Turn on the TV and you’re sure to hear tunes by Jingle Punks. The group, a music licensing and composition company, is infiltrating major broadcasting networks with a do-it-yourself ethic and wacky marketing campaigns. The Daily Orange sat down with CEO and co-founder Jared Gutstadt and Director of Catalog and Syracuse University alumnus Bill Markt to talk about starting an orchestra, hearing their songs on TV and company tracksuits.

The Daily Orange: How did you come up with the name Jingle Punks?

Gutstadt: I used to be an editor on the ‘Chappelle Show,’ and I was called a jingle punk for trying to push my music to appear on the show. I was a TV editor by day and a disgruntled rock star by night, and we’re not really on the sexy side of the music industry, so it stuck.

What was the most excited you’ve been hearing your work on TV?

Gutstadt: I wrote the theme music for ‘Pawn Stars’ when I was still working in my apartment, and whenever I hear it, I still can’t believe it since I can be in any country, flip on the TV and there it is. But we did some music for a Super Bowl commercial that I can’t wait to hear.

Markt: I actually wrote a piece with another Syracuse alumnus for a Chevrolet commercial, and it debuted during the World Series. There’s a huge Syracuse connection at Jingle Punks, and it was great working with someone who went to the same school.

What’s one jingle or song that you wish you wrote for television?

Gutstadt: I really wish I wrote one of the iconic theme songs of our generation, like the one from ‘Friends’or ‘Cheers’ or even ‘Baywatch.‘

You started the Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra in 2011. How did that happen?

Gutstadt: I was watching the music video for The Strokes’ ‘Under Cover of Darkness’ during my free time and thought it would be the coolest thing if they remade it with an orchestra. And now the Hipster Orchestra has released sessions covering anything from Nirvana to an upcoming TV theme song project and signed to the same record label as Kidz Bop (Razor & Tie). So we’re the Kidz Bop for the hipster crowd, I guess.

How do you market the Jingle Punks brand?

Markt: At South by Southwest a few years ago, we had a 7-foot-tall inflatable mascot of our logo, Jingle Guy. So we try to have fun.

Gutstadt: We keep it fun. We ordered our staff company tracksuits and plan to shoot a video of all of us running in slow motion, ‘Rocky’ style. We’re young and kind of goofy.

What are your plans while you’re in Syracuse?

Markt: We’re giving a lecture, and it was an honor to be asked back by professors that I’ve had here. It’s incredible to show students how far hard work and education can take you.

Gutstadt: Tonight, we’re here for the basketball game. But I honestly consider Syracuse as a second alma mater since I went to New York University. There’s got to be something in the air here with all of the creative people from this school that have joined the Jingle Punks team. We love to recruit here.

People think of Charlie Sheen’s character from ‘Two and a Half Men‘ when it comes to jingle writers. Do you guys fit that mold?

Gutstadt: We’re both creative guys who do their own thing in a business dominated by older companies. But we work harder.

ervanrhe@syr.edu

Published on January 16, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Erik: ervanrhe@syr.edu | @therealvandyman