up the bestselling movie soundtracks of all time. We’ll journey across a range of film genres and highlight some of our production genre playlists (in case you’re working on a creative project that we can help out with). Ready to enjoy the ride? Great. Let’s get stuck in!

            The Best Selling Movie Soundtracks

            • The Bodyguard (1992)
            • Saturday Night Fever (1977)
            • Dirty Dancing (1987)
            • Titanic (1997)
            • Grease (1978)
            • Aashiqui (1990)
            • Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)
            • Purple Rain (1984)
            • Flashdance (1983)
            • Bombay (1995)
            • The Lion King (1994)

            Best Selling Movie Soundtracks 10-5

            10. The Lion King (1994)

            Copies Sold: 15 million

            Which Disney movie has the bestselling soundtrack? The Lion King, of course. Inspired by the bible and Shakespeare, The Lion King is Disney’s animated masterpiece. From start to finish the film is emotional, exciting and entertaining.

            And the same goes for its soundtrack. The Lion King is composed by the legendary Hans Zimmer and also features songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, including ‘Hakuna Matata’ and ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’. All of these songs feature Southern African musical elements that help tie the soundtrack to the landscape depicted in the film.

            9. Bombay (1995)

            Copies Sold: 15 million

            The ninth best-selling soundtrack of all time is from Tamil Cinema classic Bombay. The romantic drama film is set in the early 90s and focuses on an inter-religious family coming to terms with the growing tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Bombay (now known as Mumbai).

            The Bombay soundtrack was produced by multifaceted talent AR Rahman; the lyrics to the original Tamil version of the film were written by Vairamuthu and Vaali; the lyrics for the Hindi and Telugu versions of the film were written by Veturi Sundararama Murthy and Mehboob. The collection of songs they created continue to inspire South Asian cinema.

            The most powerful song is ‘Tu Hi Re’ which amplifies the complexities of forbidden love. You can listen to it above.

            8. Flashdance (1983)

            Copies Sold: 20 million

            Flashdance is one of the most memorable dance flicks in film history, and the soundtrack is just as unforgettable. Funnily, the film wasn’t projected to do as well as it did, so the soundtrack was stocked in limited qualities; after a few days, it sold out.

            It’s filled with the vigour of 80s adolescence, especially in Michael Sembello’s ‘Maniac’, Shandi’s ‘He's A Dream’, and standout track, Cara’s ‘Flashdance...What a Feeling’. Feeling nostalgic? Relive your youth by watching the memorable final dance scene, above.

            7. Purple Rain (1984)

            Copies Sold: 20 million

            Prince’s film Purple Rain has arguably equal billing with its dynamic soundtrack, which also doubled as his sixth studio album. The music drives the narrative of the rock musical in ways that are so impressive it won the Oscar for Best Original Score.

            Alongside the groundbreaking power ballad ‘Purple Rain’, the soundtrack features some of the most significant hits in Prince’s discography – including ‘When Doves Cry’, ‘Let’s Go Crazy’ and ‘I Would Die 4 U’. Seriously impressive.

            6. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

            Copies Sold: 20 million

            If you include pirate copies, it is estimated that the soundtrack to Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge – a Hindi-language romance film directed by Aditya Chopra – has sold around 100 million units. But for the purpose of this article, we will stick with the official number of 20 million copies – which is still super impressive.

            The narrative focuses on two Indian Londoners who fall in love on a European trip, but the music is unmistakably Indian. Every song on the soundtrack is big, bright and colourful, and perfectly captures the thrill of young love.

            5. Aashiqui (1990)

            Copies Sold: 20 million

            You may not have heard of the Indian romantic musical Aashiqui but you probably have heard tracks from the Aashiqui soundtrack.

            Composed by creative duo Nadeem–Shravan, one reason the Aashiqui is the bestselling Bollywood soundtrack of all time is because it’s just as key to the storytelling as the visuals. And what’s the story? It focuses on an aspiring singer whose girlfriend becomes a successful model.

            Our favourite song on the Aashiqui soundtrack is ‘Jaan-E-Jigar Jaaneman’, an intrinsically South Asian song that’s immensely hypnotic. Watch and listen above.

            Top 5 Bestselling Movie Soundtracks

            4. Grease (1978)

            Copies Sold: 28 million

            Which film has the best soundtrack? Well, it’s got to be Grease because there’s something for everyone.

            Fan of an emotive ballad? Stick on ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’. Feeling catty? Put ‘Look at Me, I’m Sandra ’ on repeat. Want to duet with your lover? Ask Alexa (or Siri, or Google) to play the number 1 hit, ‘You’re the One That I Want’. If only contemporary albums were so dynamic…

            What you might not know is that most of the songs on the Grease album originate from the original 1971 rock ’n’ roll musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren. This includes ‘Greased Lightning’, ‘We Go Together’ and our favourite, ‘Beauty School Dropout’ (one of our favourite guilty pleasures).

            3. Titanic (1997)

            Copies Sold: 30 million

            The Titanic was a sinking ship, but James Cameron’s epic blockbuster certainly wasn’t, as the 90s film continues to attract audiences to this day. In fact, the film has proven so popular since its release, it ranks third in the highest-grossing films of all time (currently sitting around $2.195 billion) and its soundtrack ranks fourth in the bestselling soundtracks of all time.

            And while James Horner’s orchestral compositions are nothing short of sublime, we bet our bottom dollar that most of the 30 million sales are thanks to Celine Dion’s magnificent, award-winning vocals. ‘My Heart Will Go On’ won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and also picked up four awards at the 1999 Grammys, and we totally understand why.

            3. Dirty Dancing (1987)

            Copies Sold: 32 million

            The bestselling movie soundtrack in the UK ever is Dirty Dancing. But it wasn’t just the Brits that were enthralled by Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey’s chemistry, it was the whole world.

            The soundtrack brims with iconic hits, including ‘Be My Baby’ by The Ronettes, ‘Do You Love Me’ by The Contours and ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow’ by The Shirelles. But, the standout hit from the motion picture is one that was new to audiences at the time; it’s now credited as the theme tune for Dirty Dancing. It goes without saying we’re referring to Bill Medley and Jennifer Warner’s ‘(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life’.

            2. Saturday Night Fever (1977)

            Copies Sold: 40 million

            Saturday Night Fever is a quintessential 70s disco movie featuring the second best-selling soundtrack in film history. Fun fact: the album stayed at the top of the charts for 24 straight weeks back in 1978. Cool, right?

            The film focuses on a young Italian-American man (played by John Travolta) and his passion for disco dancing, and features a soundtrack that is aptly filled with disco anthems – many of which come from funky British band the Bee Gees. We’re talking songs such as ‘Stayin’ Alive’, ‘Night Fever’ and ‘More than a Woman’. Interestingly, the band didn’t even get involved in the film until post production; while filming his scenes, John Travolta was actually dancing to the likes of Boz Scaggs and Stevie Wonder…!

            1. The Bodyguard (1992)

            Copies Sold: 45 million

            What is the best-selling movie soundtrack of all time? It’s The Bodyguard soundtrack. Obviously.

            The film, which grossed $411 million, features a soundtrack that’s sold over 45 million copies – a testament to the unparalleled star power of the late Whitney Houston.

            Produced by Houston and Clive Davis, the soundtrack features some of the singer's most memorable hits, including ‘I Have Nothing’, ‘Run to You’ and, of course, her world-renowned rendition of Dolly Parton’s ‘I Will Always Love You’. Just thinking about it is inspiring us to run a bath, light a few candles and play it on repeat.

