Twenty Thousand Hertz – "Yahoo! The Yodel Heard Around the World"

Host: Dallas Taylor
Guest: Wiley Gustafson
Air Date: August 27, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the story behind one of the world’s most recognizable audio logos: the Yahoo! yodel. Host Dallas Taylor delves into the surprising origins of the sound, tracing the history of yodeling from the Swiss Alps to American pop culture and, ultimately, to the rise of the internet. The episode centers on Wiley Gustafson, the voice behind the iconic Yahoo! yodel, detailing his musical journey, how he came to record those famous notes, and his subsequent legal battle for recognition and compensation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Roots and Evolution of Yodeling

• Historic Context (00:50–03:01):

  • The episode begins by tracing yodeling’s origins to the Swiss Alps, where it was used by shepherds for communication and later became a beloved folk tradition.
  • Vintage recordings of European and early American yodeling are featured, including vaudeville performer George Watson (1911) and country legends Jimmie Rogers and Hank Williams.

• Yodeling in Pop Culture (03:01–04:13):

  • Yodeling persisted into the 20th century, surfacing in unexpected places from "The Price is Right" to pop tracks by Jewel and Gwen Stefani.

2. Wiley Gustafson’s Musical Journey

• Family and Early Influences (03:57–04:48):

  • Wiley grew up on a Montana ranch, absorbing music and yodeling from his father, a veterinarian and folk musician.
  • Quote: “My dad would yodel whenever he was happy. … I just adored my father, so I always tried to mimic him.” – Wiley Gustafson (04:17)

• Forming the Band & Musical Philosophy (04:48–06:03):

  • Wiley played bass in his brother’s band, often as a yodeling vocalist.
  • He moved to LA, formed Wiley & the Wild West Show, and committed to traditional country and western swing, eschewing commercialized country music of the era.

• Signature Sound and Breakthrough (06:03–06:49):

  • Wiley’s onstage yodeling became his trademark and set his band apart.
  • Record deal and successful music videos pushed the band into the spotlight.

3. Enter the Internet and Yahoo

• The Early Web Era (06:49–08:48):

  • The episode introduces the Wild West days of the internet, the proliferation of early search engines, and Yahoo’s origin as a friendly, curated website.

• Branding with Yodeling (08:48–11:25):

  • The ’90s saw a resurgence of retro cultural quirks, including yodeling in commercials (Ricola, Jell-O, etc.).
  • Wiley’s commercial yodeling work in LA caught the attention of a production company working with Yahoo.

4. The Creation of the Yahoo! Yodel

• Booking the Gig (11:25–11:55):

  • Wiley was asked to yodel “Yahoo!” for a regional ad campaign.
  • “The company thought it would be cool if you could yodel the Yahoo name. And I said, yeah, I think I can do that.” – Wiley Gustafson (11:32)

• Recording Session (11:43–12:08):

  • Wiley recorded about 20 takes over ten minutes, singing several variations.
  • He received a one-time payment of $600 for a supposedly limited regional usage.

5. The Yodel Goes Global (and Viral)

• Unintended Fame (12:36–13:52):

  • Wiley’s yodel quietly became Yahoo’s global audio brand, heard on countless commercials, including a Super Bowl spot.
  • Quote: “At the end of the advertisement was my Yodel. And Yahoo by that time had grown huge.” – Wiley Gustafson (13:43)

• Realization and Legal Issues (13:52–14:55):

  • Wiley discovered his yodel was being used everywhere — and he hadn’t been contacted or paid more.
  • He reached out to Yahoo with no response, so eventually hired a copyright attorney.

• “The Yahoo Yodeler sues Yahoo” (14:55–15:01)

6. The Lawsuit and Its Aftermath

• Struggles for Recognition (20:05–21:02):

  • Wiley persistently contacted Yahoo for over a year; he even tried to negotiate simple cross-promotion.
  • “Here I was, the small guy, the yodeler, that kind of was a big part of their marketing that they had just totally forgotten about and totally ignored. And so I started getting angry.” – Wiley Gustafson (20:40)

• Legal Action and Media Attention (21:05–21:37):

  • A lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court finally got Yahoo’s attention and national media coverage.

• Public Reaction (21:43–22:03):

  • Wiley received both sympathy and backlash, with some people critical of his decision to sue.

• Settlement and New Relationship (22:24–23:07):

  • Just before a planned media appearance, Yahoo offered a fair settlement, which Wiley accepted.
  • The agreement led to ongoing collaboration and more work with Yahoo over the ensuing decades.
  • “Not only did they settle with me, but I’ve been working for Yahoo… Every couple years, they give me a call and say, hey, we have a new promotion.” – Wiley Gustafson (22:51)

7. The Yodel’s Impact and Legacy

• Global Recognition (23:33–24:58):

  • The settlement allowed Wiley to scale back touring, focus on family, and enjoy ranch life.
  • He found worldwide recognition and connection through the yodel, performing on TV (including Conan O’Brien) and abroad.
  • “That yodel was heard worldwide, and… when they find out I am the Yahoo yodeler, it’s like I’m a rock star.” – Wiley Gustafson (24:18)

• On Being the World’s Most-Heard Yodeler (25:24–25:49):

  • Wiley reflects on his luck and the serendipity of becoming “the Yahoo yodeling dude.”
  • "I'm lucky and blessed to be able to have a yodel that was picked up by one of the biggest Internet companies of its time." – Wiley Gustafson (25:24)

• Teaching and Spreading Joy (26:00–27:17):

  • Wiley now teaches yodeling to schoolkids and continues to perform, sharing his unique joy.
  • “There's something about the yodel that hits the certain parts of our brain that give us a little bit of joy for a little bit of moment. I think that's part of the secret of why the Yahoo yodel was so well accepted and so loved.” – Wiley Gustafson (26:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On yodeling as instant branding:
  “A yodel is just instantly recognizable. It cuts through the background noise of regular ads, just like it once cut through the natural sounds of a Swiss mountainside.” – Dallas Taylor (11:02)

• On the power of sound:
  “People want to hear it, and it energizes them and it makes them smile. It's amazing the power that the Yahoo Yodel still have.” – Wiley Gustafson (23:27)

• On legal perseverance:
  “At the time my initial offerings were—I didn’t want much. I said, you know, maybe you can help us promote my band, promote my music…And they just, there was no responses whatsoever…And so I started getting angry.” – Wiley Gustafson (20:36, 20:40)

• On finally settling:
  “Yahoo decided to settle with me to make up for all the uses of the yodel…they came up with a fair settlement that I thought was fair.” – Wiley Gustafson (22:24–22:37)

Highly Recommend Segments (with Timestamps)

• Swiss yodeling history and samples: (00:50–02:36)
• Wiley’s family & first yodel attempts: (03:57–04:48)
• The bar moment that made yodeling his signature: (06:03–06:49)
• The original Yahoo! recording session and its accidental legacy: (11:43–12:36)
• The legal battle and cultural aftermath: (20:05–23:07)
• Discussion of the yodel’s emotional impact and its role in advertising: (26:00–27:17)

Tone & Takeaway

The episode maintains Dallas Taylor’s bright, curious, and slightly nerdy tone, mixing humor and well-researched narrative. Wiley Gustafson’s warmth, humility, and humor shine through, as does his pride in both his craft and in standing up for his rights. The story underscores the lasting impact a single sound can have—and the importance of giving artists their due. For anyone who has ever heard the Yahoo! yodel—or wondered why some sounds linger in pop culture—this episode offers a joyful, insightful answer.