This article will give you an overview of Top Song.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Top Song Overview
Top Song is a feature of Tether that allows listeners to compete with one another in real-time to push their favorite songs on the air. This feature allows your station a chance to get real-time data from your listeners, on what they like and what they don't, in an interactive atmosphere.
Top Song Clock Setup
This article will walk through how to set up a clock in your music scheduler for Top Song. A Tether license (or a legacy LDR1, #engage, or Takeover license) is required to make Top Song actually function in your automation system.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
During your Tether onboarding, you will work with your Partner Success representative to set up your clocks and can use this article for continued reference.
Elements Needed
You'll set up the following elements (see the table under each element for details on your automation system):
In most cases, you'll want to create these elements before building your clocks. If you're using WideOrbit with MusicMaster, it'll be easier to create the elements directly on the clocks themselves.
If you're using NexGen, you'll almost definitely find it easier to just build Top Song directly in NexGen rather than in your music scheduler.
If you don't see your automation system or music scheduler listed, Futuri VIP Support can help you to determine how to add these elements.
Begin Top Song
Begin Top Song is the command that will turn Top Song on.
| Automation System | Music Scheduler | How to create |
|---|---|---|
| NexGen | GSelector | It can either be set up as a Breaknote (under "Clocks") or as a Link (under "Linker"). The text Begin Top Song goes in the title field, and the Media field should be 20. All other fields can be blank. |
| Selector V12 (DOS) | Set up in Linker with the title text Begin Top Song and the Media field 20. Note the Link's ID number so you can add it to the clock later. | |
| MusicMaster | Set up as a Lognote with the following syntax: ^20^^Begin Top Song | |
| SS32, Audiovault, Maestro | Selector V12 (DOS) | During your initial setup, you should have created an audio cart in your automation system called "Begin Top Song." You'll need to create that audio cart in Selector as well so that you can schedule it in a clock. Check your automation system for the cart number/cut ID. This can be added either as a song or a link in Selector. |
| MusicMaster | During your initial setup, you should have created an audio cart in your automation system called "Begin Top Song." You'll need to create that audio cart in MusicMaster as well so that you can schedule it in a clock. Check your automation system for the cart number/cut ID. Once you have created the item in MusicMaster, you'll need to note its file number so that you can schedule it as a "Forced" element in your clock. | |
| Stratus | During your initial setup, you should have created an audio cart in your automation system called "Begin Top Song." You'll need to create a breaknote in Stratus as well so that you can schedule it in a clock. Check your automation system for the cart number/cut ID. The syntax (for the breaknote's "notes" field) is ,,607,DA9600,"Begin Top Song",,00:10,,,, (using your own category / cut ID). | |
| Zetta | GSelector | After Zetta has been configured and you have synced your Macros with GSelector, the Control element called Macro (Begin Top Song) should automatically exist. |
| WideOrbit | Selector V12 (DOS), MusicMaster | Create a link (in Selector) or a lognote (in MusicMaster) with the following syntax: ,,,..,"Begin Top Song",,,,,, |
| Powergold | In the Automation Command Editor (under Edit > Commands | Automation), create an element with the title Begin Top Song, and put two periods (..) in the Source field (to identify the element as a memo). | |
| OpX | Stratus | Create a song element with the title Begin Top Song and the cut ID FUT10. |
End Top Song
End Top Song is the command that will turn Top Song off.
| Automation System | Music Scheduler | How to create |
|---|---|---|
| NexGen | GSelector | It can either be set up as a Breaknote (under "Clocks") or as a Link (under "Linker"). The text End Top Song goes in the title field, and the Media field should be 20. All other fields can be blank. |
| Selector V12 (DOS) | Set up in Linker with the title text End Top Song and the Media field 20. Note the Link's ID number so you can add it to the clock later. | |
| MusicMaster | Set up as a Lognote with the following syntax: ^20^^End Top Song | |
| SS32, Audiovault, Maestro | Selector V12 (DOS) | During your initial setup, you should have created an audio cart in your automation system called "End Top Song." You'll need to create that audio cart in Selector as well so that you can schedule it in a clock. Check your automation system for the cart number/cut ID. This can be added either as a song or a link in Selector. |
| MusicMaster | During your initial setup, you should have created an audio cart in your automation system called "End Top Song." You'll need to create that audio cart in MusicMaster as well so that you can schedule it in a clock. Check your automation system for the cart number/cut ID. Once you have created the item in MusicMaster, you'll need to note its file number so that you can schedule it as a "Forced" element in your clock. | |
| Stratus | During your initial setup, you should have created an audio cart in your automation system called "End Top Song." You'll need to create a breaknote in Stratus as well so that you can schedule it in a clock. Check your automation system for the cart number/cut ID. The syntax (for the breaknote's "notes" field) is ,,607,DA9600,"End Top Song",,00:10,,,, (using your own category / cut ID). | |
| Zetta | GSelector | After Zetta has been configured and you have synced your Macros with GSelector, the Control element called Macro (End Top Song) should automatically exist. |
| WideOrbit | Selector V12 (DOS), MusicMaster | Create a link (in Selector) or a lognote (in MusicMaster) with the following syntax: ,,,..,"End Top Song",,,,,, |
| Powergold | In the Automation Command Editor (under Edit > Commands | Automation), create an element with the title End Top Song, and put two periods (..) in the Source field (to identify the element as a memo). | |
| OpX | Stratus | Create a song element with the title End Top Song and the cut ID FUT11. |
Begin Song Replacement
The Begin Song Replacement is required for NexGen and Zetta to request winning songs during Top Song.
