The soundtrack of accessibility: Background music’s role in audio-described film

Abstract

Music plays a fundamental role in the audiovisual experience, influencing the viewer's perception, emotion, and memory. However, its treatment in accessibility studies, particularly in audio description (AD), still presents various challenges and approaches. This article examines the role of music in audio-described audiovisual products through two complementary studies. Firstly, it analyses how background music is treated in the AD of various films, identifying strategies and omissions that may affect the experience of visually impaired audiences. Secondly, an experiment is presented in which 80 students were exposed to musical fragments with the aim of assessing their ability to recognize the film or series they originated from. The results allow us to reflect on the degree of iconicity of music in audiovisual identification and its implications for AD. Based on these findings, the article proposes the need for greater integration of music in audiovisual accessibility studies, considering its narrative and emotional impact