MusicMaster Blog

Welcome to MusicMaster

CHUM-FM, CKFM-FM, CHBM-FM, CFXJ-FM – Toronto, ON; CKXA-FM, CKX-FM – Brandon, MB; WGFT-AM – Youngstown, OH; SiriusXm Canada – Washington, DC; KBYI-FM, KBYR-FM – Rexburg, ID;
WCGA-FM – Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos; CKCE-FM, CHPK-FM – Calgary, AB; Radio Zachod – Zielona Góra, Poland; Radio Fantasy – Cervignano Del Friuli, Italy; Radio San Marino, San Marino Classic – San Marino, San Marino

Our Growing Family of Products

You’ve come to trust and depend on the MusicMaster name for your scheduling needs. We know that there are many different programming needs out there and we are pleased to introduce a suite of products designed to meet those different needs:

MusicMaster Professional Edition is the new name for our flagship product, MusicMaster for Windows. This is the product broadcasters around the world have relied on to schedule their music. We’ve only changed the name and added the Pro designation to our logo. Everything else about the product is the same. If you program multiple radio stations, MusicMaster Pro will continue to give you the full complement of programming tools you need to make your radio stations sound great.

MusicMaster Limited Edition is our new product designed for non-commercial or small commercial broadcasters who want the main programming tools of MusicMaster Pro but who don’t need all the fancy scheduling tools and exports. You can use MusicMaster LT to manage one station’s library, clocks and scheduling needs. You’ll also be able to export to your automation system. For the budget-minded broadcaster, this version can be purchased for a one-time price.

MusicMaster Personal Edition is our other new product designed for the individual or hobbyist. If you know someone who tinkers at home with an Internet stream (perhaps even you?), recommend MusicMaster PE to them. We’ve even included a player with this package so someone can input their songs and be listening to it quickly. Of course the individual doesn’t need most of the scheduling tools broadcasters rely on, so by limiting those items, we’re able to offer MusicMaster PE at a very reasonable purchase price.

Sean Ross on MusicMaster

Could The Eternal Jukebox Be Unplugged?

Five years ago, or so, it seemed that some songs had been assigned a place in the “eternal jukebox.”  Certain all-time classics had an appeal that didn’t depend on actually having grown up with them. There were obvious common-denominator wedding/party/barroom songs — “Brown Eyed Girl,” “At Last,” “Respect,” “Margaritaville,” “Summer Of ’69,” and especially  “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Don’t Stop Believin'”.   In addition,  an enterprising music supervisor in TV or movies could at times turn any obscure oldie into hipster exotica for a moment as well. And you could count on hearing “Limbo Rock” at any toddler’s birthday party, even if it wasn’t on the radio. (Read more.)

Do Shazam And SoundHound Recognize What Radio Didn’t?

It’s been a big year for Shazam. The music recognition app is now a regular part of record label trade advertising. At Country Radio Seminar in February, it was key in several attempts to apply “Moneyball”-type analytics to potential hit records. One of them was a formula by Stone Door Media Lab’s Jeff Green that eight or more tags-per-spin in a song’s second chart week could predict a top 10 hit. (Read more.)

Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference Recap

MusicMaster’s Aaron Taylor and Shane Finch recently attended The Great Lakes Broadcasting Conference & EXPO (GLBC) in Lansing, Michigan. GLBC is the Midwest’s premier educational and networking conference for radio, television and media professionals.

MusicMaster joined forces with Dave Turner and Ken Frommert of automation partner ENCO (pictured above) for two snowy Michigan days of displays and demonstrations.

Hundreds attended The Lansing Center for incredible learning opportunities, including the cutting edge session “Radio in an Audio World” by Sean Ross of Edison Research, and a tasty lunch presentation “Growing Media” with Kevin Gage of the NAB.

It’s always great to see old Michigan friends like Professor Dick Kernan of Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts, Art Vuolo “Radio’s Best Friend” (pictured above with Shane Finch), WEMU PD Patrick Campion, and many others.

Aaron and Shane stopped by Lansing’s famous bakery “Sugar Shack“, snatched a few dozen freshly baked cookies, and made a sneak attack on MusicMaster client Scott Loomis of MacDonald Broadcasting (pictured above with Aaron).

