Bleeding Fingers Music

Bleeding Fingers Music is a composer collective co-founded by Hans Zimmer, Steven Kofsky, and Russell Emanuel in 2013 that creates original scores for film, television, documentaries, and multimedia. Headquartered in Los Angeles with a London office at Maida Vale Studios, the company combines large-scale orchestral scoring with cross-genre experimentation for global franchises.

How Bleeding Fingers Music Works

Bleeding Fingers operates on a collective model. Instead of a single composer handling every project, the company assigns composers from its roster based on the specific creative needs of each production. This allows them to scale from intimate solo scores to full orchestral recordings for major franchises.

The collective includes composers like Anze Rozman, Kara Talve, Ho-Ling Tang, and others who work under Zimmer's creative direction. The model enables:

• Large-scale orchestral scoring for blockbuster series and films
• Cross-genre experimentation using custom-built instruments and unconventional recording techniques
• Parallel project delivery across multiple productions simultaneously
• Mentorship where experienced composers guide emerging talent

In 2026, Bleeding Fingers opened a London office at the historic Maida Vale Studios (previously owned by the BBC and acquired in 2023). Jesse McNamara was appointed managing director of the London hub, with Dario Burns joining as creative director.

Real-World Example

For Apple TV+'s "Prehistoric Planet," composers Anze Rozman and Kara Talve created custom instruments from fossils, bones, and dinosaur skull replicas, then married them to a standard orchestra. For the "Ice Age" season, they recorded an octobass (a massive double bass requiring the player to stand on a stool) to achieve the low, rumbling sound for mammoth sequences. They also recorded a replica of the Divje Babe flute (a bear femur with holes, thought to be a Paleolithic instrument) inside the Postojna Cave in Slovenia. This level of sonic detail would be impossible to achieve through a standard production music library.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

Bleeding Fingers Music represents the top tier of custom scoring. Most independent composers will not join this collective directly. However, the company's approach offers lessons for anyone pursuing a career in music for visual media:

1. Specialization creates opportunity. The composers at Bleeding Fingers each bring a distinct sonic identity. Developing a unique sound sets you apart in a crowded market.
2. Custom instruments and techniques generate press coverage. The Prehistoric Planet score received attention specifically because of the custom instruments. Unusual approaches get noticed.
3. Collectives amplify individual reach. Working within a group of complementary composers allows you to take on larger projects than you could alone.
4. Mentorship accelerates growth. The collective model pairs emerging composers with veterans, creating a pipeline for career development.

If you are pursuing a scoring career, study how Bleeding Fingers structures its deals and credits. Register with a PRO to collect performance royalties for any broadcast placements. Use our Sync Licensing Fee Calculator to understand fee ranges for different media types.

Current and Upcoming Projects

Bleeding Fingers Music's 2025-2026 slate includes:

• Harry Potter (HBO series) - Hans Zimmer scoring the upcoming adaptation
• All the Sinners Bleed (Netflix) - Zimmer and the collective scoring the adaptation of S.A. Crosby's novel, produced by Higher Ground Productions and Amblin Television
• Chief of War - Original score for the historical drama series
• The Americas - Nature documentary series
• Madden 25 - EA Sports video game score
• The Tattooist of Auschwitz - Limited series score
• Blue Angels - Documentary feature
• Planet Earth III and Blue Planet II - BBC nature documentary scores
• The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror - Animated anthology scoring with custom instruments

Company Type and Licensing Model

Bleeding Fingers Music is a composer collective and custom scoring company. It is not a production music library, a subscription platform, or a music publisher. The company creates original scores for film, television, documentaries, and multimedia on a project-by-project basis.

The business model is built around a collective of composers working under Hans Zimmer's creative direction. Instead of licensing pre-made tracks from a catalog, clients hire Bleeding Fingers to compose, arrange, and record original music tailored to their production. The company operates from 20 state-of-the-art studios, with headquarters in Santa Monica and a London office at Maida Vale Studios.

