The job of a music supervisor is to heighten powerful moments in TV or film by honing in with precision on the emotion of a scene, matching it with the perfect song, the ultimate “tastemaker.” So we asked some of the biz’s top supes to name their favorite album of 2014 and tell us why they chose it.

Scott Vener,
CEO, Broke Mogul Music
The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream

“Unless Kendrick drops his album before the end of the year [he didn't, of course], this is my pick!”

Steve Schnur
Worldwide Executive, Music and Music Marketing President, Artwerk Music Group, Electronic Arts
Brandy Clark, 12 Stories

“Real honest and perfectly pure country; part of the new female movement.”

PJ Bloom,
Music Supervisor, Glee, American Horror Story
Taylor Swift, 1989

“At the risk of not citing some obscure indie hipster act, my vote goes for Tay Tay. She is arguably the closest thing we have to royalty in this country, and 1989 is pure, unadulterated pop perfection. “Shake It Off” has been swirling endlessly around my head since it was released, and I show no signs of getting sick of it any time soon!”

Janine Kerr,
VP, Fox Sports Music
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Hypnotic Eye

“This is such an amazing record from start to finish. Tom Petty never gets old.”

Mamie Coleman
VP Music, Fox Promo
James Vincent McMorrow, Post Tropical

“Every song is unique in its own way. His vocals are captivating and you’ll be lost in his world, craving to hear more.”

Dawn Soler
SVP Music, ABC
Miranda Lambert, Platinum

“I can put Miranda Lambert’s record on anytime and have a nice ride. It is so beautifully crafted, from the writing to the mix.”

Melyssa Hardwick
Senior Manager Music, ABC
Alt-J, This Is All Yours

“It’s rare to find a musical gem where their sound is completely fresh and uniquely their own. Alt-J has somehow been able to achieve that freshness in both their first album and now again. I’ve listened to This Is All Yours hundreds of times, and it still holds up.”

Alicen Schneider,
VP, Music Creative Services, NBC Universal
Phantogram, Voices

“An overly addictive collection of hypnotically haunting and sexy ballads that I have had on constant rotation since its release. I’m not normally a big fan of bands that attempt to achieve the male/female alternating lead vocal thing with a few rare exceptions, but Josh and Sarah’s interpretations are equally wonderful, so theirs is a seamless marriage.”

Dana Sano,
Founder, Zenden Entertainment
Music Supervisor, 50 Shades of Grey (Focus Features)
Hozier, Hozier

“If I must choose ONE album for 2014, it would have to be Hozier. It’s really a solid album and a musical journey into your soul.”

Scott Igoe
Music Executive, Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Pharrell Williams, G I R L

“Rarely can I enjoy listening to an album from the first song to the last, and this is the one. I can also listen to it with my kids and not have to fast forward through any F-bombs. Good times.”