Seen on the Screen with Jacqueline Coley
How Music Moves Movies with Mike Knobloch
November 5, 2025 · 35 min
Why listen
A top Hollywood music exec reveals how the right song can make or break a film.
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In this episode
- The behind-the-scenes tension that shaped Titanic's iconic theme
- Why Pharrell's Happy was a struggle before it became a global hit
- What diamond certification means and how rare it is for a movie song
- How one career path from PA to president actually unfolded
About this episode
From Titanic to Despicable Me, Fifty Shades of Grey to Oppenheimer, Mike Knobloch has helped define the sound of modern cinema. As President, NBCUniversal Music and Publishing for Universal Film, he’s spent his career shaping the way audiences experience music on screen—whether that’s through a sweeping score or a pop song that takes on a life of its own.In this episode, brought to you by the Universal Composers Initiative, Jacqueline Coley talks with Mike about his journey from production assistant on Father of the Bride to one of the most influential music executives in Hollywood. He shares the high-stakes tension behind Titanic’s now-iconic theme, the unlikely struggle that led to Pharrell’s hit “Happy,” and what it means when a movie song reaches the elusive diamond certification.
About Seen on the Screen with Jacqueline Coley
A podcast series hosted by Jacqueline Coley, Awards Editor at Rotten Tomatoes. Claim your ticket to witness the personal narratives happening behind the scenes of film and entertainment. Each episode invites you into intimate conversations with filmmakers, actors and industry insiders.
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