            The Soundtrack to Your Next Project

            So, there you have it: the best movie soundtracks of all time. We really hope you enjoyed these wonderful movie soundtracks!

            What do they have in common? They all make an impact – whether that’s to encourage the audience to get up and dance or make them uncontrollably teary.

            Want to create your own impactful soundtrack for an upcoming project? Say no more. Here at Audio Network we’ve got music of all types for every mood and emotion.

            Need Music for Your Project?

            At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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            This page was updated 07/03/2024 and 24/05/2024.

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            SEXIST ADS

            SEXIST ADS: LEARN FROM THESE MISTAKES

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              Sexism, defined by Oxford Languages as, ‘prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex’, is still a cause for concern in the 2020s – and, unfortunately, this type of behaviour continues to be normalised by sexist advertisements, whether it be sexist advertisements in 2021 or sexist advertisements 2022.

              Sexism may be a lot more subtle in today’s ads – compared to the heavily sexist ads of the 20th Century, that is – nevertheless, it’s still unnecessary and offensive. One piece of good news is that these ads will no longer air in the UK as the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) recently introduced a ban on sexist advertising as they discovered it can play a part in ‘limiting people’s potential’.

              Here, we explore different sexist ads from across the years and take a look at the music used for them. Looking for ad music? We have a huge range of hand-picked playlists to help you find the perfect track.

              sexist ads

              Recent Sexist Ads

              Sexist Ads 2020

              Over in Oz (circa June 2020), KFC released a festival-inspired ad that focuses on a young woman checking herself out in a stationary car window. As she takes a close look at her reflection, the window rolls down to reveal two young boys and their mother have been watching her through the car window the whole time. Unsurprisingly, the pre-adolescent children are a little caught up with what they’re seeing (quite frankly, they’re practically drooling), and their mother appears to be extremely unimpressed.

              The sexist undertones of this advert lie within antiquated notions that women are objects of desire. This is made even worse when you realise it’s a KFC advert marketing juicy chicken breasts and thighs – hence, it runs the risk of suggesting the young girl is nothing but a piece of meat.

              The song used in the advertisement is the popular 2012 dance-pop track ‘I Love It’ (feat Charlie XCX) by Icona Pop. The music is used to convey good summertime vibes and reaffirm the festival setting. If it’s dance-pop tracks you’re after for your next project, take a look at our dedicated playlist.

              Sexist Ads 2019

              One of the most controversial adverts of 2019 was the Peloton Christmas commercial, created to advertise the brand’s home workout equipment – namely their exercise bike. In the commercial, titled The Gift that Gives Back, a woman is gifted a Peloton bike by her husband. Thereafter, she religiously uses the bike to change her life around.

              The reason why a percentage of women were not onboard with Peloton’s ad is because they felt it suggested women should be constantly dieting. In fact, it affected so many people that, according to CBSN Los Angeles, Peloton stocks plummeted after the ad was released.

              It’s clear the ad was supposed to be fun and light-hearted, as the music used in the ad is nimble and chipper. If you happen to be looking for something similar, make sure you check out our Lifestyle playlist.

              Sexist Ads 2018

              The most sexist ad of 2018 came from Israeli fashion label, Castro. The advert revolves around a woman who drives across a rural landscape in her sports car. Sounds empowering, right? Well, it certainly would be if she didn’t stop off for gas.

              As the woman in question pulls up at what is best described as a gas shack, she's met by the gaze of the scruffy shack owner. As she fills her car up, she parades around the space in her skimpy dress, dancing for the male gaze. But the inappropriateness doesn’t end there: soon after, it’s revealed that she’s kidnapped a young woman who’s stuck in her car boot, wearing nothing but her underwear. It’s implied she’s going to kill her and bury her in the desert. Sexist and violent. Yikes.

              The soundtrack? Blondie’s iconic 70s hit ‘One Way or Another’.

              Sexist Ad 2017

              Another sexist ad from the Aussies. In 2017, automotive servicing company Ultra Tune released a commercial that not only played with passé gender stereotypes, but also featured two busty women for the male gaze.

              At the beginning of the ad, two women are driving along before their Mini’s muffler unexpectedly sets on fire. After the driver uses her Ultra Tune app to summon a mechanic, she and her companion attempt to put out the fire themselves – a scene that is best described as borderline-pornographic. Unfortunately, the two women aren’t savvy enough to put out the fire themselves so the car ends up exploding. The male narrator proceeds to say, ‘avoid unexpected situations’ and as soon as you know it, a male Ultra Tune mechanic appears to rescue the damsels in distress.

              The only inoffensive part of the ad is the chirpy background music that plays throughout. We have similar upbeat songs - have a listen over at our Upbeat Pop and Rock playlist.

              sexist ads ultra tune

              Photo Credit: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

              Sexist Ads 2016

              Shockingly, it was multinational brand Amazon that created one of the most sexist ads of 2016 – more specifically, it came from Amazon India. The ad, titled #WhenAWomanShops, may not be quite as in-your-face sexist as the others that grace this list, but its concept is founded on outmoded conventions.

              The experiment featured in the ad challenges men to predict what their partner will order from Amazon when gifted free credit. Typically, the men forecast their other halves will purchase clothes, make-up and beauty products. The women then defy their expectations by revealing they’ve purchased activity equipment, useful accessories and clothes for their men, proving that many men are still stuck in toxic ways of thinking.

              At least Amazon hits the right spot with its music choice. The orchestral composition makes the experiment an easy-watch and provides it with a healthy pace to follow. Discover more modern orchestra songs over in our catalogue.

              Our Advert-Appropriate Production Music

              If you're looking to create your own ad, then involve both female and male creatives in the whole process. And, of course choose the best music to get your message across! Audio Network has tracks in every genre imaginable. If you want to discover our latest tracks, head over to our new releases.

              Need Music for Your Project?

              At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

              SIGN UP

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

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              AUDIO NETWORK VINYL

              TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MUSIC: YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE

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                When you think of Japanese music, your go-to is probably the bubblegum brightness of J-pop, anime scores and the acclaimed Studio Ghibli films, or the huge array of video game soundtracks by talented Japanese composers. Japan’s musical traditions stretch back over centuries, and is a richly diverse tapestry of cultures. Here, we take you through a history of traditional Japanese music and introduce you to a variety of the genres, many of which are still being created and enjoyed today.

                Traditional Japanese music is also known as ‘hōgaku’, which literally means (home) country music, and usually refers to music from the 17th to the mid-19th centuries. Within this there are many subgenres, including Japanese folk music, court music, Japanese theatrical music and Japanese instrumental music.

                Check out our Japanese playlist for tracks using traditional Japanese instruments.

                Traditional Japanese Music

                • Japanese folk music
                • Japanese court music
                • Japanese theatre music
                • Japanese Instrumental music:
                  • Koto
                  • Shakuhachi
                  • Shamisen
                  • Hichiriki
                  • Komabue
                  • Sho
                  • Biwa

                Japanese Folk Music

                Like many other ancient countries around the world, Japan was influenced by cultures outside its borders from its earliest days. During the 6th to the 8th centuries it engaged, politically and culturally, mainly with China and the Korean Peninsula, and Chinese court music in particular made a significant impact.

