Executing Interactive Programming with Tether and Zetta

This article is part of a series on Zetta.

NOTE: If you plan to use interactive programming with Zetta, you will need to license the Zetta Crowd Interface from RCS. If you do not plan to use any of these interactive voting features, Futuri can install our Echo software instead (which does not require a separate license from RCS).

There are several types of voting features that you can execute with Zetta:

  • "UPick" voting sessions - A few songs (typically 3) are pre-scheduled and listeners vote for the one that plays. At the end of the session, the losing songs are automatically deleted from NexGen. Learn more about "UPick" voting sessions here. This same functionality also works for Stylized Voting Sessions.
  • Top Song - A larger list of songs (typically 15-25) is available for voting online, and the song with the most votes is automatically inserted into NexGen. Learn more about Top Song here.
  • Takeover - Your music library is available online, and listeners pick every song that plays for an hour, a daypart, or a special weekend (within the parameters defined by your program director). The winning songs are automatically inserted into NexGen. Learn more about Takeover here. This same functionality also works for Takeover Countdown.
  • FaceOff - Pit two songs against each other, and also let listeners choose which two songs will face off next. Winners will be automatically inserted into NexGen. Learn more about FaceOff here.

This article will outline the Zetta-specific details for these features. We'd recommend that you consult with Futuri VIP Support before running any of these features for the first time so that we can answer any questions about your station's specific programming plan.


"UPick" voting sessions

NOTE: In order to execute a "UPick" voting session, the session must be pre-scheduled in your music scheduler (or placed in Zetta at least an hour in advance) so that Futuri has the vote options on file.


For a "UPick" voting session, the vote options are pre-scheduled in your music scheduler (or placed in Zetta at least an hour in advance), and at the end of the session, Zetta will automatically delete the losers (so you'll only play the winner). Most stations wrap these voting sessions around a commercial break to drive Time Spent Listening and AQH.  Click here for more general information about voting sessions.


The vote options are bookended in Zetta by breaknotes called LDR Vote Options Start and LDR Vote Options End. The only elements between these two breaknotes should be the songs you want listeners to vote for (not imaging positioners, for example). Several minutes before these songs in the log, you'll have a Macro called UPickStart.


When the UPickStart Macro plays in Zetta, it will be exported to Futuri, and we will trigger the next scheduled voting session from our copy of your music log. For this reason, voting sessions must be scheduled in advance, either in your music scheduler or placed in Zetta at least an hour before you want to run the session (since Futuri only receives an updated copy of your log once an hour). Zetta will then "check-in" with Futuri once every 30 seconds to see which song is winning at that moment. Then, when there are 60 seconds left until the LDR Vote Options Start, Zetta will automatically delete the losing songs, leaving only the winner to play next. The voting session on your station's website will then close when the winning song plays.  Click here for instructions on setting up voting session clocks in your music scheduler.


Top Song

With Top Song, listeners view a list of songs on your Tether voting window and vote them up and down in a queue. The song with the most votes each hour (taking basic artist/title separation into account) is that hour's "top song" and is automatically inserted into Zetta to play.


Zetta's Top Song integration is only supported if your Zetta Crowd Interface was installed or updated after November 10, 2015. If your Zetta Crowd Interface was installed before this date, contact RCS Support for the latest version of that tool.


Click here for more general information about Top Song.

Click here for instructions on setting up Top Song clocks in your music scheduler.


Most stations run Top Song for an entire daypart (i.e. 7p-12a) or as a workday feature (10a-5p). When doing this, it's only necessary to turn Top Song "on" at the beginning of the daypart, turn it "off" at the end of the daypart, and then to insert Unscheduled Songs in each hour where you want a winner to be placed.


To turn Top Song "on," you'll insert a Macro called Begin Top Song followed by another Macro called Begin Song Replacement. When these elements play, Top Song will appear in your station's voting window online, and Zetta will begin to "check-in" with Futuri every 30 seconds to find out what song is currently being voted #1.


Each hour when you want a song to be inserted, you'll add an Unscheduled Song. The easiest way to do this is to have an empty Category in your music scheduler that is used for the positions where your Top Song winners will go.


Zetta will check in with Futuri every 30 seconds to find out which song is currently being voted #1, and then 60 seconds before each Unscheduled Song, the most recent #1 song will be automatically inserted into that Unscheduled Song.

When you're about to play your last Top Song winner, you can turn Top Song "off" with two more Macros, called End Top Song and End Song Replacement. It's recommended that you play these Macros right BEFORE you play the last winner. That way, users aren't voting after the last winner has already started to play. It's safe to disable the feature right before the last Unscheduled Song because the winner will have already been inserted 60 seconds prior.


Takeover

With Takeover, listeners view your music library online and vote their requests up in a queue. The song with the most votes when it's time for the next song to play (taking your separation goals into account) is automatically inserted into Zetta.


For more information about Takeover goals, click here.

For more information about Takeover clock setup, click here.


To turn Takeover "on," you'll insert a Macro called Begin Song Replacement. When this element plays, Takeover will appear on your site, and Zetta will begin to "check-in" with Futuri every 30 seconds to find out what song is currently being voted #1.


Wherever you want a song to be inserted, you'll add an Unscheduled Song. The easiest way to do this is to have an empty Category in your music scheduler that is used for the positions where your Takeover winners will go.

Zetta will check in with Futuri every 30 seconds to find out which song is currently being voted #1, and then 60 seconds before each Unscheduled Song, the most recent #1 song will be automatically inserted into that Unscheduled Song.

At the end of your Takeover show, you'll want to turn it "off" with a Macro called End Song Replacement. It's recommended that you place this Macro at the top of the NEXT hour (so it doesn't inadvertently get synced out at the end of the show).


FaceOff

With FaceOff, your station can pit two songs against each other, and also let listeners choose which two songs will face off next. The winners are automatically inserted into Zetta.


Zetta's FaceOff integration is only supported if your Zetta Crowd Interface was installed or updated after November 10, 2015. If your Zetta Crowd Interface was installed before this date, contact RCS Support for the latest version of that tool.


For more information about FaceOff, click here.

For more information about FaceOff clock setup, click here.


To turn FaceOff "on," you'll insert a Macro called Begin FaceOff and another Macro called Begin Song Replacement. When these elements play, FaceOff will appear on your site, and Zetta will begin to "check-in" with Futuri every 30 seconds to find out what song is currently winning.


Wherever you want a song to be inserted, you'll add an Unscheduled Song. The easiest way to do this is to have an empty Category in your music scheduler that is used for the positions where your FaceOff winners will go.


Zetta will check in with Futuri every 30 seconds to find out which song is currently winning, and then 60 seconds before each Unscheduled Song, the most recent #1 song will be automatically inserted into that Unscheduled Song.


Right before your second-to-last Unscheduled Song, place a Macro called End FaceOff Next. This is done because there is no payoff for the “which songs should face off next” at this point in the hour (because after the next head-to-head, the feature will be done for the day).


Finally, at the end of your FaceOff show, you'll want to turn it "off" with a Macro called End Song Replacement. It's recommended that you place this Export Comment in a position where it will NOT be synced out (i.e. by padding the end of the hour with pre-scheduled songs).


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