As names like Thurston Howell, III and trusty anecdotes like ‘third time’s a charm’ imply, three really is the magic number.  Arno und die Morgencrew and the rest of 104.6 RTL – Berlin have just begun airing a new round of bespoke radio idents that rings in our 50th custom jingle package in the nearly 10 year history of IQ Beats.  Here to stay?  Who knows.  Here to play?  You bet.

We made some radio jingle magic with RTL I.  The encore was the more organic music imaging of RTL II.  Buckle up, get your glow stick and furry boots because RTL III eschews the more organic sound of previous statements and takes a trip down the dirty, grinding electro path that none of your favorite octogenarians are vibing to these days.  This package turns up the heat and is a very contemporary statement on the leading edge of today’s pop.

For the third time in a row we’ve gone to IQ Beats to define the musical identity of RTL through carefully crafted and superbly produced jingles.  Why?  Because they deliver each time, we simply like what they do and the collaboration is easy.

No matter where the station is at with current musical trends, their composers hone in perfectly on producing for what is hot right now and then go beyond to capture what’s next on the horizon of pop music.  So good, perfect on the air. Thank you!

Martin Dumschat – Head of Production, 104.6 RTL

Head to iqbeats.com and hear the 2011 104.6 RTL Berlin Jingle Package 3 cut by cut it all it’s shining glory or stay tuned for the jingle package demo below.  Now might be a good time to direct you to the 2009 104.6 RTL Berlin Jingle Package 2 and the 2007 104.6 RTL Berlin Jingle Package 1 on the blog or by clicking here or here to hear them on the main site, respectively.

Aaaaaaand now… The 2011 demo of the new 104.6 RTL Berlin radio jingle package.

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The folks at Dublin’s Q102 have recently begun airing a new version of our Heart Network 2 Radio Jingle Package.  With the two breakfast anthems and nearly all of the 15 music themes in use, the package is a fresh lift for the station and sounding great on air.

Providing excellent customer experience and service is something we have built the company on.  As such, we invite all our clients to partake in the vocal sessions regardless of the distance between us and Dublin’s Q102 were no different.  The guys had a specific vision for the scan of the lyrics they were looking for and having them tuned in ensured success.  We also reworked the intro shelf of the news bed to be exactly what the production director was looking for so that the talk-ups by presenters were bang on.

The new package we got from IQ Beats has given the station a great lift – Within hours of it first going on the air i caught at least 2 of the presenters humming the “This is Q” tagline which confirmed to me that we had made absolutely the right choice in choosing the Heart package once again to be the jingle sound of Dublin’s Q102!

Kip and Michael at IQ Beats couldn’t have been more accommodating when it came to demos, advice on singers and the final production.  Being able to listen in on the recording session was invaluable and all suggestions, no matter how “out there” they were, were taken on board!

S.S., APD – Dublin’s Q102

Follow the links to hear the Heart Network 2 Radio Jingle Package or the Heart Network 1 Radio Jingle Package cut by cut on our main site or read about the Heart Network 2 Radio Jingle Package on the blog.

Dublin’s Q102 Radio Jingle Montage

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Dublin’s Q102 three minute on-air aircheck

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Having produced a huge range of different packages over the years, the boys at IQ are never afraid of a challenge… So far having worked with two major orchestras (BBC Radio Manchester and LBC) and vocalists from Seattle, Nashville, Los Angeles and Europe it is fair to say that every project brings new excitement.

Gold 2010 is our latest achievement and one we are very proud to unveil. The package was commissioned by Global Radio to add some extra sparkle to their national network which plays the Greatest Hits of All Time – Gold.

This was another project that utilized the talents of the full team at IQ and some additional input from a legendary vocal arranger and copyist in Dallas, TX to nail the famous group vocal sound heard on legendary stations for decades.  Also adding sparkle to the package is real brass… Thanks, we WILL toot our own horn(s) thank you very much.

Some words from Adrian Stewart, Programme Director – Gold Network:

We have been evolving the sound of Gold over the last few months and wanted a unique jingle package that dovetailed beautifully into the refreshed playlist, it had to sound like nothing else you would find on the UK radio dial. Our new package certainly gives us the feel of a big classic hits heritage station coupled with the modern contemporary production values that we need in 2010.

The Gold package contains fast moving tracks with shotguns, shouts and a ton of edits to make the package really come alive on the air. There are talk ramps with plenty of space for presenters to create fast moving, energetic radio. There are really tight mixes to play between records and there is the usual news, travel and weather package you would come to expect from IQ Beats.

Get back to the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s.  Get back to the Greatest Hits of All Time.  Get Gold.

Gold 2010 Radio Jingle Demo

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Or check out the full package here.

Tulsa, Oklahoma’s 98.5 KVOO is the “Voice of Oklahoma” (VOO) and is playing Today’s Country Variety.

Program Director Luke Jensen rang us up and ordered a tasty selection of cuts from our JR FM package topped off with the Top of Hour from the Kix 106 package and it sounds great.

We looked all over the world for a fresh, innovative sound that would allow us to stand out in the marketplace.  Once we found the IQ JR FM package, the decision was easy.  The JR FM package has the contemporary feel that we were looking for, it’s different, and will help further differentiate KVOO from our competitors. There is nothing better in this business than getting a great product from a great group of people!  This was the easiest, most stress free process I have ever been through!

-Luke Jensen, Program Director 98.5 KVOO

Download the montage here | 1.1MB

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The European customs continue to fly off the shelves with this new bespoke effort for RMF FM in Krakow.  Broadcasting nationally throughout Poland as the most popular station, the brief was to craft 20 custom cuts that are each “mini hit songs” in a mere 12 seconds in length or less… All just as varied as RMF’s dynamic AC playlist.

With short transitions and even shorter mixes complimented by each theme having a logo mix with it’s own instrumental lead instrument, their new package is even more potent than a bottle of Luksusowa!

We love the package we’ve made with IQ Beats! It’s a step ahead of the music we play and really captures the sound we were looking for as a European station between CHR and HOT AC targeting mostly women 25-39.

The communication was great and everything was delivered on time. The creativity and writing of outstanding melodies paired with their attention to detail is unmatched. The vocalists they work with are talented and versatile while lending great variety to the entire package.

We will definitely work with IQ Beats for future projects!

-Adam Czerwinski, RMF FM

Check out the package here, or download the demo | RMF FM 5.1 MB

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Let’s dance with Radio 1075 Stockshols Enda Dans Golv! Radio 1075 is THE Dance station of Stockholm and is presented by popular local DJ’s such as Gordon Eriksson, Thomas Hansen and Patrik Hallmert. Radio 1075 is formerly known as Studio 1075 and have taken delivery of our WKTU New York package to brand their re-launch with style.

For this syndication, IQ Beats and Music and Images have worked together to produce a version of the WKTU package that has Thomas Hansen saying, “The jingles even sound better than the KTU originals!”

Have a listen to our montage of stager cuts below, head to here at iqbeats.com for a blow by blow, or head to the Music and Images site to hear the cuts at length.

Download the Radio 1075 jingle montage | 1.6MB

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Clear, concise, elegant and soulful. UTV Radio has launched its dynamic, new on-air imaging on Staffordshire and Cheshire’s Signal 1 with the other 12 stations in the network each due to launch their respective versions soon.

Composed by Steven Scalfati and Patrick Napper, the package exhibits a range of mood, style, color and emotion while blending perfectly with the varied playlists found throughout UTV’s UK network.

We always love to have our clients from the UK and beyond visit us at our downtown Seattle tequila bar and clubhouse production facilities. UTV Radio’s Deputy Group Programme Director Simon Walkington made the pilgrimage to oversee vocal recording, get his hands on some mixes and find out what tequila is all about:

We are delighted with our new package. On first listen I was truly gob smacked. Working with the guys at IQ Beats is a bit harrowing with the free-flowing tequila, but how can you question the results?

They patiently got to know our brand(s), tirelessly worked on beds until they were perfect, mixed in world-class vocalists and presented us with jingles that complement our great playlist. IQ Beats have really taken our station imaging to a whole new level.

Click here to hear each component of the package and stay tuned to the blog for future additions showcasing the enormous amount of work that went into writing, recording, editing and mixing a custom package for thirteen different sings all at one time. Now may be a good time to remind you to subscribe to our feed so as not to miss out on any of the IQ action.

