APM Custom

APM Custom is the bespoke composition and custom music services division of APM Music, the largest production music company in the industry. Headquartered in Hollywood, California, APM Custom operates from the iconic studio formerly known as Lion Share, where artists like Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Lionel Richie, and Beck have recorded. The division creates original scoring, covers, re-records, theme packages, and track enhancements for film, television, advertising, sports broadcasting, and video games.

How APM Custom Works

APM Custom collaborates directly with clients to create tailored music from scratch. The process begins with a creative call where the client provides reference tracks and guidelines for the desired feel. APM Custom then assembles a team of composers matched to the project's stylistic requirements, ranging from solo instrumentalists to 80-piece orchestras and choirs.

The division is led by Robert Navarro, Head of APM Custom Music, who coordinates composer teams for each project. Recent work includes producing five new versions of the "Heavy Action" theme for ESPN's Monday Night Football across Orchestral, Rock, Funk, Jazz, and EDM styles, each arranged by a different composer specialist.

APM Custom also operates GameRoom, a dedicated division for video game audio. GameRoom delivers adaptive, interactive scoring with middleware expertise in WWISE and FMOD, shipping stemmed, mixed, and mastered assets or fully implemented audio systems.

Services Offered

• Original Scoring: Bespoke compositions for TV shows, films, trailers, ads, and games
• Covers and Re-records: New versions of existing tracks tailored to project needs
• Theme Packages: Custom theme music for sports broadcasts, shows, and brands
• Track Enhancements: Modifications and adaptations of existing APM catalog tracks
• Adaptive Game Scoring: Dynamic music systems that evolve with gameplay, delivered in WWISE/FMOD or as stemmed assets
• Licensed Music Adaptation: Transforming pre-existing tracks into interactive, game-ready assets

Real-World Example

ESPN needs five new versions of the Monday Night Football theme "Heavy Action" for the 2019 season. APM Custom head Robert Navarro assembles a team of five composers: Takeshi Furukawa (Orchestral), Ken Belcher (Rock), Nick DePinna (Funk), Ross Garren (Jazz), and Joachim Svare (EDM). Each composer produces a distinct arrangement of the same theme, recorded at APM's Hollywood studio. ESPN receives five broadcast-ready versions covering different musical styles for use across different segments of the broadcast, all cleared through a single agreement with APM.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

APM Custom employs a rotating network of composers for its projects. If you specialize in a specific genre or style and can deliver broadcast-quality recordings on tight deadlines, the APM Custom team is a potential client. Composers who land recurring work with APM Custom get exposure on major network broadcasts and streaming platforms. To get on their radar, build a strong portfolio of genre-specific work and reach out through the APM website with examples of your scoring and arrangement capabilities.

Related Resources

• Sync Licensing Companies Directory - Browse more sync licensing companies
• APM Music Profile - Learn about APM Music's main production library
• Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Estimate licensing fees for your projects
• Sync License Glossary Term - Learn what a sync license covers
• Visit APM Custom for project inquiries and portfolio examples