Stephen Arnold Music Creates Themes for NewsNation’s ‘Dan Abrams Live’ and ‘Morning in America’

Stephen Arnold Music delivered sonic branding and custom music for two new shows debuting on NewsNation, Nexstar Media Group Inc.’s cable news network. The project includes branded themes for Dan Abrams Live, a weekday primetime show featuring the veteran legal analyst, and Morning in America, an all-new, 3-hour morning show hosted by Adrienne Bankert, formerly of the Good Morning America weekend anchor team. The studio also produced music and sound design for promos, franchises, transitions and numerous in-show elements.

The sonic branding for both shows builds on the overall NewsNation sonic identity developed earlier this year by Stephen Arnold Music in collaboration with Jonathan Killian, the network’s vice president, creative marketing and brand communications.

The theme for Dan Abrams Live evokes the show’s concept as an in-depth, nonpartisan look at the day’s biggest stories. Abrams draws on his legal background to highlight incredible, and often dangerous, police work, carried on in communities across the country. “The theme has a hard edge, in keeping with the seriousness of the show and Dan Abrams’ commitment to telling all sides of a story,” says Stephen Arnold Music VP/Creative Director Chad Cook. “The percussion is prominent and supported by driving guitars and strings. It gives the show a strong, primetime sound and signature.”

The theme for Morning in America, by contrast, has a melodic tone that utilizes a fresh interpretation of the NewsNation sonic signature. It’s vibrant, engaging and empathic, supporting the show’s position as a clear alternative to other morning broadcasts through its coast-to-coast news coverage and real-time interaction with viewers. “We created a multi-faceted sonic package that includes a range of themes, each with different energy and pacing, to keep the sound dynamic and diverse across the full three hours,” says Cook.

In collaboration with Jonathan Killian and the NewsNation creative team, Stephen Arnold Music also scored custom music for a series of network promos that employ the theme “News for All America.” The music, which is optimistic and richly orchestrated, plays under an emotionally laden montage of imagery and messaging. “The music projects authenticity and unity,” says Killian. “It sends a hopeful message that will resonate with people with differing views from different parts of the country.”