                Up to this point, Shinto rituals and ceremonies were the main arena for folk songs, with music accompanied by dancing and singing. There were many local and regional traditions, and knowledge and performance were passed down through generations.

                Japanese folk music is known as min'yō – a compound word bringing together ‘min’ (folk, or the people) and ‘yō’ (song); it’s a word that’s also found in Chinese sources as far back as the 5th century. Many min'yō are connected to specific trades, whilst some accompanying dances are part of religious rituals. As with a lot of Western folk music, min'yō have a regional flavour, with each area of Japan having its own distinct genre.

                The original work-based folk songs were sung unaccompanied. Later, instruments including the shamisen, shakuhachi, and shinobue, as well as various percussion instruments were used.

                However, as the political system became increasingly centralised, these local music traditions found their way to the capital and were absorbed into court music. Professional musicians and dancers were employed in the Imperial court. These positions were hereditary, ensuring an unbroken line of traditions and repertoire continued for centuries.

                Between the ninth and 12th centuries, nobles began to perform music and dance, and learning these skills became an expected accomplishment of those in society’s upper echelons.

                A significant shift came when the Tang Dynasty fell in the 10th century. Imperial envoys were abolished and as a result, there was a significant drop in contact with foreign cultures. This led to more distinctively indigenous versions of music and the emergence of popular songs.

                To this day interest in folk songs and their history and traditions is strong in Japan, with a number of folk song preservation societies acting as gatekeepers of ‘correct’ performance (many responsible for a single local song), together with regional and international folk-based Japanese
                ensembles. However, during the 20th century, many min'yō songs were altered to become increasingly virtuosic, meaning that today, min'yō is studied almost exclusively under professional teachers.

                For a modern take on min'yō, check out the Minyo Crusaders:

                Japanese Court Music

                The music that became the sound of the Kyoto Imperial court is gagaku (it literally means ‘elegant music’). The oldest form of classical music in Japan, it comprises four categories – kangen (an instrumental ensemble), bugaku (dance music), saibara and rōei (songs) and music for Shinto ceremonies (Kuniburi no utamai). As it was only ever heard by royalty and aristocrats, over time gagaku was imbued with reverential respect among ordinary Japanese people.

                Kangen and bugaku’s longest pieces have three movements – introduction (slow), development (breaking), and conclusion (rushing), but the tempo throughout is generally very slow.

                Saibara literally means ‘pack-horse driver songs’ – these were, as you’d expect, based on folk songs, but modified to make them more palatable to the refined ears of those at court. Rōei (chanting) contains texts taken from two collections of Chinese and Japanese poetry.

                A gagaku ensemble is comprised of sixteen musicians, traditionally all men. They use only classic Japanese instruments; woodwinds, strings and percussion. The woodwind includes the sho (mouth organ), hichiriki (double reed flute) and ryūteki (transverse flute), with the koto (the national instrument of Japan), biwa (a lute) and gakuso (13-string zither) in the string section. Percussion is provided by kakko and taiko drums, together with a shoko (metal percussion) and other instruments such as a shaku (a clapper made from a pair of flat wooden sticks).

                Gagaku peaked in popularity between the ninth and 12th centuries, after which it entered a slow decline. However, in 1868, the Meiji emperor revived the Imperial court’s mystique, and in 2009, UNESCO placed gagaku on the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ list.

                Japanese Theatre Music

                Music is central in a much of Japanese theatre. The two main forms are Noh and Kabuki. Noh can be traced back to the Heian period (794-1192); its otherworldly dance-drama performances, passed down through generations, have remained largely unchanged. It uses masks and fantastical costumes, a small number of actors and minimal, stylised movements.

                The texts are partly sung by a choir, the jiutai, (leading to some dubbing it ‘Japanese opera’), and the music is provided by the hayashi: three drummers and a nohkan flutist. Noh is still regularly performed today – there are estimated to be more than 70 Noh theatres in the country, and each Noh school has its own permanent venue.

                Kabuki is characterised by its highly stylized dancing and singing, elaborate make-up and predominantly all-male cast. It originated in the Edo period (1603-1868), and borrowed elements from existing forms of theatre such as Noh.

                The on-stage orchestra for a Kabuki performance comprises several shamisen players, singers and percussionists, all dressed in a type of ceremonial clothing called kamishimo. In addition to this there’s an off-stage orchestra, consisting mainly of percussion instruments.

                Instrumental Music

                One of the key differences between Japanese and Western instrumental music is the way its players approach performance. Traditional Japanese music is characterised by its meditative nature. Similar to marital arts, or arts such as calligraphy and the tea ceremony, the spiritual character of Japanese music requires players to perfect self-mastery and inner strength, rather than simply providing entertainment.

                Performances are usually highly ritualised. Improvisation has practically no role in any of the major genres of East Asian music, and the way that performers play is more akin to choreography. We spoke with Taiko Drummer Joji Hirota at Abbey Road Studios who unpacked why being a Taiko Drummer is akin to being a performer.

                Koto

                The Koto is a 13-stringed zither with moveable bridges. Sankyoku, or ‘music for three’, is the term for koto chamber music (made up of a koto player, who also sings, accompanied by a three-stringed samisen lute and a shakuhachi flute).

                Shakuhachi

                This end-blown flute is made from bamboo and has traditionally been played almost exclusively by men in Japan, although this is now changing. The traditional genres of shakuhachi music are honkyoku (traditional, solo), sankyoku (ensemble, with a koto and shamisen) and shinkyoku (composed for shakuhachi and koto, a new form influenced by Western music).

                To hear how authentic Japanese instruments can be brought together beautifully with a Western orchestra, check out Jérôme Leroy’s Shifting Perspectives.

                Shamisen

                Derived from the Chinese banjo-like instrument, the sanxian, the shamisen arrived in Japan in the 16th century. It has a fretless neck, hollow body and three strings, and is played with a plectrum called a bachi, either solo or in ensembles – for example to accompany Kabuki.

                Hichiriki

                One of the ‘sacred’ instruments, this double-reed Japanese bamboo flute is often heard at Shinto weddings, and its haunting notes sound like a bit like a cross between a clarinet and the high notes of a harmonica. It’s the most widely-used instrument in gagaku and is related to both Chinese and Korean instruments.

                Komabue

                Similar to the ryūteki, but smaller and with six fingerholes instead of seven, the komabue is a transverse (played sideways) flute. Like the shakuhachi, it’s usually an ensemble instrument.

                Sho

                The beautiful sho is a free reed mouth organ with seventeen pipes arranged in a circle, symbolising the phoenix, a symbol of rebirth. The pipes are its wings; the wind chamber its body, the mouth pipe its beak, and its sound the bird’s voice.

                Biwa

                The pear-shaped biwa lute has four or five strings of twisted silk, stretched over four or more frets on a short neck, and is played with a large wooden plectrum. It’s one of the most important string instruments in a gagaku ensemble.

                Now you’re familiar with the genres and instruments of traditional Japanese music, if you’re looking for Japanese music to license, our Sounds of Japan albums have everything you need, including fantastic taiko drumming by acclaimed artist Joji Hirota.

                Need Music for Your Project?

                At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

                SIGN UP

                This page was updated 24/05/2024.

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                subliminal advertising

                WHAT IS SUBLIMINAL ADVERTISING?

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                  A subliminal message is an audio or visual stimuli that’s not perceived by your conscious mind. They’re often put into songs, films or adverts (hidden advertising), as they can be used to enhance the persuasiveness of something – or convey something else entirely.

