Why do new movies all have the same 6 songs on the soundtrack?

[Radical Activist]

There are certain songs that get used OVER and OVER again on every other movie for the last few years. What's up with that? Is there some movie ad executive somewhere that just got on a Sting kick and decided to put that one sting song in every third movie commercial for two years?!

I know there are some other songs like that. Has anyone noticed some others?

[Atlas Mugged]

1. That's nothing

'Carmina Burana' has been abused in every medium for decades now. It's used a lot in horror movies, but I've noticed it in the Capital One commercials when the barbarians are attacking, among thousands of other things.

Sadly, if you read the libretto of 'Carmina Burana', it's about the arrival of Spring.

[Radical Activist]

2. Yes, other commercials too

They must teach certain songs in advertising schools. Or else you have a bunch of middle aged white male executives who don't know crap about music sitting around a table going, "what was that one song we used in that other commerical? It was good."

[aden_nak]

8. Marketing execs only know 3 classical songs. Carmina Burana is 1 of them.

[noonwitch]

11. It's more like 5 or 6

They seem pretty familiar with Tchaikowski, especially "The Nutcracker", "1812 Overture" and "Swan Lake". They also seem to like D'Vorak's and Beethoven's 9th symphonies.

[Soopercali]

3. It's because of media consolidation.

They don't make a "movie," they sell a "media package." And if the corporate parent already owns the rights to specific songs, they save money on the soundtrack and it makes the entire production more profitable.

[Radical Activist]

4. I knew that was the reason!

I just wasn't sure how it worked or how exactly it happened. What you write makes sense.

[Enraged_Ape]

6. Yep.

This is also why even the best and most classic songs ever made (for instance, the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction") are covered by some shit "hiphop" house bands you never heard of as the end credits roll.

[Atlas Mugged]

7. Even worse...

The Rolling Stones don't even own the rights to 'Satisfaction' so they have no say, whatsoever, on how it is used - or abused.

On the other hand, the use of 'Can't You Hear Me Knockin' during the opening credits of 'Blow' was brilliant - and the Stones do own the song and approved it's use. Must've been helped by the friendship between Johnny Depp and Keith Richards.

[SweetLeftFoot]

5. Moby

can't escape the littel freak. Same with that derivative bunch of bed-wetters Coldplay.

[mcscajun]

9. Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major

You've heard it in West Wing, in Master and Commander, and in TV commercials for upscale products.

It's everywhere...it's a beautfiul piece.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

10. Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel has been used a lot recently

I think that when the studios get the rights to use a specific song, they milk it as much they possibly can. I may be wrong about that, but it seems to be the simplest explanation I can think of.