Music scheduling and /genre/tempo/energy/mood/

[Prais]

Attention Nick Gerard and standards music programming buffs;

For 2 years, I have programmed an information channel (that plays 1400 songs 1939-1980) on a closed circuit tv station at a nursing home. That system uses ots software to program the music. It works flawlessly. The residents LOVE it. It mimics "Adult Standards" a bit.

I have 11 music catergories; male, hotmale, female, hotfemale, instrumental, beautiful, accent1, slow, glennmiller, country, sinatra. I'm about 2 weeks ahead, now.

It takes a half hour daiily, to have ots select the music for 24 hours and then, I massage the selection order a bit.

This really works well, but I'm always trying to improve. I'd like to add genre/tempo/energy/mood info to each song (imitating RCS Selector).

I heard about "Moodlogic" software but it no longer is in operation.

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to add genre/tempo/energy/mood info to the song database?

Thanks.

 

[Nick Gerard]

Thanks for the invite, Prais - I'm flattered - but I wouldn't have a clue what to suggest! While I love everything about the music, the heritage, the format...I just don't have the Program Director gene. The categories and parameters and stuff you mentioned were the things that caused my eyes to glaze over back in the day. I'm not cut out for it.

I can barely create a usable playlist on my iPod!

By choice, I haven't been a PD since 1988 when I left WARM in Scranton, PA. Radio and my emotional well-being are better for it

Nick

 

[Prais]

Nick,
Thanks, anyway.

 

[EZway2go]

Does anyone have any suggestions about how to add genre/tempo/energy/mood info to the song database?

Please forgive my naivete on the technical aspects because, if this sounds like a smart aleck answer, it's not intended to be. But I have found that the best source for categorizing music is one's own ear. You sound like you have all the skills to do this manually. What does Moodlogic do - monitor the tempo of songs, then put them into similar groups? (By the way, what is accent1?)

 

[Prais]

Hi EZ,
No problem about your questions.

I too would rather "use my ear" but programming the music is only about 1/20th of my whole job, here so I must do it efficiently and well.

I was in radio for over 25 years as an owner, manager, pd, morning dj, and everything else. When we sold the 4 stations and several construction permits we owned, I bought a few funeral homes (a much better business than radio) and sold them 2 years later. Then I got interested in ministry, went to seminary, and was ordained 5 years later. For the last 5 years, I've been a nursing home chaplain. I LOVE it!!

The home has people ages 60 to 104, members of what Tom Brokaw calls "The Greatest Generation." I milk that phrase a lot, here.

Now, I work in a 200 bed nursing home, and my radio background is very useful.

Instead of "my ear" I happily use OTS (Google it) to provide 24/7 music for a cctv channel in the facility. Video is information for residents, menus, activities, birthdays, and 200 frames of information about the place. Audio is 1300+ songs from 1940-1985. All the music and OTS is in a cheap, old computer that has done the job for a few years.

IMHO the very BEST music programming software is RCS SELECTOR. I've used it about 10 years. It is VERY expensive. So, I "emulate" Selector with ots. I've divided the music into 11 categories so the program sounds much like "Adult Standards" from Westwood 1.

A Sinatra song (there are 80 in the format) plays a bit more than once hourly. "Accent1" is roughly 40 songs that are NOT burned out to these folks (Glenn Miller - In the Mood, Harry James & Doris Day - Sentimental Journey, etc.). These each play once in 24 hours. I've tweaked and poked and the system sounds very good. People may even request songs (I have a personal library of 10,000 mp3's.

Moodlogic is no longer available. It adds genre/tempo/energy/mood to each selection automatically.

I'd love to further discuss this with you. Please contact me by clicking "prais" above and noting my e-mail address.

Many Thanks.

 

[EZway2go]

Prais,
Well, I just got a bit of an education - both from your posting above and looking up otsAV. So, if I understand the process, what you're doing in the nursing home sounds like the programming for the background music on those informational channels we have on our cable systems, right? We've got 2 - one is for the local school district and the other consists of advertisements for local merchants. They used to use beautiful music, but have since switched to rock-n-roll oldies and a new age/smooth jazz mix.

So, would the reason for the selector be to prevent trainwrecks, so to speak? I never realized it before, but I guess you have to be careful about how the songs blend when played back to back. Now here's a question... Do you aim for a smooth flow, i.e., similar tempos together, or mix things up? Of your 1300-song playlist, is everything scheduled to play through once before repeating, or do you have certain songs in heavy rotation?

Well, to me, the whole thing sounds fascinating. I would love to pick out songs for such a format. You must have a ball at Christmastime. Have you considered expanding beyond 1985 with some newer stuff? By the way, you're right about "The Greatest Generation."

 

[Prais]

EZ,

PS, the "music of your lie/abc stardust type/Westwood 1" format does NOT play in this market - so we have zero competition. Also, re; your comments, "newer music" is NOISE to these people. Their real favorites are the WWII years to Elvis. Other stuff just builds the mix.