                  Subliminal messages are below the threshold of conscious perception. You can picture your subconscious mind in the same way as an iceberg, with far more of its mass below the surface than above. As the subconscious, or unintentional aspect of your mind represents around 90% of your total brain function, it’s clearly way more powerful than your conscious mind when it comes to processing information.

                  subliminal advertising

                  The human body sends around 11 million bits per second to the brain for processing; its capacity has been estimated by the researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and by Bell Labs engineer Robert Lucky at 120 bits per second. So that’s the amount of ‘bandwidth’ you have for paying conscious attention to at any given time.  There’s no formal agreement on how fast the subconscious mind is, but scientists posit that it can process up to 500,000 times more than the conscious mind is able to.

                  So, a subliminal message is one that’s bypassing your conscious mind, but being picked up by your subconscious.

                  What Is Subliminal Advertising?

                  Subliminal messaging in ads was first introduced as a concept by James Vickery, and then by Vance Packard in his book from 1952, The Hidden Persuaders, which claimed that Coca-Cola had used subliminal advertising in cinemas to drive sales of drinks and popcorn. (The study the claim was based on was later discredited.)

                  Subliminal Advertising: A Definition

                  According to Campaign magazine, ‘the definition of subliminal advertising is quite broad. By one definition, it is: "The use by advertisers of images and sounds to influence consumers’ responses without their being consciously aware of it."’

                  Potentially convincing people to buy your product or service through subliminal advertising can be done in a number of different ways. Sometimes, it’ll involve words or images being flashed on a screen so briefly that you don’t detect them consciously (try 0.003 seconds). In print advertising or logo design, there may be an image, colour or shape incorporated into it that takes you a while to see – but your subconscious has potentially registered it.

                  Subliminal Advertisement Examples:

                  1. The Amazon Logo

                  It’s a logo you’ve seen a million times, so where’s the subliminal message? Well, have you ever noticed that the arrow points from the ‘a’ to the ‘z’, telling your subconscious mind that you can literally get anything from Amazon? Plus, the arrow looks like a smile, subliminally making you feel good about the brand, so there are actually two messages cleverly hidden in one device.

                  2. The FedEx Logo

                  Bet you’ve never clocked this one – FedEx make clever use of negative space – look between the ‘E’ and the ‘x’ and what do you spot? Yep, another arrow. Created by Landor Associated design bureau in 1994, it’s received more than 40 design awards, and was mentioned in a run-down of the top 10 best emblems by Rolling Stone magazine.

                  3. Toblerone

                  The Toblerone logo isn’t really subliminally selling you anything – unlike FedEx’s subtle promise of speedy deliveries and Amazon’s that you’ll be able to buy anything from A-Z. Look closely at the mountain range, which mimics the chocolate’s distinctively-shaped chunks, and you’ll be able to find a bear standing on its hind legs. Bern, the Swiss capital where the Toblerone bar was created, is called the ‘City of Bears’ and the bear features on its coat of arms – the logo thus pays tribute to the bar’s birthplace.

                  Does Subliminal Advertising Work?

                  In truth, no-one really knows. Most people would likely tell you it doesn’t – in the same way that, despite it being a multi-billion pound global industry dating back to the 15th century, plenty of people tell you they’re never persuaded by ads. That’s more down to people not liking to feel manipulated – and as if they have very little control over their conscious decisions.

                  There are, however, several studies that Philip Merikle, who works for the Department of Psychology at the University of Waterloo, points to that show, ‘considerable information capable of informing decisions and guiding actions is perceived even when observers do not experience any awareness of perceiving.’ Hedging all bets, subliminal advertising has officially been illegal in the UK, US and Australia since 1958.

                  Looking for background music for advertising? Rest assured, none of our music has any subliminal messages in it!

                  The Best Subliminal Messages

                  Subliminal Messaging in Movies

                  Are they subliminal messages, or are they just things that bored movie-makers have put in to entertain themselves? We’ll let you be the judge.

                  1. The Simpsons

                  In The Simpsons, for example, eagle-eyed viewers will have spotted that God and Jesus are the only characters drawn with five fingers (all the other denizens of Springfield have four).

                  2. The Matrix Reloaded

                  Most of the license plates in the Matrix films refer to Bible verses – Trinity and Morpheus’s ‘DA203’ seen in this clip is Daniel 2:03 – ‘I have had a dream that troubles me, and I want to know what it means’.

                  3. The Exorcist

                  What is it with subliminal messages and religion? Perhaps most of them date back to the iconic horror film of 1973, in which a section of garbled speech is revealed when Father Damien Karras plays it backwards. This clip reveals what the demon is saying.

                  4. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

                  Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) visits a Mexican restaurant, whose sign reads ‘Escupinos en su Alimento’, which may be a clue that they’re not going to be enjoying much fine dining – the English translation? ‘We spit in your food’.

                  5. Fight Club

                  Want to rewatch a favourite film to pick up a ton of hidden messages and visual clues you’ve missed? We recommend David Fincher’s cult hit Fight Club as one of the best. When Edward Norton’s Narrator meets charismatic Tyler Durden for the first time, for instance, it’s not actually the first time the audience has seen him: he’s a ‘blip’ in four different frames, including when the Narrator is making photocopies; when he’s leaving the doctor’s; when he sees Marla leaving a therapy session and during a cancer support group. He’s also in the front row of a group of waiters, when the Narrator is watching TV in his hotel room – onscreen, the group say, ‘Welcome’ (Tyler can be seen on the far right.)

                  One of the film’s themes is the pervasiveness of non-stop advertising, which Fincher illustrated by having a Starbucks cup in nearly every scene. And as 11points.com points out, there’s a very subtle hint early on that Tyler isn’t real. When the Narrator’s condo blows up, he calls Tyler from a payphone: no answer. When the phone rings seconds later, the camera zooms in on the payphone. There’s text that says, ‘no incoming calls accepted’ – ie, Tyler couldn’t have called him back on it.

                  Subliminal Messaging in Songs

                  In 1985, two young men were drinking, smoking marijuana and listening to heavy metal records – among them Stained Class, a Judas Priest album. At sunset, one of the men, Raymond Belknap, shot himself and died. His friend, James Vance also attempting to take his own life, but did not die immediately – he died of complications three years later.

                  The two men’s families sued Judas Priest’s label, CBS Records, for $6.2 million, arguing that the pair had been driven to shoot themselves by the track ‘Better by You, Better Than Me’ on Stained Class. The plaintiffs claimed that there was a subliminal message – ‘do it’ – urging listeners to take their lives. The suit was eventually thrown out, but there have been rumours of subliminal messages concealed in music for decades.

                  Who, for example, would’ve thought that the squeaky-clean purveyors of 60s pop The Beatles would’ve hidden subliminal messages in their music? The Fab Four first came across what’s called ‘backmasking’ – recording a message backwards onto a track – when they were making Rubber Soul in 1965. They put a backmasked line into ‘Rain’, a single from 1966.

                  But their use of backmasking led to the group being at the centre of a strange urban legend. In 1969, rumours began spreading that Paul McCartney had died in 1966 and been replaced by a lookalike. One suggestion was that when the White Album’s ‘Revolution 9’ was played backwards, the phrase ‘turn me on, dead man’ could be heard. Plus, if you played the ‘mumbling’ by John Lennon between the songs ‘I’m So Tired’ and ‘Blackbird’ backwards, did it really sound like, ‘Paul is a dead man. Miss him’? It was, of course, all rubbish.

