A soundtrack includes any third party music, from popular songs, to songs made more popular by the film's release. One such example is in Nirvana's Something in the Way. The song wasn't part of many live setlists for the band when they performed, but with the release of The Batman, the song exploded in popularity, topping at number two on Billboard's digital US Rock chart, and being featured in many memes and TikToks. Not to mention a 1200% increase in Spotify streams for the song after the movie's release. As with any preexisting media, movies can affect previous releases, bringing them back from obscurity just by being featured in a soundtrack.
Similarly, although not so much, scores can also become fairly popular because of a film, or vice verse. Many iconic scores promote the film, as just the first few notes can make you think of the film. Even if the film wasn't well received, a score can live on, and even be alluded to by previous releases. Scores being reused also isn't uncommon, as all three Jurassic Park films either allude or outright include tracks from the original film. Similarly, new film scores can allude to previous incarnations, as is the case with almost every Spider-Man incarnation. In the original Sam Raimi sequel, a woman plays the original 1967 cartoon theme on a violin, and it later returns in Marc Webb's sequel as Peter's ringtone. An orchestral rendition also appears in Spider-Man: Homecoming's Marvel Studios opening.
Scores are typically made around the time filming is wrapping up, and editing has begun. However, there is nothing that says you can't do otherwise. For Guardians of the Galaxy, director James Gunn had composer Tyler Bates prepare music before the scenes were filmed. Starting with the music can often help give direction to a scene, and can even lead to better flowing stories as music doesn't have to be forced to follow a scene. This also streamlines editing, as following the beats of a song are much easier when you have the beats to begin with, as opposed to finding a part of a song that fits with a scene.
Music composers can really be fans of a classic just as much as any fan, and they prove it by incorporating or adapting classical themes into more modern reconditions. Likewise, directors, producers, and music supervisors can also find what modern songs fit with a movie, especially given how most movies take just under a year to release.
Aside from this, I found a lot of inspiration from other films, like A Silent Voice, which features a very simple score, with piano being the most frequent instrument. The score has very interesting detailing, as some tracks were partly based by Bach's (yes, the 270+ year old composer) Invention No. 1 in C major. One of the big things to me is the amount of effort that goes into creation, especially when so much is left out. For the film, composer Ushio made 82 tracks, of which 61 are featured in the official soundtrack, with 50 of them actually playing in the film. The bland, three letter titles were also an idea of Ushio, who kept these identification codes as they were so they could be interpreted by listeners however they want. The featuring of Bach's songs are also important, as his original work could be split into three, which Ushio used to also split up the movie into thirds. The amount of effort that goes into this soundtrack and film as a whole will always fascinate me, and as I learn about more films and their soundtrack, I appreciate music composing even more.
Obligatory inclusion of tracks and album cover for detailing and ~aesthetic~
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