Jody Friedman
Jody Aaron Friedman (born April 6, 1980), is an American music supervisor, entrepreneur, screenwriter and songwriter living in Orange County, California. He is the founder of HD Music Now, an Orange County, California based music licensing and music supervision firm. Friedman is a magna cum laude graduate of Florida State University where he majored in Media Production, and minored in Psychology. His multi-media experience started in 2001 at CNN in Atlanta, Georgia, working as a stage manager and audio designer for Headline News. In 2004, Friedman transferred to CNN in New York City, and worked on programs such as Nancy Grace, Anderson Cooper 360, Paula Zahn Now, Aaron Brown Newsnight, Anderson Cooper 360 and Lou Dobbs Tonight. While in New York City, he composed a piece of music for Nancy Grace. This piece of music became the show's All Point's Bulletin Theme. It was at this time that he established his own music publishing company, Harmony Distribution Music. In 2008, he founded HD Music Now and continues to represent major and independent artists, bands, and labels for placements with music supervisors.
HD Music Now has represented music from artists such as Styx, Clint Black, Elton John and many up and coming independent bands, composers and producers.
Selections from the HD Music Now catalog have been heard in television shows such as Ray Donovan, Breaking Bad, American Horror Story: Coven, Hart of Dixie, Private Practice, Grey’s Anatomy, True Blood, Dexter, Shameless; In Feature films such as Dolphin Tale, Jobs, Friends with Benefits, Baggage Claim, Dinner For Schmucks, Parental Guidance, American Reunion; In advertisements for K-Mart, Direct TV, Viasat & Chevy; and in trailers for Rock of Ages, John Carter & Earth to Echo.
In 2003, Friedman won Grand Prize in the CNN International Talent Search Competition for writing and performing "The Prompter Song".
In 2008, Friedman was brought on as a music supervisor for the upcoming Feature Film, Don't Fade Away (2009), directed by Luke Kasdan and starring Beau Bridges, Mischa Barton, Ryan Kwanten, and Ja Rule.[1] The film includes artists such as Ryan Adams, Alexi Murdoch, and The Rescue's.
In 2009, he music supervised the upcoming feature Camp Hope,[2] directed by George Van Buskirk and starring Andrew McCarthy, Jesse Eisenberg, and Dana Delany.
In 2010, he worked as music supervisor on the upcoming feature Three Veils,[3] directed by Rolla Selbak and starring Erick Avari, Sheetal Sheth, Mercedes Masöhn, and Angela Zahra.
In 2013, he worked as music coordinator on the feature Cavemen,[4] directed by Herschel Faber and starring Skylar Astin, Alexis Knapp, Chad Michael Murray, Camille Belle and Jason Patric.
In 2015, he worked as music supervisor on the feature documentary The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble,[5] directed by Oscar Winner, Morgan Neville and produced by Tremolo Productions. Distributed by The Orchard (company) & HBO.
In 2016, he worked as music supervisor on the feature film Fear Inc.,[6] directed by Vince Masciale. Fear Inc. is being distributed by Dean Devlin's production company, Electric Entertainment.
As a recording artist, Friedman released an album in 2005 called "est. 1980" under his stage name, "Jody Aaron". He continues to write and record and performs in and around Orange County, California.
On August 8, 2013, he released a five song EP, called "Rivers". "Rivers" was produced in Mill Valley, California by Multi Platinum Award Winning Producer Scott Mathews Zac Brown Band, The Beach Boys and Johnny Cash and engineered by Tom Leukens.
In 2015, he recorded a three song EP in Nashville with producer Kenny Lamb (Ashley Monroe, Jason Aldean).