Why Do Radio Stations Use Jingles?
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Why Do Radio Stations Use Jingles?

Why do radio stations use jingles?

A radio station with jingles

Although listeners tune in to hear their favorite songs, radio stations also need to throw in a few jingles and ads in to the mix, in order to keep things fresh. There are several benefits jingles are going to bring to a radio station. For starters, they bring campaign and brand awareness. Jingles will stick in the listener’s minds, unlike a simple talk spot which is going to go in one ear, and right out the other. Jingles also usually have a musical melody, meaning the listener is going to get more out of it when they hear the catchy tune played.

The Benefits of Radio Jingles

Other great benefits of including jingles on air is that they remind the listener of the station they are listening to. A voice over can introduce the station, the type of music, and what the listeners can expect while listening to the station, which keeps them tuned in.

How To Use Radio Jingles

Jingle rotation is a big factor when radio stations choose to add then in to the mix. Radio stations often play jingles into an ad break, as the listener is more likely to stay tuned in; since these catchy tunes are not as annoying as some commercials, they are played in between songs to maintain continuity. Jingles cut through clutter and monotony, making for smoother transitions when getting back to a non-stop music sweep too.

Another great reason to include these catchy tunes in to a radio show is that they do stick in the listener’s head. The fact that they get stuck in your head means they give the station an identity, and since listeners remember them, the station is going to be stuck in their head. Imaging goes a long way if you want your station to compete; therefore, the right mix of jingles, played in the right places, and in the right order, is the magic formula. While many listeners may not directly appreciate jingles and radio imaging they will often subconsciously know which radio station sounds better than the others because of the way the audio branding makes it sound.

Do Listeners Notice Radio Jingles?

There have been studies showing that listeners do care and have an opinion about jingles, and they do remember certain jingles. What kind of jingles do you like and which annoy the hell out of you? Leave a comment with your thoughts.

photo by: ines saraiva
Filed Under: Radio Tagged With: , , , , , , December 19, 2012
Are Sung Jingles Cheesy?
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Are Sung Jingles Cheesy?

Sung jingles... are they cheesy?

Sung jingles… are they cheesy?

Well, there were certainly some delightfully cheesy jingles on the sixties pirate radio stations and right up to the eighties when local commercial radio was born. They were fun and ‘of the time’ – but boy were they cheesy!

Sung Jingles

Sung jingles don’t have to be cheesy – and they can be a powerful branding and marketing tool that ensures your brand stands out and your message lives on in peoples’ heads. Don’t take my word for it, the UK’s most listened to radio station, BBC Radio 2, has just invested in a brand new commission of sung imaging.

Our new sung jingle packages are modern and effective with a contemporary sound designed to enhance brands of the twenty first century. Radio stations, especially, are having to fight harder than ever for their market share with so many competitors crying out for our ears on today’s crowded wavebands.

Our brand new sung jingles could make your brand stand out as never before…

photo by: williamcho
Filed Under: Jingles Tagged With: , , , , , , , , August 31, 2012
Definition of a Radio Sweeper
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Definition of a Radio Sweeper

Blow away the rubbish with a radio sweeper!

Blow away the rubbish with a radio sweeper!

There is so much jargon used in the radio industry for all the bits that go in-between the music, commercials and chat. It’s hard for someone outside the industry or anyone looking to start a career in radio to understand what it all means. What’s the difference between a radio bumper and a radio ID? Is a music bed something that plays soothing music until I fall asleep on it? In this article I’ll attempt to define exactly what a radio sweeper is for you.

Radio Sweeper Definition

A radio sweeper is a recorded statement by a voice over artist identifying the name of a radio station along with a tagline or short phrase. It usually comes to less than 20 words in total and can be mixed with sound effects and effects on the voice (such as stereo phasing, echo or pitch shift to name a few).

Example: “You’re listening to Radio XYZ – we play the best music – visit us at radioxyz dot com”

Why Do You Need Radio Sweepers?

When you’re playing a set of songs back to back you should aim to identify the name of your radio station in between each track. Radio sweepers are perfect for this purpose. They do the job quickly and allow you to get back to the music as fast as possible. You can have radio sweepers designed in such a way that it’s possible to lay them over the top of the intro to the next music track (before the vocals kick in). Some clever radio automation software packages can even play radio sweepers that mix seamlessly from song to song right up to the vocals of the next track.

You need radio sweepers to remind your listener of what they’re listening to and can even give them a call to action. Think of what you want your listener to do.

Radio Sweeper Call to Actions

Here are some ideas of calls to action that could be included in your next radio sweeper:

  1. You could ask the listener to visit your website.
  2. Get the listener to follow your social media profiles.
  3. Ask the listener to call in to the radio station.
  4. Word of mouth – get the listener to tell a friend.
  5. Stay tuned – don’t switch off – something big is happening next!
photo by: Mr.Thomas
Filed Under: Radio Tagged With: , , , , , , , March 19, 2012
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