Most Iconic Sports Themes of All Time: How Sonic Branding Fuels Sports
Sports tap into our emotions like no other form of entertainment, and a big part of that is due to sound. From broadcast themes to in-game audio, music elevates our emotions, builds anticipation, and connects us deeply with teams, leagues, networks, and broadcasts. Over the years, certain sonic anthems have become synonymous with the sports they represent, so much so that it’s hard to imagine one without the other.
Here are our picks for the most iconic sports themes of all time:
#5 The Masters | “Augusta”
by Dave Loggins (1981)
#4 CBS Sports NCAA March Madness | “CBS NCAA Basketball Theme”
by Bob Christianson (1992)
#3 Olympics | “Olympic Fanfare and Theme”
by John Williams (1984), based on “Bugler’s Dream”
by Leo Arnaud (1958)
#2 ESPN/ABC Monday Night Football | “Heavy Action”
by Johnny Pearson (1970)
#1 NBA on NBC | “Roundball Rock”
by John Tesh (1990)
Honorable Mention: ESPN Sports Center | “DaDaDa, DaDaDa”
by John Colby (1989)
Here at SAM, we work with leading sports brands to develop iconic sonic identities that rival the greats – after all, what’s sports without a little competition/ In that spirit, here are some of the recent custom sonic identities we’ve done in the sports world:
TGL presented by SoFI
Dallas Mavericks | MavsTV
CNN Aiming for Gold | Milan Cortina
Seattle Seahawks
Atlanta Braves
Music fuels our passion for sports, and the right sonic identity can send fan engagement into overdrive for your team, league, or broadcast. If you haven’t already, now is the time to think about the sound of your sports brand and start creating a distinct sonic identity that competes at the highest level.