What's the role of a music supervisor?

I've heard of the job of music supervisor but don't really understand what they do. Can anyone explain their main responsibilities? I'm exploring possible career options after high school and this piqued my interest.

Music supervisors play a vital role in various forms of media like film, television, advertisements, video games, and more. They curate and coordinate soundtracks for these projects. Their responsibilities typically include selecting appropriate music, sourcing it, and ensuring that all necessary rights are procured for its use, a process known as music licensing.

Choosing the right music can dramatically impact the audience's experience, serving to accentuate drama, humor, suspense, or other emotions in a scene. The music supervisor must understand the director's vision and the emotion intended for each scene to select appropriate music. They must have a wide-ranging and eclectic knowledge of music across different eras and genres.

Music supervisors also work very closely with producers, directors, composers, performers, and often legal experts to ensure that all music rights are secured, a sometimes complex process requiring negotiation of contracts and fees. This involves communicating with record labels, publishers, or sometimes directly with the artists.

Another part of their job can involve coordinating creation of new music for a project. This can involve hiring composers for original scores or working with artists to create original tracks.

In essence, a music supervisor blends an auditory aesthetic sense with project management and legal aptitude. It might be a good fit for you if you are passionate about all types of music, have a knack for setting the mood with sound, and are skilled at administrative tasks. Examples of music supervisors' work can be seen (or rather, heard) in critically acclaimed movies, popular TV series, or best-selling video games wherein music sets the tone and enhances the storytelling.