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 23rd to switch your grid before scheduling the 24th and 25th, then change it back prior to running the 26th, you could use the Format Scheduler to do it for you.
If you find an article on our site interesting, chances are that someone in your networks or circles will too, which is why we’ve made sharing one of our blog or news posts with your friends, acquaintances, colleagues, or followers as easy as clicking one of the sharing links alongside a post’s title.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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!”
Now you can see what some of our clients have to say about MusicMaster on our testimonials page.
Editor’s Note: Have you heard about Spotify? It’s a new way to listen to your music. Here is a way to use MusicMaster with Spotify! (more…)
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… (more…)
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. (more…)
WEXR-FM, WOKK-FM, WJXM-FM, WZKS-FM, WYHL-FM, WJDQ-FM, WALT-FM, WKZB-FM, WHTU-FM, Meridian, MS; National Latino Broadcasting, Miami; KNOB-FM, Santa Rosa, CA; CKTY-FM, CKTO-FM, Truro, NS, Canada; KRKO-AM, KRKO-HD1, KKXA-FM, KKXA-HD1, Everett, WA; WYSU-FM, Youngstown, OH; CFXY-FM, CIBX-FM, CKHJ-AM, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
As always, it was great seeing existing clients, our industry partners, and meeting broadcasters with questions about how MusicMaster could work for them. The attendance this year was up from recent years, but most would agree the overall mood was up as well. There was great interest in MusicMaster Live which powers Blendella. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can do so at beta.blendella.com. Register to participate, and check out the new Facebook app. We would love to get your thoughts!
In addition to the new look of our website, we also improved how support issues are handled through the web with the introduction of our new Support Center for American and Canadian clients. Using our Support Center, you can access downloads, submit new support cases, and even check-up on your existing cases.
If you’re an American or Canadian client and didn’t receive an e-mail containing your login information, getting your new password is as easy as visiting our Support Center and selecting “Forgot your password?” If you’re not a registered user or you have a new e-mail address, please request access to the Support Center and we’ll get your login details out to you right away.
Additionally, if you’re looking for our training videos, they now exist outside the Support Center and are easily accessed under Training in the menu on our new website.
Some of our clients have received correspondence from attorneys representing Mission Abstract Data, LLC (which also does business under the name Digimedia). They have filed suit against several broadcasters for infringement of the company’s intellectual property. Primarily, this deals with broadcasting music from a hard drive (or hard drives) that contain several hundred songs. Information can be found on their website at www.missionabstractdata.com. From what we understand, a significant challenge to the viability of the patent has been filed with the US Patent Office claiming other automation playback systems that incorporated this technology were already in existence prior to the filing date of this patent. A decision is still pending.
Using MusicMaster to schedule a playlist is not a violation of this patent and neither A-Ware Software or MusicMaster has been served notice of a claim that it does. If you have concerns regarding this case, we suggest you seek legal counsel.
Several members of the MusicMaster staff got their first hands-on radio experience at a college station. Today we have many college radio stations as clients, which makes us proud to be a supporter of College Radio Day, Oct 11. So far over 150 college and high school stations have registered to participate in the event to increase the awareness about the role these stations play. Complete details can be found at their website http://www.collegeradioday.com/
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.
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.
Mark Patric is the APD and MD of 93.7 JRfm in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Along with his 16 years of major market broadcast experience he has also worked as a music scheduling consultant and music research adviser for Albright and O’Malley Consulting for the past 10 years.
Contact Mark Patric at 604-575-1226 or magmedia@telus.net
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: Rule Groups and CategoriesIf you only use Rule Groups that apply to all your categories, there are many more options you can utilize to simplify your Rule Tree. A Rule Group has Song and Clock Restrictions options. In a nutshell, these options let you tailor what is affected by the rules in the Group. For instance, you can pick only certain categories or filter for a specific characteristic in Song Restrictions. With Clock Restrictions you can determine which clocks the rules will apply to. The benefit of these options is that you’ll have fewer places where a rule is listed, which means fewer places to review and change saving you time and potentially preventing mistakes.
View Category Rule List
By Paul Ziino
We often are asked by customers to help them figure out why songs are scheduling that violate rules. Usually, the problem is that the rule being violated isn’t active for the category in question. How can we figure this out? The answer is “View Category Rule List”. (Read more.)
Barb Richards
Program Goddess
Majic 95.1, WAJI
Fort Wayne, IN
“The feature I like best is the playdate history window. I look at every song and can quickly see where it played the day before so I can maximize rotations. Usually the program has already picked the perfect song for the time slot but every once in a while, I have to go digging a bit further then the rules allow. To me the music log is a big puzzle and our job as programmers is to find the perfect fitting pieces to make a great picture!”
By Marianne Burkett
When was the last time you took a critical look at your database or databases? You may be so busy at work, that the thought of a review seems like the last thing you’d like to do. With MusicMaster there are some easy steps you can take to keep your data “honest”. The truth has no agenda, but it certainly is revealing! (more…)
By Paul Ziino
We often are asked by customers to help them figure out why songs are scheduling that violate rules. Usually, the problem is that the rule being violated isn’t active for the category in question. How can we figure this out? The answer is “View Category Rule List”. (more…)
