Editing Soundtrack (section)

== Film and television soundtracks ==
{{main|Film score}}
{{see also|Musical film|Music of Bollywood}}
{{see also|Soundtrack album}}

When a blockbuster film is released, or during and after a television series airs, an [[music album|album]] in the form of a soundtrack is typically released alongside that.

A soundtrack typically contains instrumentation or alternatively a [[film score]]. But it can also feature songs that were sung or performed by characters in a scene (or a cover version of a song in the media, re-recorded by a popular artist), songs that were used as intentional or unintentional [[background music]] in important scenes, songs that were heard in the [[closing credits]], or songs for no apparent reason related to the media other than for promotion, that were included in a soundtrack.

Soundtracks are usually released on major record labels (just as if they were released by a musical artist), and the songs and the soundtrack itself can also be on music charts, and win musical awards.

By convention, a ''soundtrack'' record can contain all kinds of music including music ''inspired by'' but not actually appearing in the movie; the ''score'' contains only music by the original film's composers.<ref name=Savage />

Contemporaneously, a soundtrack can go against normality, (most typically used in popular culture franchises) and contains recently released and/or exclusive never before released original [[pop music]] selections, (some of which become high charting records on their own, which due to being released on another franchises title, peaked because of that) and is simply used for promotional purposes for well known artists, or new or unknown artists. These soundtracks contain music not at all heard in the film/television series, and any artistic or lyrical connection is purely coincidental.

However depending on the genre of the media the soundtrack of popular songs would have a set pattern; a lighthearted romance might feature [[easy listening]] love songs, whilst a more dark thriller would compose of [[hard rock]] or [[urban music]].

In 1908, [[Camille Saint-Saëns]] composed the first music specifically for use in a motion picture (L'assasinat du duc de Guise), and releasing recordings of songs used in films became prevalent in the 1930s. [[Henry Mancini]], who won an [[Emmy Award]] and two [[Grammy]]s for his soundtrack to ''[[Peter Gunn]]'', was the first composer to have a widespread hit with a song from a soundtrack.

Before the 1970s, soundtracks (with a few exceptions), accompanied towards [[Musical film|musicals]], and was an album that featured vocal and instrumental, (and instrumental versions of vocal songs) musical selections performed by cast members. Or cover versions of songs sung by another artist.

After the 1970s, soundtracks started to include more diversity, and music consumers would anticipate a motion picture or television soundtrack. Majority of top charting songs were those featured or released on a film or television soundtrack album.

In recent years the term ''soundtrack'' sort of subsided. It now mostly commonly refers to instrumental background music used in that media. Popular songs featured in a film or television series are instead highlighted and referenced in the credits, not as part of a ''soundtrack''.