Search Party is a full-service music company that seamlessly traverses the worlds of film, television, advertising, and branded content.  Led by Randall Poster, one of the most respected music supervisors working in film today, Search Party's crew of award-winning music industry and advertising veterans work together to seek out the perfect music to enhance both visual concepts and brand identities.

The company’s philosophy is simple: create music that allows communication of a brand's message in a way that is impossible to be achieved by visuals or text alone.  Co-Executive Producers/Music Supervisors Stephanie Diaz-Matos and Sara Matarazzo elaborate: “As the years have gone on, trends within the music and advertising communities have changed, but at its core, music in advertising is about enhancing storytelling and brand appeal.”  The proof of this is evident in the company's broad spectrum of work for clients such as Absolut, Axe, Timex, AT&T, Levi's, and BMW, just to name a few. 

Finding the right musical fit for an agency is therefore imperative to the creative process. No one knows that better than Senior Producer of Music & Integration/DDB Chicago, Gabe McDonough, who has had the immeasurable pleasure of working with the talented folk at Search Party. "I turn to them most often," says McDonough, "for the creation of original music. I like that they work with artists who are active musicians outside of working strictly on commercials -- and that Search Party's musical supervision can keep the artists aligned to a demanding televsion production schedule."  McDonough's ongoing relationship with the company has proven not only to be a collaborative one, but a creatively rewarding one as well. "They're all great --  I look to them to recommend the most appropriate talent for the job as well as to surprise me with music that is unexpected."

As the advertising industry further expands its reach - traditionally and otherwise - Diaz-Matos believes that clients have also expanded their ability to think outside the standard 30-second spot.  Their collaboration with BBDO on a project for HBO Voyeur, an adaptation of a short film from an outdoor, silent film projection to a web-based form, is a prime example.  “When BBDO presented us with the HBO Voyeur concept,” say Diaz-Matos, “we offered up a musical solution that maximized the interactivity of the web by creating several different soundtracks for the film.  The beauty of it was that you were able to switch between tracks and chose your own score. We all know that this kind of thing just wouldn’t be possible in a TV ad.”

Working with a client to find the right music for a project is undoubtedly an opportunity to listen, to learn and to create new lyrical options.  “The first consideration when assisting a client,” says Matarazzo, “is to carefully assess the creative brief; listen to the story they’re trying to tell, and then understand the audience they’re trying to reach.”  As music supervisors the duo find themselves in unique positions to partner with the agency and recommend any number of musical solutions, whether creating anew or licensing for a wide variety of budgets. 

But Search Party is not just limited to music.  The company also incorporates sound design to support the story being told.  “Sound design is both its own entity -- and an extension of music,” says Matarazzo.  “We manage each piece of the musical puzzle, whether it be licensed, original, or sound design, from the highest creative vantage point.  It simply allows us another avenue for creative problem solving.”

Rooted in a passion for discovering, and spearheading great music, Search Party Music approaches each project with open ears.  “Music has always been about discovery,” says Poster.  And at our very core, we are not only music fans, but music enthusiasts.  Finding, assessing, and unearthing new music is one of the great joys of our job.”