Who doesn’t love a good advertising jingle? We’ve all heard them and some of us can’t get them out of our heads. But what makes a good one? And how can you create one that will be catchy and memorable? In this blog, we’ll take a look at the history of advertising jingles with some classic examples that have stood the test of time. Let’s dive in!
The history of advertising jingles
The first advertising jingle arrived in 1926 when Wheaties ran a radio spot called “Have You Tried Wheaties?” featuring a barbershop quartet singing straightforward lyrics. The ad was an attempt for General Mills to save its struggling Wheaties brand using a new format, the radio. We found a YouTube video of the legendary “Have You Tried Wheaties?” jingle so you can have a listen.
The Wheaties campaign was a success and sales boomed. Soon other brands followed suit using radio jingles to gain national attention. With radio, jingles proliferated as the only musical outlet for brands which changed in the 1950s.
TV and The Evolution of Advertising Jingles
The 1950s
In the 1950s, advertising jingles really took off with the advent of television. Iconic products were launched with catchy tunes and clever visuals to capture the attention of TV audiences. The examples below may look and sound a little primitive now but they offer us insight into the jingle’s early DNA.
“Snap Crackle Pop” – Rice Krispies (Leo Burnett / 1959)
“Have You Had Your Soup Today” – Campbell’s Soup (BBDO / 1954)
“Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun” – Doublemint Gum (BBDO / 1959)
1960s & 70s: Standout Advertising Jingles
“Things Go Better With Coke” – Coca-Cola (McCann Erickson)
Coca-Cola has always seen the power of music’s relationship with brand. In 1963, the brand launched a new campaign called “Things Go Better with Coke” with music playing a BIG part. There was even an album which featured top artists like Marvin Gaye, The Bee Gees, Nancy Sinatra and The Supremes (to name a few) all singing about their favorite sugary beverage, Coke. The result was less a single jingle and more a cultural movement. If you’re interested in listening to well over an hour of songs featuring the slogan, check out the video below.
“Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There” – State Farm (DDB)
State Farm’s iconic jingle “Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There” was first introduced in 1971 and is still in use today. The jingle was created by advertising agency DDB and composed by legendary jingle writer Steve Karmen. The catchy tune and memorable lyrics have helped make State Farm one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
“I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing” – Coca-Cola (McCann Erickson)
Again in 1971, Coca-Cola made music a central part of their advertising efforts when they commissioned the song “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” as part of their “It’s the Real Thing” campaign. The song was a huge success, and is one of the catchiest advertising jingles of all time. The simple, yet memorable melody and positive lyrics are just some of the reasons why this jingle has stood the test of time.
In part two of this two-part series about advertising jingles, we’ll look at how the jingle evolved through the 1980s, 90s, and early 2000s. We’ll talk about the aughts and the “death of the jingle” while exploring modern examples of how brands are using custom music and songs to create compelling campaigns.
Before signing off on Part 1, let’s talk about the benefits of having a good advertising jingle and how you can get started creating one.
The Benefits Of Having a Good Advertising Jingle
A good advertising jingle can help to increase brand awareness and recall, and can make an ad more effective and persuasive. Additionally, a catchy jingle can help a brand to stand out from its competitors.
Jingles should aim to achieve three key objectives: increase brand awareness, build brand equity, and drive a response from your customers. Achieving these objectives can be difficult and costly – but a good advertising jingle can make all the difference.’
What makes a good advertising jingle?
Good advertising jingles should be catchy, memorable, and easy to sing along to. It should also be relevant to the advertised product or service, and convey a positive message about the brand.
Creating an advertising jingle.
Creating a catchy advertising jingle is no easy task – but it is possible with the right approach. It’s also important to work with professional songwriters and producers who will help make your vision a reality. Audiosocket’s custom music team are experts in creating custom songs, jingles and sounds for memorable brand campaigns. Send us an email to learn more about our custom music services and start creating your brand’s signature sound.
Here are the steps we’ll take together to create something unique amd memorable:
1. Define your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your advertising? Knowing your target audience will help you determine the tone and style of your jingle.
2. Write a list of key messages. What do you want your jingle to communicate? Make sure your messages are clear, concise, and on-brand.
3. Find the right musical style. What kind of music will appeal to your target audience? Again, this is based on the audience you’re trying to reach.
4. Write the lyrics. With an understanding of your key message and audience, it’s time to start writing the lyrics for your jingle. Keep in mind that simplicity is key – you want people to remember your jingle, not get lost in complex lyrics.
5. Create the melody. This is arguably the most important step in creating a catchy advertising jingle. The melody is what will stay in people’s heads long after they’ve heard your ad, so it needs to be memorable and catchy. Work with a professional musician or composer to create an unforgettable melody for your jingle.
6. Record and produce the jingle professionally. Once you have all the elements of your jingle in place, it’s time to bring it to life. This is where a professional record producer comes in and the production process begins. This will ensure that your jingle sounds great on any platform, from TV commercials to radio ads.’
Recap
A good advertising jingle should be catchy, memorable, and have a good hook. Creating one requires a clear understanding of your audience and the key messages you are trying to convey. When creating a jingle, you’ll need to work with professional songwriters and producers to actualize your vision in a recording.
With the right message, melody and song production, you might have an iconic brand jingle as well!
If you’d like to learn more about how Audiosocket can help you clear music for your next project, please email us with the song title and artist you’re interested in licensing. We look forward to hearing from you!
