If you make weekly music changes between hot, current and recurrent categories, you’ll love MusicMaster’s Category Quick Move feature. It allows you to make music moves for up to eight categories on a single screen with easy drag and drop capabilities. You can easily keep track of the changes you’ve made with the plus/minus counter at the bottom of each category, allowing you to preserve your original counts and spins. Once you’re satisfied, save your work to apply the changes to your categories. Later on, you can use Move History to see how individual songs have traveled between your categories. It’s really that simple! Watch the video below for a step-by-step guide to using Category Quick Move. For additional help, please contact your MSC.

MusicMaster’s President and Founder Joe Knapp will be speaking at the 2017 All Access World Wide Radio Summit. This year’s WWRS conference will be May 3 – 5 at the W Hotel in Hollywood. The panel featuring Joe Knapp will be on May 5 from 12:05pm to 1:00pm. The topic is: PLAYLIST GENERATION – “Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify, Station Apps & More – Curating Playlists For Millennial Consumption.” If you are attending WWRS, we hope you can join us for the panel. We will also be available during the conference at the MusicMaster Meeting Point if you’d like to stop by to say hello or ask questions.

Attending the 2017 All Access World Wide Radio Summit? Are you fortunate enough to be from Southern California? If the answer to either of those questions is YES, you have the opportunity to attend a Hollywood MusicMaster Genius Day! The workshop will be held Wednesday, May 3 from 9am to 5pm at the W Hotel in Hollywood. While our Genius Day is mostly guided by the needs of our participants, here is a glance at some of the topics that may be covered:

• MusicMaster’s user defined database, including the use of custom fields.
• Lesser-known Library Maintenance shortcuts and workflows.
• Rule Tree: Advanced Knowledge, including Rule Merging, Scalable Rules, Rule Groups and Optimum Goal Scheduling.
• Advanced Format Clock Editing, including drag and drop, mass changer, clock filters, format scheduler, and a walkthrough of all element types.
• Auto Platooning: How does it work and why is it used?
• Schedule Editor: Advanced shortcuts and workflows.
• Turnover Analysis: Understanding turnover and how to read analysis values.
• History Analysis: Basic reports you should be using.

In addition, you can bring your database or your questions and sit with our team one-on-one for diagnosis and discussion. You'll also hear some industry insights from our special guest speakers, including renowned consultant Tracy Johnson. Stay tuned for more details as they come. Complete your registration for this free event and reserve your spot early!

From April 22 - 27, the NAB Show returns to the Las Vegas Convention Center. In keeping with this year's theme of broadening technology horizons, MusicMaster will be bringing some major product updates to the NAB this year (see next article for more). This inludes a preview of our Mobile Application, Client-Server Web Application, and major version updates to both MusicMaster Client-Server and Professional Editions. Here's what you need to know to connect with us during the Show:

Watch for the MusicMaster Meeting Point at N7124 and in many of our Automation partner booth locations.
Contact our sales team to set up an appointment time if you'd like.

We will also be hosting a MusicMaster Hospitality Suite at the Wynn Hotel on April 25 from 8:30pm to 10:00pm.
Add your name to the guest list or stop by the booth during the show for details as they come!

MusicMaster is bringing four new releases to NAB 2017 that enhance speed and control and deliver all-new mobility. If you're coming to NAB, be sure to stop by booth N7124 to see a demonstration. If not, you can still check out some features and screens below, or contact us to learn more.

MusicMaster Pro Version 7 delivers entirely new customization options, including the ability for users to create new database fields at any time. New theme and style options and full Unicode Support are also available. In addition, Version 7 brings new functionality, including many new Format Clock editing tools, a Virtual Show Editor, an enhanced Broadcast Calendar, and more. Notably, Version 7 also introduces Virtual Search Depths, which automatically calculate and adjust search depths based upon how difficult it is to find a song, ultimately decreasing scheduling time.

Take a look at a few sample screens below or click here to learn more about Version 7.

Clock Matching Songs: Lookup the songs that any music element can potentially play, which also takes element filters into account.	Virtual Show Editor: Build Virtual Shows by selecting a list of songs and adding them all to a single song card.

Create custom database fields for your library at any time.	Category Color Wizard helps you come up with a good set of colors for your categories.

