MUSIC SCHEDULING program COSTS-- OUTRAGEOUS?

[joshzz]

I just can't believe how much companies are charging for music schedluing software.

In a previous post, I listed the costs for Music Master, Selector, Power Gold and Natural.

Everyone with the exception of Natural Music is a lease. Initially I thought maybe we'll spring for $200 per month Music Master charges,but my second thought is that it's an outrageous cost. In five years, I will have spent $12,000! I'm sure I can get someone to write the program from scratch for that money.

I've decided to look at reasonable buy-outs only. There's Natural, Music Mix and Music 1. At least one of these programs has got to be comparable to the other lease only music scheduling programs. Any recommendations are appreciated. josh

 

[OttoM]

First of all you can't get someone to write you a scheduler program for $12k. Ask Clear Channel (specifically Prophet Systems) about that very topic. Why do you think they bought RCS?

There's a very good reason for a monthly payment for music scheduling software: It can be easily integrated into budgets as a cost of doing business. Plus it also insures you get the support you need when you need it AND the program updates without having to request cap-ex money.

Limiting yourself to buyout apps severely limits your options. You might as well get StationPlaylist or even the former MusicGen Lite rather than throw a few hundred or a thousand dollars at one of the buyout schedulers you mentioned.

 

[Sgeirk]

If ONLY software could go under cap-x.

Musicmaster will do a buyout...but either way...it's pretty specialized software. You can always use a card file system, yo. :

 

[DudeFan]

The license fees for Selector are a bargain considering you can pick up the phone at 3pm or 3am and talk to someone that knows the software inside and out and speaks English!

 

[whit979]

The license fees for Selector are a bargain considering you can pick up the phone at 3pm or 3am and talk to someone that knows the software inside and out and speaks English!

Um, at least as a second language.

Let me recommend Music 1. The buyout LE version is solid. No, it doesn't offer the same music-cycling features that Selector offers, but it'll be enough to keep listeners happy. Music is scheduled a bit differently with Music 1 than with a normal scheduler. The program stops during the scheduling process when it runs into a rule violation, instead of alerting you to rule violations when the automatic scheduling process is complete. Thus, it allows the music director to have a little bit more control over each day's schedule. Support is very fast and accessible and lasts for the life of the program. When you need support, you talk to the people who designed the program — a great plus.

Selector is a more complex program and they do make barter options to some clients. For a one-time buyout, you cannot go wrong with Music 1.

 

[tophour]

MusicMaster does a buyout, and you only need to pay the monthly fee if you want the immediate telephone support. Otherwise, e-mail tech support is free, and they usually get back to you within 24 hours. I can't speak for everyone, but I've had very good luck with MM's e-mail support.

I had used Selector every day for over a decade and was upset when I learned I was losing it -- but I've come to love MM.

 

[bossbill]

Is there any correlation between radio stations utilizing the more expensive music scheduling software and improvement in ratings? Just wondering.

 

[SirRoxalot]

I suspect that there's a correlation between stations using more expensive music scheduling programs, and making do with few programmers and/or music directors.

 

[DudeFan]

At 3am, you usually get either an Aussie or a New Zealander on the phone at Selector.

 

[davideduardo]

I suspect that there's a correlation between stations using more expensive music scheduling programs, and making do with few programmers and/or music directors.

There is a correlation between the feature set of some software and the cost of that software.

The lower cost alternatives have far fewer features, meaning that the options available to programmers are very few.

I first used Generation II (written in dBase) in about 1979. It sold to Selector, and enriched the features in Selector. I was converted to Music Master in about 1988 by the Rusty Walker who consulted one of our stations, and have used it ever since. I've seen it grow in features and flexibility many fold, and it enhances a good PDs ability to create consistent hours full of new "sets" and segues.

It still may take a good PD an hour or more to edit a log, no matter how well songs rotate and protect and so on... but the advantage is really in knowing that the underlying rules are being obeyed while editing allows for the PD to create the best flow among the available songs in each sweep and hour.

The cheaper the software, the less ability a good PD has to put their own artistic touch on each hour without hand scheduling each song... which brings us back to not having good hour rotation, artist protection, etc.

Both Selector and MusicMaster were developed waaaaay before consolidation was even a dream among some broadcasters. And, i believe, both have more customers outside the US than here, so you run the risk of crass generalization in stating that there is some correlation between smaller staff sizes and the use of superior scheduling software.

 

[davideduardo]

At 3am, you usually get either an Aussie or a New Zealander on the phone at Selector.

And this is a problem?

 

[davideduardo]

Is there any correlation between radio stations utilizing the more expensive music scheduling software and improvement in ratings? Just wondering.

Yes, and I have proven it a few dozen times just in my experience. Equally, there is a similar gain to be had in having a programmer well trained in whatever system they use. Scheduling software is another tool, and the best programmer will want the best set of tools.

 

[davideduardo]

Let me recommend Music 1. The buyout LE version is solid. No, it doesn't offer the same music-cycling features that Selector offers, but it'll be enough to keep listeners happy. Music is scheduled a bit differently with Music 1 than with a normal scheduler. The program stops during the scheduling process when it runs into a rule violation, instead of alerting you to rule violations when the automatic scheduling process is complete. Thus, it allows the music director to have a little bit more control over each day's schedule. Support is very fast and accessible and lasts for the life of the program. When you need support, you talk to the people who designed the program — a great plus.

MusicMaster allows for a stop for error scheduling process, and one can schedule by full day or by the hour (based on the scheduling passes you set up), so there is a lot more flexibility. And MusicMaster has a key buyout, with various levels of paid support being optional.

 

[DudeFan]

David:

My comment was in reply to someone else that was implying that RCS support were outsourced "English as a Second Language" folks, which is not the case. The whole point is that in some cases Selector lease fees may seem costly in the short term, but are worth every penny when you have a problem and need help after hours. To us, the lease fees are a bargain when you can get an expert on the phone 24/7, and its an expert that you have absolutely no communications barriers with.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

You have jocks?

Then save $12,000 and don't buy any of them.

 

[knoxbob]

A friend of mine has 2 stations using music master and they did a barter with them for 4 spots per day.

 

[Signpost]

Bring back the cards!

 

[DudeFan]

Cards? Bring back the huge bin of LP's with grids taped to the covers....

 

[nd2023]

I programmed a music scheduler in Java that takes several m3u playlists containing different categories of songs, and spits out one big m3u playlist with the music scheduled the way I like.