In celebration of a productive and creatively fulfilling year, Pop Disciple presents a data driven round-up of our top 20 highest performing features of 2018.

We would like to extend a wish of gratitude to our loyal readers, generous participants, and incredible collaborators for their ongoing support. Here’s to a stellar 2019!

20. CHRIS SWANSON

Dynamic founding partner of Secretly Group, co-owner of Fort William Artist Management, and burgeoning music supervisor speaks on the complex experience of soundtracking Netflix’s hit docuseries, Wild Wild Country and his progression from bootstrapping an indie label in his Indiana dorm room to managing a lavish portfolio of businesses within the music industry.

19. FIL EISLER

Charismatic BMI Film & TV Award winning composer dishes on the eclectic sonic palette he employed for the upcoming radical series, AMC’s Dietland, the philosophy behind melding two stark musical worlds on Empire, and the reason why he misses scoring for Revenge.

18. MAGGIE PHILLIPS

Illuminated music supervisor speaks on her trial by fire entry to the field after the success of The Duplass Brothers’ The Puffy Chair, her complex collaboration with Noah Hawley and Jeff Russo to manifest the psychedelic atmosphere of Legion, and how a sync from Fargo led to the expansion of a farm in Zambia.

17. NATHAN BARR

Inventive Emmy nominated composer discusses taking an expansive orchestral approach for the gothic horror children’s film, The House with a Clock in Its Walls, how scoring Hemlock Grove inspired the creation of his lavish Bandrika Studios, and the anticipation building around the Broadway adaption of the sultry hit vampire series, True Blood.

16. COLIN STETSON

Radically experimental composer, solo artist, and multi-instrumentalist speaks on avoiding all utterance of conventional themes and melodic motifs to support the deeply disturbed narrative of Hereditary, the sonic trifecta he conceived to highlight the triumphs and losses of The First, and his most significant rule for authentic storytelling through music.

15. ROB SIMONSEN

Evocative composer and founding member of The Echo Society speaks on returning to his jazz roots to tell the scandalous story of politician, Gary Hart for The Front Runner, his harmonious working dynamic with director/producer/writer, Jason Reitman, the greatest challenge of executing the score of Love, Simon, and the power of listening.

14. NEIL GOLDBERG, DAVE FRASER, & ARI WINTERS OF HEAVYOCITY

The three brilliant pioneers behind virtual instrument empire, Heavyocity speak on the ideology that propels their groundbreaking product line, the obstacles they faced in launching their first product, Evolve, and how their enduring family bond has been instrumental to their success for over a decade.

13. HAUSCHKA

Oscar nominated avant-garde composer and prepared piano genius discusses his sonic battle with the sea for Baltasar Kormákur’s Adrift, modernizing the tale of Guy Fawkes with electronic textures for Gunpowder, and capturing the punk yet polished attitude of Patrick Melrose.

12. DOREEN RINGER-ROSS

Exemplary Vice President: Creative - Film, TV & Visual Media at BMI speaks on her transformative experiences working with Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss during the golden age of A&M Records, the scope of educational initiatives she has instated to empower generations of composers, the legacy of John Williams, and how to thrive in the fast paced world of film music.

11. BLAKE NEELY

Valiant award-winning composer and founder of Cow On The Wall speaks on the timeless and tension-filled realm of Riverdale, cross-pollinating thematic material within the evolving, action packed DC Comics franchise, achieving the perfect balance of psychosis and compassion in his score for You, and the rejection letter that started it all.

10. ADAM BLACKSTONE

Masterful multi-instrumentalist, founder of BASSic Black Entertainment, and music director to the stars discusses the complexities of his Emmy nominated work on Justin Timberlake’s Super Bowl LII Half-Time extravaganza, his rise to the top after playing bass on Jay-Z’s Fade to Black concert at Madison Square Garden, and the power of pouring into your own greatness.

9. JEFF BEAL

Magnificent composer and recording artist discusses his effective collaboration with director, Oliver Stone to create a striking, Russian flavored score for The Putin Interviews, manifesting a powerful female sound for the final season of political thriller, House of Cards, and how turbulent times in our society can lead to profound displays of artistic expression.

8. THEODORE SHAPIRO

Sophisticated 13-time BMI Award winning composer discusses the mysterious, whimsical palette he assembled for Paul Feig’s thriller comedy, A Simple Favor, writing a score fit for a tormented female LAPD detective on Destroyer, and the art of creating serious music to support Hollywood’s funniest moments.

7. DUSTIN O’HALLORAN

Expressive modern classical artist and Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated composer speaks on his process to musically mirror the character metamorphosis in Marc Turtletaub’s Puzzle, the challenges of conveying layers of emotion through minimalism in his scores, and what he considers to be the Ferrari of pianos.

6. DANIEL PEMBERTON

Gifted Golden Globes nominated composer speaks on remodeling the work of Bach within his explosive hybrid score for Ocean’s 8, how he convinced Aaron Sorkin to let him capture the essence of a rock band for Molly’s Game, and the innovative sequence he’s most proud of from medieval epic, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

5. LYLE WORKMAN

Incandescent BMI Award winning composer and guitar virtuoso speaks on the honor of collaborating with funk legends Bootsy Collins and Clyde Stubblefield for Superbad, channeling the flavors of Django Reinhardt and The Beatles for Overboard, covering Creedence Clearwater Revival for Sons of Anarchy, and the rush of playing to a crowd of 450,000 on tour with Sting.

4. ESKMO

Internationally celebrated electronic musician turned television composer, founder of Ancestor, and esteemed member of The Echo Society speaks on setting the stage for the menacing power politics of Billions, developing unique musical characters for each of Hannah Baker's tapes in 13 Reasons Why, and how spirituality has been a guiding light to ward off negative energy and stimulate creativity.

3. TERENCE BLANCHARD

Heroic film composer, five-time Grammy Award winning recording artist, and jazz trumpeter speaks on drawing inspiration from Jimi Hendrix’s rendition of the National Anthem for BlacKkKlansman, the similar beliefs he shares with director, Spike Lee that guide their decade-spanning artistic collaboration, and the transformative power of expressing truth and integrity through music.

2. DIANE WARREN

Grammy, Emmy, and Golden Globe winning songwriting luminary and founder of Realsongs speaks on the powerful and timely message behind her 1960's inspired Oscar nominated song from Marshall, the tremendous response to her sexual assault survivor anthem with Lady Gaga, and the tenacity that has propelled her long-term success.

1. BRIAN TYLER

Gallant blockbuster composer speaks on the inspiration behind his opulent big band/orchestral hybrid score for Crazy Rich Asians, turning down four feature films to craft the melancholy musical atmosphere of Yellowstone, the thrill and responsibility of writing the new Formula One theme, and his creative thrust into the world of EDM under the moniker, Madsonik.