APPENDIX
Terms for Musical Production Elements in
Television
Opens, Closes, Titles, Themes, Jingles
Longer theme that identifies the newscast and provides musical material
for the rest of the broadcast. Typically fanfare-like, quick,
syncopated in brass and strings, over a driving beat. Establishes
impression of dynamic newsroom and authority of the newscast.
Singers, Teases
Very brief musical and visual marker for an important, long-term news
item. Announces item to follow and helps create attitude about
item within viewer. Image and music closely correspond. The
most original and freest musical production element.
Beds
Framing and background music for extensions of opens. Loops are
used to accommodate texts and images of variable lengths.
Bumpers
Musical lead-ins to and lead-outs from commercials. Create mood
and attitude for upcoming news item. Widely differ within one
broadcast.
Lazers, sparkles, sweeps, etc.:
Descriptive names for special sound effects used in prodcution music
elements.