MusicMaster Client-Server (CS) 2.0 continues the advancement of true Enterprise music scheduling for multiple stations and users. With MusicMaster CS, all processing and metadata are hosted on a central Server while users access live program data through a Client Application. New features introduced in CS 2.0 include:

• The ability to have multiple instances of the Server running, with those servers synchronized for redundancy.
• More Automated Tasks, including exporting to Playout systems, log reconciliation, backing up databases and more.
• Continued improvements to the Import from Network feature providing more flexibility and simplifying the sharing of logs between stations.
• The ability to run Export to Automation, Reconciliation and other Import/Export operations from the Server, eliminating pathing issues from the Client. This is especially helpful for organizations with remote users.
• Optional Web Server with an all new MusicMaster CS Web Client that can be run on any operating system in a web browser.

Take a look at a few sample screens below or click here to learn more about MusicMaster Client-Server.

Automated Tasks are items a user can set up to perform a function at a specific time. We've added even more tasks to CS 2.0.	This option allows you to export the log to your third party system. This also now includes the option to allow the Export to Local Directory override.	The Clock Importer allows you to import clocks and grids. This shows how you can import clocks from another station.

The Network Import Wizard allows you to import the log from another station or file. It is typically used by an affiliate to bring in the log from their network provider. If the affiliate has already set up the Format Scheduler with specific clock overrides, MusicMaster can now exclude those hours by using the check box shown here.	This option allows you to export the library. We have added an option to allow the Export to Local Directory override, which is shown here

CS Version 2.0 now offers two options for user-interface: the original desktop application for Windows computers and a new web-based UI for use in any web browser. This new user experience delivers mobile access to the most commonly used software features. The first release of the Web Client allows users to schedule and edit logs and fully manage their libraries. Future updates will add the full functionality of the existing Windows client software.

One of the main benefits of the Web Client is that it allows users to operate MusicMaster CS on any PC operating system or mobile device via a web browser, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, Android and more. Users can access data and the time and location that is most convenient to them, whether on-the-go or in the office.

Library Maintenance: Add or update your songs, seach using Queries, change and save grid layouts, and more.	Schedule Editor: When you want to change an element, you can use the Schedule Song icon as shown here.

Save and edit your grids and layouts just like you do in the MusicMaster desktop application.	View your song history graphs in the schedule editor.

The MusicMaster App uses the power of our Nexus Server to deliver a new mobile interface for MusicMaster Pro as well as CS. The MusicMaster App helps programmers stay even more current and in-touch with their audience by giving them the power to update their MusicMaster library or logs from anywhere and at any time using their mobile device. 

Library features include queries, search, and review of song card information and history graphs. Users can also open the log and be taken to the current date and hour, or change the date and time to edit any other log. They can even look for replacement songs by choosing to see the best testing songs, creating a query to search for something more specific, or simply moving an element to a new position.

Replacing a song in the log using the iPhone app.	Viewing a song card in the Android app.	Querying the library in the iPhone app.

Viewing the song history graph in the iPad app.

MusicMaster Scheduling - together with its international distributor ON AIR - was an official commercial partner of the most important conference for the European radio industry: Radiodays Europe.

This year's conference was held in Amsterdam from March 19 - 21. Throughout the conference, the MusicMaster Meeting Point served as a hub for our clients and partners to gather. Rainer Eichhorn, Thomas Roth and Max Müller from ON AIR were joined by the European partners Roberto Zeccara and Roberto Bellotti from BVMEDIA, Marcin Marzec from DJC Media, Michael Buholzer and Mathieu Habegger from SwissMediaPartners, and Frank Kok and Bart VanGogh from Top of Mind. Blair Sullivan, MusicMaster's new (but well-known) representative in Australia, was also present at the Meeting Point.

Participants of the conference had the chance to attend 55 sessions and to discuss the future of radio with more than 120 presenters. Due to the fully packed program, we were thankful that MusicMaster customers from all over Europe and from around the world decided to skip at least some of the sessions and to take their time to stop by at the MusicMaster Meeting Point. We are happy that we had the chance to talk - and of course to serve some delicious espresso.

Next year, Radiodays Europe will be held in Vienna. More than 1500 radio professional from the European industry, public and private, will come together once again for this annual get-together. See you next year in Austria! "Servus" and "baba" until then - as those from Vienna would say...

Rainer Eichhorn and Max Müller from ON AIR are joined at the MusicMaster Meeting Point by Roberto Zeccara and Roberto Bellotti of BVMEDIA (Italy).

