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How you see this, when listings are asking for POP instrumentals with references to major POP songs etc, should there be included also melody line in instrumentals? Or just background?

Actually I came to think of this topic after analysing many major smash hits in reference music in listings and found out that when taking vocals away there really isn't much left Basically usually some drum loop and chords and some subtle riff here and there but thats it. So I started thinking whether libraries are actually wanting something to replace that vocal line.. i.e. more dominant riffs or even melody line..

Of course there is not one answer but also in listings there is never a word on this..

I wonder the same thing.

I say yes to melody. You don't have a song without melody. There's a difference between instrumentals and backing tracks, instrumentals have a melody, backing tracks are for karaoke. If chords and arrangements aren't copyrightable, what is there to copyright? The sound recording? You would still need a melody for a vocalist to sing if that was the case, and maybe they would ask for stems, to take out the instrumental melody if they were to add a singer. But there are also soundscapes, but that's getting out of the realm of pop and more into cinematic effects.

My personal feeling is to give them "melody lite." If you give no melody, it sounds like a rhythm track. If you replace the full vocal melody with an instrument, it sounds like elevator music. 101 Strings!!

Touches of melody seems to accomplish the goal! Try one or two melody notes per bar. Tempo, genre, etc. will be your guide as to what sounds best.

Other opinions may vary. Frankly, I've asked some library owners about this, and they have never even thought about it. They either like it or they don't, and don't analyze like I do. I'm no fun at a movie theater if you're sitting next to my while music is playing

Michael

If you replace the full vocal melody with an instrument, it sounds like elevator music. 101 Strings!!

Good example of the importance of an arranger and the art of arranging would be my guess. My first inclination for a vocal replacement would probably be an instrument you blow into like a horn or flute or woodwind, unless the instrument wasn't part of the genre, I can't think of anything blown in country, so maybe something like pedal steel to replace a vocal, and I think maybe a violin section is probably what the Boston Pops uses sometimes. A drum for rap?

I'm no fun at a movie theater if you're sitting next to me while music is playing

It's gotta be more fun than me arguing with the tv!