What is a soundtrack?
In its broadest sense, “soundtrack” can mean all of the sound in a film, including music, dialogue, and foley. Some people use the term soundtrack to refer to a film’s general soundworld – not just the music.
More often, though, “soundtrack” describes the songs or compositions used in a film – especially if these songs weren’t made specifically for the film. Many films use pre-existing music, such as beloved pop songs or famous classical pieces, to evoke a certain mood or era. When we talk about this music, we’re talking about a movie’s soundtrack.
Assembling a soundtrack is often the work of a Music Supervisor, who sources the perfect music and gets it licensed for use in the film.
To make things more complicated, “soundtrack” has an extra, overlapping meaning. When the music from a film is released commercially, this release is often referred to as the soundtrack, or OST (original soundtrack).
An OST typically features music from the original score, pre-existing songs used in the film, or a combination of the two. It might also include dialogue and foley, or even music that was never featured in the film – such as a song that the director found inspiring.
The best soundtracks (or OSTs) create a pleasurable listening experience that immerses the listener in the atmosphere of the film. Different OSTs approach this in different ways.
