Podcast
CBS News – Network News Music
Hosted by Unknown Author · EN
Appreciating news theme music.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
“CBS Evening News” 1991 – 2006, Current Theme
Jan 5Tap to summarizeThis theme started being used by the CBS Evening News in 1991 and lasted until September 2006. The theme is most closely associated with the Dan Rather era of the Evening News. However, for a short time Rather had a co-anchor. In 1993 CBS made Connie Chung the co-anchor, thereby making her the first female since Barbara Walters to anchor a nightly network newscast. The pairing was not a success. There was speculation that it was a mere ratings ploy and Rather was not happy sharing the spotlight with someone. Within two years Dan Rather was anchoring alone again. This theme was also used on the CBS Morning News. It is composed by Patterson, Walz and Fox Music Productions. Although it contains the signature melody of the former theme by Trivers/Myers, all the other music is original. The three composers were after a bigger-than-life sound that transcended the local news themes with a grand sound. Patterson, Walz & Fox – CBS Evening News close https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/1991/08/cnsen91.mp3 This is the open without voiceover as used on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. During Bob Schieffer’s interim run the open was shortened by cutting out a few seconds in the beginning of the open. Patterson, Walz & Fox – CBS Evening News open https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/1991/08/cbsen91o.mp3 Patterson, Walz & Fox – CBS Evening News headlines https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/1991/08/cbsen91hl.mp3
Transcribe →“CBS Evening News” 1987 – 1991, 2011 – 2016, 2025 – 2026 Theme
Jan 27, 2025Tap to summarizeThe 1987 theme for CBS Evening News marked the first time the program used an orchestral composition. Prior to this, CBS News adhered to a policy, imposed by CBS-TV President Frank Stanton, that prohibited the use of music. This policy had its roots in the early days of television news when many newscasts relied on syndicated footage accompanied by inexpensive production music. To distinguish itself and demonstrate that it used original footage, CBS chose to forgo music entirely. At the time, their music library consisted largely of tracks used for old radio soap operas, which were deemed inappropriate for news programming. For several years, CBS used a simple ticker sound for the opening, bumper, and closing of Evening News, and from 1984 to 1987, the program featured no music at all. However, as CBS’s ratings began to decline and NBC’s Nightly News theme, composed by John Williams, gained popularity with viewers, CBS executives decided to revisit their policy. They commissioned composers John Trivers, Elizabeth Myers, and Alan James Pasqua to create a new theme. The music was recorded at 20th Century Fox’s soundstage and took six hours to record. This theme was retired in 1991, but made two comebacks. When Scott Pelley became anchor of the CBS Evening News in 2011, CBS executives wanted to “reach back into the DNA of CBS News” and decided to bring the theme back. The original recordings were used, though they were slightly remastered. In 2025 when Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson took over as co-anchors, the theme once again returned. Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News close https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cbsen87.mp3 In the late ’80s they used different openings, but here you can find the one they used quite often. The opening that they have been using since 2011 is a bit different. It’s actually a remixed version of the last part of the long credit close above. Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News open (2011 version) https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cbsen11o.mp3 Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News open (1987 version) https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cbsen87o.mp3 Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News headlines https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cbsen87hl.mp3 This is an especially beautiful version, called the pastoral bumper. It has been used for funerals and broadcasts with particular gravitas. Trivers Myers Music – CBS Evening News pastoral bumper https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/cbsen87pb.mp3
Transcribe →“CBS Evening News” 2022 – 2025 Theme
Aug 29, 2022Tap to summarizeIn the late summer of 2022, the CBS Evening News unveiled a new look to better align with other CBS properties. As part of this refresh, a reimagined version of the classic Trivers/Myers theme was introduced, produced by Antfood. The new theme is anchored by a driving drum beat, which builds into a powerful brass section playing the signature melody. Throughout the period this theme was in use, Evening News featured several variations. Antfood provided CBS with a modular kit of parts, allowing them to assemble custom tracks. The theme was recorded in Prague, where a small, royalty-free orchestra played various segments. These recordings were then rearranged and finalized in New York. The original composition of the music is credited to John Trivers, Elizabeth Myers and Alan James Pasqua. This arrangement was created by Wilson Brown and Dalton Harts for Antfood. The music package was titled “Cruise Control.” Antfood – CBS Evening News theme https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cbsen22.mp3
Transcribe →“CBS News Special Report” Current Theme
Feb 22, 2022Tap to summarizeSince February of 2022 CBS News has been using a new theme for its Special Reports. It’s used both on the main network as well as the streaming service. Antfood – CBS News Special Report theme https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cbssr22.mp3
