Did you know that not only can you integrate your Mediabase, Media Monitors or third party research scores, but you can also assign scheduling attributes based on your research? Then, you can take those same research attributes and create goals or rules to incorporate into your Priority Lists. It’s just another example of how GSelector can build you a better music log. For this week’s RCS Live, we discussed how to create your research columns, integrate with Mediabase and Media Monitors, inputting manual research, and adjusting your columns to include the research attributes into your display.
Let’s first setup and configure our research columns and attributes: Setup | Research. This tab is broken down with Columns, Attributes, Settings, Groups and Import tabs. Working linear, we first have to create a research column. These columns will be available to display throughout GSelector, but more importantly, this is where we link integrated research within the software. Make a note of the Minimum and Maximum Scores. These are simply values so that GSelector knows a range for the research scores. Some users keep this very specific, whereas others pick a generic wide range. Users can also right click on these columns to change the display color. The Attributes tab allows programmers to define the research attributes that are part of a research column. For example, for a MScore Male, which is a research score that comes from Media Monitors, we can isolate what is a high testing score, a neutral or a negative testing score. Remember, you can define scheduling techniques based on these attributes like, “Don’t play two MScore Male: Negatives back to back.” Or a “Minimum Separation of 2 hours for MScore Male: Negatives.”
The Settings and Groups tabs pertain to how the research columns and attributes are displayed in GSelector. Essentially, the Settings tab defines how long GSelector will save research scores and most users prefer to display both attribute and column appearances. The Groups tab, just like the Browse Format, allows users to define a research column and then assign it to a station. Once part of a research group member, when you go to a song’s properties, you can see the research column displayed in the Research Groups tab. Since research is a global setting, users have to assign research to the desired station. Finally, we have the Import tab that allows users to manually import their own research from either a comma or tab delimiter file. If you have questions on how to properly configure your own research files, don’t hesitate to reach out to RCS Support!
Now that we’ve properly setup our research columns, we can move to the Interface tab, specifically the Mediabase, Media Monitors, Critical Mass Media, and Test All Media tabs. These are all RCS research products that can be purchased to offer next level research and scheduling. If you ever wondered why there’s a Mediabase and Media Monitors license within the licensing window, that allows you to access these tabs, however, you still need a corresponding account with each company. First, you would link your account with your Mediabase of Media Monitors username and password, which then allows you to grab the latest research via Get Scores. Using the value “10” as an example research score, the Map Scores to Research Columns is where we import that “10” into GSelector. But where does “10” go? That’s why we created the GSelector Research Column first. In this video, we used the Mediabase How AC This Week scores and imported it into the column Mediabase Hot AC.
Once we get the scores, you’ll see them populate below. Just because we got the scores, doesn’t mean we’ve imported them just yet. You’ll have to link the song to the research first and then save your work to formally ingest the research. This is a single “set and forget” configuration. Most users dedicate a couple minutes during their first research ingestion to make sure everything is correctly matching. There are Matched and Unmatched elements. Simply put, what metadata you have in your database may or may not reflect the legal metadata of the song. The classic example is {Don’t} Fear the Reaper. Is that song saved in your database as “(Don’t) Fear the Reaper” or “Don’t Fear the Reaper” or even “(Dont) Fear the Reaper?” Remember, we’re matching on the legal song name. Use the three dots to the right of the element to open the Advanced Search window to properly define that research relationship. If you ever have an issue, like mismatching a song, there are options to break that relationship and assign a new research relationship.
If you have a third party research, like a call out or consultant’s scores, programmers can also manually insert research into individual elements. Open up the desired song (Library | Song | Research Groups, located at the bottom right) and then click the green plus icon. This will open an option to choose the date for the research, attaching it to the corresponding available research column as defined by the research groups. And yes, all values will respect the Minimum and Maximum values as defined by the research columns. If you save a value outside the scope of the defined range, GSelector will simply ignore the research. There’s also the SongTrack tab that will visually graph the research, so that programmers can forecast any research trends. Finally, notice the Interface References tab, this is where GSelector saves that research relationship.
Now that we’ve imported our research, those same research attributes are now available for scheduling throughout GSelector. Go to Goals | Balance | Attributes to adjust Research Attribute settings, include Spread Goal Research Attribute in the Priority Lists or even further customize it via the Rotation Rules Window. There’s no right or wrong way to control a research attribute schedule, it’s all based on your music philosophy.
Don’t forget, now that we’ve created a research attribute and importing research scores, if you want to see the information displayed throughout GSelector, right click on the desired column header, Modify Columns, then add your desired research attribute. Since these research attributes are global attributes, make a point to understand the exact wording of your research column and attribute. For example, we’ve seen some users create MScore_Male for their Hot AC and another programmer had already created MScore Male for their Top 40. Note the missing underscore “_.” Of course, multiple stations can import research scores from the same research, just make sure that you’re displaying the correct column or attribute.
Looking for more ways to watch our weekly RCS Lives? You can now stream us on multiple platforms including Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook and you can still comment or ask your questions live via any interface of your choosing! Reminder to take and double check your backups and Data Exchanges and we’re always looking for Zetta 5.21.1 Beta users. Plus, we just released GSelector 4.9.0 and if you want to review all of the new features, check out our RCS Live here. If you’re interested in becoming a Beta user or upgrading, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local RCS Support department or Sales Representative. As always, we’ll see you next Thursday at 11am ET for another RCS Live!