July 2016

Welcome to MusicMaster!

New From the MusicMaster Blog

Dynamic Flow and the Art of Music Scheduling

by Marianne Burkett - I just experienced the pleasure of helping a client go through a process of format concept to completion. The new format sounds terrific and better than he expected. Good sounding radio doesn’t just happen. All the great music in the world played back to back won’t keep your audience locked in if it’s not scheduled correctly.

While discussing the importance of what I term as “Dynamic Flow”, I painted this picture for my client: ”You know how awesome and comfortable it is to sit at the seashore and listen to the ocean waves.” When you sit on the beach, the ebb and flow of the tide make it appealing to be still for long periods of time. You don’t really think about the sound, but you know you can sit there for a long time without being bored or stressed.

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Meet Mr. Extra Flag in the 6.0 Test Results Panel

by Jesus Rodriguez - In this blog we will answer the mystery behind the Extra Flag in your Test Results Panel in MusicMaster 6.0! I guess it would only be appropriate for me to introduce you two. Mr. Extra Flag say hola to MusicMaster’s coolest User. Awesome User say hello to Mr. Extra Flag!

So now that we all know each other let me tell you a little bit about my friend Mr. Extra Flag. He only likes to come out and play when you have selected the triple flag icon on your test results panel. He is not too fond of partying alone because he only has two outfits a yellow flag and a red flag. Unless his triple flag buddies are selected he will just stay in hiding. When he does come out to play you can hover over Mr. Extra Flag and see what the violation is that his red or yellow flag outfit is representing. You can also click on Mr. Extra Flag and he will take you straight to the rule that has the violation like a VIP.

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Cleaning up your Keywords

by Jerry Butler - I get calls from time-to-time from programmers saying that their artist, title or composer separation isn’t working correctly. Call numbers increase on this issue in the weeks leading up to Christmas with title separation. Keep in mind separation rules look at your artist keywords, title keyword and composer keywords. After analyzing the data, we often find that some of the entries are spelled just a bit different. In order for the keyword separation to work correctly, all spellings in the specific keyword have to be exactly the same. How can you check this quickly? Many programmers including myself would go through the library, sort and compare the artists or titles on each song card. Here is an easier, faster, more thorough way to correct your keywords: make those changes in your keyword maintenance window...

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Quick Tip: Consolidating Category Rules

If you're like many users, you take advantage of the All Categories folder to consolidate your rules. Between using those folders and using Rule Groups, you greatly reduce the number of times you have to add a rule to your Tree. If you're thinking this makes it harder to know exactly which rules are applied to a specific category, fear not. Right-click on any category and select View Category Rule List. A box will appear that will show you the consolidated rule list applied to the Category. Even better, there is also an option to change the date and time in case you want to know the specific rules during say, a specialty program.

Master Class #2: Using LogShare to Export and Import Logs

Using LogShare, you can easily customize how you share logs between networks and affiliates. In this video, find out how easy it is for local affiliates to insert their own local imaging and content into a syndicated log. For more information on how to use LogShare, you can also view the more advanced Walkthrough Video.

"Gotta Catch 'Em All" - Full Lineup of Upcoming Genius Days

Mark your calendars. If you haven't made it to a Genius Day yet this year, you still have plenty of opportunities. This is an excellent opportunity to put your department's training and development budget to good use. You'll spend a whole day learning new strategies from special guest speakers. Our MusicMaster team will answer all your burning questions and show you how to use MusicMaster like you never have before. Each of the following events are associated with an upcoming regional or format-specific trade show, allowing you to maximize your time and travel.

Click on an event below for more information.

MusicMaster at Broadcast Asia in Singapore

This year, MusicMaster was once again part of Asia's biggest broadcast and multimedia show: Broadcast Asia. Vendors from all over the world as well as customers from Asia, Australia, India and the Middle East gathered in Singapore to attend this very successful show. The MusicMaster team had the pleasure of meeting many new, interesting people, as well as chatting and hanging out with our existing customers at our MusicMaster Meeting Point. The BCA show has become a standard in our yearly travel plans and we are looking forward to next year where the show moves back into the newly renovated Sun City Center. See you next year!