While touring the radio studios, Aaron and Shane attempted to commandeer Power 96.5 away from PD Don Black (above). Black successfully fought off the attack and lives to thrill radio listeners another day!

CabSat 2014

We had a great few days at the CabSat show in Dubai last month. Besides some great looking but dangerous fog and a sand storm, everything went very smooth. Thanks to all the visitors, friends and clients who stopped by at the booth. We will see you all there again in 2015. Here a few impressions of the show:

We shared a very pretty booth with our partner company AVC

Rainer from ON AIR and Abdul of Suno Radio, one of our clients in Dubai

Elliot from AVC Dehli, our partner company in India, showing the latest version of MusicMaster

Rainer from ON AIR speaking with Enco owner Gene Novacek

And of course a nice crew dinner with our long time client and friend Mehirr of Audio Republic Dubai…

K-104 Dallas Genius Day Workshop

Service Broadcasting Corporation in Dallas, TX hosted Joe Knapp and Jesus Rodriguez on Wednesday, March 19th for a MusicMaster Genius Day workshop.

We don’t know who was more excited between Jesus and the client. We all have that one heritage station that we grew up listening to in our hometowns. The station that influenced our passion for great radio that got us to consider broadcasting as a career. Jesus is a Dallas native and K104 was one of those stations. That being said, for Jesus, the opportunity to consult this client at the legendary studios surpassed any childhood dream of working in those studios as a DJ. It’s not everyday you can say that you are a scheduling consultant for the radio station that raised you.

We discussed every aspect of the software. Joe Knapp blew everyone’s mind with some auto burning tricks to keep a steady history graph for stations with a lot of mix shows. Joe and Jesus said the travel accommodations from gate to gate were amazing, which is easy to say when you live down the street from the client and get to drive your own car!

We would like to thank KKDA-FM/K104 PD George Cook, Operations Manager Michael Erickson, KRNB-FM 105.7 PD Kevin Gardner, and their team for coordinating the day with us.

MusicMaster President and CEO Joe Knapp, KKDA-FM/K104 PD George Cook, and MusicMaster Representative Jesus Rodriguez

MusicMaster Representative Jesus Rodriguez, KRNB-FM 105.7 PD Kevin Gardner, and MusicMaster President and CEO Joe Knapp

Broadcast Asia

Come and visit us at Broadcast Asia in Singapore on June 17-21 at Stand 5K2-02 where Joe and Rainer will be there to have a chat with you and show you the latest version of MusicMaster!

Visiting Notice Branded Media

Bart van Gogh of Top Of Mind, our MusicMaster Partner in the Netherlands, visited one of our new clients, Notice Branded Media, one of the largest in-store radio providers in Holland.

We are happy to have them in our MusicMaster Family!

Radiodays Europe

The Radio Days Europe was a huge success. We were happy to be part of this great event in the beautiful city of Dublin. Thanks to all the people who stopped by at our booth to say hello and share some time with us.

Rainer and Justus who smilingly represented MusicMaster at the show.

Frank Salzbrenner of the German consulting company BCI and Rainer Eichhorn, usually exchanging good restaurant addresses!

It was a real great show, and we hope we will see you all again next year at the Radio Days Europe 2015 in Milano!

Upcoming Appearances

Representatives from Team MusicMaster Worldwide will join forces with a variety of automation partners at the 2014 NAB Show®, April 5-10 in Las Vegas, NV.  The NAB is the world’s largest electronic media show covering filmed entertainment and the development, management and delivery of content across all mediums.  MusicMaster will be on-hand to discuss and display our World Class Software with more than 93,000 attendees from 156 countries.

Here are the automation partner locations where NAB registrants can visit with a MusicMaster representative:

• Aaron Taylor and Paul Ziino at ENCO-C1307
• Drew Bennett and Jesus Rodriguez at Wide Orbit-N5829
• Malcolm Sinclair at iMediaTouch-C3031
• Rainer Eichhorn at SCISYS Deutschland GmbH-C451
• Thomas Roth at NETIA-C2950
• Michael Buholzer at DAVID Systems-C7940

Personalized demonstrations available at each booth location or in The MusicMaster Suite at The Wynn.

Additionally, on Sunday April 6th at the RAIN Summit in the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, the President and CEO of MusicMaster, Joe Knapp, will be giving a PechaKucha presentation.

