I’m very excited to update you on everything that’s happening (and about to happen) in the world of MetaRadio. I have been very busy over the last few months not only developing the next two versions of MetaRadio, but also forming new partnerships. Read on to find out what’s happening.
Streamline your metadata with MetaRadio – the ultimate tool for managing your radio station’s Now Playing song metadata effortlessly. Send your metadata anywhere – RDS, HD Radio, Websites, Streaming, Apps, and more! MetaRadio is trusted by radio broadcasters worldwide to handle their song and program metadata and deliver advertising to radio receivers. Advanced features such as Data Rules, Message Scheduling, Reporting, and System Scheduling allow endless customization of your metadata.
MetaRadio 2.4: Reporting Features
MetaRadio 2.4 is available now. The new feature in this update is Track Reporting & Message Scheduler History Reporting.
These new reporting features allow you to export your history data to CSV spreadsheets. I expect stations will use the Track Reporting for music royalty reporting and music analysts. The Message Scheduler History Reporting will be helpful to run reports on when scheduled messages were displayed on RDS, which is particularly helpful if you are selling ads on your RDS.
Once you install MetaRadio 2.4, this data will be stored in an internal database. All collected data is available for export via the new “Reporting” screen. Use the tabs at the top of this screen to switch between Track & Message Scheduler History.
MetaRadio 2.4 also has connections to a few new systems:
- RSS Feeds
Regularly import the entry titles from a RSS Feed, for display on RDS and Digital Radios. You could use this to display your website’s news headlines on your RDS, or use it to feed custom data into MetaRadio from a web-based system. - DJB Automation
- Radio.Cloud
- Zenon Media
- Send raw POST data (such as JSON or XML) to a HTTP endpoint.
- Omnia.9s RDS & Streaming outputs.
A list of minor changes, bug fixes, and upgrade instructions are included at the end of this article.
New US Dealer: Broadcasters General Store
I’m extremely excited to welcome Broadcasters General Store (BGS) as our dealer in the United States. We have been informally working together for a while, but they are now officially coming on board. You can now purchase MetaRadio directly from BGS.
BGS are a family owned and operated company with good relationships with broadcasters across the United States. They will be able to look after you with local sales and support, including discounts and bundle deals.
MetaRadio will be available on their website in the coming weeks, but if you want to get a quote or place an order before then please get in touch with them today.
NAB Show 2025
I’m going to Vegas! The NAB Show welcomes around 65,000 broadcasters every year, and this year I’ll be one of them. Come and meet me at the BGS booth (North Hall N2421). I can give you a demo of the latest features in MetaRadio, show you what’s coming to the product soon, and listen to your feedback and wish-list items.
If you haven’t registered for NAB, register online with code NS4833.
Coming Soon: HD Radio Artist Experience
One of the most-requested features has been integration with the HD Radio Artist Experience. I am delighted to announce this new integration is coming to MetaRadio very soon. I am demoing this feature at NAB, and expect it to be released in mid-2025 once all testing has been completed.
The Artist Experience allows you to send images to compatible HD Radio receivers, including station logos, music cover art, advertiser images, and program images. As well as automated matching to an online music image database, MetaRadio will also allow you to attach custom images, and even generate images dynamically using our Image Template editor.
This feature will be provided as a paid add-on to MetaRadio, and includes music cover art licensing (powered by Music Story). If you are interested in early access to this integration, please contact us to be added to the wait-list.
Price Change
MetaRadio has had the same price since it was first released all the way back in 2016. Since then MetaRadio has transformed from a handful of system connection and no data customisation, to an extremely advanced system with around 100 third-party connections and endless ways to customise and display your data.
To better reflect the value MetaRadio provides to broadcasters in 2025, we are increasing the once-off license purchase price. The new pricing is available on our pricing page. We constantly receive feedback that our product is much cheaper, and in most cases much more powerful and easier to use, than similar products on the market.
My heart has always been to make this technology available to all broadcasters, even those with the smallest budgets. As a part of this price increase, we will continue to offer discounts to non-commercial stations. There are also volume discounts available for large purchases. In the US, contact BGS to get the best price, or contact Media Realm anywhere else in the world.
There is no change to the optional annual support & maintenance renewal price. This fee allows you to access each new version of MetaRadio, as well as access technical support. MetaRadio remains a buy-out license, so if you don’t want updates and support after your initial 12 months, then you don’t need to pay the annual subscription.
If you are actively trialing MetaRadio, please contact us ASAP to lock in the old price. We will honour the old price for anyone who has been trialing the product before today, until June 2025. After then, the new price applies to everyone.
MetaRadio 2.4 Changes and Bug Fixes
MetaRadio 2.4 also has a few changes and bug fixes:
- Message Scheduler Config: You no longer need to restart MetaRadio when you make a change to the Message Scheduler. This will make it easier to update your messages.
- WordPress Track Edit screen now has a filter option for non-alphanumeric artist names.
- Data Rules: Fix a bug where the Duration override action would sometimes not apply.
- Web Config: Add ‘Select All’ and ‘Select None’ buttons to fields with a lot of checkboxes.
- Web Config: Fix some labels and sub-labels when setting up inputs and outputs.
- Web Config: Sort tables by Name rather than ID.
- Support Bundle: Improve the ZIP file compression.
- ACR Cloud: Allow the IRSC field to be used as a merge field.
- ACR Cloud: Don’t display the ‘duplicate data’ message as often.
- Icecast Metadata Input: Fix the error message seen when ffmpeg fails.
- JSON File Outputs: Add 600×600 Apple Album Art to this output.
- Omnia.9sg: Add Dynamic PS Mode.
- RadioBoss: Improve character encoding handling.
- UECP: Rate-limit the data when using the re-send mode.
- Virtual DJ: Work around a file naming problem that occurs in certain timezones.
- WordPress: Fix half-hour timezone offset handling.
- WordPress Guide Input: Fix a fatal error when trying to use this input.
MetaRadio 2.4 – How To Upgrade
MetaRadio 2.4 is available as a free upgrade to anyone who purchased MetaRadio on 19th March 2024 or later. If you purchased MetaRadio prior to this, you need to have an active support and updates subscription in order to access this update.
Here’s how to upgrade:
- Request the latest download link and license file. On this page, enter the same email address you used to purchase MetaRadio.
- You will receive an email with the latest download link and license file.
- If you do not receive an email, check your junk email folder. Also check you are using the same email address you originally used to purchase MetaRadio.
- If your support & updates subscription has expired, your email will contain the latest version you are entitled to access. This email will also contain a renewal link.
- On the same PC that is already running MetaRadio, close MetaRadio and run new the installer. Your existing settings will be preserved.
- Check everything is running correctly, and contact us in the event you need support.
If you have never used MetaRadio before, sign up for a free trial and then follow the full installation instructions.
Make sure you take a backup before you upgrade. If you are using a VM, we suggest taking a snapshot before upgrading.