Compilation of celebrity radio station IDs

When conducting interviews, radio stations often took the opportunity to have their celebrity subjects record station identifications (or ‘idents’).

The improvised quality of these promotions is evident with Elvis Presley (for 2UE) and Paul McCartney (for 4IP), with the sound technician heard asking McCartney to record for them.

Others may be asked to repeat a brief script, as in these examples with Little Pattie in 1964 and Kate Bush in 1983, recording a set for network replay across the five capital city stations involved.

However, considerable effort could be invested into the production of idents, such as this example recorded by Mental as Anything for 5AD, which was scored, scripted and edited into one audio track.

In either case, the strategy was to generate positive associations in the minds of listeners; that their favourite artists effectively ‘endorsed’ the radio stations they were identifying.

Elvis Presley: 2UE History Master No. 01, recorded 1960. NFSA title: 745879

Little Pattie: 3AK The Pete Smith Show, recorded 1964. NFSA title: 1603786

Paul and Linda McCartney: 4IP Brisbane, recorded 1975. NFSA title: 551680

Kate Bush: 3XY Rocktober, recorded 1983. NFSA title: 1049934

Greedy Smith: 5AD Adelaide, recorded 1983. NFSA title: 572314

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