I could write about the importance of music (and sound engineers/foley artists) in film and television, or you could watch this:
And just in case you need a refresher, here’s the version with the music:
We all know that music can make a movie so much scarier. Here’s a wonderfully informed discussion on that.
Here are some links to famous movie composers to inspire you:
John Williams – who wrote almost every big hit movie theme and more
Hans Zimmer – who wrote everything John Williams didn’t write…just joking
Danny Elfman – doesn’t read music and wrote some very quirky movie and television scores
James Horner – lush romantic movie music
Jerry Goldsmith – prolific
Ramin Djawadi – one of the new darlings of film and television music
Alan Silvestri – does a lot of sci-fi, but he isn’t limited to that genre
James Newton Howard – Hunger Games series and Fantastic Beasts
Elmer Bernstein – 50 years of writing for film
Aaron Copeland – The composer of the American sound
Howard Shore – Academy Award winner for Lord of the Rings movies
Michael Giacchino – Lots of sci-fi film scores
Or, there are the films that use lots of popular music –
Illustrated take on Quentin Tarantino films
Article on 50 Best Uses of Song in Movies
Best Music Moments in Film – many broken links due to copyright, but you’re smart, you can look them up.
Television
Vanacore Music – Long list of credits for television, like Survivor
Bear McCreary – Walking Dead, Outlander, etc.
Sean Callery – Bones, 24, Jessica Jones
Alan and Marilyn Bergman – Old school film and television
John Lunn – British – Downton Abbey