Industry Event Calendar

There are industry events and conventions every month around the world. We always appreciate meeting our customers and finding out how MusicMaster is working for them. If you’re planning on attending any of these events, let us know. We’d love to meet with you if possible.

• April 2-4: All Access Worldwide Radio Summit – Hollywood, CA
• April 6-10: NAB – Las Vegas, NV
• April 6: RAIN Summit – Las Vegas, NV
• May 6-10: Canadian Music Week – Toronto, ON
• June 17-20: BroadcastAsia2014 – Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

MusicMaster Pro-Team: Harve Alan

• 30 Years Media Experience
• Programming Innovator
• The Vision To Help Radio Thrive In A Digital World
• Held Senior Level Programming Positions
• Success Across Many Markets and Formats

You can contact Harve Alan at (952) 401-906 or harve@harvealan.com.The MusicMaster Pro-Team is comprised of experienced broadcast consultants and programmers who are available to assist MusicMaster clients with programming advice. Their services are available under this cost effective program with no long term commitment required, and can be added to your existing software support plan. Information on each MusicMaster Pro-Team member is available below. If you would like to retain the services of one of the MusicMaster Pro-Team members or have questions about the specifics of the program contact Joe Knapp, President/CEO at +1 (262) 786-6519 or JoeKnapp@A-Ware.com.

Quick Tip: Clock Filters

Clock element positions that call for music or non-music (like Fixed or Proportional) have an Element Property option for Filters.  You can double-click a position to open that screen.  What you may not realize is that you can have up to three Clock Filters.  That’s important because each can be tested independently.  You might set up your filters so some are unbreakable while others might be breakable.  Or, you might set up some to be tested during specific times.  Simply change the number to 1, 2 or 3 on all appropriate positions in all appropriate clocks.  Then, go to your Rule Tree, Format Clock Rules and drag the appropriate Clock Filter rule into your rule set.  Clock filters are a handy way to target specific positions so they meet your programming objectives.

Recent Feature Articles From the MusicMaster Blog

The Relative Separation Analysis Special History Report
By Drew Bennett

Scroll through Special History Reports and you will see one you can use for just about any report you need to generate. Most of these reports are specially designed for certain agencies and offices to receive reports on music you play. Some of these reports, however, are more generic and these are designed for anyone to use. If you haven’t reviewed the Special History Report option lately, we’ve added to the gallery of report options in MusicMaster.  The newest report is Relative Separation Analysis. This report determines separation times on values in a field across to adjacent time periods and is a great way to track things like Song Titles and Artist Keywords and how they separate from day to day. (Read more.)

MusicMaster Speaks Your Language
By Jesus Rodriguez

MusicMaster is the leading scheduling software in our industry. It is not only the choice of more programmers in the United States but also worldwide. Although we would like to think that everyone in the world speaks English unfortunately many do not and we are aware of it. Whether you are a user outside of the U.S. or in a situation where growth is key for your company to survive, a language barrier will not be an issue. With growth comes the opportunity to venture into other formats such as Spanish to help your listeners and revenue grow in the market. With sudden growth also comes the hiring of experienced programmers of such a format to help you succeed. In my experience many of those great programmers come with a lot of knowledge that they bring from the countries where these formats began. That being said so does the language they are most comfortably speaking and using daily. (Read more.)

Making External Connections with MusicMaster
By Jill Sorenson

MusicMaster has all the programming tools you’d expect in a music scheduler along with many surprises to make your life easier. Our ability to integrate with third-party systems is a dream come true for busy programmers. Do you need to import a library from your automation system? Check. Import metadata from your media source? Check. Import research scores? Check. Export your playlist in a form ready for the web? Check. Import traffic so you can accurately time your log? Check. (Read more.)

Music Master of the Month

Tom Duke
Music Director
KQUS-FM
Hot Springs, AR

“I feel the feature that helps me the most and saves me the most time is the ability to design assignment grids for the different events during the year and activate them when I need them such as Christmas music.  I set up my clocks the way I want them and then build a grid and activate it and I am all set.  Just build a grid around whatever activity you are doing and that’s all there is to it.

“We chose MusicMaster because we had heard it would fill our needs and it has.  So word of mouth and affordability helped us make our decision.”