| Automation System | Music Scheduler | How to create |
|---|---|---|
| NexGen | GSelector | It can either be set up as a Breaknote (under "Clocks") or as a Link (under "Linker"). The text Begin Song Replacement goes in the title field, and the Media field should be 20. All other fields can be blank. |
| Selector V12 (DOS) | Set up in Linker with the title text Begin Song Replacement and the Media field 20. Note the Link's ID number so you can add it to the clock later. | |
| MusicMaster | Set up as a Lognote with the following syntax: ^20^^Begin Song Replacement | |
| Zetta | GSelector | After Zetta has been configured and you have synced your Macros with GSelector, the Control element called Macro (Begin Song Replacement) should exist. |
End Song Replacement
The End Song Replacement is required for NexGen and Zetta to stop requesting winning songs during Top Song.
| Automation System | Music Scheduler | How to create |
|---|---|---|
| NexGen | GSelector | It can either be set up as a Breaknote (under "Clocks") or as a Link (under "Linker"). The text End Song Replacement goes in the title field, and the Media field should be 20. All other fields can be blank. |
| Selector V12 (DOS) | Set up in Linker with the title text End Song Replacement and the Media field 20. Note the Link's ID number so you can add it to the clock later. | |
| MusicMaster | Set up as a Lognote with the following syntax: ^20^^End Song Replacement | |
| Zetta | GSelector | After Zetta has been configured and you have synced your Macros with GSelector, the Control element called Macro (End Song Replacement) should exist. |
Empty Song Slot
Empty Song Slots are placed in the log where you want Top Song to insert songs.
REMEMBER: If you're using NexGen, you'll almost definitely find it easier to place your Empty Song Slots directly in NexGen rather than in your music scheduler.
| Automation System | Music Scheduler | How to create |
|---|---|---|
| NexGen | GSelector | It can either be set up as a Breaknote (under "Clocks") or as a Link (under "Linker"). The text Empty Song Slot goes in the title field, and the Media field should be 81. All other fields can be blank. |
| Selector V12 (DOS) | Set up in Linker with the title text Empty Song Slot and the Media field 81. Note the Link's ID number so you can add it to the clock later. | |
| MusicMaster | Set up as a Lognote with the following syntax: ^81^^Empty Song Slot | |
| SS32, Audiovault, Maestro | Selector V12 (DOS), MusicMaster | Create a link (in Selector) or a lognote (in MusicMaster) called Empty Song Slot. The ID number does not matter. The Empty Song Slot link will be replaced by placeholder carts when you export your log, and Echo will insert winning songs into those placeholder carts. |
| Stratus | You'll create a breaknote in Stratus using the following syntax (for the breaknote's "notes" field): ,,LDR,DA9998,"EMPTY SONG SLOT",,03:30,,,, The Empty Song Slot element will be replaced by placeholder carts when you export your log, and Echo will insert winning songs into those placeholder carts. | |
| Zetta | GSelector | Under Goals, create a song category group and a subordinate song category, which contains no songs. This is used to create Unscheduled Song positions in your clock. |
| WideOrbit | Selector V12 (DOS), MusicMaster | Create a link (in Selector) or a lognote (in MusicMaster) with the following syntax: ,,.,..,"Empty Song Slot",,,,,, and specify a duration of 3:30 on that element. |
| Powergold | In the Automation Command Editor (under Edit > Commands | Automation), create an element with the title Empty Song Slot, give it a duration of 3:30, put a period (.) in the Time Synch field, and put two periods (..) in the Source field (to identify the element as a memo). | |
| OpX | Stratus | Create a song element with the title Empty Song Slot and the cut ID FUT03. |
Clock Structure
When building Tether clocks, we recommend making copies of existing clocks first (from the same position in your assignment grid) and then modifying those copies. You'll likely have three different clocks for Top Song:
- The hour when Top Song voting starts
- The hour(s) when Top Song winners play
- The hour when Top Song voting ends
Again, if you're using NexGen, you'll probably want to just build Top Song into your NexGen clocks.
The Hour When Top Song Voting Starts
To build this Top Song clock, you'll place your Begin Top Song (and, if your station uses Nexgen or Zetta, your Begin Song Replacement) in the hour where you want users to start voting. This must be at least a few minutes before the first song you want to insert, so most stations place this command near the last stopset of the previous hour (and pair it with imaging to promote Top Song starting at the top of the next hour).
The Hour(s) When Top Song Winners Play
Each hour where you want Top Song to insert a song, you'll place your Empty Song Slot (or, for Zetta stations, you'll schedule the empty category you created in the steps above) where you want the winner to be inserted.
The Hour When Top Song Voting Ends
When you want to turn Top Song off, place the End Top Song (and if you're using Nexgen or Zetta, your End Song Replacement) command in a clock. It's recommended that you play this command 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 Empty Song Slot, because the winner will have already been inserted by the time the command plays.
Programming Ideas
At a designated point in time (usually either the top of the hour or the beginning of along music sweep), the winner is played back on the air as that hour’s “Top Song.” Some successful programming ideas for Top Song include:
- Pick the hottest song in [CITY] this hour!
- [ARTIST] is our Artist of the Week, so pick the [ARTIST] song we play at the top of this hour!
- It’s Throwback Thursday, so pick the throwback song we play this hour!
To hear aircheck examples of stations using Top Song, click here or see the Soundcloud player below.