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The Point

Music for Prime Time

By Dan Tritle
Published August 21, 2025 at 12:37 PM EDT

Music composed for television is a cornerstone of American pop culture going back more than 70 years. Writer and film music historian Jon Burlingame talks about the stories and people behind many of TV's most popular, fondly-remembered themes and music. His book is "Music for Prime Time - a History of American Television Themes and Scoring."
The interview first aired in May, 2023.
Jon Burlingame on You Tube:

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Dan Tritle
Host and producer Dan Tritle has wanted to be on the radio since he was five years old. A washashore from the Pacific Northwest, he's been at the job since May 2000, shortly after the station went on the air.
See stories by Dan Tritle