Cinematic music has moved beyond the hands of curators filling television and film placements. From short-form video to streaming tracks, background “sync” music is evolving into different forms.

The 2024 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Miami even featured cinematic music experiences by sponsor Cadillac. Red carpet success signals a growing opportunity for creators to leverage ambient, instrumental and cover cinematic tracks for higher engagement and new audience segments.

Artist and producer Tommee Profitt is embracing the cinematic trend with more than 300 television, movie and video game placements. Stand outs include Creed 3, The Crown, The Hunger Games, Grey’s Anatomy, Mountain Dew, Fortnite and Rocket League. The creator’s work has also been featured on Amazon, Netflix, Disney, FOX, ABC, NBA, NBC, HBO, MLB and Playstation.

“I have always made music very dynamic and dramatic,” says Profitt. “I had the opportunity to start making music for television and film about ten years ago, and that was a big pivot, I didn’t know that those doors would open for me.”

Profitt taught himself to play piano as a child and began producing his own music at age 12. After he took on cinematic music, he began releasing his songs to the public so that others could enjoy discovering the genre as he did in high school. His greatest thrill, however, is witnessing his own work behind action scenes and trailers.

Over time, cinematic streaming has outpaced television and film. Profitt explains that fans choose the genre to feel empowered in various everyday settings, including working, exercising, driving and cleaning.

“Cinematic music is great for anytime you want to feel motivated, and like your life is a movie,” says Profitt.

With more than 100 billion total streams/views across platforms, Profitt created a cinematic version of Linkin Park’s “In The End” (featuring Fleurie). The track totaled more than 1 billion YouTube views and more than 80 billion worldwide views/streams across all platforms. The compilation also made Spotify’s Viral 50 in 23 countries and was a Top 10 UMG song for TikTok and Instagram reels.

Most recently, Profitt released Covers (Vol. 2) featuring interpretations of pop culture classics across streaming platforms. His other new release is a cinematic version of Linkin Park’s best-selling song “Numb” featuring vocals by Skylar Grey (whose first record deal was signed by Linkin Park). Both albums follow a 2020 drop of Covers (Vol. 1) featuring the first cinematic Linkin Park hit.

Chris Mollere, a music supervisor of several hit shows, has placed dozens of Profitt’s songs and says, “The music had such a cinematic quality that exuded authenticity, you truly felt the emotion personified fully on its own. Then, when you added it to a big scene for a show, it took the storytelling to a whole other world in the very best of ways.”

Covers (Vol. 2) features reimagined iconic hits “Cry Me A River” with vocals by Nicole Serrano and AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” accompanied by William Joseph’s piano tunes. Nashville artist Fleurie is featured on “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” while singer-songwriter Crowder appears on Sia’s “The Greatest.” The cover collection ranges in style from Franz Schubert’s classic “Ave Maria” featuring Stanaj, to the evocative “Mad World” by Tears for Fears.

Profitt has released more than 25 projects and produced more than 1,000 songs. His cinematic releases total almost 100 billion global lifetime streams and views across all platforms and have garnered widespread success in the sync world.

Production work celebrating platinum-selling artists includes Migos, Hunter Hayes, Josh Groban, Avril Lavigne and NF, a rapper whose Profitt-produced 2017 single “Let You Down” went eight times platinum and hit #1 on Billboard’s US Mainstream Top 40 chart. Profitt’s productions have landed 17 RIAA Platinum certifications and 25 RIAA Gold certifications.