---
title: "Going To Air with Mike Ladman (Droga5, McCann)"

description: "If you watch ad-supported streaming or TV, you’ve heard Mike’s work. From the Super Bowl to multi-year global campaigns, he’s the guy behind the musical storytelling for the world’s best brands. Find out what actually makes a top music supervisor tick. How he discovers. What he loves. And also learn what goes into this wild job!"

status: complete

date: 2025-07-08

kind: guest

guestSlugs:
  - mike-ladman

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Going-To-Air-with-Mike-Ladman-Droga5--McCann-e357gku"

lmwUrl: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuKeBGf9_qw"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/going-to-air-with-mike-ladman-droga5-mccann/id1567355195?i=1000716290722&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/4VJamT4TQgdIy8swTkgpQj"
youtubeUrl: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ZX5-8OuKs"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Creativity"
  - "Music supervision in advertising"
  - "The role of a music supervisor"
  - "Creative processes for TV commercials"
  - "Discovering new music"
  - "Working with brands and campaign briefs"
  - "Challenges in licensing"
  - "Building relationships with artists"
  - "Current trends in music marketing"
  - "Importance of music in storytelling"
  - "The creative journey of an artist"

hostNote: |
  In this episode of Love Music More, we sit down with Mike Ladman, a prominent music supervisor known for his innovative work at agencies like **Droga5** and **McCann**. With his extensive experience in music supervision for major brands, Mike dives into the art and science behind his craft. From his beginnings as a guitarist in bands to becoming a sought-after music supervisor, Mike shares anecdotes that highlight the evolving landscape of music in advertising. He brings fresh perspectives on music discovery, the impact of streaming, and the balance of creativity and business in his role.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Welcome to the show"
    startSec: 156
    note: "Mike introduces himself and shares his background."
  - label: "Music discovery at the record store"
    startSec: 323
    note: "Mike discusses his early influences and experiences working in a record store."
  - label: "Changing landscape of music supervision"
    startSec: 727
    note: "Mike explains how the role has evolved over time."
  - label: "The Super Bowl commercial"
    startSec: 1775
    note: "Mike reflects on his experience working on a memorable Super Bowl ad."
  - label: "Navigating licensing challenges"
    startSec: 1091
    note: "Mike describes the complications of music licensing in advertising."
  - label: "The importance of creativity in briefs"
    startSec: 829
    note: "Mike discusses the balance between creative ideas and meeting client expectations."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "I think a music supervisor's job is to make sure that whatever plays is going to tell the story and support the visuals."
    startSec: 1010
    reviewed: true
  - text: "When you hear a song you've never heard before, it almost unlocks an emotion that you didn't know you had."
    startSec: 4399
    reviewed: true
  - text: "It's better to lose with work we loved than to win with work we hated."
    startSec: 4222
    reviewed: true
  - text: "I feel like I'm a sponge when it comes to music because I want to absorb as much as I can."
    startSec: 570
    reviewed: true
  - text: "You can use that same energy to seed your future success or the next thing that you're going to work on."
    startSec: 3324
    reviewed: true
  - text: "I love music because there's nothing like that high of hearing a song you've never heard before."
    startSec: 4411
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What does a music supervisor do?"
    answer: "A music supervisor oversees the selection and licensing of music for visual media, ensuring the music complements the storytelling."
  - question: "How did Mike Ladman start his career in music supervision?"
    answer: "Mike began as a guitarist in bands and transitioned to music supervision after working in a record store and exploring advertising."
  - question: "What are the challenges faced by music supervisors?"
    answer: "Challenges include navigating licensing agreements, meeting client expectations, and staying abreast of new music trends."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---