Jingles: Frequently Asked Questions | Butler Productions Multimedia

Custom Jingles
by Butler Productions Multimedia

GLOSSARY

Edit: Simply means one version of your jingle. For example a 1:00 Edit is a one-minute jingle,
usually sung all the way through.

Donut: No, not the confectionery delight, but a tasty (and the most common) jingle edit. The term
comes from the fact that there's a hole in the middle for voice over. Eight second branding is sung at
the very beginning and again at the very end.

Open Front: Your branding is sung only at the end of your jingle edit. This edit leaves room for
voice over at the beginning.

Open Tag: Your branding is sung only at the beginning of your jingle edit. This edit leaves room for
voice over at the end.

Logo: Sometimes referred to as a "Stinger", this edit is only the branding portion of your jingle,
which is usually around eight seconds in length.

Bed: Short for "music bed", this edit only includes the musical underscore without the singer's vocal.
We get so many requests for "the music only" that we've started including the beds in our jingle
packages. These edits are useful in a variety of ways, for instance as background music on a short
YouTube video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I'm still not sure I really need a jingle.
A: Maybe not. They're not for everyone. However, take a look at your competition. Are they
advertising? Do they have a jingle? Your own custom jingle can make your presence stand out over
your competition. As we all know, in business, every little edge over our competition is welcome!

Q: OK. I'm ready for a jingle. How do I get started?
A: Awesome! Visit our Jingle Builder page and fill out the quick online form. We'll then contact you
withing 24-48 hours to discuss your ideas and answer any questions. We require a $50 deposit
(non-refundable) to secure the order. Upon the completion of the work, the balance is due in 10
business days.

Q: Why is the deposit non-refundable?
A: Since jingles take some consultation time with you as a client to determine a direction, time writing
the jingle and producing a rough proof, this deposit helps us to cover at least a very small portion of
our lost time should you decide not to continue with the project.

Q: What payments do you accept?
A: The most common method of payment is with a Credit or Debit card via PayPal. Most clients get
the ball rolling faster this way, instead of waiting for checks to arrive and clear before work begins.
We do accept checks, though.

Q: Can I add other edits to a package?
A: Absolutely. If you'd like to add an edit of just the eight-second logo, we can do that for just $20
more. However, if it's more involved (i.e. adding a full 30-second sing), it's $75. This covers the cost
of the singer and extra production time.

Q: Will I be able to hear it before it's finished?
A: Indeed. We send you the lyric and rough proof (usually just the melody with guitar or piano) to
approve before the full production begins. Once we've finished production of your jingle, we'll send
you a low-resolution, watermarked .mp3 proof via email. To approve the work, send us the
remaining balance via PayPal or check. Once payment is processed, we'll release the finished jingle
package to you.

Q: What if I want to make changes to the jingle?
A: If you'd like to make lyric or melodic changes, we allow up to two revisions free of charge. After
that, it's $75 for each revision. This covers the cost of the singer and extra production time.

Q: How will you send the finished jingles to me?
A: Once the payment is processed, we'll send you your finished jingles on audio CD, as well as .wav
and high-resolution .mp3 files on a data CD-ROM. We typically ship via standard USMail. However,
if you'd like your package to be trackable, we can also send via FedEx or UPS. If you need it fast, we
can send via Priority Mail or expedited via the carrier of your choice for a little extra. We can also
create a password-protected download page on our site just for you!

Q: What can I do with my jingles?
A: Butler Productions Multimedia claims no rights to your jingle once you've paid. For local jingles,
as part of our exclusive perpetual buy-out license that's included in our price, your jingles are yours
to use however you want for as long as you're in business. The only exception is if you intend to use
the jingles in a competing business (reselling the jingles, for example), which is expressly forbidden
in our license.

Nationally used jingles must be licensed annually. After each 1-year license term, your license
renewal will be automatically billed. Even with the annual license, using the jingle in a competing
business is still forbidden.

Q: Why can't I resell your jingles? Isn't that a little stingy?
A: Well, it's not so much that we're stingy, but we simply don't want others passing off our work as
theirs. We've worked hard to build a solid reputation in this business, and we don't want that
potentially jeopardized.

That said, we do have a referral program. If you have a similar but non-competing business (such
as marketing, advertising, corporate branding, signage, business development, etc.), and your
customers could benefit from a jingle, we'll reward you for referring them to us! For every customer
you refer who completes an order for a jingle package, we'll send you $50. Just make sure they tell
us you sent them! Sign up for our referral program.

Q: Can't I just use an existing song by my favorite artist to advertise?
A: No. Advertisers pay THOUSANDS of dollars to license hit songs in advertising. A custom jingle,
tailored to your business, helps your customer connect you with the message.

Q: Can you change the lyrics to an existing song for my advertisement?
A: No. That's illegal without proper licensing, which can easily cost THOUSANDS of dollars.
Permission is not guaranteed, and changing the lyrics WITHOUT permission can result in a lawsuit,
which will cost far more in the long run than buying a custom jingle.

One alternative is a "sound alike", which is a totally original composition that mimics the style and feel
of a certain artist or song. Let us know if you'd like a "sound alike" for your jingle.

Q: If I buy a jingle from you and advertising from a radio station, won't I be paying twice
instead of just once?
A: Even if a radio station produces your commercial, that expense is added to your advertising cost.
If you buy a jingle with voice over from us, it can stand as your whole commercial. You would simply
supply the radio station with the audio.

Q: What if I already have advertising on radio/tv/web.
A: Great! A jingle can be incorporated into your existing advertising campaign. It will help make
your brand even more recognizable and memorable in your customers' minds. A "full sing" jingle or
a "donut" with voice over can easily stand alone as its own commercial.