                  However, the band had the last laugh when they created a backmasked message for the 1995 recording of John Lennon’s 1977 demo ‘Free as a Bird’. Released as a studio version 15 years after his death, it featured a clip of Lennon saying ‘turned out nice again’ at the end. McCartney told The Observer, ‘We even put one of those spoof backwards recordings on the end of the single for a laugh, to give all those Beatles nuts something to do.’

                  Other groups who messed about with backmasking include Pink Floyd, whose ‘Empty Spaces’ from The Wall contains the message, ‘Congratulations. You’ve just discovered the secret message. Please send your answer to Old Pink, care of the funny farm, Chalfont…’ ELO, meanwhile, went to the extreme: their 1983 album, Secret Messages, is entirely comprised of reversed vocals.

                  To end on a more upbeat note, Franz Ferdinand decided to subvert the trope that backmasked messages are often ‘Satanic’ by adding one of the best subliminal messages, the phrase ‘She’s worried about you, call your mother’ into ‘Michael’ to add something wholesome. Aww.

                  For more expert articles and inspiration, explore our articles on using music in advertising, films and on YouTube. Our regularly updated playlists have music for every mood or production genre, enabling you to license tracks globally, and for every use.

                  Need Music for Your Project?

                  At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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                  This page was last updated 07/03/2024 and 28/05/2024.

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                  THE BEST FEMALE YOUTUBERS

                  THE BEST FEMALE YOUTUBERS

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                    Looking to quit your job and start a new career as a YouTuber? First things first, it’s paramount that you study the best vloggers making a living from the video platform. Which cameras do they use? What’s their go-to editing software? How do they record fantastic audio? Where do they get their high-quality background music? To help you get started with your research, we’ve put together a list of the best female YouTubers, including UK lifestyle YouTubers and so many more.

                    Below, we introduce you to 30+ female YouTubers who are constantly raising the bar, including Huda Kattan, Jackie Aina, Shameless Maya and Miranda Sings. Naturally, we will also be drawing your attention to our collection of YouTube-appropriate production music that can instantly elevate a vlog.

                    The Best Female YouTubers

                    • Richest Female YouTubers: Huda Kattan, Lilly Singh,
                    • Most Subscribed Female YouTubers: Yuya, Jenna Marbles
                    • Top Female Beauty YouTubers: SaraBeautyCorner, Michelle Phan, Jackie Aina
                    • Female Fitness YouTubers: Yoga With Adrienne, Kayla Istines, FitnessBlender, Nikki Blackketter, POPSUGAR Fitness
                    • Inspirational Female YouTubers: Shameless Maya, Bethany Mota, Rosanna Pansino, Nikki Tutorials
                    • Funny Female YouTubers: Miranda Sings, GloZell Green, Liza Koshy
                    • Black Female YouTubers: Nyma Tang, Patricia Bright, Lyn Allure
                    • Asian Female YouTubers: Weylie Hoang, Jenn Im, Hana Lee, Mayuko Inoue
                    • British Female YouTubers: Carrie Hope Fletcher, Georgia Marie, Niomi Smart, Rose and Rosie
                    • Female Gaming YouTubers: SSSniper Wolf, iHasCupQuake
                    • Female Minecraft YouTubers: LD Shadow Lady, Gamer Girl
                    • Political Female YouTubers: Contrapoints, Lauren Chen

                    Richest Female YouTubers

                    Did you know that a handful of the savviest businesswomen in the world actually started out on YouTube? Off the back of producing enticing vlogs, they soon established a staunch following, so when they then founded brands and followed new career paths, they knew full well that their fans would support them. Evidently, it’s a recipe for success.

                    1. Huda Kattan

                    Subscribers: 4.14m

                    Worth a cool $510 million, Huda Kattan is the beauty blogger and entrepreneur who founded make-up company Huda Beauty in 2006 and Wishful Skincare in 2020.

                    Huda’s YouTube channel has over four million subscribers who are all eager to discover her beauty tips, listen to her stories and be the first to find out about her ventures.

                    2. Lilly Singh

                    Subscribers: 14.7m

                    Lilly Singh rose to fame on the back of her comedy videos satirising Indian and Punjabi culture; unsurprisingly, the ones in which she impersonated her parents have always been super popular.

                    Over the years, she’s picked up just shy of 15 million YouTube subscribers, expanded into movies (including Bad Moms and Fahrenheit 451) and was even given her late-night talk show by NBC, A Little Late with Lilly Singh.

                    Now, she’s estimated to be worth $20 million. You could say she’s laughing all the way to the bank.

                    Most Subscribed Female YouTubers

                    3. Yuya

                    Subscribers: 24.9m

                    Mexican content creator Yuya joined YouTube at the age of 16 after winning a make-up contest. How has she attracted an audience? By creating engaging content covering topics such as beauty, fashion and styling.

                    After building up a loyal fan base, Yuya started launching her own products, including a perfume (#True), a cosmetics line and two books. In other words, she’s #winning.

                    4. Jenna Marbles

                    Subscribers: 20m

                    Kick-starting her YouTube career with 2010 viral video ‘How to Trick People into Thinking You’re Good Looking’ – a video which now boasts 71+ million views – Jenna Marbles used this launchpad to become a successful YouTuber, comedian and actress.

                    12 years later, Jenna Marbles’ vlogs are regularly hitting over three million views, her net worth is estimated at $8 million, and she’s established a line of dog toys inspired by her own canine friends.

                    Top Female Beauty YouTubers

                    Beauty is one of the top-ranking topics on YouTube as thousands of makeovers, how-tos, reviews and hauls are uploaded every day. We’ve already mentioned two of the biggest hitters, Yuya and Huda Beauty, so, who are the best of the best?

                    5. SaraBeautyCorner

                    Subscribers: 10.5m

                    Slovenian vlogger Sara Lawler’s fun approach to make-up and fashion attracts plenty of teenage fans. She has over 10 million subscribers, and she’s confidently proclaimed that she has the ‘coolest and funniest beauty videos’ on the net.

                    Seemingly, there is method in her madness as one of her ‘school pranks’ videos has clocked up over 160 million views. We’ve got the feeling Sara owes some of her success to her fitting music choices, which truly help her stand out from the crowd.

                    6. Michelle Phan

                    Subscribers: 8.82m

                    Michelle was one of the earliest beauty influencers: she established her channel all the way back in 2006. She pivoted into the beauty business with monthly subscription service Ipsy, and she still shares beauty tips and make-up tutorials with her 8.82 million subscribers.

                    Altogether, Michelle has generated over 1.1 billion lifetime views! Plus she’s said to have a net worth of $50 million. We guess it makes sense considering she runs a women’s lifestyle network FAWN (For All Women’s Network), a cosmetics line with L’Oreal and a platform for artists to promote their music called Shift Music Group. Not bad for someone who, ‘didn’t have a roadmap; I just did it because it was meaningful to me, and I wanted to disrupt the beauty industry.’

                    7. Jackie Aina

                    Subscribers: 3.57m

                    Jackie aims to, ‘Change the standard of beauty, one video at a time.’ Her content is centred around all things make-up and skincare, and she’s known for her vibrant, positive energy (and her $1 million net worth).

                    Most importantly, Jackie is an advocate for the representation of people of colour in the industry, and she’s had brand partnerships with Sephora, Two Faced and Anastasia Beverly Hills.

