TOOLS & TIPS Working with STS as a Non-commercial Broadcaster
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Your first step in becoming a reporting radio station is sending us a copy of your current playlist and your radio station information. You can do that by filling out our reporting request form.
Once you have an active user name/password, you will be able access all the STS Chart Data within your format (if you are interested in additional formats, contact us). Your station will be able to report online using a user name/password established on your account. Personalizing your password is available under “Station Info”. Your station will have one user name/password for your playlist and charts.
Once you have been approved as a reporting station you will be able to log into STS (spinstrackingsystem.com) 24hrs/7 days a week to report your playlist.
COMPILING PLAYLIST
STS TOP 30
A report contributing to the Top 30 chart should reflect your station’s top 30 most frequently played current releases from the current week. The number one album on your report should have received the most spins at your station for the week, followed in descending order. If you are playing more than one song from a given album, spins should be counted collectively for that release, rather than as separate entries).
Your Top 30 report should reflect overall station airplay, including all genres and formats. Reports must include 30 distinct releases which may also include up to 5 \”Adds\” (albums that will be added into your station’s rotation for the upcoming week).
SPECIALTY CHARTS
Loud Rock: A report contributing to the Loud Rock chart should reflect your station’s top 15 most frequently played hard rock and metal albums from the past week. You may also submit up to 5 Adds.
Hip-Hop: A report contributing to the Hip-Hop chart should reflect your station’s top 15 most frequently played hip-hop albums from the past week. You may also report up to 5 Adds.
New World: A report contributing to the New World chart should reflect your station’s top 15 most frequently played New World music releases (e.g. reggae, world, etc.) from the past week. You may also submit up to 5 Adds.
AAA (Triple A): Report contributing to the AAA chart should reflect your station’s top 15 most frequently played AAA albums from the past week. You may also submit up to 5 Adds.
Jazz: A report contributing to the Jazz chart should reflect your station’s top 15 most frequently played jazz albums from the past week. You may also submit up to 5 Adds.
RPM: A report contributing to the RPM chart should reflect your station’s top 15 most frequently played electronic music releases (e.g. ambient, techno, industrial, etc.) from the past week. You may also submit up to 5 Adds.
DEADLINE
Remember, you must update all reports on STS by 12 noon (PST) every Tuesday. Due to production and publishing constraints, any reports received after 12 noon will be used for chart data compilation for the following week.
ENTERING PLAYLIST:
Once you enter your first initial playlist it will be retained from week to week for you automatically (this saves you a lot of time each week). The first step is to choose the playlist you wish to either enter or update. You can do three things with each chart.
Adding Artists: There are a certain number of rows or “ranks” based on the playlist type (30 for the main STS chart, 15 for specialty charts with up to 5 for adds).
1. Select Specialty Chart (see 1) to add an artist to:
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2. Enter artist name in the “Adds” field (see 2). Enter the first few letters to get a list of artists to select from:
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3. Notice artists corresponding to these letters will become available for your selection. Highlight artist to “add” (see 3):
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4. Enter playlist position in the \”Rank\” box. Select \”Add to Playlist\” button (see 4):
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5. You may change album ranks as needed by simply adjusting their rank number (see 5)
Then select “Update Playlist” (see 6):
At any point in the entry of your playlist you discover that you have skipped an entry and want to go back, simply click on the rank number you want to move and type the correct rank number. Then by selecting “Update Playlist” these ranks will automatically sort.
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If NO matche is found in the “Add” Song/Album field, create your own artist selection by using the “Missing Song” box (see 7):
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The formula to make a selection is (see 8):
Artist#Album Title#Label#Rank#Format Number
The Format Number is listed next to the Album Format. Use ONE Artist per line.
If you do not know the label name use a “?“
These albums will be sent to STS for proofing before placing on your playlist. Upon proofing they will be added to your playlist for you.
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Format numbers are found on the Playlist Format box (see 9):
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Place a check mark in the “Drop” box (see 10) corresponding to the album you are wanting to “drop”
DO NOT set rank to zero to drop album. Simply mark them as \”Drop\”.
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We have added a “Remove” (see 11) feature to your playlist.
The \”Remove\” feature is ONLY used if you have mistakenly added the incorrect album to your playlist. Otherwise, place a check mark on the corresponding “Drop” box to remove a album from playlist.
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FEATURES:
There is no need for you to use outdated procedures to share you playlist information with record label executives, radio reps, record promoters, retail stores, etc. any longer. STS has all the features you need to share your information in a universal formatted form which can be viewed by everyone you desire to share with.
Unlike using WORD, EXCEL or other similar programs which display incorrectly and different from person to person using them, STS uses its own customized programming so that your playlist can be view by anyone without any display issue. Your shared information will look just the way you see it… to everyone!
E-mail(optional): STS has the ability to retain a contact database for you so you can easily share/send your playlist each week. Simply enter your email address in the \”From\” box and place your contacts into the \”To\” box (ONE email address per line). You may add and delete contacts as you desire. STS will retain this information within your account for you for quick, easy access from week to week. This optional feature is secure and STS never shares your information.
Print/Fax: You can easily print yourself a copy of your playlist so you may retain a copy. Select \”Print/Fax\” option on the main menu. This option will also allow you to fax your playlist to anyone you wish to share your information with. *A printer or fax modem must be installed and configured to use this feature.
Station Info: You may update you radio station information (ex. mailing address, contact info, frequency, watts, station nickname, etc.). IMPORTANT: Keep your information updated to insure proper servicing of music from record labels, record promoters, management companies, public relation firms and artists.
CHARTS:
STS provides charts for commercial, non-commercial radio stations, syndicated radio shows, internet radio programmers and records pools. Chart formats include: Top40/CHR, AC/Hot AC, Country, College, AAA, Americana, Loud Rock, RPM, World, AAA, Jazz and Hip Hop/Rap. An assortment of STS charts include the pop Hot100, Chartbound, Up & Coming charts, Regional chart data, Most Added, Prime Movers, Spincrease, Top Indie Charts, Top Recurrent charts and Top100 College.
SEARCH TIPS:
To keep our database manageable, STS, in most cases, does NOT use “The” at the beginning of band names. For example, you would enter “Wallflowers” and not “The Wallflowers.” The exceptions are short band names like “The X” or “The Who”. In either case, try searching first without the leading “The”. Please also take note that STS does NOT use “.” (period) in its artist names.
Be aware of possible alternate spellings of bands and artists as well (e.g. BK Davis vs. B.K. Davis). Try a different combination before entering new artists and their albums on to your playlist.
Various Artists, Soundtracks are entered using “Various Artists” as the artist field.
CONTACT:
We are here to help you and your station get the most visibility and gain the most success in your market and within the music industry.
Problems/Questions? Contact us here or by calling 310-325-9997. Please include your station call letters, contact name, and describe your problem as clearly as possible when contacting us so we may provide you the best service.