Exploration Unveils the Hidden Techniques for Seamlessly Transitioning Topics in Discourse
Successful radio stations rely on various factors, among which is expertly crafted music scheduling. Robin Prior, a former program director at RCS Sound Software, shares his knowledge in the book "Maths, Art, and Magic? Radio Station Scheduling and Programming".
Through his four-decade career, Prior taught more than a thousand stations worldwide how to use RCS' Selector and GSelector software. Before these tools, programming teams used methods like index cards to balance rotations.
The Selector and GSelector software by RCS evolved from Dr. Andrew Economos' brainchild in 1979, after he left his position at NBC's computer services. In 2006, RCS unveiled GSelector, touted as a reinvention of its music scheduling platform. The U.S. patented system employs "goal-driven, demand-based scheduling," focusing on playing songs strategically at specific times.
Prior's book sheds light on the intricate process behind crafting the perfect segue, emphasizing the importance of balancing various categories in the playlist. He outlines core philosophies he shared while training programmers to use Selector, GSelector, and their underlying databases.
According to Prior, a song will smoothly transition into other music if given the chance, but a well-balanced sequence makes a significant difference. Programmers should carefully consider the positioning of each song category, live speech, station imaging, spot block, and promos.
In addition to offering insights relevant to current RCS users, Prior's book shares valuable lessons for any station using automation software. He shares data from perceptual research, for example, to guide decisions on when to rest or move a song.
Prior claims that a strong signal is crucial for a station's success. He emphasizes the importance of understanding one's signal and urges radio professionals to regularly analyze their playlists to deliver the best of the best to their listeners.
Weekly music meetings, research, and gut feelings remain essential to making informed programming decisions, according to Prior. He cites a historical anecdote from former Clear Channel CEO Randy Michaels to illustrate this point, in which a Kentucky radio host discussed their approach to music selection without the aid of research tools.
GSelector's primary contribution lies in its efficient management of music rotations, customizable goals, data-driven decision-making, and strategic placement of songs. It allows for efficient management of rotations, enabling categories to be scheduled using a stack data structure. Intuitively, users can discover new capabilities in the software, despite its vast potential.
At the heart of Prior's teachings is the belief that a good idea, regardless of its origin, can contribute to a successful programming strategy. Prior hopes his lessons will equip current programmers in the highly competitive audio landscape. The book is available on his website for interested readers.
- Robin Prior, in his book "Maths, Art, and Magic? Radio Station Scheduling and Programming", emphasizes the importance of understanding one's signal for a radio station's success.
- Prior shares valuable lessons for any station using automation software, suggesting that data from perceptual research can guide decisions on when to rest or move a song.
- GSelector, according to Prior, contributes significantly to a radio station's success through its efficient management of music rotations, customizable goals, data-driven decision-making, and strategic song placement.
- Weekly music meetings, research, and gut feelings, coupled with the insights from technology like GSelector, remain essential for making informed programming decisions, as taught by Prior.