UTV 2008 Jingle Package Montage | Download 3.9MB

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Rusty James and the rest of the crew at Evansville, Indiana’s 93-5 The Wolf have recently taken delivery of a wolfrageous re-sing of our 100.7 The Wolf package and a healthy dose of Country X Factors.

As we were mixing down cut after cut, Rusty was already putting them on air! Either he is one eager beaver or he truly loves our stuff. Think he’s a fan of the IQ spin on music imaging for the Wolf? Let’s see:

The guys at IQ Beats know how to produce radio jingles for program directors – They give you all of the things you wish you had with other jingle packages like several mix-outs with every element of your jingle package at your fingertips for production.

If you are a Wolf Country station, I don’t know why you would use anything else! -Rusty James, Program Director, 93.5 The Wolf Evansville, Indiana

Check out a montage of Wolf and Country X Factor cuts | Download 3.8MB

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IQ Beats is proud to announce our latest custom music-imaging package for LBC, our third in a longstanding relationship with Executive Producer Chris Lowrie and the first under the ownership of Global Radio. LBC is London’s premier News/Talk station on 97.3 FM and across the UK on DAB digital radio.

Composers Patrick Napper and Steven Scalfati worked closely with Programme Director Jonathan Richards and Mr. Lowrie to produce a package bringing together a contemporary, authoritative and confident sound to reflect LBC as a “news talk” station and live orchestrations, using strings and horns, to reflect the emotion of real and honest conservations. It is a winning combination not previously found in any other package and is designed to confirm London’s premier talk radio station as bold, modern, confident and proud.

The package is a true achievement and is the culmination of 4 months of focused composition, communication, coordination, scheduling, production, recording, editing and mixing made possible by the talent of Steven and Patrick, the clear vision laid out by Jonathan and Chris at LBC, and the 80 other persons instrumentally involved in the package.

Chris Lowrie had this to say:

We are delighted with this exciting new sound for LBC 97.3, making us stand out from the rest of the market. It’s fresh and distinctive and reflects LBC as the best talk station in London.

Chris Lowrie, Executive Producer, LBC 97.3 FM

The package is diverse with themes for: Daytime, Nighttime, Top of Hour, Travel, Breakfast, and 911 News. In addition, there is an absolutely majestic Main Theme as well as a huge workpart kit of atmospheres and Logo ID’s.

Head to IQ Beats.com to hear the vast majority of the the new LBC 2008 Package, or click More to view video and images from behind the scenes. (more…)

Stations imaging with IQ Beats custom music have scored a hat trick for awards this week. Our friends at BBC Radio Manchester have taken the Gold from the Frank Gillard Awards for BBC Local Radio to go alongside station sound winners and proud IQ custom package recipients Newstalk 106 in Ireland and JR fm in Canada.

As our first opportunity to employ the grandeur of a live orchestra, it is with no doubt that the depth and diversity of our BBC Radio Manchester custom package featuring Manchester’s own BBC Philharmonic provides the station with the mojo it needs to take such an award.

Managing Editor John Ryan had this to say:

Hello. I’m delighted to announce we have won the Gold award for Station Sound at the Frank Gillard Awards for BBC Local Radio 2007. This is our third Gold since relaunching, and the second award for our station sound this year.

The Station Sound team are responsible for everything that’s not content or broadcasters – trails, music programming, jingles, audio production, running orders etc etc. It’s a vital part of defining our brand, conducting the rhythm and discipline of the radio station.

Very many congratulations to Stuart Barrett and Toby Whitehouse (not forgetting Kate Dinsdale – a couple of her pieces of work were on the tape too!) who lead this work, but also to our entire on-air team for their engagement with this important part of what we do and their creative use of this stuff. Thanks also due to Craig Kelly and the wonderful Trish Bertram for their voice talent, and to Michael, Steven, Kip and Patrick at IQ Beats, our jingle house – as well as Michael and Karen, our singers, and the BBC Philharmonic here in Manchester who provided the string performances. A brilliant team effort. Well done.

* Despite not getting a nomination for Hatton in Vegas in the Sports Awards, a special judges commendation was read out at the awards. So well done to Ian, Sarah, Kev, Andy and the sports team involved in our coverage of this important story.