The new DJ Khaled / Rihanna video came out today -- "Wild Thoughts".
It was also the first time the audio was heard by the public. It has the catchy Carlos Santana - Maria Maria sample.
What all steps do you think were taken during the video shoot to prevent the song from leaking out before the video came out?
Edit: Or the fact, that it uses the Carlos Santana sample, from leaking out?
Firstly, they do not use the music in the video shoot. The video shoot is a separate affair and while all or some of the participants may hear the song so that they know what to do, they do not get a copy for themselves. Musicians who partook in the recording might have a more familiar understanding but any models and actors hired will largely be directed in their motions so that they are in time with the music.
In editing of the video, the editors will dub the music or an edit of the music for the music video. The editors and such will not only have NDA agreements and professional reputation to look after. These shoots and edits are ubiquitous and not special to them in any fashion.
As this seems to have sparked some element of disbelief, let me rephrase some of it more clearly, emphasising why it is less of a concern than you may imagine.
Except for the "crowd"... actors/dancers in this type of production - who aren't trusted as far as you can spit - everybody else involved is an industry professional.
Things that very much separate industry professionals from the consumer are:-
The next category, then has to be the talent
For a pop promo, though the 'talent' might think they are in charge & the most important person on set; they're in fact not. They are just the one who has to get it right in front of camera today. Another cog in the engine, another spoke in the wheel.
They do, however, get to post anything they like on social media - so if they choose to leak it, they can, with no repercussions.
It's their career.
Featured on the day may be bit-part players - actual professional actors - who should more properly be called day players. They are also industry professionals, like the crew.
They know not to leak things. It's a part of their job, same as above.
...and now we come down to "everyone else"
These are the ones who don't do it every day. Some might, there are people for whom this is a living. They fall under the 'industry professional' category.
But there are others for whom the whole shoot is somehow 'magic'.
Their chance to shine... to be noticed... to meet the stars... to tell all their friends about it on Facebook...
...for those, there's an NDA & people keeping a constant eye on them, because they are not trusted in the slightest by any of the above categories of cast & crew.
...and now back to my previous answer...
Actors/dancers will have all signed an NDA [non-disclosure agreement] on the shoot days.
This would allow legal action to be taken against anyone revealing details of any part of the shoot they were involved in.
For very high profile shoots they would also all have their phones taken off them for the day, so nothing can hit social media.
Musicians & film crew tend not to be given NDAs specifically - but they know how to keep their mouths shut if they want to work again.
They work on 'secret' projects all the time, by definition - nothing they are ever working on at the time is known to the general public.
[Qualification for answer: I'm an long-time recording musician who now works in the film/TV industry.]