                    Top Fitness Female YouTubers

                    Over the couple of years, YouTube exercise classes have been a saviour for those of us stuck at home. But who are the top female fitness YouTubers?

                    8. Yoga with Adriene

                    Subscribers: 10.5m

                    If you haven’t heard of Austin-based yoga teacher Adriene Mishler, then where on earth have you been? She joined YouTube in 2012 with a mission to connect as many people as possible through high-quality free yoga videos. It’s safe to say she’s succeeded.

                    Why do people tune into Adriene’s vlogs? Well, she’s down to earth, friendly, and often includes cameos from her adorable dog Benji. On her channel, Adriene has everything from Yoga for Beginners to a variety of 30-day challenges so – no matter what level you’re at – she’s got the content to keep you motivated.

                    9. Kayla Itsines

                    Subscribers: 400k

                    Aussie personal trainer Kayla began her YouTube journey in 2012. Her experience as a dynamic fitness influencer has earned her the top spot on Forbes’ list of Top Fitness Influencers; plus, she's also one of Time magazine’s top 30 most influential people on the internet.

                    She’s best known for her fitness app, BBG (Bikini Body Guide) workouts – from ‘Stronger to Pregnancy’ to ‘Zero Equipment’ – and line of bestselling books. Oh, and we’ve got to mention that she’s got over 13 million followers on Instagram. In short, she’s dominating every field she can.

                    10. FitnessBlender

                    Subscribers: 6.63m

                    Husband and wife duo Daniel and Kelli have over 600 free, full-length workout videos on YouTube – and they continue to add new videos each week. Plus, they produce videos offering tips about health, nutrition, fitness and more. How’s it working out for them? Well, they have over 6.5 million subscribers and have an estimated net worth of $4 million, so, pretty good!

                    No equipment is needed to workout with Daniel and Kelli, so pull up your leg warmers, grab a bottle of water and get started!

                    11. Nikki Blackketter

                    Subscribers: 729k

                    Nikki hails from LA and posts daily vlogs on fitness and weightlifting, together with adventures with her room mate, friends, family and her cat. Plus, she’s a committed gamer – she even has a separate gaming YouTube channel!

                    Moving back to her fitness channel, she describes her speciality as ‘glute/booty and leg lifts’. And with 729,000 subscribers currently, it appears quite a lot of people are keen to attain Nikki’s physique.

                    12. POPSUGAR Fitness

                    Subscribers: 5.87m

                    Do you want variety? Get yourself subscribed to POPSUGAR Fitness – it’s literally got something for everyone. Host Anna Renderer works out alongside an expert team of fitness professionals – including some of Hollywood’s most sought-after celebrity trainers who take on everything from tabata to barre, hip hop to HIIT, no equipment abs to dynamic yoga.

                    So far, the channel has clocked up over 600 million views and has over 5.5 million subscribers. We wonder how far POPSUGAR can take it.

                    Inspirational Female YouTubers

                    13. Shameless Maya

                    Subscribers: 1.2m

                    ‘What would happen if I shamelessly promoted myself for 365 days?’ This was the question and social experiment that kick-started Maya Washington’s channel in 2012. Sure, Shameless Maya may have begun as an experiment, but now it’s the multifaceted talent’s lifestyle.

                    She shares videos on lifestyle, inspiration, transformations and techie content for ‘aspiring geeks’ and boasts over one million subscribers.

                    14. Bethany Mota

                    Subscribers: 9.67m

                    Bethany’s 9.8 million subscribers are known as ‘Mota-vators’, and they’ve helped her to hit the coveted 1 billion views mark.

                    Her wide-ranging content covers style, travel, comedy, beauty, cooking, positivity and more. Plus, she’s known for sharing anti-bullying and tolerance messages. If Bethany doesn’t mota-vate you to be a better person, no one will.

                    15. Rosanna Pansino

                    Subscribers: 13.1m

                    Recipe queen Rosanna runs a channel that features everything from videos focusing on fun holiday treats (her Spider-Man candy apples have racked up 66 million views) to ‘How to make a Disney Princess sisters cake’, a vlog viewed an astonishing 223 million times. Mostly by parents whose kids are huge Frozen stans, we’re guessing.

                    The success of her cooking show, Nerdy Nummies, has led to Pansino publishing three cookbooks, and with over 13 million subscribers under her belt and a net worth of around $9 million, we can’t wait to see what she does next.

                    16. Nikkie Tutorials

                    Subscribers: 13.9m

                    Also known as one of the best female beauty YouTubers, Nikkie de Jager, aka Nikkie Tutorials, is one of the most inspirational and influential figures on the platform, with nearly 14 million subscribers and views over 1 billion.

                    Her online fame kicked off when her ‘The Power of Make-up’ transformation went viral over a decade ago, and she’s now got a thriving career in the beauty industry, with brand partnerships and a role as Global Beauty Advisor for Marc Jacobs Beauty.

                    Nikkie’s new ‘Layers of Me’ series takes you behind the scenes of her life as a vlogger. With over 3.5 million views and over 4,600 comments, her fans are clearly eager to know more about what goes on behind the camera and the ring lights.

                    Funny Female YouTubers

                    17. Miranda Sings

                    Subscribers: 10.9m

                    Colleen Ballinger is the woman behind Miranda Sings: a channel that she originally created as a joke for her theatre friends. If you’re not familiar with the YouTube character, know that she is a homeschooled teen from Tacoma, with misapplied lipstick and a strong belief in her own singing talent (despite the fact that she couldn’t actually carry a tune in a bucket).

                    Colleen’s video ‘Free Voice Lesson’ went viral in 2009, and her ‘Mirfandas’ now follow her across YouTube (10.9 million subscribers), Instagram (6.2 million followers) and Netflix (she created and starred in the show Haters Back Off).

                    18. GloZell Green

                    Subscribers: 4.62m

                    GloZell shot to fame when her hilarious Cinnamon Challenge video went viral in 2012. It’s now hit 58 million views and has over half a million likes.

                    She’s been sharing humorous videos on her channel with her millions of subscribers since 2008 and even interviewed Barack Obama in a YouTube Livestream hosted at the White House in 2015. Basically, YouTube changed her life. Watch the trailer to The GloZell Show below.

                    19. Liza Koshy

                    Subscribers: 17.5m

                    Liza began her career on Vine in 2013, before switching to YouTube. She’s now an actress, TV host and comedian and, since 2018, produces and stars as the title character in the YouTube Premium comedy series Liza on Demand.

                    Liza ranks as one of the most popular female YouTubers, with over 17 million subscribers, and her two channels have more than three billion combined views. She’s received four Streamy Awards and has been included on the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 Hollywood & Entertainment list and on Time’s list of the 25 Most Influential People on the Internet.

                    Black Female YouTubers

                    20. Nyma Tang

                    Subscribers: 1.35m

                    Born in Ethiopia to South Sudanese parents in 1991, Nyma Tang moved to the US when she was three. 26 years later, she launched her online career with YouTube series The Darkest Shade in which she reviewed the darkest shades of products from different make-up brands. One of the key reasons she started this series was to highlight the under-representation of deeper skin tones within the beauty industry.

                    Now, Nyma is a world-renowned beauty vlogger and activist, and 1.35m subscribers support her fight against discrimination.

