Bumper music

{{Short description|Short clips of signature songs or theme music}}

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Bumper music, also known as a bump, is a radio broadcasting term for short clips of signature songs or theme music used to transition between different elements of a program. These clips typically last no longer than fifteen seconds.{{cite web |last1=Petow |first1=Christopher |title=What Are Bumpers and Stingers? |url=https://blog.storyblocks.com/tutorials/what-are-bumpers-and-stingers/ |access-date=5 December 2020 |website=Storyblocks}} Bumper music is also played at music venues, such as concerts, before the show begins. Its purpose is to create, and fill the air with, a musical atmosphere.

In radio, bumper music is commonly used when a syndicated program takes a break for local station identification or when it goes to a radio advertisement. In today's radio landscape, it is often referred to as a "bump," and NPR uses the term "button" as well. When the bumper music marks the end of a local break on a radio network, it is sometimes called "rejoiner music."