Bumpers, stinger - what are they called?

[kinkysex]

When I was in college, at our radio station, we called these clips, 'stingers.'

Example: http://www.kinkysexradio.com/kinky_sex_bumper_no_music.mp3

No one seem to know what I'm talking about when I use that term. I've also tried, "bumper" and no one knows.

What do you call those clips? Was I using slang native to Alabama? Were the people who taught me just dumb? Does the jargon vary from place to place?

HELP! please.

[McLean]

Slang native to Alabama?

I called 'em bumpers but I've heard the term stingers too.

[roadrageradio]

Slang native to Alabama?

I called 'em bumpers but I've heard the term stingers too.

well, it's not rocket science, but this is what I was taught at Broadcasting School -- up North.

Bumpers are short pieces of music (or sound) that go between program segments. They can be used to change the mood, as punctuation, or commonly in syndicated radio programs, to provide a time window to allow stations to rejoin the program even if their own clocks are a little off.

Stingers are usually part of a station's market positioning and branding. They are musical or sound elements that identify the station, its format, its persona, etc.

Can a stinger be used as a bumper? Sure.

[Yotto]

I've always called 'em bumpers. Don't know why I do or where I learned it.