You know when a film/TV programme has a band in, who writes their "hits"?

[CollieFIower]

Just that really. I often see programmes with a fictitious band performing their "hits" which are fairly generically catchy, but who writes them? Why are they not writing real hits for real bands? How do they make them sound half decent when presumably they're crap which is why they're being made for TV not made for actual bands?!

They often use well established song writers - Paddy McAloon (Prefab Sprout) wrote most of the stuff for Crocodile Shoes starring Jimmy Nail.

showing my age…

I always wonder this!

I remember reading an article about this kind of thing a few years ago (cant remember what publication and google hasnt delivered anything) if I remember correctly there are teams of songwriters / musicians employed by the studios to come up with the songs - they get told to write in the style of a boy band, rock group etc. Probably quite well paid / more secure money than trying to produce songs for real groups which may or may not be hits.

It depends on the budget and who is making the film and also whether the band is a major part of the story or just a backdrop to the main action as to how much effort they put in and the quality of the songs. Also the actors study how bands interact to depict acurately the story - some studios even hire in pop stars to act as coaches and give them an idea of what its like rehearsing/ on tour etc so they can depict it acurately.

The reason they go for new songs rather than existing ones is licensing issues I believe

I always wonder where they get baby/younger photos of the characters. Do they ever use the actor's own? Sometimes they are SO accurate.

Prefab Sprout! Now there's a name from the past!

Ooooh thanks, now I know!

And yes to baby photos, I have wondered this in the past too...

Lots of them will be writing songs for bands too. Must be fab to write a massive hit as an unknown songwriter. You get all the £££ and none of the downsides of fame.

Adam Schlesinger from Fountains of Wayne wrote the ultra catchy title song for That Thing You Do!