Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for radio stations.
A checklist built from how radio stations work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Advertiser accounts and rate card
- Spot orders and break availability
- Daily log and as-run record
- Sponsorships and agency commissions
- Studio and outside broadcast booking
- Invoicing and collections
- Licence and equipment dates
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For owners and station managers
- For sales executives
- For the traffic team
- For producers and presenters
- For accounts
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Airtime sold against available by daypart
- Orders by advertiser and agency
- As-run against booked spots
- Make-goods and credits issued
- Sponsorships and what remains to air
- Dues by advertiser, oldest first
- Studio use and licence dates due
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- Playout system log export
- SMS
- Payment gateway
- Accounting export
- Calendar sync
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Does it replace the playout system?
- How are competing brands kept apart?
- Can quotes use daypart pricing?
- Can we bill from what aired?
- Are agency commissions supported?
- Can sponsorships be tracked across a season?
- Can studios and outside broadcast kits be booked?
- Can old orders and invoices be moved over?
- What happens to our records if we leave?
- How is it priced?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- Orders and logs disagree
- Rate cards live in several versions
- Invoices wait on the as-run record
- Studio and kit bookings overlap
- Licences and equipment dates slip
Prefer to talk it through? See the radio stations page.