How to check a composer can deliver your brief and genre

You've just approved the creative brief for your brand campaign — and you know the music needs to set the tone perfectly. A jingle that lands, a soundtrack that moves the viewer. But how do you know the composer you're considering has actually delivered work like this before, and understands your specific genre and constraints? Vague promises don't cut it. What matters is whether they can show you concrete proof.

Check their track record and listen to actual work

Start by asking for a portfolio tailored to your brief. Don't settle for a general reel. Request examples in your exact genre — if you need an upbeat jingle for a financial services brand, ask specifically for that, not a demo reel of orchestral film scores. A good composer will either have work ready or will honestly say it's outside their usual scope.

Listen critically. Does the music feel fresh or formulaic? Does it fit a 15-second ad or a two-minute video? Pay attention to the production quality too — muddy sound or amateurish mixing is a red flag. Ask who produced and engineered the work. Some composers handle everything themselves; others collaborate with engineers or studios. Both can work, but you need to know whether the person you're hiring is also responsible for the final sound, or whether they're composing and relying on others for execution.

Request contact details for past clients — not generic testimonials, but real people you can phone. When you call, ask specific questions: Did the composer deliver on time? Did they understand the brief, or did revisions feel endless? Were they flexible when direction changed mid-project? Did the final music actually work in the real campaign, or did it need heavy tweaks in post? These conversations reveal what a composer is actually like to work with and whether they deliver polished, usable material or rough sketches you have to finish elsewhere.

Verify their expertise in your specific needs

Ask the composer directly about their experience with the constraints you're facing. Have they written jingles before, or only long-form soundtrack work? Do they understand how a 20-second piece differs from a 60-second one — that tight restrictions demand different structural choices? Have they licensed music commercially, or only composed for personal projects? The skills aren't identical.

If genre matters — say, you need an indie-folk vibe or a modern electronic sound — ask them to show work in that style. Don't assume a classically trained composer will nail a grime-influenced brief, or vice versa. Ask them to describe their process: how they interpret a creative brief, how many revision rounds they build in, how they handle feedback. Someone who says "I just write what feels right" may be talented, but that doesn't tell you whether they'll deliver what you actually need on the first or second revision.

Check whether they understand the technical side of your project. If the music needs to sync with video, ask how they approach timing and pacing. If you need multiple versions (a 15-second and a 30-second cut from the same piece, for example), confirm they can deliver that without upcharging per variant. If the work will be used across broadcast, digital, and in-store, ask whether they've licensed similar work before and understand what rights clearances cost or require.

For any composer, you can ask to see samples of their past contracts — redacted to protect client confidentiality — so you understand what they typically agree to on exclusivity, revisions, and delivery timelines. This prevents surprises later.

Once you've checked their work, spoken to people they've actually worked with, and confirmed they understand your genre and project type, you'll have a far clearer picture of whether they can deliver. Strove lets you browse composer portfolios, read verified feedback from past clients, and request quotes directly — making it easier to compare who has the track record that matches your brief.