‘CBS Evening News’ gets bluer look, new sound for Norah O’Donnell debut

By Michael P. Hill July 15, 2019

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New sound

The updated theme music for the “CBS Evening News” drops the soaring strings and sound that “honored the prestige and heritage” of the network in favor of an uptempo beat that weaves in additional stabs of horns and drums.

The theme, from Joel Beckerman’s Man Made Music, begins with the sonic brand first developed for “CBS This Morning,” featuring a three-note signature, before jumping into a driving vamp for the opening tease.

The theme reorchestrates the previous notes with more bombast and urgency, ending with a new take on the three-note signature.

Overall, the music is darker and more complex, bringing it more in line with current news music and setting it apart from rival newscasts.

NewscastStudio’s Dak Dillon contributed to this report.

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