ON AIR's Rainer Eichhorn with two of our customers from Bangladesh, Radio Masti	Phil, from our UK partner Broadcast Bionics, Rainer and Curt from the German automation company Scisys, after a good day at the show, on the way to some serious DimSum dinner.

Brazil Partner Informa Joins AESP Roadshow

Our Brazilian MusicMaster partner Informa has joined the AESP roadshow, covering the 9 main areas of São Paulo state. AESP, which stands for "Associação das Emissoras Rádio e Televisão do Estado de São Paulo " is the Sao Paulo state association in Brazil. Founded in 1935, it currently includes over two-thirds of the 650 stations in the state as its affiliates.

The first phase of this project was concluded on June 16th, in Rio Preto and the next 2 phases will happen from July 4 - 8 and from August 1 - 5. About 150 people already attended the meetings and were able to learn about Informa’s new version of InfoAudio and see, for the first time in Brazil, MusicMaster running smoothly integrated with InfoAudio.

Click here to watch a video demonstrating the InfoAudio and MusicMaster integration.

Broadcast Dialogue Acquired by Momentum Media Marketing

Howard Christensen, Publisher of Broadcast Dialogue - Canada's broadcast industry publication – has announced that Broadcast Dialogue will, in fact, resume publishing on July 21, 2016 under new stewardship. Vancouver-based Momentum Media Marketing, Inc. has acquired Broadcast Dialogue from Christensen Communications Ltd. following Howard and Ingrid's June 30th farewell issue.

"The backgrounds of the Momentum Marketing people are in line with Ingrid's and my desire to see experienced broadcasters continue the qualities readers and advertisers expect of Broadcast Dialogue," said Howard Christensen, Publisher of Broadcast Dialogue.

"Howard and Ingrid Christensen are beloved in the Canadian broadcast industry," said Shawn Smith, President and Founder of Momentum. "Broadcast Dialogue has always nurtured a sense of community and connectedness among us all, no matter where the industry took us across the country. Broadcasters have not taken them for granted."

Howard Christensen has graciously agreed to serve as Editor Emeritus of Broadcast Dialogue as part of the acquisition plan, in order to ensure a smooth transition and provide counsel and expertise to the Momentum team.

Momentum Founder and CEO Shawn Smith will serve as Publisher of Broadcast Dialogue. "We could not imagine an industry without Broadcast Dialogue," continued Shawn Smith. "Although we have lofty standards to meet, our team is deeply gratified that Howard and Ingrid agree and have blessed our plan to move Broadcast Dialogue forward. We aspire to honor the passion, integrity, and legacy of all they have built."

Industry veteran and Journalist, Lisa Blackburn, has joined the Momentum team and will serve as Editor of Broadcast Dialogue. Based in Halifax, Lisa's immense experience includes longtime engagements as morning show co-host/reporter with Newcap and Rogers Radio, Television host with Global Maritimes, as well as web editor and writer with CBC Halifax.

Broadcast Dialogue will return on July 21, 2016 and will retain its tried-and-true content format. Additional editorial features and unique advertising extensions are expected to be in place by September.

Beverley Ervine Retires After 30 Years at WOSU, Classical 101

MusicMaster friend, Beverley Ervine has retired from her role as Program Director for Classical 101. Bev has been the behind-the-scenes “doer” for classical music radio for literally decades. She just gets things done. She even met her husband, Boyce Lancaster, at WOSU and they were married in 1986 on the back patio of the WOSU offices at the Fawcett Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Jennifer Hambrick, Classical 101 Host and Broadcast Producer says, “Beverley has been responsible for programming all of the great music Classical 101’s listeners have enjoyed for years. Beverley's dedication to classical music radio and to our wonderful listeners has been nothing short of inspiring. I have marveled at how Beverley always seems to find just the right piece of music for every time of day and every day of the week – a lively Haydn symphony to get us out of bed in the morning, a baroque chamber work to lighten our load in the middle of the workday and those fun little gems she calls ‘spice’ pieces sprinkled here and there in all the right places just for fun.”