This month, MusicMaster's Joe Knapp, Melanie Ross and Jerry Butler traveled to Oklahoma City for the annual Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters convention. Broadcasters and students from across Oklahoma gathered for the two-day event, which featured vendor exhibits, awards ceremonies, a student career fair, and informative sessions on all aspects of the broadcast business.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the MusicMaster Meeting Point. Our team enjoyed catching up with old friends, meeting MusicMaster users and talking with university students interested in learning more about programming. Jerry Butler shared: "It's always great to visit with the future of our business and see the excitement these students have towards learning everything they can, including using MusicMaster to schedule their local college stations."

Joe Knapp and Jerry Butler of MusicMaster talking with students from universities in Oklahoma about their interest in music scheduling.	Nancy Struby, Director of Operations for the OAB, with Jerry Butler and Joe Knapp of MusicMaster	Steve Schiffner and Tim West of the Radio Oklahoma Network with Jerry Butler and Joe Knapp of MusicMaster.

MusicMaster Scheduling, Inc. has expanded its Dallas headquarters with the addition of Mary Jo Nsuk as Corporate Accountant. Mary Jo, who also holds an MBA and B.S. in Business Administration, will join the team led by MusicMaster CFO/Controller Ryan Young.

According to Young: “Mary Jo is one of the most well rounded team players I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Her positive attitude is what got my attention, but her dedication, hard work, efficiencies, and strong moral character are what make her stand out above the rest.”

In addition to her outstanding work ethic, Mary Jo brings a diverse accounting background to the MusicMaster team. A Dallas resident, she enjoys spending time with family and is a devoted grandmother to four grandchildren.

MusicMaster Founder and President Joe Knapp shares: “MusicMaster is great because it has a great team behind it. With the addition of Mary Jo, we've made it even greater.”

On April 1,Tim Christoph Baas joined the engineering team of MusicMaster's international distributor ON AIR. For the last 25 years, Tim's professional radio journey took him from host to music planner to consultant to program director. He hosted and developed different formats in several markets in Germany. Besides his passion for radio, Tim is also passionate for technical development. His first contact to the "wide world of computers" was a ZX81 from Spectrum.

"By adding Tim to our team as Product/Project Engineer, we're again adding broad experiences from the radio industry. Therefore, we are thankful for Tim's decision to change sides and to join the MusicMaster family" says Max Müller, ON AIR's General Manager.

Kevin Hopkins, CTO, adds: "Tim has the capability to wear different virtual ‘glasses’ through which he looks at products and projects. Like all of us, he considers all aspects from engineering to programming. That's actually why we understand our customers' business and the future demands of the industry."

In his spare time, Tim and his family love to visit Disneyworld and other amusement parks in the US. On weekends, you can find Tim watching his son playing football, having a BBQ in the garden or getting things done around the house.

Tim Christoph Baas

The MusicMaster team is proud to congratulate Paul Ziino on his recent promotion to VP of Sales and Support. Paul joined the MusicMaster sales and support team in 2002. He was promoted to Support Coordinator in 2013 and Support Manager in 2015. In that role, Paul demonstrated a consistent track record for hard work and attention to details. According to MusicMaster Founder and President Joe Knapp, “Paul has been managing the support operations incredibly well. Despite maintaining his own large list of supported customers, Paul is also one of our top closers when it comes to bringing new MusicMaster customers on board. Asking Paul to take on the day-to-day oversight of sales efforts was an easy decision.”

Paul began his radio career in 1992 at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he produced and hosted a nighttime metal show for WSUW-FM. After graduation, Paul worked for six years at WLKG-FM in Lake Geneva, WI, starting as a night jock and later becoming the morning sidekick. In 1997, Paul married his childhood sweetheart Nichole (the two met on the school bus in 1983!). The day after returning from his honeymoon, Paul learned he’d been promoted to Program/Music/Production Director.

In 2002, Paul joined the MusicMaster team. He shares: “I came to MusicMaster thinking this would just be one quick stop on my way to the next radio gig. Turns out I'm here to stay!” He adds, “It's pretty cool to work for a company with people who are all passionate about what we do.  No one here is just going through the motions, and I think that shows.”

Of his new responsibilities, Paul says: “I believe we have the strongest MusicMaster team ever, and I get to work with them closely as VP of Sales and Support. Every day is different--some more challenging than others--but I keep learning and adjusting. Plus I will continue to support our customers as a Music Scheduling Consultant. It's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun, too.”

