This ranking is not just specific to success and failure of the calendar year 2013. Careers of each music director, starting from their first movie, are analyzed and compared against other music directors on the basis of :

1. Current remuneration per movie
2. Number of years in the industry
3. Hits delivered till date
4. Fan following
5. Future projects
6. National recognition

Criteria for nomination :

1. Music Directors with a minimum of one straight Tamil movie release in 2013 (or)
2. Music Directors who have been signed for at least one future straight Tamil movie project