MusicMaster Blog

Welcome to MusicMaster

• WTKM-AM, WTKM-FM – Milwaukee
• KRTR-FM, KRTR-AM, KPHW-FM – Honolulu
• CJCB-FM – Cape Breton
• WUSJ-FM, WJKK-FM, WYOY-FM – Jackson/Ridgeland
• KDJS-FM, KDJA-AM, KRVY-FM – Willmar
• CKTY-FM, CKTO-FM – Truro
• WWNO-FM – New Orleans
• CFXY-FM, CIBX-FM, CKHJ-AM – Fredericton
• MTV France
• MTV Arabia, Dubai
• Channel V, Hong Kong
• NatGeo Music, Hong Kong

Genius Day, Berlin

Last month, over 40 Music Masters from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxemburg, Norway, Poland and Spain joined together for this two day workshop in Potsdam near Berlin. A-Ware President Joe Knapp gave an outlook on the upcoming release of MusicMaster Version 5. But we also took a deeper look inside TV-topics, Goal-Scheduling, and the best way to schedule for Christmas in several workshops. If you feel you’re not prepared for Christmas, then check out this article from our blog.

Industry Event Calendar

If you are planning to attend any of these upcoming events let us know. We would love the opportunity to say hello, share a cup of coffee, or help with any questions you may be having.

• December 3: IBS Radio/Webcast Conference – Los Angeles, CA
• December 6-8: Arbitron Client Conference – Baltimore, MD
• December 6: Forecast 2012 – New York, NY
• February 22-24: CRS 2011 – Nashville, TN
• February 26-March 1st: NRB Convention and Exposition – Nashville, TN
• March 9-16: SXSW – Austin, TX
• February 9: Media Solutions Lab – Scottsdale, AZ
• March 21-22: Hispanic Radio Conference – San Diego, CA
• April 27-28: World Radio Summit – Los Angeles, CA
• April 14-19: NAB Show – Las Vegas, NV

MusicMaster Pro-Team: Ralph Cipolla

Jacobs Media is the nation’s leading rock consultancy firm. Fred Jacobs created the Classic Rock radio format in 1983. Since then, Jacobs Media has expanded its services to include Rock, Alternative (“The Edge”), and Public Radio. With a commitment to innovation and customized strategies, the Jacobs Media team of consultants keeps clients aware of new trends, using nationwide online polls, focus groups, and ethnography, going beyond the numbers and observing real people in real life situations. Station services include strategic development, cluster strategy, music management and architecture, production and positioning,  personality coaching; and promotional, contesting, and tactical concepts and execution. Jacobs Media’s SmartSuite analytics package helps programmers better understand their stations’ music design and on-air presentation, as well as tracking the competition.

Contact Ralph Cipolla at 248.353.9030 or ralph@jacobsmedia.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 Mark Bolke Vice President/COO at (651) 405-9119 or Mark@MusicMaster.com.

See the complete MusicMaster Pro-Team Roster.

Quick Tip: Pick from the Replaced Songs

We all do it:  we edit the log and change a song out.  What becomes of that song you replaced though?  Unless you call for it later in the log, you might not see it for a few days.  There is a way you can see all the songs you’ve replaced or deleted in the log.  Right click in the Editor and select the context menu option called Schedule Song.  This shows many different ways to replace songs in the Editor.  Once you’ve replaced or deleted at least one song, you’ll see an option near the bottom of the list called “Search the list of deleted or replaced songs”.  This list will only contain these songs and hopefully you can find a good home for them somewhere else in the log.

Recent Feature Articles From the MusicMaster Blog

Ins and Outs of the Format Scheduler
By Paul Ziino

You can predetermine what clocks or assignment grids you wish to use on certain days.  For example, you want to use your “All Christmas” grid on Christmas Eve and Day.  Instead of having to remember on December 23^rd to switch your grid before scheduling the 24^th and 25^th, then change it back prior to running the 26^th, you could use the Format Scheduler to do it for you. (Read more.)

MusicMaster TSL Booster Rules!
By Marianne Burket

In the Programming department of any radio station, the final product flowing from the speakers is really all that matters.  Compelling content, cool promotions, contests and stand out imaging, news and weather are important, but well-crafted music logs are really key to spiking the stations Time Spent Listening. (Read more.)

Music Masters of the Month

Matthias Weber, Head of Music
Johanna Kowalicki, Editor
Hitradio FFH
Bad Vilbel, Germany

Matthias Weber: “I like that MusicMaster is so flexible. I can work very fast and stable and the Rule Tree gives me the possibility to find all the rules I need very fast but I can also build a very complex rule-system if I need it.

“Flexibility in rules is only one aspect. The possibility to define multiple layouts and so that each user could define a favorite one is awesome. Everybody has an optimum overview for all the relevant data.

“Additional I like service and support and I can always explore new features, that are obviously suggestions from other MusicMaster users.”

Fall Back Sunday

For our North American clients who observe it, here is a friendly reminder. Daylight Savings Time officially ends Sunday 11-6 at 2am. Everyone will enjoy an extra hour of sleep and your MusicMaster for Windows software will have made that adjustment for you automatically, that is if your computer day/time settings are correct. Your Music Scheduling Consultant will be happy to assist if you have questions or you can view information on it here.  We also have a support bulletin with more detailed information.

Jacobs Media Summit

MusicMaster is proud to once again sponsor the Jacobs Media Summit at the upcoming Arbitron Client Conference happening December 7th in Baltimore, MD. Fred Jacobs and his team have assembled a great agenda of speakers with additions still to be made. For more details and registration information go to www.jacobsmedia.com.