We are happy to have Paul on board and thank him for his many years coaching not only our users, but our own incredible support team. Now, we can look forward to his accomplishments in his new role managing both Sales and Support. Congratulations Paul!

Shane Finch has lent his passion and talents to MusicMaster since 2013. With his incredible work ethic and gift for developing interpersonal relationships, Shane has been a vital part of many departments - including operations, promotions and sales. Now, Shane has adopted a new role as VP of Business Relations.

MusicMaster Founder and President Joe Knapp shares: “The 'Music Safari' trips Shane and I have taken together, along with Keith Hill, Dave-O Thompson, and Bill Barr, would not have been nearly as interesting without Shane’s help. He didn't just help us gain access to some fairly well-hidden and little-known locations that are significant in the history of pop music. His uncanny ability to connect with total strangers turned quick stops in empty fields into day-long meetings with some very interesting people who shared their first-hand stories with us. Thanks to Shane, we learned things about pop music's biggest tragedies that are not public knowledge.”

Shane continues to be an integral part of the MusicMaster management "inner circle" and, in that capacity, will be a key player in developing corporate strategies, especially in the areas of marketing, promotions, sales, and customer satisfaction. 

MusicMaster CEO/Chief Creative Officer Laurie Knapp adds: “Pick any random street in any random town on the map and walk down it with Shane. He’s sure to know at least three people passing by. He’s been my right hand man for years and I couldn’t imagine working with a better partner and friend. Chances are, if you haven’t met him yet, you will.”

Congratulations Shane on your new title, and thank you for your continued dedication to the MusicMaster team!

Shane Finch has made many friends over the years. Here are just a few of them. (Top Left to Bottom Right): Shane Finch pictured with 'The Unconsultant' Keith Hill, country legend Mel Tillis, Michigan Radio's Steve Schram, Wide Orbit's William 'Dub' Irvin, advocate and Christian evangelist Joni Eareckson Tada, WLW Icon Gary Burbank, Radio's Best Friend Art Vuolo Jr., MusicMaster's Joe Knapp and Jerry Butler, and finally, veteran PD and host Scott Shannon and the MusicMaster gang.

Some of you may know Drew Bennett as your MusicMaster Scheduling Consultant. Others may have seen him lead our Genius Day workshops. Perhaps you've heard his programming on Austin’s105.3 The Bat or tuned into his show nightly at 7pm on KOKE-FM.

But did you know you can also pick Drew Bennett's programming brain on the Tracy Johnson Media Group blog?

As a consultant, Tracy Johnson has helped hundreds of media brands develop digital content, promotion and revenue strategies. In addition to his public appearances (including an upcoming presentation at the MusicMaster Hollywood Genius Day), Tracy has shared his expertise through webinars and is the author of several books (the Morning Radio series). He also continues to publish new and featured content through his blog, where you can now find monthly contributions from our very own Drew Bennett!    

To see what Drew has had to say so far, click here.

Topics include:  

• The Sure-Fire Solution to Dealing With Unscheduled Music Positions
• Drew Bennett's Five Immutable Laws of Music Scheduling
• Music Scheduling: 7 Signs of Dysfunctional Data

The Public Radio Program Director’s Association (PRPD) recently announced the appointment of three outstanding new members to the PRPD Board of Directors. According to PRPD President Jody Evans, Kristen Muller of KPCC, Jacqueline Cincotta of WNYC and Fred Jacobs of Jacobs Media are joining the PRPD Board “to build on the work started by Tamar Charney and so many other recent Board members who are deeply committed to the health and vitality of local public radio stations.”

(L-R) Jacqueline Cincotta, Fred Jacobs and Kirsten Muller

Jacqueline Cincotta is the Program Director of WNYC FM, AM and the four stations that comprise New Jersey Public Radio. Cincotta started with WNYC’s newly re-launched Listener Services team in 2002. Communicating firsthand with listeners about all aspects of WNYC programming and membership provided her with a deep understanding of listener perspectives and impressions.

Fred Jacobs is President of Jacobs Media, a research and consulting firm devoted to guiding media companies in the age of digital disruption. The company has provided guidance to brands throughout North America for 33 years, including commercial radio, public radio, and digital media companies.

