Daily Archives: 21. October 2010

Film Score vs. Motion Picture Soundtrack

A film score is the background music of a film (which is generally categorically separated from songs used within a film). The term soundtrack may be confused with film score. A soundtrack, however, contains everything audible in the film including sound effects and dialogue. Soundtrack albums may also include songs featured in the film as well as previously released music by other artists. A score is written specifically to accompany a film, by the original film’s composer(s).

In short:

If it’s original music composed for the film it’s a Film Score.
If it’s a compilation of existing music like ‘various artists’ it’s a Motion Picture Soundtrack.

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