Damn the Man, Save the Soundtrack: Why Great Music Supervision Matters

There’s a moment when a song just hits, not just as a track, but as a feeling. It transports you, makes you nostalgic for a time and place, even if you weren’t there. That’s exactly what happened with our latest campaign for Longchamp. We licensed ‘This Is the Day by The The’, and the second it played, I felt that warm familiar feeling that comes with those fond memories from your past. Emotional recall at its finest.

That’s the magic of music supervision. And for me, it all started with the 1995 movie Empire Records.

The Soundtrack That Changed Everything

I was nine years old in 1995, a London girl still figuring out my taste in music. Back then, my world was mostly shaped by whatever my parents played at home, my sister's latest boyband fix or what was on the radio. Then there was Empire Records. It wasn’t just a film, it was a portal into a world of indie music, alternative culture, and the kind of soundtracks that didn’t just play in the background but told the story.

I didn’t see it in the cinema. I don’t even remember exactly when or how I first watched it, most likely on a VHS, but when I did, it felt like stepping into a world I never knew existed, a world where music was more than just something you listened to. It was culture, attitude, rebellion, and belonging, all wrapped up in one messy, beautiful, loud story about a bunch of misfits trying to save their beloved record store. A Hot Mess, the best of its kind.

The Gin Blossoms’ ’Til I Hear It From You, Edwyn Collins’ A Girl Like You, The Cranberries’ Liar, Throwing Muses ‘Snakeface’ these weren’t just songs. They were scenes. They were emotions. They were characters in their own right. Hearing them again instantly takes me back to Liv Tyler’s obsession with Rex Manning, to the rooftop celebration and to that weird scene where Mark gets eaten by Gwar. Empire Records didn’t just curate great tracks, it was a gateway into a new way of experiencing music. It was a love letter to the power of soundtracks, the way the right song at the right moment can hit you straight in the heart and stay with you forever. It was the movie that introduced me to AC/DC for fuck’s sake! If You Want Blood (You've Got It) - that riff, I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever heard. It made me feel like I had finally arrived and there was a whole new exciting world of music to discover. School was in session!

And, that’s what great music supervision does. It’s not just about picking tracks, it’s about understanding how music feels in a moment. It’s why, decades later, we still talk about certain soundtracks with reverence because they weren’t just collections of songs, they were cultural moments.

Unlike many soundtracks of the era that leaned on already established rock stars, Empire Records championed lesser-known and independent artists, weaving them seamlessly into the film’s aesthetic. It introduced mainstream audiences to bands like The Innocence Mission and Drill, while also giving anthemic moments to '90s legends like The Cranberries and Better Than Ezra.

Few soundtracks have ever been as finely tuned to a movie’s soul as Empire Records’. Every track feels like it was lived in, not just laid over the top. It’s a rare example of a film where the music isn’t just an accessory, it’s a character in its own right.

Scoring the Moment, Not Just the Movie

What makes a soundtrack so iconic isn’t just the tracklist, it’s how each song fits the film’s moments so perfectly. Take the use of “Sugarhigh” during the rooftop finale, turning a scene of youthful exuberance into a moment of pure, musical catharsis. Or the way “Plowed” by Sponge underscores the chaotic energy of the employees trying to save their beloved store. The soundtrack wasn’t just background noise, it was an extension of the film’s emotional core and it fucking hit hard!

Empire Records understood something that the best movies and the best brands know: music has the power to shape our memories. The right song can elevate a scene, make a story unforgettable, and form an emotional bond that lingers long after the credits roll.

Why It Still Matters Today

Fast forward to today, and that same feeling drives my work in music and advertising. The Longchamp SS24 campaign was proof of that. It marks the brand’s first collaboration with acclaimed American photographer and director Theo Wenner. Through his signature sensitivity and mastery of light, Wenner captures the collection’s natural essence, creating images that radiate intimacy and authenticity.

MassiveMusic captured the essence of a soft joy and a natural beauty that defines the atmosphere of the film. After several rounds of search, we landed on This Is The Day by The The, a track that beautifully balances uplifting melodies with a nostalgic undertone. Its rich instrumentation and evocative energy harmonise with the campaign’s serene outdoor setting, creating a soundtrack that feels fresh and optimistic. This Is the Day wasn’t just a song, it was the song. The right one to evoke optimism, and that indescribable sense of transformation that music can bring.

It’s why (in my humble opinion) Empire Records remains one of the best soundtracks of all time, not just for the bands it featured, but for how and where the music was used. It made you feel something. And, isn’t that the whole point?

That’s why music supervision matters. It’s why agencies like MassiveMusic exist, to make sure brands, films, and campaigns don’t just use generic music but live in it. Because when it’s done right, music doesn’t just support a story. It becomes the story. 

“Damn the man. Save the empire.”