Democracy 2020 - Election Night Theme Music (2019)
Here is the Fox News 2020 election night music that I did. This is the kind of gig that I feel like I would have pitched 30+ versions, but I could only find 5. The 4 alternate versions were never used, and they’re included at the end. I thought that would be kind of interesting to post what was not selected.
Fox and I went back and forth on the final version, and I just couldn’t believe what they wanted! It was the most aggressive news music I’d ever heard, and although I was happy to do it, they really had to lead me there. The hyper-aggressive “vamp” did not come naturally to me, but luckily it seemed natural to them.
I believe they reprised my theme for the 2024 election music. It was not my mix, but it was my theme.
The Untold Story - Martha Mac Callum Theme Music (2017)
This theme played weekdays during primetime for years. I only managed to hear it play a few times in passing, but it’s one that I was proud of.
I don’t remember what the details of the brief were. Normally I consider “news music” to sound like a clear instrumental of Queensryche’s Empire album, but in this instance I thought I’d channel something a little different. I remember distinctly thinking that I wanted to add a slight progressive metal leaning, and for some reason, the band Vanden Plas kept coming to mind as I wrote this one.
The “tragic” news beds are particularly dramatic and hilarious. I was asked for them, but I I don’t think I’d ever heard “tragic news music” in my life, and I knew that whatever I sent would never be used.
I’ve also included a few different versions that were never used, because I think it’s cool to hear those.
Tucker Carlson - original Time Slot Theme Music (2016)
I didn’t love the music direction, and I always thought that the theme song he got with the new time slot was way cooler. It rocked!
This theme certainly does NOT rock, but it’s what they asked for.
Tucker had my theme until he took the #1 time slot in cable news.
The tragic news vamps are just comical. I’ve included a few unreleased alternate pitches as well.