                    21. Patricia Bright

                    Subscribers: 2.86m

                    Former investment banker Patricia Bright is, quite fittingly, a ray of sunshine in our lives, and the lives of the rest of her 2.86m subscribers. The 30-something-year-old Brit is a total all-rounder: she’s been giving us advice on everything from fashion to beauty to home interiors for over a decade, and, to date, has racked up over 352 million views.

                    These days, Patricia is not just a lifestyle vlogger, she's also a wife and a mum! And it's no coincidence that our favourite vlogs feature her super lovable family. Oh, and lest we forget, she’s also a critically-acclaimed author – check out her motivational book Heart and Hustle: Use Your Passion. Build Your Brand. Achieve Your Dreams.

                    22. Lyn Allure

                    Subscribers: 419k

                    On her channel, Lyn Allure discusses self-improvement, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, personal finances and all things money – from making it in life to saving and investing. Her series Good Girl Gone Boss looks at side hustles, money management, the law of attraction, personal development and more; essentially, the series is about transitioning from being an employee to becoming your own boss full time.

                    Lyn uploads new videos every Sunday and Wednesday to inspire her subscribers to follow their own entrepreneurial journey. Are they worth watching? Her 419,000 subscribers would certainly argue so.

                    Asian Female YouTubers

                    23. Weylie Hoang

                    Subscribers: 1.72m

                    Weylie Hoang is a Chinese vlogger in her late 20s who describes herself as, ‘the sister you never had… or the sister you never wanted’. Most of her content is lifestyle-based, from food to fitness, but she also talks about her relationship, mental health and her quest to learn Chinese.

                    Having grown up Chinese-American, Weylie uses her story to encourage her 1.7 million subscribers to embrace their culture, whatever that may be. Now that’s an inspiring way to use a platform.

                    24. Jenn Im

                    Subscribers: 3.14m

                    South Korean-American Jenn produces relatable make-up, beauty and lifestyle vlogs under the moniker ClothesEncounters. She also celebrates her South Korean roots with videos such as ‘Easy Korean Recipes’ and ‘Cooking a Korean Feast’, often featuring her parents.

                    Over the years, Jenn has garnered over 350 million views and has worked with the likes of Calvin Klein, Levi’s, Macy's and Clinique.

                    25. Hana Lee

                    Subscribers: 343k

                    Hana Lee does everything from styling videos based on her favourite anime characters to fun make-up inspired by the ‘mean girl’ and ‘nice girl’ tropes from K-drama.

                    Hana also loves K-Pop and is learning Korean. Since Korean culture has been such huge news as of late, it’s unsurprising to discover Hana has such a large audience. 343,000 subscribers, to be exact.

                    26. Mayuko Inoue

                    Subscribers: 495k

                    California-based Mayuko Inoue is more than just a Japanese American vlogger – she is also a software engineer who exercised her skills at Netflix and a handful of Silicon Valley companies. In other words, she’s super cool.

                    How does Mayuko come up with the topic of her blogs to impress her almost 500,000 subscribers? She creates vlogs about whatever’s on her mind. From her vlogs ‘Fostering Creativity as an Asian American’ to ‘What Does ‘Senior’ Engineer Software Mean?’, Mayuko Inoue keeps the views rolling in, in weird, wonderful and thought-provoking ways.

                    British Female YouTubers

                    Who are the Brits you should be liking and subscribing to? Well, there’s quite a few. Our little nation stands up well in the world of YouTube.

                    27. Carrie Hope Fletcher

                    Subscribers: 652k

                    Carrie is a West End star, singer-songwriter, musician, author and lifestyle YouTuber whose subscribers love her candour and attitude. Carrie is currently the star of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella; thus, her vlog explores all of the ongoings behind the scenes at the Gillian Lynne Theatre.

                    Alongside theatre-centric videos, Carrie keeps her 652,000 subscribers entertained by discussing fashion, literature, self-care and more.

                    28. Georgia Marie

                    Subscribers: 204k

                    27-year-old Georgia Marie is a creator who loves sharing stories from history (most of them, lesser-known) as well as unsolved true crime cases. Different, right?

                    Each video is feature-length and Georgia is a great storyteller, no matter if the story is spooky, awe-inspiring or mysterious.

                    29. Niomi Smart

                    Subscribers: 1.54m

                    Niomi is the go-to girl for vegan lifestyle content. She mainly vlogs about wellness, everyday recipes, healthy food swaps, organic make-up, sustainable fashion tips and training to become a yoga teacher, which her 1.5 million subscribers love.

                    One of Niomi’s most viewed series is What I Eat in a Day. These vlogs have been filmed everywhere from LA to Bali to Thailand, and it’s always interesting to see how she finds tasty vegan food everywhere across the globe.

                    30. Rose and Rosie

                    Subscribers: 1.01m

                    Married couple Rose and Rosie are on a mission to dispel myths surrounding the LGBTQ+ community as they talk about their lives, play video games and make up songs.

                    It’s impossible not to love Rose and Rosie’s warm, honest approach, especially when it comes to sex and relationships. They also run vlogging channel The Roxetera and a gaming channel called Let’s Play Games.

                    Female Gamers on YouTube

                    31. SSSniper Wolf

                    Subscribers: 30.5m

                    Lia – aka SSSniper Wolf – has nearly 25 million subscribers to her gaming channel, launched in 2011. In case you’re wondering, the name SSSniper Wolf came from Sniper Wolf: the name of one of the main antagonists and bosses of Metal Gear Solid.

                    SSSniper Wolf’s tips for YouTube success? ‘Don’t do it to make money. You should genuinely care about your audience and want to make people happy, entertain them, and help them escape from any problems they may have that are bothering them.’ Find out how to follow in Lia’s

                    footsteps with tips on the best gaming software.

                    32. iHasCupQuake

                    Subscribers: 6.97m

                    Tiffany Herrera is a famous gamer, better known by her YouTube handle, iHasCupQuake. She’s the current holder of the Guinness World Record: Gamer’s Edition for Most Popular Female Games Broadcaster on YouTube. This is the result of being the most subscribed female games broadcaster and most viewed female games broadcaster on YouTube. Get this, she’s amassed more than two billion views.

                    iHasCupQuake has almost seven million avid subscribers, and she posts new content nearly every day. In other words, she’s a hard worker who is reaping the benefits of the effort she’s put into her channel.

                    33. LD Shadow Lady

                    Subscribers: 6.57m

                    Looking for the best female Minecraft YouTuber? Check out British gaming girl Elizabeth Dwyer, who originally created a channel to perfect her Call of Duty skills. Of course, that’s before she discovered Minecraft and became fascinated by the game’s endless possibilities.

                    Lizzie ended up developing her own games within the Minecraft universe and has clocked up over 2.5 billion total views from her 6.5 million subscribers along the way, putting her within the top 100 most subscribed channels in the UK, and the top 3000 worldwide. Knowing all of this, it should come as no surprise that her estimated net worth is over $8.5 million.

                    34. GamerGirl

                    Subscribers: 5.9m

                    She may only be 14 years old, but GameGirl is one of the world’s most famous, influential and successful Minecraft vloggers in the world. Honestly, she makes us feel like we’re slacking in life.

                    Karina Kurzawa was born in Canada in 2007, and nine years later, she established her YouTube channel. Karina started out by reviewing toys, food and other things she found interesting, but, as we know, it was gaming vlogs where she found her success.