Pricing is project-based and negotiated per production. Rates vary based on budget, scope, media type, and whether the client wants to own or license the resulting score. There is no subscription tier, no per-track pricing, and no public catalog to license from.

Catalog Size and Genre Coverage

Bleeding Fingers does not maintain a fixed licensable catalog. Every project produces original music. The collective's capabilities span:

• Large-scale orchestral scoring (up to 80-piece orchestras)
• Hybrid orchestral and electronic compositions
• World music and experimental sound design using custom-built instruments
• Cross-genre work covering orchestral, electronic, rock, world music, and experimental styles

The company employs 83 people across 11 countries (including the US, UK, France, Australia, Slovakia, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and Brazil). The composer roster includes Hans Zimmer, Anze Rozman, Kara Talve, Ho-Ling Tang, and others selected for complementary skills. As of 2018, there were 11 full-time composers on staff, with the roster expanding since.

Client Base

Bleeding Fingers serves high-budget film, television, and multimedia productions:

• Streaming platforms: HBO (Harry Potter series), Netflix (All the Sinners Bleed, The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Apple TV+ (Prehistoric Planet)
• Broadcasters: BBC (Planet Earth III, Blue Planet II, Frozen Planet II)
• Production companies: Higher Ground Productions, Amblin Television
• Video game developers: EA Sports (Madden 25)
• Documentary producers: Great Bear Rainforest IMAX film, Blue Angels documentary
• Animation studios: The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror

How Bleeding Fingers Pays Artists

Bleeding Fingers operates as an employer and contractor of composers, not as a licensing platform that distributes royalties. Payment structures:

• Project-based contracts: Composers are hired per project with fees negotiated based on budget, scope, and role. Rates are not publicly disclosed.
• Employment model: Some composers are full-time staff (11+ as of 2018), while others are contracted per project. Full-time composers receive salaries reported around $85,565 to $93,701 annually based on role (music composer vs. film composer).
• No pooled revenue: There is no subscription pool or usage-based royalty distribution. Composers are paid for their work on each production.
• PRO royalties: Composers registered with a PRO (ASCAP, BMI, PRS) may receive performance royalties when scores are broadcast or performed publicly. These are collected and paid by the PRO, separate from Bleeding Fingers.
• No open submission: The collective is invite-only. Composers are recruited through industry relationships and demonstrated scoring experience. There is no public application portal.
• Mentorship pipeline: Emerging composers are paired with veterans within the collective, creating a career development pipeline rather than an open submission process.

Comparison: Bleeding Fingers Music vs Other Custom Scoring Companies

Videos

Behind the scenes with Hans Zimmer and Radiohead creating "(ocean) bloom" for BBC's Blue Planet II, produced by Russell Emanuel for Bleeding Fingers Music:

Analysis of the "tidal orchestra" technique Hans Zimmer and Radiohead used to transform "Bloom" for Blue Planet II, created in collaboration with Bleeding Fingers:

Similar Sync Licensing Companies

• Immediate Music - Trailer music library with custom scoring for film and TV
• Audiomachine - Cinematic and trailer music library with custom scoring services
• Two Steps From Hell - Epic and trailer music library with custom scoring capabilities
• Position Music - Production music and publishing company for trailers and advertising
• APM Custom - APM Music's bespoke composition and custom scoring division
• Cutting Edge Group - Music supervision and scoring services for film and TV
• Sony Music Publishing Sync - Sony's sync licensing division for film, TV, and advertising

Related Resources

• How to Get Your Music in Video Games - Breaking into game audio
• How to Get Your Music on Netflix - Streaming platform placements
• Music Supervision Career Guide - Breaking into the supervisor side
• Creating Music for Sync Licensing - Production techniques for placements
• Sync Licensing Fee Calculator - Estimate scoring and placement fees
• Bleeding Fingers Music Official Website - View their portfolio and composer roster