When was the last time you audited your station? GSelector’s Analysis tool is a fantastic method to keep an eye on your spin counts to make sure your library is rotating exactly the way you want. From looking at your overall category spins, isolating primary dayparts, specific attribute turnover, vocalist minimum separation to quick and efficient export methods, we highly recommend that users incorporate analysis into their weekly or monthly scheduling routine. Plus, you can customize the workflow to any format or programmer.
Starting with the Analysis tab, Analysis is broken down into current and multi-station. Programmers can use filters to fine tune their results, adjust what their viewing with the Spins dropdown, select their desired date range and display or hide dayparts. This date range may seem basic at first, but when you’re auditing your station, it’s important to maximize this data. For example, instead of Wrap, use the Block option to expand your primary dayparts, outside of the generic pre-determined hours. For example, if you want to see your 9am – 5pm hour spins, but your AM Drive is 6am – 8am and PM Drive is 3pm – 7pm, you’ll have more concise results by utilizing the Block behavior. Just remember to acknowledge your active GSelector history settings, found under Setup | Station | Features | History. Of course, if you ever need analysis metadata from a previous archived date range (either for a report like Sound Exchange or a yearlong “Top 100 Countdown” specialty show), don’t hesitate to reach out to RCS Support for assistance. As long as you have the proper backups, we can get you whatever data you need.
Speaking of dayparts, understand the difference between spin counts for the entire week versus spin counts for primary versus secondary dayparts. For example, we all agree that overnight and/or night spins are less important than a primary daypart like AM Drive, Midday, or PM Drive. So, if you’re auditing your station, why include these dayparts? Run an analysis, make a note of your overall spin count, and then isolate primary dayparts and review your new rankings. You might be surprised to find a song that should be ranked higher with enough overall spins, but it’s missing some of the primary daypart spins. If that’s the case, don’t forget to reference some of our other RCS Live videos to help you apply new goals, rules or shifts to these songs, like GSelector Priority List Scheduling Tips.
For gold-based formats, it’s always important to understand your library and its own limitations. For example, if your gold-based station is core artist heavy, by definition, these core artists are going to feature a lower score than a one-hit wonder. And if you have a core artist song buried in a low Pass Order category, GSelector may have a tougher time attempting to schedule that element, based on your Priority List. Use the Analysis’ Min Spin: 0 with a Filter: Active Category Songs Only over a longer date range to identify if there are any songs that are missing spins.
The Analysis tab is not only for generic song spins, but attributes as well. Use the Spins dropdown to select an attribute, like Sound Code. Of course, users will be able to see each attribute’s projected turnovers from the Goals | Balance subtabs, but again, the Analysis shows what spun, not how it should spin. Heavy current stations with high turnovers in their power categories like to use the Spins: Vocalist, enable the Minimum Separation and see how close vocalists are playing. If you find a disabled and slotted category with two vocalists close together, simply double click on the Closest Plays column to open the Editor, make the desired change, and return to the Analysis tab. Remember, GSelector is dynamic and linear, so once you return to the Analysis tab, the metadata will be automatically updated right where you left off.
Finally, there are many quick and efficient way to export your data. The trick is to organize your export exactly the way you want from the Analysis workspace. If there’s a column you don’t want – hide it. Missing a column? Right click, Modify Columns and add it. Adjust the widths, order, etc… and once you’re ready, use the File | Print/Export to open the Print Preview window. Make note of the Scale icon to fit all the columns to a single page, as well as the Export Document icon to select a .PDF, .XLS, or .CSV file. For example, if you’re auditing your station with a consultant, include all your desired fields, export as an Excel file, and send it to the consultant for review. The main difference between the Analysis and Report tools is usually spins. If you want you want a generic report of all the songs in your Library, then use Reports. If you want to review the number of spins during a specific date range, then use Analysis.
We’re getting closer to GSelector’s 5.1 Beta release and there are a lot of exciting new features. If you want to test out some of these new scheduling techniques and themes, reach out to your local RCS contact to become a Beta user. RCS is hitting the road again and we’ll be at multiple international conferences. Plus, we want to feature you! If you want to showcase your station and studio setup, email your photos for marketing@rcsworks.com to be included in our #StudioSpotlight.