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The proclamation that jingles are dead isn't true and the best ones will never die. This is evidenced by the fact we still reference Folgers, Dr. Pepper, etc. I

The proclamation that jingles are dead isn't true and the best ones will never die. This is evidenced by the fact we still reference Folgers, Dr. Pepper, etc. I appreciate the comments about Japan and Korea as I wouldn't be aware of those otherwise. Like most things advertising evolved and since mass appeal is the objective it makes sense that pop songs, which are simple and catchy would fill the role that jingles once played. Pop songs, however, are relatively expensive, and even more so if you have an effective commercial that you want to run a lot. Without doing any additional searching I can name 2 great, current jingles running here is Los Angeles. Powell Electric's, "...we'll fix it in a flash..." and Empire Carpet, "...call Empire Today..." So now I think they fill the purpose of lower budget commercials, but they are still a live and they are still a great tool for the right job.

6stringmerc 10y ago
Curious about that Powell Electric jingle because there's another firm out here Texas way by the name Milestone Electric that uses the same slogan. Curious if it's a franchise model. Something akin to how Clear Channel has a robot playlist Bob FM, Jack FM, Steve FM, etc in different large markets.
- endswapper 10y ago
  I'm not sure, and I am not familiar with the TX company, but if you want to take a look for yourself, this is a link to the Powell I am referring to: http://www.powell-electric.com/ http://www.powell-electric.com/ I hope that was an answer, in a flash... Now, just because I am curious, mostly because it is catchy, if you do confirm an affiliation either way please let us know. Thanks.
  - soylentcola 10y ago
    Just did a quick Google search and saw where someone posed the same question on Milestone's Facebook page. According to their rep, they are not the same company but they are "friends". Probably not affiliated but mostly just aware of each other and not in direct competition due to regions.
    - endswapper 10y ago
      Thanks again on the follow through.
- sevensor 10y ago
  Funny thing about Bob FM. I used to live in Austin, and I didn't believe in Bob. I went around complaining about how there wasn't really a Bob. One of my friends was the son of a guy who was in the radio business, and he used to try to convince me that there really was a Bob. I still didn't buy it. Some time later, my friend got married. At the wedding reception, he came up to me and pointed out a guy at the next table, well dressed, in his mid 50s. "See him? That's Bob." And it was. Bob is a guy who runs a robot-playlist radio station in the Austin area. (Or at least he was a wedding guest who was willing to play along with the ruse.) The moral of the story is that there is a Bob. Probably.
spdustin 10y ago
I can attest to the staying power of Empire's jingle here in Chicagoland. Especially their phone number, included in the jingle here. That, and (see if you can complete it in your head, Chicagoans): 773-202- And the jingle for the Kars for Kids charity is the sort of ear worm that makes me change the station when I hear the first strum of the guitar accompaniment, but it's done its job and gotten stuck in my head. "1-877-KARS 4 KIDS; K A R S, Kars for Kids". Jingles work for the audience who hears them. Plenty still listen to radio on their commutes.
- brewdad 10y ago
  What?! When I was a kid in the Chicago area (late 70s), Empire was "588-2-300....Empiiiiiire." When did the number change?
  - logfromblammo 10y ago
    I also recall 5-8-8-2-300. And that's the number on the website, and the one that still plays on WGN. Grandparent post is referring to 7-7-3-2-oh-2-LUNA!
  - endswapper 10y ago
    I assure you it is still the same, (800) 588-2-300. Call Empire, today. http://www.empiretoday.com/ http://www.empiretoday.com/
  - ack389 10y ago
    It still is (I think). He was asking us to complete the Luna Mattresses song. 773-202 beep-beep-boop-boop luna Empire is: 800-588, 2300, empire (late they added "today" to the end)
- VT_Drew 10y ago
  >but it's done its job and gotten stuck in my head But it has had the complete opposite affect. As much the charity might be a great and worthy cause, I will never support them and hope the fold simply so I don't ever have to hear that damn jingle again.

6stringmerc 10y ago

Curious about that Powell Electric jingle because there's another firm out here Texas way by the name Milestone Electric that uses the same slogan. Curious if it's a franchise model. Something akin to how Clear Channel has a robot playlist Bob FM, Jack FM, Steve FM, etc in different large markets.

endswapper 10y ago
I'm not sure, and I am not familiar with the TX company, but if you want to take a look for yourself, this is a link to the Powell I am referring to: http://www.powell-electric.com/ http://www.powell-electric.com/ I hope that was an answer, in a flash... Now, just because I am curious, mostly because it is catchy, if you do confirm an affiliation either way please let us know. Thanks.
- soylentcola 10y ago
  Just did a quick Google search and saw where someone posed the same question on Milestone's Facebook page. According to their rep, they are not the same company but they are "friends". Probably not affiliated but mostly just aware of each other and not in direct competition due to regions.
  - endswapper 10y ago
    Thanks again on the follow through.
sevensor 10y ago
Funny thing about Bob FM. I used to live in Austin, and I didn't believe in Bob. I went around complaining about how there wasn't really a Bob. One of my friends was the son of a guy who was in the radio business, and he used to try to convince me that there really was a Bob. I still didn't buy it. Some time later, my friend got married. At the wedding reception, he came up to me and pointed out a guy at the next table, well dressed, in his mid 50s. "See him? That's Bob." And it was. Bob is a guy who runs a robot-playlist radio station in the Austin area. (Or at least he was a wedding guest who was willing to play along with the ruse.) The moral of the story is that there is a Bob. Probably.

spdustin 10y ago

I can attest to the staying power of Empire's jingle here in Chicagoland. Especially their phone number, included in the jingle here. That, and (see if you can complete it in your head, Chicagoans): 773-202- And the jingle for the Kars for Kids charity is the sort of ear worm that makes me change the station when I hear the first strum of the guitar accompaniment, but it's done its job and gotten stuck in my head. "1-877-KARS 4 KIDS; K A R S, Kars for Kids". Jingles work for the audience who hears them. Plenty still listen to radio on their commutes.

brewdad 10y ago
What?! When I was a kid in the Chicago area (late 70s), Empire was "588-2-300....Empiiiiiire." When did the number change?
- logfromblammo 10y ago
  I also recall 5-8-8-2-300. And that's the number on the website, and the one that still plays on WGN. Grandparent post is referring to 7-7-3-2-oh-2-LUNA!
- endswapper 10y ago
  I assure you it is still the same, (800) 588-2-300. Call Empire, today. http://www.empiretoday.com/ http://www.empiretoday.com/
- ack389 10y ago
  It still is (I think). He was asking us to complete the Luna Mattresses song. 773-202 beep-beep-boop-boop luna Empire is: 800-588, 2300, empire (late they added "today" to the end)
VT_Drew 10y ago
>but it's done its job and gotten stuck in my head But it has had the complete opposite affect. As much the charity might be a great and worthy cause, I will never support them and hope the fold simply so I don't ever have to hear that damn jingle again.