They keep prohibitive, relationship-sabotaging hours, subsist entirely on fast food and caffeinated beverages, and are forced to answer the question "Can you make it sound more like Postal Service?" with alarming regularity. They're the industry's music composers, and it's no wonder they have such well-honed senses of humor. In dire need of a few belly laughs ourselves, we sent our daunting trillion-question survey over to 10 of the industry's funniest and foremost. Here are the highlights.

PAUL BESSENBACKER> EMOTO, LOS ANGELES
What's on your iPod? Too many scratches.
What's your favorite vice?Glenrothes on the rocks.
What was your last indulgence? Frying an egg in the middle of a pancake in bacon grease, topping it with bacon and 100% maple syrup and washing it down with a cup of camping coffee (coffee, Jim Beam, and cream) while camping at Joshua Tree.
You're in hell. What song is on loop? "Hooked on a Feeling" by B.J. Thomas.
Who's cooler: Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix or Danny Elfman? Why?Johnny, because he married Reese.
The band that nobody but you knows about that you want to explode. Spank Rock, but I doubt anyone but me knows about them.
The first jingle you remember singing along to. "Look what they've done to my oatmeal", for Quaker Oats in the '80s, adapted from the song "Look what they've done to my song, ma".
What's your favorite music video?"Hooked on a Feeling" by David Hasselhoff.
When are you at your best?Between my third and fourth drink.

RAOUL BRAND> FLO2 MUSIC, LONDON
What's on your iPod? Realizing the Power of Now, a guide to spiritual enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle.
You're in hell. What song is on loop?Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On".
What song makes you want to, ahem, 'get busy'? Whatever turns her on...
Your favorite, and most egregious, musical guilty pleasure.Getting, ahem...'busy' listening to Steve Wright's "Sunday Love Songs" on BBC Radio 2.
When did your parents stop harassing you about being a musician?They never did harass me, unfortunately. I might have changed my mind and become an agency producer.
Favorite album cover.Pink Floyd - Animals.
The last David Bowie or Elton John albums that you thought were any good. I stopped caring.
The first jingle you remember singing along to."Komm doch mit auf den Underberg" - it's a very German thing.
Most ridiculous suggestion regarding one of your spot compositions from a non-musical client. A client dismissing one of our demos: "It sounds like new age soft porn."
What genre of music is woefully under-appreciated?German beer drinking songs.

DIEDERIK VAN MIDDELKOOP> MASSIVE MUSIC, AMSTERDAM
What's on your iPod? Don't even own one and I doubt I ever will.
What's your favorite vice? Lots of music mixed with alcohol, in a dark place, with a set of headphones, all by my lonesome.
What was your last indulgence? The above, last night.
Who's cooler: Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix or Danny Elfman? Why? Johnny Cash. His voice alone puts him ahead of pretty much any pack. Not to mention the dress code.
The band/artist that nobody but you knows about that you want to explode. They're becoming better known these days, but I am sure they can do with a little more PR: Iron and Wine.
Your favorite, and most egregious, musical guilty pleasure. Playbacking to stuff at night (with or without broomstick), imagining crowds of thousands.
Most ridiculous suggestion regarding one of your spot compositions from a non-musical client. "Can you make it ...more?"
What genre of music is the most overrated? I tend to say house music, but then I feel ignorant saying that, because it is somewhat like saying an Eskimo is backward for being able to see 50 different shades of white, when clearly there is only one.
What song gets you on the dance floor every time?Justice Vs. Simian "We Are Your Friends".

ANDY HOLLANDER> SUGARBOX, NEW YORK
You're in hell. What song is on loop? "Who Let The Dogs Out".
If you could issue one album to everyone in the world, which would it be and why? Fleetwood Mac - Rumours.
What was the last TRL-approved song that you thoroughly enjoyed? Britney Spears "Toxic".
What was your most embarrassing childhood moment? From seventh grade through ninth.
What song makes you want to, ahem, 'get busy'? Prince - Purple Rain.
Your favorite, and most egregious, musical guilty pleasure. "Oops (Oh My)" by Tweet. Yeah I said it.
Name an iconic TV jingle that's inspired you.The original Coke jingle.
The first jingle you remember despising. 1-800-MATTRESS (though it's memorable).
What's your favorite music video?Pat Benatar "Love Is A Battlefield".
What genre of music is the most overrated?Contemporary R&B (except for "Oops (Oh My)").
DANNY LEVIN> TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD, AUSTIN, TX
What's your favorite vice? Law & Order CI in the afternoon.
What was your last indulgence?I shot heroin in 1978.
Who's cooler: Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix or Danny Elfman? Why? Elfman, because he's alive.
What was your most embarrassing childhood moment?When Gregory Moore spit in my mouth.
What song makes you want to, ahem, 'get busy'?All of 'em.
The first jingle you remember despising. Are you kidding? They're all fabulous! Except maybe the local furniture store ones.
Most ridiculous suggestion regarding one of your spot compositions from a non-musical client. "I think we should air this!"
What genre of music is woefully under-appreciated?Silence, seriously.
What instruments do you play? Mostly zither.
What song gets you on the dance floor every time?"Johnny Can't Dance" by Clifton Chenier.

