Network News Music » Good Morning America

“Good Morning America” 2009 – 2012 Theme

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:58:14 +0000

When George Stephanopolous succeeded Diane Sawyer as anchor of Good Morning America, this theme was launched. This update of the previous theme – also by DreamArtists Studios – is intended to reflect the more newsy direction that GMA has taken. The new theme was accompanied by a new opening format: (1) opening vamp under introductions by the main anchors, (2) main theme under a montage announcing the featured stories, (3) musical build over announcer with visuals of Times Square and (4) bumper into the show. The weekend edition of GMA continues to use the previous theme.

DreamArtists Studios - Good Morning America

“Good Morning America” 2007 – 2009 Open

admin — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:51:18 +0000

This very classy theme debuted in 2007. It’s composed by DreamArtists Studios, which is a New York-based music production house specialized in film and television music. This theme features the ABC News signature. In 2007 Good Morning America expanded to three hours, as NBC’s Today expanded to four. Unlike Today, however, the last hour is not seen on broadcast television, but pnly on the digital news channel ABC News Now.

DreamArtists Studios - Good Morning America open

“Good Morning America” 2005 – 2007 Promo Campaign

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2005 19:47:22 +0000

From 2001 to 2005 GMA used the popular though not commercially released song “Good Things are Happening” by Bill Deasy as their music in promos for the program. In 2005 they switched to an equally cheerful song, “Good to Go”. The song is sung by country singer Julie Roberts and, by means of warning, it gets stuck in your head very easily.

Julie Roberts - Good to Go

“Good Morning America” 2004 – 2006 Open

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 2004 19:49:00 +0000

This is the 2004 open to Good Morning America by VideoHelper, originally composed in 2000 as the theme to World News Tonight. When the theme started being used for GMA, the program had regained much of its momentum that it lost in the late 90′s. Though Charles Gibson left in 2006 to anchor World News, he was not replaced on GMA. A year before he left Robin Roberts was added as co-anchor so the program simply went back to having two anchors. Male personalities were added to the mix when Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion were appointed news anchor and weatherman respectively. GMA, however, is now the first network morning show to have two female primary anchors.

VideoHelper - Good Morning America open

“Good Morning America” 1999 – 2004 Theme

admin — Tue, 10 Aug 1999 19:46:07 +0000

In 1999 Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson were named interim anchors for Good Morning America, filling in until ABC found new permanent anchors for the breakfast program. However, as months became years, their status as interim was dropped. This theme started being used when the program moved into the Times Square Studios. The studios are owned by Disney and besides GMA, a wide array of ABC programs are taped there. The theme is composed by Desmond Child, who is known for composing hit songs for, among others, Ricky Martin, KISS, Aerosmith and Bon Jovi.

Desmond Child - Good Morning America theme

“Good Morning America” 1997 – 1999 Theme

admin — Sun, 10 Aug 1997 19:44:21 +0000

This theme embodies the transfer of GMA from the entertainment division to the news division as it contains the ABC News signature. It is the first GMA theme to contain this signature. The theme is composed by Michael Whalen. A version of this theme is commercially released. It’s called ‘Morning Aire’ and is on the ‘The Softest Touch’ album, available on iTunes. Though the theme is excellent, it was used during a disastrous period for Good Morning America. When longtime anchors Lunden and Gibson left, there were no heirs apparent. ABC settled on Lisa McRee and Kevin Newman, but the competitive and lucrative morning slot was no place for two relative unknowns. Within months GMA was in danger of falling behind CBS, the long time bottom-dweller in morning television ratings. So within a year, the partnership ended and Good Morning settled on a new strategy.

Michael Whalen - Good Morning America theme

“Good Morning America” 1992 – 1996 Theme

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 1992 19:42:54 +0000

This theme was used during the latter years of the Lunden-Gibson era and is composed by Non-Stop Music. The early 90′s saw the morning shows travel the country and the world. Shows on the road became as synonymous with morning programs as chatty anchors, funny weathermen and soft news features. It’s hardly done these days.

Non-Stop Music - Good Morning America theme

“Good Morning America” 1989 – 1992 Theme

admin — Thu, 10 Aug 1989 19:39:51 +0000

This theme is composed by Frank Gari, who has composed news themes and image campaigns for TV stations in almost every single local market. It was used near the beginning of the Gibson-Lunden era, a very successful period for the show. Technically, however, GMA was not a news program at the time. While its competitors were produced by the news divisions of their networks, GMA was produced by the entertainment division. The news updates, however, did come from the news division. In the mid 90′s the program was fully transferred to News.

Gari Communications - Good Morning America theme

“Good Morning America” 1987 – 1989 Theme

admin — Mon, 23 Feb 1987 21:30:50 +0000

When David Hartman left Good Morning America, the program got a total makeover. The original GMA theme was dropped and the graphics were redone with a colorful neon-logo. Though this particular look did not last long, it was the start of the most succesful period of Good Morning America. Joan Lunden and Charlie Gibson beat the Today Show for many years.

Unknown artist - Good Morning America theme

“Good Morning America” 1975 – 1987 Theme

admin — Mon, 10 Nov 1975 19:36:10 +0000

ABC’s Good Morning America was launched in November of 1975. The first host was David Hartman with Nancy Dussault as his co-host (later replaced by Sandy Hill and then Joan Lunden). Good Morning America is still an everyday part of our life. But when it debuted, it revolutionized morning television. It introduced the living room set, which was the standard until the 1990s brought us street side studios. Also, it offered a far more entertainment-oriented approach, reflected by having a former actor as host. Viewers didn’t immediately reward this approach but they came around eventually and GMA toppled NBC’s Today in 1981. This is the original theme to Good Morning America. Unlike for NBC, not many legendary composers have composed themes for ABC. This is the notable exception. Marvin Hamlisch, one of only thirteen people to have won Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and a Tony, composed this theme built around 4 notes.

Marvin Hamlisch - Good Morning America theme