The use of popular songs in films is not always primarily artistic, and in the past few years has become increasingly associated with promotional techniques. Filmmakers have realised the commercial potential of using popular songs in films since the 60s, beginning with "the commercial success of Monty Norman's and John Barry's "James Bond Theme" (Dr. No, 1962), prefigured by Duane Eddy's cover of Mancici's "Peter Gunn" theme (1960)(Tagg, p.2). Tagg then goes on to describe how the themes for subsequent Bond movies were written and/or performed by pop musicians e.g. From Russia With Love (Matt Munroe, Barry Bart, 1963), Goldfinger (Shirley Bassey, Barry, 1964)...Live and Let Die (McCartney, 1973)..." (Tagg, p.2) and more recently Duran (A View To a Kill, 1986), and Tina Turner (Goldeneye, 1995).

Since Berlin reached No.1 in the singles chart in 1986 with Giorgio Moroder's "Take My Breath Away" following its inclusion in the Tom Cruise/Kelly McGillis film Top Gun, filmmakers have realised that recruiting a famous band or artist to perform a song from the film will almost certainly guarantee chart success for the theme as a single, which can help boost box office ratings for the film and make the accompanying soundtrack album a best seller. Examples of recent box office hits that have a world-wide hit single as part of its soundtrack include Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (Bryan Adams, "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)", 1990), Bram Stoker's Dracula (Annie Lennox, "Love Song For a Vampire", 1992), The Bodyguard (Whitney Houston, "I Will Always Love You", 1992), Terminator 2: Judgement Day (Guns'n'Roses, "You Could Be Mine", 1992) and Four Weddings and a Funeral (Wet Wet Wet, "Love Is All Around", 1994).

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