(the info about the LobbyNet jingle by NPR's Emily Littleton, as published in NPR's Intranet Home Page)
MP3 Downloads: LobbyNet Full Version (277KB ) | LobbyNet Acapella Version (142KB)
Download the 1980 "NPR Closed Circuit" jingle, (MP3 166KB)
Whistle…er…Jingle
While You Work
Ever hear of NPR LobbyNet 105.7FM? Once you hear its theme jingle a few times,
you'll have to burn it
out of your brain. The mysteriously, nay, insidiously catchy "station i.d."
for NPR's LobbyNet channel,
which plays in the NPR Mass Ave lobby, in all elevator foyers and in all NPR
restrooms, came about through NPR technomaster Rich Rarey's efforts. Listen
to the jingle and read more about it. And blame Rich
when you start humming it while brushing your teeth.
Perhaps it was a jingle born of
frustration. The hardworking people of Master Control receive
many, many staff phone calls asking about the LobbyNet frequency. Rich Rarey
decided to take
a stand. "I decided the NPR staff would benefit from the ancient method
of memory recall: the
jingle." He e-mailed friend Geoff Erb on a Thursday in January, asking
him to create a
hummable, pleasing, in-tune jingle for LobbyNet. "That following Monday,
I found a complete
LobbyNet jingle package in my email box. Seven different cuts, including the
instrumental,
comprise the package. I cut them into five 29-second jingle beds, and put them
into rotation on
LobbyNet." The jingles play at the 59th minute of each hour, from 0500
to 1600, Monday thru
Friday (this is the minute where our NPR programs silent between the hours).
The LobbyNet composition is yet another piece to add to Rich's growing repertoire. He admits, "This is not the first NPR jingle package Geoff and I have made; when I joined the company as Chicago Bureau Engineer in 1980, Geoff and I created a jingle package to play on the satellite from the bureau, strictly for our amusement, and the amusement of the NPR staff in Washington." Download the "NPR Closed Circuit" jingle, (MP3 166KB)
About Geoffrey Erb
LobbyNet jingle creator Geoffrey Erb is a freelance audio producer based in
Scottsdale, Arizona. Formerly Creative Director for several top radio stations,
Geoff has been multi-tracking his voice on jingles since his days at Ohio University
[Athens, Ohio].
Back then, Rich Rarey and Geoff would burn the midnight oil producing jingles for NPR member station WOUB. Today, several of Geoff's commercial jingles fill the Phoenix airwaves helping to keep his one-man company, E.R.B.-Exciting Reasons to Broadcast, in business.
Geoff does a variety of special event and personalized novelty jingles too. Having a roast, birthday, bachelor party, or other special event? Call E.R.B. for a reasonable quote.
Geoffrey Erb - E.R.B.- Exciting Reasons to Broadcast: (602) 971-0966, Fax: (602) 971-3139]