Radio station jingles have been used to identify stations since the mid-1940s. If you're a radio junky, you've definitely heard the four letters of a station being sung or shouted by voices in between advertisements and Top 40 broadcasting. It's part of a bigger art form called radio imaging, and it's something that should be taken seriously if you're a broadcaster.
Radio station jingles are basically sonic logos for a station. They add more production quality to a show's sound, can be used as a transitional tool, set an individual station apart from the rest, and aid listeners' memories when they're just mindlessly flicking through stations. Plus, it's free advertising for your station!
But what makes a good radio station jingle? It should be about 10 seconds or less, should sound loud and in-your-face, and needs to include your station's name or number. Other than that, it's up to you whether you'd like it to include singing, upbeat music, sound clips, or additional voices. So long as your jingle is memorable and drums up excitement in listeners, it's a keeper!
Below are some different ways you can make a unique jingle for your radio station.
Making Your Own Jingle From Scratch
Perhaps the best and most cost-effective way to get the radio station jingle of your dreams is by crafting one yourself. All you really need is a microphone, headphones, and an editing software like Adobe Audition, ProTools; standard audio equipment any broadcaster should have in their toolbox (or even free software like Audacity could work). Some knowledge of music production is also helpful. If you want to go the extra mile, you can also write out a script. But experimenting with audio to find the perfect sonic branding can be just as fun!
If you're a pro at recording and using editing effects, you can literally make a professional-sounding jingle in less than a minute. We recommend watching Mike Russell's video tutorial on it below if you'd like to learn how to do so!
Hiring Musicians and Voiceover Artists
Another way to make a radio jingle? Well, if you're not great at creating music or speaking into a microphone, you can always hire local musicians and voiceover artists to create short radio jingles for you. For musicians, an artist skilled at music production and familiar with the atmosphere of radio is someone you need. And for voice actors, you're looking for someone with experience, charisma, and good diction. Make sure to communicate to them your vision and what you need, and pay them well for their time!
If you don't know any musicians or voice actors in your area who could help, you can always look to freelancers on Fiverr. And if that's not an option, reach out to your radio station audience for help! You can either ask your listeners while on air to reach out to you if they have the musical ability to create a jingle, or spread the word that you're hiring voice actors on social media. Let's face it: most people who tune in to radio do so because they really enjoy music or are audiophiles at heart. So you're bound to find a musician/voiceover artist or two somewhere in your pool of listeners!
Buying a Radio Jingle
Finally, you do have the ability to buy a radio jingle if you need a quick way to get one. Maybe it's the lazy way out, but there are lots of great places to shop around. Some jingles are even royalty free! Here are some sites we recommend...
- Benztown (see our discounted rates with Benztown here)
- AudioJungle
- Music Radio Creative
- GrooveWorx
- RadioJinglesPro
Want more tips on how to create a quality radio jingle? Check out our older guide on jingles/sweepers/station IDs here.
We can't wait to listen to your future jingle! Good luck, and happy broadcasting.
Ready to start your own station? Contact one of our Product Consultants or visit our website today.
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Article Image: Purple radio waves appear on the screen of a car radio. (Pixel-Shot via Shutterstock.)