Transcribe →“CBS Mornings” Current Theme
Sep 7, 2021Tap to summarizeIn 2021, CBS This Morning was rebranded as CBS Mornings with the goal of strengthening its connection to the highly successful CBS News Sunday Morning. This shift was reflected in the adoption of the iconic sunshine logo, which has been associated with Sunday Morning since its debut. Musically, CBS Mornings incorporated a shortened version of Gottfried Reiche’s “Abblasen” into its upbeat theme, produced by Antfood. The trumpet solo is performed by Sam Oatts. Antfood – CBS Mornings open https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cbsm21.mp3 Each hour of CBS Mornings opens with the “Eye Opener,” a fast-paced news montage. Initially, this segment featured new music, but for the 7 a.m. Eye Opener, the show reverted to the theme used during the CBS This Morning era. The Saturday edition, however, continues to use the new theme. Antfood – CBS Mornings Eye Opener at 7 https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cbsm21eo7.mp3 Antfood – CBS Mornings Eye Opener at 8 https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cbsm21eo8.mp3 The Saturday edition of the show has a slightly more relaxed theme. As you can hear clearly in this cut, the music features the “This is CBS”-mnemonic prominently. Developed by Antfood in 2020, this is a melodic interpretation of the classic announcer voice-over intro. Antfood – CBS Saturday Morning theme https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/cbsms21.mp3
Transcribe →“America Decides 2020” Theme
Nov 3, 2020Tap to summarizeFor its election night coverage, CBS News used a theme composed by Nick Murray on behalf of MIBE Music. The music has lots of movement and creates a sense of anticipation, a befitting conclusion to a highly charged election between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump. There’s not a lot of melody because when it is used on air, anchors are frequently talking over it. The music was recorded nearly a year before its use on air, in January of 2020 in Bangkok, Thailand. MIBE Music – America Decides 2020 https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/cbse2020.mp3
Transcribe →“CBS Evening News” 2019 – 2022 Theme
Jul 10, 2019Tap to summarizeWhen Norah O’Donnell became anchor of the CBS Evening News, the program introduced a fresh look and sound. The new theme was a remixed version of the previous one, with a strong EDM influence. A few months later, the program moved to Washington, D.C., making it the first network evening news broadcast since World News Tonight in the early ’80s to be based in the nation’s capital. Made Music Studio – CBS Evening News open https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cbsen19.mp3 Made Music Studio – CBS Evening News headlines https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cbsen19hl.mp3 Made Music Studio – CBS Evening News close https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cbsen19cl.mp3
Transcribe →“WCBS Newsradio 880” 2018 – 2024 Anthem
Aug 22, 2018Tap to summarizeWCBS Newsradio 880, a news and talk radio station serving the New York metropolitan area, sought a fresh theme package. For this project, the station turned to Made Music Studio. Their goal was to create a theme that felt engaging without sounding overly self-important. The final result seamlessly integrates with the broader CBS News sonic brand, for which Made Music Studio is responsible. This is the anthem. It blends some of the individual cuts of the package together, such as the news, weather and traffic themes. In the summer of 2024, it was announced that after nearly sixty years of broadcasting an all-news format, WCBS would transition to an ESPN radio format. Made Music Studio – WCBS Newsradio 880 anthem https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/wcbsnr18.mp3
Transcribe →“Face the Nation” Current Theme
May 21, 2018Tap to summarizeA few months after Margaret Brennan took over as moderator, Face the Nation was given a makeover that brought it more in line with the look and feel of other CBS News programs. The theme was recorded a month before its debut in the studios of Made Music Studio in New York. Each section of an orchestra recorded their parts before it was all mixed together under the guidance of Joel Beckerman and Mickey Alexander. Made Music Studio – Face the Nation theme https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cbsftn18-1.mp3
Transcribe →“CBS Evening News” 2016 – 2019 Theme
Jun 1, 2016Tap to summarizeOriginally composed for CBS’ election coverage, this theme was adopted as the theme for the CBS Evening News in May of 2016. CBS wanted an iconic score, something people would remember 10 to 15 years from now. Made Music Studio was charged with that task. Composers Joel Beckerman and Wayne Sharpe came up with this theme centered on three orchestral stabs. It’s a special challenge to write news music, as Beckerman explained to USA Today: “What we’re doing is creating music for a movie that has not been shot—because we don’t know what the stories are. CBS News doesn’t yet know what will unfold through this whole election cycle. So we’re trying to predict the kinds of emotions that they’re going to need—the different energies, the different instruments, so that we can create almost an entire film score for them that can unfold in real time during the election cycle.” The various sections of the orchestra give the theme its identity. Strings give it worldliness, lower brass adds trustworthiness and short note percussion gives it forward energy, said Beckerman to AdWeek. Here’s the long close, used on the Evening News. You can listen to a different cut of the package that was used for election coverage. Made Music Studio – CBS Evening News 2016 theme https://www.networknewsmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/cbsen16.mp3
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