That's the Way of the World is a 1975 musical drama film directed by Sig Shore and starring Harvey Keitel, Ed Nelson, and Cynthia Bostick. The film follows the story of a talented record producer named Coleman Buckmaster (played by Keitel), who is hired by a major record company to oversee the production of an up-and-coming white pop act named The Pages.
Despite the pressure from his bosses to sacrifice his creative vision for the sake of the company's bottom line, Buckmaster remains dedicated to producing music that speaks to his own artistic sensibilities. Along the way, he becomes romantically involved with a young singer named Lorraine Ellison (played by Bostick), and the two collaborate on a number of songs that ultimately become hits.
As Buckmaster continues to fight against the corporate machine, he finds himself at odds with his own sense of morality and begins to question whether his dedication to his craft is worth the sacrifices he must make in order to succeed in the cutthroat music industry. Ultimately, he must make a choice between his principles and his desire to succeed at any cost.
The film features a number of original songs, including "Shining Star", which became a hit for the R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire after the film's release. Despite receiving mixed reviews upon its initial release, That's the Way of the World has since become a cult classic and is remembered for its authentic portrayal of the music industry in the 1970s.