The Power of Music in Storytelling: How to Use Sound to Enhance Narrative

Music touches people in an emotional way that can’t easily be replicated by other forms of media. For instance, a certain song, lyric, or chord can transport a person to another place and time when used effectively. It can induce deep feelings of nostalgia, inspire happiness, or elicit a sense of excitement and energy.

Music can also be used to drive narratives in feature films, TV shows, commercials, and short videos, if used effectively. Here’s why music has such a powerful impact on storytelling, and how you can leverage this power to ensure your creative output is having the desired effect on the audience.

Why Is Music Crucial to the Art of Storytelling?

Imagine a movie without a soundtrack. Even the most compelling and interesting visuals will fall flat without a soaring score, or an appropriate pop song played at the best possible moment. Moments meant to invoke fear, sadness, or joy are likely to appear deflated and lackluster without a musical cue to guide the action.

This highlights the essential role music plays when it comes to storytelling. Music can be used to punctuate key moments, which ensures the audience is taken on a journey with the characters. It can also provide clues to what characters are thinking and feeling, even if they’re not being completely forthcoming.

Without music, key aspects of a story may get lost in the shuffle or be overlooked by the audience.

How Can You Find the Best Sound for Your Story?

The right soundtrack choices serve to support and amplify the story you’re telling, increasing your audience’s emotional connection to the material.

Some producers may elicit the help of musicians and composers to create original soundtracks. However, this approach can be prohibitively costly when budgets are lacking. Licensing music is another option, but again, it may cost exorbitant amounts of money to secure the rights to a famous song you’d like to use.

Alternatively, working with a music production company can keep costs reasonable while also ensuring you find the best soundtrack for your needs.

Search the Vast Universal Production Music Library

With a music collection including more than 650,000 tracks, Universal Production Music helps content creators take their unique narratives to a whole new level. We encourage you to get inspired by our production catalog, which features selections from every genre. We can also help you efficiently navigate the licensing process thanks to our easy, streamlined approach. Contact our team today to uncover the sound you're missing for your story.