JAY LIFTON> PULSE MUSIC, NEW YORK
If you could personally issue one album to everyone in the world, which would it be and why? Philosophy of the World by The Shaggs. It somehow manages to stay fresh.
Your favorite music website?http://musicthing.blogspot.com
What's the first thing that comes up when you Google yourself? Dr. Robert Jay Lifton, a prominent author on the Holocaust.
What was your most embarrassing childhood moment? Having to sing the Greek National Anthem at a school event.
Your favorite, and most egregious, musical guilty pleasure. Michael McDonald and all forms of 'smooth' music.
When did your parents stop harassing you about being a musician? My mom is a musician so she harassed me to practice. Sometimes she still calls me to do so.
Most ridiculous suggestion regarding one of your spot compositions from a non-musical client. Somebody recently did a spoof jingle called "Ms. I Don't Know How to View A Rough Cut Lady". It speaks the long unspoken view regarding this subject.
Name an iconic TV jingle that's inspired you. It's not really a jingle, but more of a mnemonic. In the '70s there were these creepy tones which came on with the PBS logo. It kind of got me into synthesizers.
What song gets you on the dance floor every time? Anything from Thriller.

RAYMOND LOEWY> TONEFARMER, NEW YORK
What's on your iPod?Tony Robbins - Personal Power II.
What was your last indulgence?Popeyes, last night.
What was the last TRL-approved song that you thoroughly enjoyed? I've sworn off TRL in favor of My Super Sweet 16.
What song makes you want to, ahem, 'get busy'? Oh, that's an easy one. Europe's "The Final Countdown". Duh.
Favorite album cover.Spinal Tap - Smell The Glove.
>The last David Bowie or Elton John albums that you thought were any good.Not nice! C'mon now.
Name an iconic TV jingle that's inspired you. That song Cadillac did for Led Zeppelin.
What song gets you on the dance floor every time? I'm a godawful dancer. But for figure skating, Tchaikovsky's "Waltz of the Flowers" will have me out on the rink doing camel spins in a real hurry.
Mac and cheese or Mr. Noodles?Popeyes. Again, tonight.

MIKE PANDOLFO> WONDERFUL, NEW YORK
What's under your bed? I'm not going under there.
What was your most embarrassing childhood moment?Getting my ass kicked in seventh grade one block from my house as several of my parents' friends drove by waving. It was very humiliating.
Your favorite, and most egregious, musical guilty pleasure.I have every Muppet Show on DVD.
Mac and cheese or Mr. Noodles?Neither. I used to do the three-pack of noodles every day in college and my roommate only ate mac and cheese, so our room smelled like old socks. I wouldn't eat mac and cheese with a gun to my head.
What was the last concert you attended? Massive Attack at Roseland.
When did your parents stop harassing you about being a musician? ...they've stopped?
Most ridiculous suggestion regarding one of your spot compositions from a non-musical client. It was a Boston Market ad and I was told to do this ridiculous Stomp ripoff with kitchen sounds. The producer turned to me during the final mix and said, "Mike, turn up the chicken and lower the ham."
What song gets you on the dance floor every time? I love Basement Jaxx but nothing can get me on the dance floor every time.
What's the first thing that comes up when you Google yourself? Mike Pandolfo from the New York Rangers. I do get unexpected hotel upgrades though. One time Sixty Thompson gave me the top floor suite because they thought I was him. That ruled. It made me want an entourage.

CHRIS PLANSKER> YESSIAN MUSIC, DETROIT/NEW YORK
What's on your iPod? An error code. I think I broke it last week! Please send money for the Chris Plansker iPod replacement fund.
What's your favorite vice? My power nail gun.
What was your last indulgence? Watching the Tigers in the World Series.
Who's cooler: Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix or Danny Elfman? Why? Unfortunately, they have all been overcooled.
What was your most embarrassing childhood moment?Taking down the fourth grade teacher with a flying paddle in gym class.
When did your parents stop harassing you about being a musician? When I stopped harassing them for money.
The first jingle you remember singing along to. Slinky.
Most ridiculous suggestion regarding one of your spot compositions from a non-musical client. "Make something that's never been done before"! Or, make it "edgy". I still don't know what that means.

WALTER WERZOWA> MUSIKVERGNUEGEN, LOS ANGELES
What was your last indulgence?Austrian chocolate, five minutes ago.
You're in hell. What song is on loop? The friendly woman from the voice recognition system.
Who's cooler: Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix or Danny Elfman? Why? In terms of stamina, Cash, but I love all three for different reasons.
If you could issue one album to everyone in the world, which would it be and why? I'd just crack open the entire iTunes library. Everybody wins.
Your favorite music website? Last.fm.
What was your most embarrassing childhood moment? Smoking a cigar when I was five and passing out in front of my girlfriend.
Most ridiculous suggestion regarding one of your spot compositions from a non-musical client. "You must use this key" (plays a random note on the piano).
What is the most played song on your iTunes? "Shuffle".