For most bands, good songs are essential. This is where the magic starts and finishes. Without a good song, all the marketing in the world will get you nowhere. Conversely, a good song can take a band from relative obscurity and put them on the map instantly.

There are several elements to think about when writing, listening back or running the track in the rehearsal room.

So you’re a hardworking, talented filmmaker in search of the perfect composer for your film. The good news is that there are boatloads of composers, particularly in Los Angeles — highly experienced, less experienced, cheap, expensive, and everything in between. The challenge will be to find the one who can produce the right music for your film and who will realistically fit into your budget. So here are some tips on landing that person.

With the upheavals in the music industry of the last ten years, and the more recent economic downturn, it can be difficult for many artists to see where their next paycheck is coming from. An increasingly open and volatile environment means that artists today must be creative, opportunistic and willing to deal with uncertainty to survive.

It’s not all bad news though – the “democratization” of the music industry has meant that there is more opportunity than ever to connect directly with fans, cutting out the traditional middle men of old – record labels.