Classic CBS News theme makes a second comeback
The theme sounds familiar because, a few years ago, it had been reimagined in a more contemporary arrangement by the music company Antfood. But now, the original composition has been reinstated.
Missing oboe
It’s rare for a news theme recorded in the 1980s to be in use today. Even John Williams’ iconic theme for NBC Nightly News was updated and rerecorded after two decades on the air. The continued appeal of the CBS composition lies in its timeless, classical style. It does not contain elements, such as teletype-like sounds, which were common in news themes back then but have since fallen out of favor. Its classical roots give it a lasting relevance.The theme was recorded at 20th Century Fox’s soundstage, with a full orchestra. The recording session lasted six hours, during which each cue was performed multiple times. Interestingly, for the version of the closing they had chosen as the master, the oboe is absent. Just as they were about to play this cue, the oboist’s reed broke. There was no going back at that point and it turned out to be the winning take. It is customary in recording sessions like these for the performers to never ask for another take, so the oboist said nothing. As it turns out, the oboe part as the melody was covered adequately by the other instruments. For this oboist silence truly is golden because all musicians are paid, even if their parts are silent.
Remastered versions
When the theme was brought back for Scott Pelley’s debut in 2011, the old recordings were remastered. They were made to sound crisper and more polished. Additionally, a few arrangements were added to accommodate specific timings in the broadcast. Since Monday’s relaunch, these remastered versions have returned, unchanged. Viewers might hear variations they have not heard before because the package contains over twenty different versions, including opens in different lengths and bumpers in a range of styles—from energetic to somber to regal.This was the first theme the CBS Evening News ever used. Prior to 1987, the program adhered to a no-music policy, a legacy from the early days of television when news broadcasts relied on inexpensive syndicated footage paired with production music. The lack of music was a way for CBS to signal its high journalistic standards. Over time, however, music became a standard feature of news broadcasts. Reviving a theme from the Dan Rather era now serves as a means of projecting stability during a period of rapid change in the network news landscape–especially for CBS, which has seen three anchor changes in the past decade.
New remix of John Williams’ NBC News theme
The theme that legendary composer John Williams composed for NBC News in the 1980s, has been used by Seven News in Australia for almost the same amount of time. In 1988 Seven Nightly News was launched and Williams’ The Mission made its debut Down Under. There was already a tradition of Australian TV stations taking a cue from American TV. Since 1999 William’s orchestral music has been replaced with contemporary remxixes. The hook that makes the NBC News theme instantly recognizable is still featured prominently but supplemented with electronic beats and rhythms. The latest one, in use since 2016, is now featured on this site. It is produced by Damian De Boos-Smith and Jay Stewart of Sound Planet Australia.
CBS Evening News, CBS Mornings and Today
Last year’s new theme for the CBS Evening News became a fan favorite the minute it debuted. It’s a reworking of the classic Trivers/Myers theme that CBS has used at various points since the late eighties. This version is produced by the NYC-based music production company Antfood. You can now listen to the full version on this website.
Antfood is also responsible for the sound of CBS Mornings. The original Eye Opener at 7 (which was replaced by the previous theme after a month) and the Eye Opener at 8 have been added. Both prominently contain the “This is CBS”-mnemonic.
The current Today Show open used for the 7 a.m. hour, has also been added. The previous version I had on here was slightly longer and different from the mix used on air. I’ve left the other one for you to enjoy as well. Also some older NBC News promo’s have been added that were produced by 615 Music: We’re Everywhere, There’s More Today Everyday, Why I Love Today, Your Day is Today.
Finally, a reader came across this interview with legendary composer John Williams from 1985. It’s one of the few not focused on his movie scores but on his work for NBC News. He talks about why he considers writing music for news daunting (“you can’t make it louder”) and if he considered incorporating the NBC chimes. Well worth five minutes of your time.
New NBC News Now theme added
On Monday, March 13th, NBC News Now launched a new show, Stay Tuned Now with Gadi Schwartz. It’s the rare national primetime news show based in Los Angeles, airing daily on NBC News’ digital channel. It’s an extension of NBC News’ mobile-first, Gen Z news brand, Stay Tuned. The theme is composed by Matthew Sikora and Elizabeth Forde alongside creative direction by the production team, as well as Current Music’s Producer/Composer, Maddie Madsen. This is the third theme that Current Music has produced for NBC News Now.
NBC News Now has really developed its own identity. Their presentation style is a lot more laid back. Anchor Hallie Jackson regularly wears sneakers for example. The writing is very conversational. The graphics are bright and colorful. And the theme music is very high energy, incorporating lots of pop elements that aren’t traditionally associated with news music. For the Stay Tuned Now theme, anchor Gadi Schwartz suggested incorporating breakbeats.
Fresh new look, lots of new themes!
I’m excited to launch a complete redesign of Network News Music! The site has been online for 21 years and has had the same basic layout for the past ten. But trends in web design have changed radically in that time. With a fresh new look, there is more room for pictures. And text is easier to read thanks to a larger font and more white space. I’ll be tweaking some things in the weeks and probably months to come, as I am not yet completely satisfied. Feel free to let me know what you like or dislike.
Of course new music has also been added. The new theme for CBS Mornings by Antfood has been added, both the weekday and Saturday editions. It incorporates the Sunday Morning theme, Abblasen, thereby (again) connecting the weekday show to the beloved Sunday edition.
Past incarnations
Thanks to my friend Terry Wilkie from the Museum of Television Production Music I am able to add themes from past incarnations of CBS’s morning show. The theme from the short-lived 1987 Morning Program, the first CBS This Morning theme from 1987 and an additional track from CBS This Morning’s 1996 theme by the late Peter Fish.
Some other recognizable themes have also been added to the archive. The new CBS News Special Report theme, the opening that Good Morning America used from 2000 to 2003 by NJJ Music, the Face the Nation theme from 2015 after Bob Schieffer left, the NBC News at Sunrise theme from 1983 and Shelly Palmer’s theme for The News with Brian Williams, shown on MSNBC starting in 1996. As always, thanks for stopping by!