Scheduled speakers include:

Ed Schultz, Host of MSNBC’s “The Ed Show” and syndicated talk radio host, with a viewpoint from one of America’s “content creators.”

Brooke Gladstone, Author and host of NPR’s “On The Media” and a sharp observer of all things media.

Jeff Pulver, Entrepreneur, chairman and founder of the “140 Characters Conference” and an expert in the power of the real-time web.

Jim Farley, VP News & Programming, WTOP (Washington, DC) and the guy behind one of media’s best brands.

Dr. Robert Groves, Director of the United States Census Bureau and an expert on the changing demographics in America and what they mean to media professionals.

Sean Parker, Director of Digital Media for the NHL’s Washington Capitals, a media savvy sports franchise owned by web mogul Ted Leonsis.

James Cridland, Radio futurologist and Managing Director of Media UK with his “take” on how American radio can win big in the new media environment.

Genius Workshops World Tour

Potsdam, Germany: Thursday, November 10 through Friday, November 11:

Attendees for this workshop will have the opportunity to choose between one of three courses. There will be a beginners track for users relatively new to MusicMaster, a more advanced group for those users who want to take their skill set to a higher level, and and the third track will focus on special techniques for our television/video programmers. More information and registration information is available here. If you have additional questions contact Rainer Eichhorn.

Joe Knapp, MusicMaster’s President and founder, seen at left, will be there wearing the appropriate attire for the workshop.

Industry Event Calendar

If you are planning to attend any of these upcoming events let us know. We would love the opportunity to say hello, share a cup of coffee, or help with any questions you may be having.

• November 10-11: Genius Days – Potsdam, Germany
• November 5: IBS Radio/Webcast Conference – Boston, MA
• November 19: IBS Radio/Webcast Conference – New York, NY
• December 3: IBS Radio/Webcast Conference – Los Angeles, CA
• December 6-8: Arbitron Client Conference – Baltimore, MD
• December 6: Forecast 2012 – New York, NY
• February 22-24: CRS 2011 – Nashville, TN
• February 26-March 1st: NRB Convention and Exposition – Nashville, TN
• March 9-16: SXSW – Austin, TX

MusicMaster Pro-Team: Joel Folger

When it comes to the Adult Hits format, Joel Folger consulting has a proven track record of success.

Joel’s unique multi-format background has served him well in helping Adult Hits stations maximize 25-54 ratings. Joel programmed Rock in Minneapolis, CHR in Dallas and Oklahoma City, and Alternative in Dallas.

Joel’s consulting guidance has been used in markets of all sizes, from Pittsburgh and Austin to Chico and Bismarck.
From “start ups” to an existing Adult Hits station, Joel Folger can help.

Music, marketing, programming, branding, talent coaching, guidance, research…

Contact Joel Folger at (817) 545-3113 or joel.folger@broadcastmediaconsultants.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 Mark Bolke Vice President/COO at (651) 405-9119 or Mark@MusicMaster.com.

See the complete MusicMaster Pro-Team Roster.

Quick Tip: Analysis, Daypart Avails

If you daypart, you can determine how many slots are available in any given hour while in Analysis, Turnover.  Click on the clock icon with the red “x”.  This will open a screen that will show you how many slots/songs are in the Category and how many slots are available in any given hour taking into account any dayparting.  Use this feature to make sure you have enough slots available throughout your day.

Recent Feature Articles from the MusicMaster Blog

Setting Up and Using the Chart Editor
By Drew Bennett

The Chart Editor is used to create an in-house music chart. This can be helpful when reporting your playlist, making music decisions or keeping general tabs on your library. (Read more.)

Scheduling by Theme
by Paul Ziino

Whether you want to schedule a bunch of “car” songs leading up to the Indy 500 or “patriotic” songs for Independence Day, Theme Scheduling can get the job done. Here’s how in 10 easy steps… (Read more.)

MusicMaster/Spotify Integration
By Aaron Taylor

This article builds a bit on my last, which discussed the integration of MusicMaster with iTunes.  To allow this functionality to work with Spotify, you’ll first need to make sure MMWIN is able to export a playlist to iTunes. (Read more.)

Using MusicMaster with Spotify
By Drew Bennett

I love Spotify. It’s a great way for me to listen to albums I don’t have in my collection and it’s a great way to discover new music. Sure, I still love heading to the local record store and picking up a new CD or some vintage vinyl and I will never tire of cranking up the radio. However, Spotify is here and it’s here to stay so let’s look at a cool new way to use Spotify and MusicMaster together. (Read more.)

Music Master of the Month

Al Skop
Director, Music Programming
SiriusXM Radio

“In my 20 years in radio I’ve used all kinds of music scheduling systems (yes, including the file box full of index cards!) None of them has afforded me the control over exactly how I needed the stations I program to sound than MusicMaster does. One of the features I’m particularly happy with (and proud of for developing the use of) is the Special Sets feature in the clocks. We have a ton of specialized content from artists that we’ve gathered over the years at SiriusXM, and with the Special Sets feature combined with a ‘secret sauce’ of keywords and breakable and unbreakable rules, we very effortlessly can schedule all of this content throughout the days and dayparts so they get not only maximum exposure but take an above average amount of time to burn out (as specialty content can tend to do…) My good buddy Paul Ziino let me know that no one was using that function of MusicMaster quite in that way, which I promptly spread up and down the halls of SiriusXM, to make us all sound even better! Thanks so much, guys!”