In the Studio with Stephen Emmer

An intimate conversation with BMIM’s founding father and Mister TV-Tunes

Stephen Emmer recently announced that he will stop composing TV tunes. For Buma Music in Motion, this marks a special moment: not only is Stephen one of BMIM’s founding fathers, he is also one of the most influential Dutch composers in the field of music for media. As the creator of hundreds (and according to recent reports, even more than a thousand) instantly recognisable themes for television programmes, news shows and broadcasters, Emmer has left his mark on the Dutch media landscape for decades. His music has been heard on programmes including NOS Journaal, RTL Boulevard, Tijd voor MAX, Editie NL, Radio 1 Journaal and Per seconde wijzer, as well as across many broadcasters and channels. It is no coincidence that he earned the nickname ‘Mister TV-Tunes’.

In this intimate and personal studio session, we will talk to Stephen about his career, his role in the development of music for television and media, and his significance to BMIM. What makes a tune unforgettable? How has the profession changed over the years? Which moments and collaborations have stayed with him the most? And how does he view the future of music in media? An intimate conversation with a pioneer, in a small-scale setting, about recognition, craftsmanship, legacy and the power of music for the screen.

Please note: places for this session are very limited.

This session is Dutch spoken.

Stephen Emmer

Founder, composer, producer, NL

Stephen Emmer is a composer/producer/artist from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. He has recorded for and written, performed and collaborated with a variety of great artists such as Lou Reed, Chaka Khan, Patti Austin, Leon Ware, Midge Ure, Julian Lennon, Glenn Gregory, Billy MacKenzie, Mary Griffin, Peter Coyle, Claudia Brucken and Martha Ladley to name but a few. He worked with legendary producers like Tony Visconti, Flood, Trevor Horn, Steve Power, Martin Hannett, Nigel Gray and Bob Power. He’s also known as a composer for media music and became Hollands first fulltime mediacomposer with a focus on television music & as founding father of BMIM.

Frank Janssen

Owner, Striped Elephant, NL

After his period as editor-in-chief at Entertainment Business Janssen began as marketing manager at Sony Music, Followed by the start of his own communication company and to become lecturer ‘entertainment marketing’ at the Hogeschool Utrecht. In 2007 he returned to Entertainment Business and launched the new trade publication EB Live for the live entertainment industry. At the beginning of 2014, Janssen made his transfer to the Dutch CMO BumaStemra to become Head of Communications & PR until the end of 2017. In 2018, he and two partners founded the content marketing agency Striped Elephant. Janssen is also co-responsible for the conference program of the yearly ESNS music event in Groningen.