Ask HN: Why are memorable melodies less common nowadays in movie soundtracks?

Temp music and the idea that music shouldn’t be noticeable in a film. Every Frame a Painting has a great video essay on this - https://youtu.be/7vfqkvwW2fs

Movie soundtracks are about as memorable as they've always been. Most producers cheap out when it comes to the music, so you get a "cookie cutter" soundtrack of the day:

* The tinny, mostly brass in the 50s and 60s.

* The mostly silent 70s, or faux disco.

* The primitive, nondescript synths of the 80s.

* The "nouveau orchestra" of the 90s.

* The "deep bass sound" of the 2000s.

etc etc.

You'd be hard pressed to tell the musical difference between "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" and "The Grapes of Wrath". "Taxi Driver" and "The French Connection". "Rain Man" and "Splash". "Sixth Sense" and "Seven".

It's always the same for music, tv, movies, etc: Every decade has its gems, but most of it is crap.

Because they've been optimized by commercial interests. What you hear nowadays is the sound of money.