How does a song get added to a movie soundtrack?

A song gets added to a movie soundtrack through a process called music licensing. The music supervisor, a key member of the film production team, searches for songs that fit the tone, era, or emotional needs of specific scenes. They negotiate with the rights holders, which typically includes both the music publisher who controls the composition and the record label that owns the master recording. Both parties must grant permission and agree on a licensing fee, which can range from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the song's popularity and how prominently it's used. Sometimes directors request specific songs they envision for a scene, while other times artists or their representatives pitch songs directly to productions. Occasionally songs are written specifically for a film.