John Rittmeyer, Classical 101 Host and Broadcast Producer adds, “Even before she became the program director for Classical 101, Beverley Ervine was already a major factor in the success of our station. Beverley was responsible for the acquisition of literally thousands of CDs for our music library, making it a truly marvelous collection. I remember how in my earlier years at the station, I used to discover so many wonderful recordings, both the latest releases from major and minor labels and the reissues of the greatest recordings and performances from the past. It’s still going on, with well over 40,000 CDs in our library! One of Beverley’s legacies will certainly be the outstanding music collection we have, thanks to her unflagging efforts.”

For the first time since the mid-80's, new ears will filter and schedule the music for Classical 101. Judging from history, Beverley has left a very solid path to success, and future listeners will benefit from the tireless dedication of this great broadcast professional. Congratulations, Beverley!

Congratulations Radio Seekfunk on 20+ Years Using MusicMaster

As time goes by... It was 1995 when Radio Seefunk, located in Konstanz, Germany, first started using MusicMaster. Eberhard Fruck, Head of Music at Radio Seefunk, has been a loyal customer since then – from the DOS version up to the present MusicMaster 6 Pro release.

Eberhard Fruck says: "I have been working with MusicMaster for so many years because the software has been growing steadily with our requirements. MusicMaster literally provides a solution for all of my music scheduling tasks - and many of the options and modules led me to try new ways and thereby optimize our programming. In particular, the Optimum Goal Scheduling makes MusicMaster my universal scheduling tool and saves me hours of work, since the effort for monitoring and follow-up of the schedules is very low."

Eberhard Fruck, Head of Music at Radio Seefunk

Radio Seefunk is a regional station, broadcasting in Baden-Wurttemberg. The sophisticated music program is a mix of German and international pop music. The editorial focus lies on regional information, news from around the globe as well as weather and traffic information. Radio Seefunk can be received via FM, cable and webradio.

We thank Eberhard and his team for the trust they have placed in us, and we are more than happy to have them as a customer. We look forward to the next 21 years …

Visit Radio Seefunk - Sendeunterbrechung im Klettgau Das Programm von Radio Seefunk RSF wird heute im Gebiet Wannenberg / Klettgau auf UKW 107,0 vorübergehend nicht zu empfangen sein.

TGIF at Entercom MKE

Paul Ziino, MusicMaster Support Manager, stopped in for a quick visit with our friends at WMYX and WXSS (Entercom-Milwaukee) this month. Pictured are VP of Operations Brian Kelly, Nathan Graham (WXSS), Paul, and Molly Cruz (WMYX). It was a casual Friday as the team were headed to Milwaukee's lakefront for an afternoon at Summerfest!

Jimmy Wright - Music Director of Star 102.5/KSTZ, Des Moines, Iowa

Jimmy shares: "I've been with Star 102.5 for 25 years. I've been using MusicMaster for about 13 years. It's user friendly and the staff at MusicMaster are very polite and helpful. In the busy world of radio when you need answers the staff at MusicMaster are always there, going above and beyond. Thank You for your support."

Tim Fox

Tim programmed KIOA in Des Moines for 21 years and was Saga’s format specialist advising Classic Hits Stations across the group. During his tenure he oversaw the station’s evolution from Oldies to Classic Hits, while maintaining market dominance, the induction of the station and two on air performers into the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as well as numerous community service awards including the Crystal award in 2010.

Foxy’s story: "As a kid, I was a radio geek, hanging out at any station that would have me. During the day I listened to WING & WTUE in Dayton & WSAI in Cincinnati and at night WCFL, WLS, WCFL, CKLW & WOWO. I got my first radio job right out of high school in the small town of Bellefontaine, Ohio and am still proud to have that geek streak going. In my travels I’ve been fortunate to be a part of some great stations like WZOK, KPKE & WKTI. What I love most about what I do is sharing a little bit of that magic that I grew up listening to with those I work with and to keep engaging and entertaining the listener."

Tim is available for Classic Hits consulting & programming projects.

Click here to contact Tim Fox today!