Highlighting Women Music Supervisors with Girls Behind the Rock Show and the National Gender Diversity in Music Month
In this collaborative with Girls Behind the Rock Show and the National Gender Diversity in Music Month, we feature Sue Jacobs, Amanda Krieg Thomas, Morgan Rhodes, Angela M. Jollivette, and Annette FraderaIn, each female music supervisors who are making remarkable moves in film and television.
By Shamira Brown
From epic film soundtracks to binge-worthy TV series, these ladies have curated some of the most iconic tunes and turned them into unforgettable earworms. They've shattered glass ceilings and proved that women can rock just as hard (if not harder!) than the boys. Did you know that only 14% of music supervisors in the film and TV industry are women? This is unacceptable so we honor and lift up these women who through hard work and dedication, have broken down barriers paved the way for the next generation to follow in their footsteps and even trailblaxe their own.
Sue Jacobs
Sue Jacobs was a vet tech in Woodstock, NY who decided to leave the small town behind and move to the big city. Jacobs has worked as a music supervisor for some of the biggest modern films like “Promising Young Woman”, “Little Miss Sunshine”, “Silver Linings Playbook”, “I Tonya” and “American Hustle”. She has perfectly worked with image and sound to create iconic moments we have all experienced through the big screen. In fact, she received the first ever Emmy Award for music supervision for her work on “Big Little Lies”. In television her work spans from “Mozart in the Jungle” and HBO’s “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.” Her love and passion for music inspires us all.
Amanda Krieg Thomas
Known as Ryan Murphy’s music maestro, Krieg Thomas’ seasoned talents stretch far, and can bend to the whims of the ever-colorful series creator. Among the Murphy productions on which Krieg Thomas has worked: “Pose” on FX and Netflix’s “Ratched,” “The Prom” and “Hollywood” (for which she is GMS-nominated for television drama). Murphy is also in the driver’s seat of a good number of Krieg Thomas’ upcoming projects, including “Halston” on Netflix and “Impeachment: American Crime Story” on FX.
For a sense of Krieg Thomas’ reputation, look no further than her work on FX’s “The Americans,” which is still spoken about and heralded three years after the show’s finale. “There is a large appetite for music all around,” she says. “With everyone feeling so disconnected over the past year, music continues to be a great connector.”
Morgan Rhodes
Morgan Rhodes is an LA-based radio presenter-turned music supervisor. She is always in search of the perfect song and perfect conversation about music. Her ability to curate exceptional soundtracks has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition for her work on hit TV shows such as "Dear White People," "Self Made," “Woke” “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker” “Queen Sugar” and "Bad Hair." “
In addition to her television work, Morgan has also contributed her talents to the world of film with Ava Duvernay’s “Selma” and “Middle of Nowhere” “Space Jam: A New Legacy”. Her work on the Sundance Award winning film “Middle of Nowhere” earned her the AAFCA award for Best Music.
Her expertise as a music supervisor was showcased in the critically acclaimed documentary "Vinyl Nation," which explores the resurgence of vinyl records in today's digital age. Morgan was also a music programmer on public radio's KCRW and is currently a music critic for the station on “Tuesday Review Days”
Angela M. Jollivette
Angela Jollivette is a true music maven who has achieved incredible success in various roles throughout her career. As a member of The Recording Academy, Angela managed and oversaw the Gospel and Christian Music Field for the GRAMMY awards. Her passion and extensive knowledge of music also afforded her the opportunity to manage and oversee the World Music category for a brief stint. Angela received two amazing and unique opportunities to infuse TV/Film music to her resume. She oversaw Best Compilation Soundtrack Album, Song, and Score for Visual Media at The GRAMMYs, which led her into her passion for Music Supervision. After a decade tenure with The Recording Academy, Angela Jollivette departed the academy in June 2017 to launch Moonbaby Media, a music supervision & production company.
Her success in overseeing the music and soundtrack for the OWN Network/Lionsgate TV's scripted faith-based series, Greenleaf, has proven her departure from the academy was the right move. Angela is a 2x award-winning soundtrack producer, receiving an NAACP & Stellar Award for the Greenleaf Season 2 soundtrack. Gospel music and breaking talent being her niche, Angela was tapped by BET/Jesse Collins Entertainment to oversee the music for the return of Sunday Best Season 9, BET's hit music competition series crowning the next big star in Gospel music. Angela's wealth of expertise musically and professionally lies beyond the Gospel genre.
Currently, taking over VH1's Black Ink Crew franchise as Music Supervisor, 2023 will bring a new horizon breaking new music talent and developing her own music content for television. Angela Jollivette is a powerhouse in the music industry, and her success only continues to grow.
Annette Fradera
Annette Fradera, born in San Antonio Texas, has a bachelor degree in music, and has worked in theatre, cabaret, record production, special projects design and production, television, music research and curating, music education, and mainly as a music supervisor for film.
She began working as a music supervisor in film in 1992, beginning with “Like Water for Chocolate”. Annette has worked with multiple film directors, producers and composers;
Michael Nyman, Leo Brower, Benjamin Shwartz, among others.
In film, Alfonso, Carlos and Jonás Cuarón, Guillermo Arriaga, Tommy Lee Jones, John Fitzgerald, Kieran Fitzgerald, and collaborated as Mexican music consultant in two Robert Rodriguez films, and many other films and documentaries.
Interested in Mexican period music, Mexican-American border music, Mexican traditional and folk, music education, legal education for musicians and composers, and supporting young emerging talents in small indie films and film school thesis works….and in a special manner, consulting, advising and teaching new upcoming music supervisors in México.
The contributions of these incredible women have been pivotal in shaping the soundtracks of some of our favorite films and TV shows, and their ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of artists and creators has helped to push the boundaries of what's possible in music and entertainment.
It's important to continue to recognize and celebrate the amazing work of these unsung heroes, and to strive for greater gender diversity in all aspects of the music and entertainment industry. By doing so, we can ensure that a wider range of voices and perspectives are heard, and that the industry is more inclusive and representative of the diverse world we live in.
So, let's give a big round of applause to these talented women who have broken down barriers! Thank you for inspiring us with your creativity, passion, and hard work, and for paving the way for future generations of female music supervisors, producers, and engineers.