Kristen Muller is the Head of Content Innovation at KPCC in Los Angeles. She is an experienced management leader overseeing content on broadcast and digital platforms, innovation, strategy, projects and processes. Muller was a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow. She is also the winner of a national Emmy and Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Awards.

For a third year in a row, MusicMaster clients enjoyed The Webster Public Relations Legendary Lunch co-hosted by CMA and sponsored by DUKE FM, Springer Mountain Farms, and The Country Music Cruise.

Over 40 artists attended with staggering cumulative stats that include 171 #1 Billboard chart hits, 559 Top 10 Billboard chart hits, and over 1033 Top 40 Billboard charted singles.

Look at the picture and see how many of the country legends you can recognize before using the cheat sheet below the photo.

Front row L-R: Gene Watson, Wanda Jackson, Brenda Lee, Tanya Tucker, WSM's Bill Cody, Jeannie Seely, Donna Fargo, Jana Jae, Sylvia

Second row L-R: Larry Black, Lorrie Morgan, Moe Bandy, Janie Fricke, Razzy Bailey, Crystal Gayle, T.G. Sheppard, Bobby Bare.

Third row L-R: Mark Wills, Bill Anderson, Webster PR's Kirt Webster, CMA' Sarah Trahern, Dave & Sugar's Dave Rowland, Roy Clark, Kathie Baillie, David Frizzell, Johnny Lee, Tracy Lawrence, Darrin Vincent.

Fourth row L-R: T. Graham Brown, Ronnie McDowell, Tim Rushlow, Wilson Fairchild's Langdon Reid and Wil Reid, Jamie Dailey, Lee Greenwood, Michael Bonagura, Forester Sisters' Christy Forester, Kim Forester, June Forester, Kathy Forester

Fifth row L-R: Bellamy Brothers Howard and David, John Conlee, Jennifer McCarter, KY Headhunters Richard Young, Doug Phelps, Fred Young, and John Michael Montgomery

Back row L-R: Exile's Steve Goetzman, Sonny LeMaire, Marlon Hargis, Oak Ridge Boys Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, William Lee Golden, Duane Allen.

The MusicMaster Florida team recently invaded the studios of WLW legend Gary Burbank in search of Earl Pitts. Burbank is enjoying life on the beautiful Rainbow River in Florida and continues his long-running daily Earl Pitts editorial.

Our gang found Earl “so mad he wants to sit on a block of cheese and eat a rat”. Apparently, some things never change.

Pictured left to right standing: Shane Finch, Dave Tyler, radio icon Bob Todd and Jerry Butler Seated: Gary Burbank

Shane Finch (MusicMaster) and Jim Robertson (Dix Communications)

Recently, MusicMaster’s Shane Finch and Dix Communication’s President of Radio, Jim Robertson were invited to speak at an elementary school career day in their hometown of Ocala, Florida. While neither had to speak after a fireman, professional football player or daredevil, they did have to compete against a milk man with a giant 14-foot cow.

Congratulations to the entire Dix Communications team on your continued success, and thanks for allowing MusicMaster to join you on the journey.

Jim Pattison, owner of MusicMaster client the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group, was recently in the news after making a $75 million donation to reconstruct the aging St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. His act of philanthropy represents the largest personal contribution to a hospital in Canada’s history. The new facility, which will be called the Jim Pattison Medical Centre, is expected to open in 2023. It is proposed to become a hub of advanced care and ground-breaking research on par with the Cleveland and Mayo Clinics. Of his involvement, Pattison stated simply: "The folks here came to see us and said they needed some help.”

Billionaire Jim Pattison announces his donation of $75 million to St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver.
(Photo Credit: Wanyee Li/Toronto Metro)

The Jim Pattison Group is Canada’s largest privately held company, with over 40,000 employees. It is involved in numerous industries, including grocery and food service, real estate, financial services, automotive dealerships, and for our interest - TV and radio.

The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group began in 1965 with its first station in Vancouver, CJOR. Since then, the group has grown to nearly 50 stations across Western Canada. The organization prides itself on hiring local talent who are immersed in their communities and can deliver a local flavor. In keeping with Jim Pattison’s spirit of philanthrophy, the broadcast group alone has donated over $21 million of air-time to community and charitable causes. We are proud to have such an impactful and community-driven organization in our MusicMaster user family!

Are you planning to go to one of these events?
We would love to meet you there! Contact your MSC or send us an email to let us know.

sales@musicmaster.com
469.717.0100