Music Scheduling: Speed Up Your Workflow
Recently, I hosted a MusicMaster Genius Session for MusicMaster scheduling clients. In this virtual seminar, you can pick up tips on how to make your music scheduling life easier.
WATCH HERE:
Filter the Flow
Filter The Flow
By Chris Malone
At times, programmers will ask how to enforce a specific sound attribute at a specific position within the clock. For example, an Urban AC programmer may want to start the hour with a R&B sound attribute to establish a smooth R&B flow, right out of the gate. You can create a clock filter at any given position within your clock. Your filter ideas can go far deeper than sound code attributes. Commonly, you can create filters for energy, tempo, artist keywords and beyond.
In this example, we’re creating a clock filter on the 90’s position that follows our Legal ID to only include R&B songs within that category. First step, you want to double click on the 90’s fixed position on the clock and the Element Properties box appears. Click the Filters tab and begin defining the filter.
The setup translates as: only allow Sound that Contains Any Of – R, which is the sound attribute code for R&B in this database, to schedule in this position. Please pay close attention to the Clock Filter Level in your Element Properties because you’ll need to know that when you activate the Clock Filter in your Rule Tree. Once you’ve defined the filter you want, press OK.
The filter icon next to the 90’s position, indicates that the filter has been properly applied to the clock and to take it a step further, you can right click on the filter and Show Matching Songs to get an idea of which filtered songs qualify for this clock position.
Next, you simply want to activate the proper Clock Filter rule in your Rule Tree. In your Element Properties setup, you recall we are using Clock Filter 1. In the Available Rule Types under Format Clock Rules, we need Format Clock Filter 1. That available rule needs to be active. I put it under All Categories so I can adjust any clock adding a Clock Filter 1 and have it be Unbreakable. You can put the rule in a specific category if you’d like. Once you’ve turned on the rule, save your rule tree and you’re done!
With three Format Clock Filter options available, you have flexibility to mix and match Unbreakable and Breakable rules along with setting up different filters on different positions. Maybe you’d like a certain sound code coming out of a stopset. Set up the filter and make the rule breakable.
Music Scheduling: Don’t Wait To Automate
In today’s reality of radio, many programmers are looking around the office only to find there’s very little help to accomplish the important music maintenance tasks. Those necessary programming support positions are no longer, yet time management is still very critical. Thanks to MusicMaster Scheduling, there’s a way to set things up to serve as your ‘right hand’ help. Here are 3 ways to leave your behind the scenes work to MusicMaster:
- Auto Move:
Understanding Auto Move will assist your decision-making process by automatically changing the category of a song based on pre-determined criteria, which you can set up. For example, the song Post Malone- Circles is in my Power Current (A) category, but I’ve got it set to move to Secondary Current (B) when it reaches 135 spins. Goodbye music meetings, we can set these moves up on a song by song basis and let MusicMaster do the work. Learn more about Auto Move in this Walkthrough video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7jZcfx3IfY&list=PLQClZKdxvI1ze6tU8BPwFbeorYCNAz-8y
- Auto Platoon
The Auto Platoon feature allows you to move songs from one category to another based on either Move Date or Category Plays. In the example, we’ve set up Auto Platoon to move our Golds on a schedule. It’s great to use this feature if you want to keep your rotations sounding fresh or perhaps you want to increase the longevity of your latest music test. There’s more on Auto Platoon in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ3V2KzrwiI&feature=emb_logo
- Auto Reconcile:
If your station has Log Reconciliation set up with a definition file, songs that were added, dropped, or replaced in the studio can be automatically reconciled into the schedule the next day to preserve song histories and provide accurate spin counts. This can also occur in real time, if you’re using Nexus. It’s important to note that standard log reconciliation needs to be set up using a definition file for the task and MusicMaster will need access to your “aired” logs folder in order for this to properly work, but the days of manual reconciliation are over. Get a deeper look at log reconciliation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93in-m0xVEk&list=PLQClZKdxvI1ze6tU8BPwFbeorYCNAz-8y&index=81
Good luck automating these tasks for a smoother workflow. If you have any questions or if you’re interested in obtaining MusicMaster to set yourself up for success visit http://www.musicmaster.com
Radio Show Takeaways
A snapshot of the epic AT&T “Batman Building” taken during a stroll down Second Street and Broadway, downtown Nashville.
If there’s any group of individuals who can put together a show, you can definitely count on radio broadcasters to create an award worthy event. Music City, better known as Nashville, Tennessee was host to the Radio Show produced by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB). Hundreds of advertisers, radio professionals, students, and vendors converged at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Nashville, right next door to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Over 20 information packed seminars, a dozen live entertainment events, and nearly 100 vendors filled the agenda across only 4 days. As a Young Professional attendee, here are my top 10 takeaways from the 2016 Radio Show:
Ear full of fresh NEW audio
Think back to the time you were most passionate, most fired up, most alive? What were you doing? It’s within those moments where you find your true purpose. People with great passion can make the impossible happen.
This website showcases all of my life passions which include: radio, television, inspiring others, photography, and writing. Here’s a glimpse of what I’ve been up to lately.
Enjoy this ear full of fresh new audio!
Station Imaging: WKIM 98.9 The Vibe / 103.5 WRBO :
On-Air Personality: 103.5 WRBO (Urban AC):
Commercial Production: multi-format:
Engaging listeners: 97.1 WQMG (Urban AC):
On Hold Messaging: Memphis City Schools District:
A man’s gift makes room for him & brings him before great men. -Proverbs 18:16
Nielsen Audio Conference/ Urban PD Clinic Top 10
The Nielsen Audio Conference and Urban PD Clinic was held in National Harbor, Maryland overlooking the peaceful Potomac River just minutes away from downtown DC. Total Audio was the mindset from Nielsen, which enabled attendees to obtain statistics and insights from all aspects including radio, print, digital, and podcasting. Personally, this made my 3rd visit to the Urban PD Clinic in my career and every time I leave with so many rich connections, vital information on the current state of radio, and trends to watch out for in the years to come. Here are my top 10 takeaway from the 2 day mega conference.
- The average listener doesn’t come to you every day. There’s shocking research that exposed the reality that your ‘super listener’ may visit your station 3 out of 5 days and your casual listeners may only tune in 1-2 days a week. Read the rest of this entry
Radio Promotions That MOVE The Needle!
Listener centric promotions are vital to the success of any radio station, but execution and strategy are the true game changers in terms of moving the ratings needle. Check out my TOP 5 hand-crafted promotions (with promo audio included). Each promotion has generated lots of engagement with listeners with cross platform appeal.
Utilize the contact form if you need specifics on how to pull these off on your station!
Valentine’s Day Promotion:
