The Soundtrack, Not the Wardrobe, Is the Best Part of 'Love Story'

Music supervisor Jen Malone reveals the challenges and personal connections behind curating the period-specific soundtrack for the new Ryan Murphy series.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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In the new Ryan Murphy series 'Love Story', which chronicles the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, music supervisor Jen Malone was tasked with creating a diverse soundtrack that captured the spirit of 1990s New York. Malone delved into her own personal playlist of '90s favorites, securing clearance for artists like Sade, the Cranberries, Björk, and Kate Bush. While the process was not without its challenges - particularly in getting Björk's approval - Malone was able to weave together a soundtrack that she believes is just as much a character in the show as the setting of New York itself.

Why it matters

The music in a period piece like 'Love Story' is crucial for transporting viewers back in time and immersing them in the world of the characters. Malone's careful curation of both well-known and more obscure '90s tracks helps bring the tragic love story to life in an authentic and emotionally resonant way.

The details

Malone worked closely with series creator Ryan Murphy to assemble a diverse soundtrack that spanned multiple genres, from Sade and the Cranberries to Cocteau Twins and Portishead. While the team was able to secure clearance for every song they requested, Björk proved to be the most difficult, with Malone having to personally write a letter about the significance of the artist's music in her own life before receiving approval just two days before the final mix. Other highlights include securing the rights to use Kate Bush's 'This Woman's Work' in a pivotal scene where John first meets Carolyn.

  • The series 'Love Story' chronicles the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, taking place over multiple years in the 1990s.

The players

Jen Malone

The music supervisor for the Ryan Murphy series 'Love Story', who was tasked with curating the period-specific soundtrack.

Ryan Murphy

The creator and showrunner of the Ryan Murphy series 'Love Story'.

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What they’re saying

“I think the directive, really, was to make it so that it wasn't just one genre. We were really going to try to make it as broad as possible. And I think we hit that with each song just being very different, whether having Sade and the Cranberries [in Episode 4], or all of the fun music in the pilot.”

— Jen Malone, Music Supervisor (Vogue)

“The most difficult clearance, though, was Björk. She's very, very, very protective about where her music is used. At first I thought, Let's try Björk, and then realized what I'd got myself into because approval just wasn't coming through… it was stuck in that frustrating place where it's not a yes, but it's not a no either. Usually at that stage the director or showrunner might write a letter to the artist, but this time I wrote it myself.”

— Jen Malone, Music Supervisor (Vogue)

The takeaway

The music in 'Love Story' is just as much a character in the show as the setting of 1990s New York, with music supervisor Jen Malone carefully curating a diverse soundtrack that captures the spirit of the era and the emotional journey of the characters.