WOW I LOVE Christmastime! I have about 3000 additional Christmas songs - so we start ALL-Christmas the Friday after Thanksgiving and finish January 6 - the 12th day of Christmas - and people here of the greatest generation just love it.

Do you aim for a smooth flow, i.e., similar tempos together, or mix things up?
- Well, things are "mixed up - smoothly. Generally it goes Male, fe, inst, male....etc. Eras too; 40's 50's 60's, never 2 slow songs together, or 2 male or fe or inst together...so the flow is very good. Mantovani Jackie Gleason, Bert Kaempfert, and even some light classical stuff is in the mix overnight and disappears by 5am, and Sunday's there are "Gospel songs" every quarter hour 5am-noon, mixed with the secular music.

Also, many people here enjoy country music, so the 200 song "country category" plays a country "oldie" 4 times per hour, male or female, slow or up, depending on what is needed. Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon, Willie, Crystal Gayle.

Of your 1300-song playlist, is everything scheduled to play through once before repeating, or do you have certain songs in heavy rotation?
- There are 3 rotation categories, one plays particular songs DAILY, one takes a few days and one plays weekly.

Nearly EVERY TV is on channel 20 from about 8pm til morning, as we serve as a kind of "nightlight."

I have 3 copies of the format, one in a seperate computer so there is no danger of crashing. Then, I have all the music on about 700 cd's at home If I'm still here, the music will be updated in about 5 years to include 50's/60's rock that these people now, wouldn't like (here comes MY generation).

We will probably soon occupy a channel on the city cable system, but that involves music licenses, and some other higher tech stuff.

We are in SW Lower Michigan, about 160 miles from Chicago.

 

[EZway2go]

"newer music" is NOISE to these people. Their real favorites are the WWII years to Elvis. Other stuff just builds the mix.

I was thinking more along the lines of Michael Buble and possibly Rod Stewart's Great American Songbook releases. Don't worry... most newer music(?) is noise to me, too.

If I'm still here, the music will be updated in about 5 years to include 50's/60's rock that these people now, wouldn't like (here comes MY generation).

Now that would be interesting... the Rolling Stones played in a nursing home. I never thought about it, but you're right... I guess coming to that point is inevitable. Here's my take on the generation gap when it comes to music... If you have a hard time understanding the appeal of today's music, you can look forward to your children's children calling today's music square.

We are in SW Lower Michigan, about 160 miles from Chicago.

Nice town around there is New Buffalo - with the best place for burgers - Redamak's.

 

[Prais]

EZ says, "I was thinking more along the lines of Michael Buble and possibly Rod Stewart's Great American Songbook releases. Don't worry... most newer music(?) is noise to me, too."

EZ, I understand, but these people are 'gaga" (so to speak) when Doris Day sings Sentimental Journey." A lady about a year ago said, "Michael BOOBL....is he a paisan?"

They want THEIR memories - not a "remake." If TODAY was 1954, they'd LOVE it. I can play "How High the Moon" by Les Paul and Mary Ford MORE than once a day and it's like it is STILL in the top 40.

I ask alot (as I talk to old people for a living), and they ALL live in the past w/VERY specific memories about certain songs.

You should see the reaction to "Hank Williams!!"
My Bucket's got a Hole in It" "Beyond the Sunset" and "Your Cheatin' Heart" make some old ladies (REALLY) CRY!

I've been doing this for over 25 years and NOTHING EVER got that kind of emotion going.

"Paper Doll" by the Mills Brothers, too. Also (especially w/Italians-Americans) Domenico Modugno, "Volare" ANY Dean Martin and Jerry Vale "Immorata" and "Arrivederci Roma."

Also, watch "Goodfellas" - EVERYTHING from Goodfellas (I can see why AMC shows that Movie about once a WEEK.) It's NOT so much the movie story - it's the MUSIC in the movie.

Like I said, this stuff is bout 1/20 of my REAL job, caring for these people's spiritual needs, doing services, visiting them in the hospital and going to funerals (at least one per week average).

 

[EZway2go]

Gee, I had no idea they're that emphatic about the music. Reminds me of an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond... Ray and Robert buy their father Frank some CDs with his favorite big band music after throwing out his old albums. Frank is really depressed over the loss of his albums, so Ray and Robert play up the advantages of having superior sound quality with the CDs. Frank listens, but it's not the same as his scratchy old records. It's not "his music." Finally, they're able to track down a copy of the record on ebay or amazon and surprise Frank. The show ends with a perfectly contented Frank dancing with Marie to the scratchy sounds of Moonlight Serenade. That's his music and his memories.

Interesting discussion!

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Thanks for bringing that episode of "Raymond" up, EZway2go. Its a great way to think about this older music.

Prais: Unfortunately, I'm not much help. You might retry your posting on the Business of Radio forum, which might catch more people currently in the business.

 

[EZway2go]

You might retry your posting on the Business of Radio forum, which might catch more people currently in the business.

Right! Or try the Engineering forum - that usually seems pretty active.

 

[davideduardo]

IMHO the very BEST music programming software is RCS SELECTOR. I've used it about 10 years. It is VERY expensive.