                    Political Female YouTubers

                    35. Contrapoints

                    Subscribers: 1.5m

                    Virginia-born Natalie Wynn – better known by her YouTube alias, Contrapoints – has made a name for herself by sharing her political and philosophical views online. She’s covered everything from race to gender to sexuality in her vlogs that have helped her reach over 71 million views.

                    Natalie began to make YouTube content back in 2008 when she was 20 years old, and most of her original videos focused on her atheist views. But it wasn’t until 2016 that she adopted the Contrapoints identity and started to challenge norms and popular notions. Over six years, Natalie has managed to pique the interests of over 1.5 million people who now count themselves Contrapoint subscribers.

                    36. Lauren Chen

                    Subscribers: 501k

                    Lauren Chen is one of the biggest names in the political YouTube realm – the Canadian Christian Conservative has strong views on contemporary feminism, immigration and more. Often, Lauren's views are controversial – this may explain her impressive 501,000 subscriber count and 73 million view count.

                    As well as creating generic vlogs about society’s conventions, Lauren Chen zones in on specific scenarios that often pivot around celebrities. For example, Lauren has recently touched upon JK Rowling’s comments on trans people, Billie Eilish’s comments on porn and Elon Musk’s political views.

                    Round-Up: Top 10 Female YouTubers

                    So, who are our favourite female YouTubers? Who do we think you should be subscribing to right now? Who is doing it like no one else? Find our list of the top 10 female YouTubers below (listed in no particular order):

                    1. NikkiTutorials
                    2. Huda Kattan
                    3. Patricia Bright
                    4. iHasCupQuake
                    5. Yoga with Adriene
                    6. Georgia Marie
                    7. Carrie Hope Fletcher
                    8. Rosanna Pansino
                    9. Nyma Tang
                    10. Jenn Im

                    It’s Your Turn to Become a YouTube Sensation

                    So, now you’ve explored our list of the best female YouTubers, it’s time to have a go yourself! Make sure you’ve got all the right equipment and software – and, of course, don’t forget your background music!

                    Whether you think you’ve got a shot at becoming a successful gaming YouTuber, travel YouTuber or fashion and beauty YouTuber, we’ve got the music that’ll make your project sing. The best way to discover our ever-expanding catalogue? By browsing our playlists that range from Classical Collection to Kick-Ass Women.

                    Need Music for Your Project?

                    At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

                    SIGN UP

                    This page was updated 12/03/2024.

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                    SUBTITLE FONTS & THE MOST COMMON ANIME SUBTITLE FONT

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                      Subtitles: they’re pretty great. They allow international audiences to consume foreign-language content; they give the hard of hearing the opportunity to immerse themselves in the worlds of film and television; and they help audiences understand every word of a video’s dialogue, even when it’s quiet or muffled, all while maintaining styles such as an anime subtitle font.

                      However, they’re only effective if they’re presented in an appropriate subtitle font. anime subtitle font

                      Now, we don’t mean to sound dramatic but there really is nothing worse than an unpleasant subtitle font – it can completely put you off a piece of content.

                      For example, imagine watching an epic blockbuster like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Avengers: Endgame or Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, accompanied by a font that’s inappropriate (Comic Sans, anyone?) or, even worse, hard to read. It would completely ruin your experience.

                      Now that you understand how important it is to use a clear, aesthetically pleasing typeface, it’s time to get an expert view on subtitle fonts.

                      What Is the Netflix Subtitle Font?

                      Netflix, the streaming service that once famously used a slightly-robotic Consolas typeface (we were into it), now allows subscribers to change the subtitle font to their liking.

                      To access the settings to change a font, you must begin by visiting your Netflix account from a web browser.

                      From here, you can select your profile in ‘Profile and Parent Controls’ and scroll down to ‘Subtitle Appearance’.

                      Then click ‘Change’ to open up Subtitle Appearance: a page which gives you options to change the font, colour, size and shadow of your subtitle text.

                      After you’ve made your selection you can hit save and, just like that, your subtitles will change next time you stream Netflix content.

                      So, what subtitle fonts are available on Netflix? Well, there’s Typewriter, Print, Console, Block, Casual, Cursive and Small Caps. Our go-to? The uber-clean Block font; it feels the most ‘Netflix-y’, in our opinion.

                      What Are the Most Common Movie Subtitle Fonts?

                      It’s always interesting to see what subtitle font a film studio, platform or channel opts for as it can either add to the movie’s vibe or, as we spoke about above, ruin it.

                      For example, imagine if Parasite was paired with an insufferable typeface. Would we have enjoyed watching it so much? Would it’ve won the Oscar? Probably not.

                      The most common movie subtitle fonts seem to be the kind of fonts we see (and use) every day.

                      We’re talking obvious choices such as Lucida Grande, Cambria, Arial and Times New Roman.

                      These styles are chosen because they’re familiar, timeless and easy to process; they feel suitable for every kind of film genre.

                      What Is the Most Common Anime Subtitle Font?

                      Anime’s outlandish, thought-provoking narratives aren’t always the easiest to follow – especially when they aren’t dubbed in English.

                      Hence, anime films and TV shows must opt for an easy-to-read font so that their global audience can comprehend the plot, characters and ideologies of the animation.

                      One of the most common anime subtitle fonts is Trebuchet: an unassuming, no-frills font that can be read quickly and with ease. However, anime font styles are truly endless!

                      What Is the Standard Subtitle Font Size?

                      It’s hard to offer an idea of what the standard font size for subtitles is, as every outlet and service has its own preferences.

                      For example, if you were to ask the BBC what font size you should use to appeal to their channel, they would suggest you refer to their guidelines which clearly state that subtitles must have a line-height of 8% of the active video height.

                      However, if you ask Channel 4 what font size they’d prefer, they’d suggest a size 28 (linear fonts) or size 32 (anamorphic fonts) for entertainment content and a size 30 (linear fonts) or 34 (anamorphic fonts) for factual content.

                      What Is the Best Subtitle Software?

                      A subtitle software is what it says on the tin – it’s a programme used to create, edit, format and position subtitles.

                      Here are the most popular subtitle software programmes used worldwide.

                      1. Movavi

                      2. Jubler

                      3. Aegisub

                      4. Adobe Premiere Pro

                      What Are the Best Subtitle Font Download Websites?

                      If you’re feeling underwhelmed by the choices of fonts available in your software, you can always choose to download new fonts from the internet. Our favourite subtitle font download websites include:

                      What Is the Best Subtitle Font Generator?

                      We don’t care what any sprightly intern says, transcribing is a tedious task.

                      But, luckily, there are a plethora of applications available out there – some of which are free – that will automatically transcribe your work and generate subtitles for you.

                      Here are four of the best subtitle font generators around.

                      1. VEED

                      2. YouTube

                      3. Happyscribe

                      4. Bee Cut

                      Music in Foreign-Language Films

                      If you’re creating a foreign-language film, TV show or vlog and you’re confident it’ll appeal to an English-speaking audience, you’re going to need more than just a cool subtitle font – you’re going to need some storytelling background music. Why? Well because background music can help viewers grasp the feel of a scene, or help to tell your story, whether they understand the dialogue or not.

                      Fortunately for you, we’ve got an entire catalogue of background music tracks, brimming with compositions that evoke every kind mood and emotion. We’ve got angry background music, romantic background music, sad background music and more. Check out our new releases, which we pull into hand-picked playlists every fortnight.

                      Need Music for Your Project?

                      At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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                      This page was last updated 05/03/2024 and 28/05/2024.

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