It's been a while since our last newsletter; we've simply been too busy to put one together. Thanks to all our clients who made this a terrific year. We appreciate the opportunities you have all provided over the years, and are very excited as we close in on our 20th anniversary in 2007!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

THE INQUIRER
ROADRUNNER MEETS THE MONSTER
POLITICS, BUT NOT AS USUAL
JEFF!
POTPOURRI

GOLDEN SOUNDS FOR THE INQUIRER

We worked on two exciting projects for the Philadelphia Inquirer this year. The first involved sound design for the "Blur" TV campaign, which won a Philly Gold Award this week for Best Sound Design. The premise of the spot is "Life is a rush" -- it demonstrates how reading The Inquirer can provide an oasis from the chaos of everyday life. OK, that's a lot to ask from a newspaper, but it's a very clever spot, and provided a great opportunity for some interesting audio production. Kudos to Paul Byers of Shooters who made some great contributions, including the mix. You can view the spot by clicking below:

Watch The Inquirer "Blur" :30 TV [Quicktime]

Our second project for The Inquirer is a new jingle for The Inquirer Marketplace, the classified section of the paper. Rather than compose a traditional jingle, we decided to write a piece that is structured more like an alternative rock song. Once we had the song produced, we created commercial length versions for radio and TV. The song features vocalist John Faye of the band IKE, and is featured in radio and TV spots currently airing in the Philadelphia market.

Listen to The Inquirer Marketplace "Millions Will See" full song

ROADRUNNER MEETS THE MONSTER

MONSTER TRACKS recently composed original scores for five new commercials for Time Warner's Roadrunner Internet service. These spots air nationally in markets where Time Warner Cable is available (Los Angeles, for instance).

We worked with M (the agency) on spots titled "Four foot holes", "Vogue", "Drop Everything", "Car Show", and "Dinner for Two". Each spot features the Roadrunner cartoon character interacting with live actors (think Roger Rabbit) in a variety of humorous situations. The musical requirements of the spots ranged from full orchestral cartoon scoring, to chamber music, to techno/pop, to jazz, and more. "I've enjoyed working with the guys from M", says composer Chuck Butler, "because they consider the music so integral to the spots. Music is never a last minute consideration with them; instead I'm involved in discussions that begin with the storyboard. We had detailed conversations about different approaches to the score, and in some cases I demoed the score in a couple of different ways just to make sure we're all on the same page. So it's been a rewarding and collaborative process, and in the end I think the spots turned out great."

Watch Time Warner's Roadrunner "Vogue" spot [Quicktime]

POLITICS, BUT NOT AS USUAL

Political advertising has always been an important part of our business, but the past two years have been particularly exciting, beginning with national spots we scored for President Bush's 2004 reelection campaign. The spots featured an orchestral score, including live strings (and a trumpet solo by Matt Cappy, currently on tour with The Roots and Jill Scott). Apparently these spots were effective!

Watch a campaign ad for Bush/Cheney 2004 [Quicktime]

We compose music for candidates (and issues ads) all over the country, like Senator Jeff Bingaman who is currently running for reelection in New Mexico. Closer to home, you can hear our music on a series of spots for Rendell for Governor of Pennsylvania, produced by The Campaign Group.

JEFF!

It would be fair to say that no other music we've produced has had as much exposure over the past two years as our theme for Thomas Jefferson University Health System. In case you've been in Iraq (or living under a rock), Jefferson has created an ongoing series of TV and radio spots featuring real patients who have been helped by Jeff doctors. The spots, produced by Caspari McCormick, have positioned Jefferson as the market leader in the Philadelphia region, and their commitment to the musical theme we created has given it an opportunity to gain a mnemonic resonance that immediately ties each spot to the client. In fact, Jefferson has been using the theme on a variety of non-broadcast projects as well, including a new CD-ROM that introduces patients to the various services that are part of the Jefferson Health Care System. Here's the original spot that motivated the music:

Watch to TJUH "Elizabeth" :30 TV [Quicktime]


POTPOURRI

Following a two year term on the Advisory Board of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Composers Forum, MONSTER TRACKS composer Chuck Butler was named to the executive board, where he has served as composer representative for the past two years. With the recent resignation of Board president (and MBC CEO) David Kramer, Chuck has been nominated to succeed him as President of the Executive Board, and will assume that post officially at the next board meeting. The Board also recently welcomed new members Gene Shay and Eric Bruskin. The ACF is a national organization providing services and opportunities to composers throughout the country, and is responsible for many new music projects in the Philadelphia area.

MONSTER TRACKS scored opening and closing themes as well as incidental music for Chef Jim Coleman's new show "Healthy Flavors". The show features Chef Coleman demonstrating various ways to make healthy eating a gourmet experience. The show airs on PBS stations in select markets nationally. Currently WHYY in Philadelphia is airing the program on Saturdays at 1pm.

Some of the other ads we've recently scored include a series of TV spots for Kennedy Health System by LevLane advertising; new TV for FoxChase Cancer Center by Out of the Blue Productions; TV spots for the law firm KlineSpecter by CMI; an updated version of the Tops Supermarket jingle (division of Giant, with locations in New York and Ohio) for Spencer Advertising, and a new jingle for Reedman Toll Auto World for The Goffman Group.

Finally, we want to remind everyone about the Free Music section of our website. We are always adding new music to the site -- on the other hand, we have taken down several pieces that clients have decided they'd like to own! You're welcome to use any of the music you find in the Free Music section -- as long as you let us know if it's going to be broadcast. And if you find a piece that you'd like to use exclusively, we can offer you a very reasonable rate. We're continuing to make other improvements to the website as well, including more audio and video samples, and more content to take you behind the scenes at MONSTER TRACKS Original Music. Check it out!

Thanks again for taking the time to read the newsletter, and we hope everyone has a terrific summer!