You might take a look at MusicMaster, which has a number of very reasonble pricing options and configurations. There are quite a few very good radio companies that use and prefer it; like wine, this is sometimes a matter of taste. But it's an option worth exploring.

 

[Prais]

David,
Thanks. I e-mailed MusicMaster just before 5pm edst, today. We shal see.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I don't know how it is there now, but from 1991 to 1996 my grandmother was in a nursing home and they had soft rock playing in the hallways. It was very annoying to me. And that wasn't even what they are calling soft rock now. It was actually soft but included some annoying songs by the likes of Celine Dion to begin with. Then the station dumped The Carpenters and Barry Manilow. It was years later when the station completed two more steps in its evolution. And that doesn't even consider special music for weekends or a classic lunch that included "Wanted: Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi. There is a special program on Saturday nights where I heard "*** On Feel the Noize" by Quiet Riot.

Now they've backed off the harder stuff, in the regular format. I don't know whether they still play Pat Benatar's "Love Is a Battlefield" or Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love", but they long since lost the right to use the term "Lite" to describe their music--and yet they still do.

One possibility is that there is a Dial Global station in the town. At the time my grandmother was there, the station had some oldies, some big band, some beutiful music, some talk, some sports talk. That wouldn't have worked. The current owner arrived eight years ago and has been much more consistent.

The woman who was two houses down from me was there until recently. I should have visited when I was in the neighborhood. Just to see her, not to find out what music was playing if any. I did see her when she was in the hospital but she didn't come back home to her house. That was the last time I saw her before her funeral.

 

[Prais]

Soft rock is NOT these peoples music. WRONG GENERATION. Why should THEY listen???

This is from memory - so I bet I'll forget alot, but about 80% of the music in the 1300 song format I put together is "Chimp Music" some people call Standards.

Then, 4 Lads, 4 Aces, Carpenters, Bobby Vinton, John Denver, Ann Murray, Jerry Vale, Willie Nelson, Robert Goulet, also some fudging so I can play more female vocals; Joanie Sommers, Connie Francis, The lady who wrote Second Hand Rose grew up in Muskegon, MI (where the nursing home is) so we play that daily, and there are 5 other Streisand songs, two songs in about 20 are "country gold." Crystal Gale, Dolly Parton (Jolene, 9 to 5), 5 Johnny Cash songs, Faron Young w/Hello Walls, Jim Reeves w/He'll Have to Go and 4 Walls, Ferlin Husky (Wings of a Dove), Eddie Rabbitt, Tenn Ernie w/16 Tons. Country is not "too deep" so it's enough for "country fans" and not too hillbilly -just mainstream enough to not drive away those who dislike country.

There are 80 Sinatra songs in the formant. They play twice hourly, some (like Strangers in the Night, Love & Marriage, Blue Skies, Witchcraft) play more than others (Nevertheless, Sunday, Something Stupid, etc). Bing also plays once hourly from about 30 songs. Andrews Sisters, Volare by Domenico Modugno. There are 35 Perry Como hits including "Delaware" "Prisoner of Love" "Hoop Dee Doo", and "I Love You and Don't You Forget It."

There are 40 Glenn Miller songs in various categories, (one of his female vocalists, Marian Hutton is from Battle Creek, near here, and Glenn wrote "Kalamazoo" -just down the road from here), Tommy Dorsey (LOTS incl Tea for 2 Cha Cha), Jimmie Dorsey (So Rare and June Night), Artie Shaw (Stardust, Jungle Drums, Frenesi, The Continental, You Are and more).

Lots of Les Paul & Mary Ford, Rosie Clooney, Platters, Jo Stafford, some Gene Pitney, Jay & The Americans, Mario Lanza, McGuire Sisters, DiCarlo Sisters, Ricky Nelson, Mitch Miller, Les Brown, Les Elgart, 20 Elvis songs (but not Heartbreak Hotel). NO Beatles. NO Brit invasion except Mary Hopkin Those Were the Days - that plays daily.

The newest song is Achy Breaky Heart (93?). 99% of the rest is 1939-1983. There is a "beautiful music" catergory, once hourly; Mantovani, Jackie Gleason, Bert Kaempfert, Roger Williams, Peter Nero.

We have a 100 song "Gospel" Category w/Elvis, Blackwood Bros, Cathedrals, Doug Oldham, Johnny Cash and more. Those run twice hourly 4-noon on Sunday.

I also have over 2000 Christmas Songs for that season, from the Fri after Thanksgiving til Jan 6, most of that is 24/7 Christmas music.

We are in our second year, and the residents (youngest is 67 - oldest is 104 - love it!. It would certainly skew TOO OLD on a real radio station, but with the above demographics, here, it's perfect. I'm 60 year old and I LOVE THIS MUSIC.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Soft rock is NOT these peoples music. WRONG GENERATION. Why should THEY listen???

Exactly. I should find out what they're doing now, but it should never have been forced on them then.

Prais, what would it take to put your music on XM? I think I'd have to spend the money if this was one of their channels. ;D