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Q1 Who are Telecom Audio?
Q2 What are the benefits of using MUSICLINE Music services?
Q3 How does the MUSICLINE Direct Update Service Work?
Q4 Can we have a custom 'Original Artist' music compilation made for us?
Q5 Do I need licences to play music-on-hold?
Q6 How do we arrange adequate licence cover?
Q7 Is there any music available that doesn't need licences?
Q8 Will we need additional equipment for our music-on-hold?
Q9 Who will look after our MUSICLINE Account?
Q10 What's the Easiest Way to source 'Original Artist' Music?
Q11 How are the Music Channels compiled?
Q12 Can we hear examples of the Music Channels before we make our choice?
Q13 Can MUSICLINE help us to choose the best Music Channel for our brand image?
Q14 Why are 'Studio Produced' Messages better than handset recordings?
Q15 What Should We Look For In A Message Production Service?
Q16 Does Telecom Audio provide all these facilities?
Q17 How do we organise 'studio produced' messages?
Q18 Where can ‘Studio Produced’ Corporate Messages be used?
Q19 Can we use any music as a background to messages?
Q1 Who are Telecom Audio?
Telecom Audio are based on the South Coast of England and have operated fully licensed 'Original Artist' music services and produced quality custom voice recordings since 1987.
We are licensed by all the UK music licensing bodies and were, in fact, one of the first to be licensed by Phonographic Performance Limited to recompile 'Original Artist' music specifically for music-on-hold applications. Our association with The Performing Right Society Limited to collect licences on their behalf followed shortly after, enabling us to provide a one stop shop service to our subscribers.
We have our own in-house digital studio suite with sound controlled voice recording rooms to eliminate background sounds for clear microphone recordings as well as both music and voice editing suites. Although most of our productions are ultimately for telephone use all work is produced to broadcast standards to ensure the highest integrity recordings after conversion to the format required for your telephone systems.
As well as our core of permanent staff we also use freelance producers, scriptwriters, voice artists and music programmers to ensure as wide a range of styles and experience as possible.
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Q2 What are the benefits of using MUSICLINE Music services?
MUSICLINE is a fully licensed 'Original Artist' music library service. A simple annual subscription gives you access to thousands of famous music titles written and performed by the world's leading artists. Automatic music exchanges will save your staff valuable time and provide regular callers with updated high quality music programmes. MUSICLINE will ensure that your on-hold facility plays an active role in reinforcing your company's positive approach to customer care.
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Q3 How does the MUSICLINE Direct Update Service Work?
MUSICLINE Direct Update provides a fully managed service which means no more handling compact discs and cassettes for you and your staff. Instead, you can rely on us to update your on-hold programmes with remote updates between our studios and MDU equipment located at your premises, on a schedule to suit you.
The MDU (MUSICLINE Direct Update) equipment is a standalone digital memory on-hold announcer that uses either a dedicated analogue telephone line or, if you're short of lines, it can share a fax line for audio downloads. The unit operates under password control to ensure the security of your business telephone operation.
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Q4 Can we have a custom 'Original Artist' music compilation made for us?
Yes you can, with MUSICLINE Select from Telecom Audio. UK copyright holders (or their representatives) do NOT grant licences directly to end-users to make copies of their sound recordings but instead, license specialist Licensed Music Service Providers, such as Telecom Audio, who compile programmes under their strict control.
As a Licensed Music Service Provider we are able to compile 'Original Artist' music titles from all the major record companies. This means that a subscription to MUSICLINE Select gives you access to over 500,000 titles released in the UK. for a a pre-arranged fee, without the need for individual negotiations with the copyright holders.
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Q5 Do I need licences to play music-on-hold?
Using copyright controlled 'Original Artist' music on the hold facility of a telephone system requires two public performance music licences to cover the 'performance' rights of the music. If you use digital memory on-hold systems that require music to be 'downloaded' or 'recorded' into memory then permissions must be granted by the owners of each individual recording and royalties must be paid to the publishers, performers and record companies. 'Original Artist music is ONLY available for downloading through a Licensed Music Service Provider, such as Telecom Audio. By using the MUSICLINE service you can rest assured that ALL copyright requirements are covered.
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Q6 How do we arrange adequate licence cover?
Telecom Audio are licensed by the four UK music licensing bodies controlling this specialist market. In fact, we were one of the first to be licensed by Phonographic Performance Limited to recompile 'Original Artist' music specifically for music-on-hold applications and to collect performance licences on their behalf. We are also authorised to collect annual licence fees on behalf of The Performing Right Society Limited which enables us to offer a true 'one stop shop' service for the use of 'Original Artist' music on-hold.
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Q7 Is there any music available that doesn't need licences?
There is an extremely limited amount of music that is completely outside of Copyright Control and what is available cannot match the variety and quality of ‘Original Artist’ sound recordings. However, Telecom Audio have sourced a small selection of both classical music and modern style music 'under license' which requires no public performance music licences for business telephone use. This music is used for the MUSICLINE Promotions service where the music is only heard in the background so is not as critical as music only programmes where the music is played in the foreground and is heard in every detail. However, this music is available for music only use so ask your Account Manager for details about Promotions " Licence Free" music.
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Q8 Will we need additional equipment for our music-on-hold?
Not necessarily. If you are committed to using existing equipment either within or connected to your telephone system then our Media Despatch service will provide programmes in the format of your choice. However, not only will you benefit from greater choice and flexibility if you use MUSICLINE Direct Update equipment, but you will, undoubtedly ,save your staff's valuable time and, as we all know, time is money!
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Q9 Who will look after our MUSICLINE Account?
Every MUSICLINE subscriber has their own Account Manager which means a single point of contact for all your needs. With access to all departments your Account Manager is able to handle everything from setting up a new subscription, changing music styles, coordinating new custom voice and music productions to arranging a copy invoice.
Your enquiry will be dealt with by an experienced MUSICLINE Account Manager who will stay with you throughout your relationship with us because we think of you as a valued customer from first contact. Whether its choosing music, selecting voices, preparing scripts or organising payment schedules, we hope you'll come to think of your Account Manager as a specialist member of your own team.
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Q10 What's the Easiest Way to source 'Original Artist' Music?
Order it now from Telecom Audio who are a specialist Licensed Music Service Provider. You'll benefit from a single source solution with automatic music and message updates, full licence cover, custom music compilations, themed music channels and all copyright royalties paid. MUSICLINE offers total Choice & Flexibility with a range of Music Channels and service levels that are designed to provide you with the right service both now and in the future.
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Q11 How are the Music Channels compiled?
Channel 1 - Charts
Using weekly music industry publications our music programmers keep a constant watch on the UK Chart Singles market including both record sales and radio airplay figures. Combining these statistics and over 15 years experience in providing specialist 'Original Artist' music services for telebusiness applications MUSICLINE Charts is able to produce a 'snapshot' of the very latest and most popular Chart Singles suitable for use on your business telephone systems.
Channel 2 - Gold
MUSICLINE music programmers identify those singles from the past which remain popular today by using established music industry publications detailing the history of pop music through chart positions and popularity. By combining these 'classic hits' with more recent singles that are destined to join their ranks, MUSICLINE Gold presents these varied music styles in consistent, high quality pop programmes designed to have a wide appeal.
Channel 3 - Easy
Our music programmers use 'Original Artist' recordings from a variety of vocal and instrumental music styles for MUSICLINE Easy selecting those performances which follow the ‘easy tempo’ guidelines that create the music character for this channel. By combining established album and singles artists MUSICLINE Easy will entertain and relax callers with music from world famous performers who have a quality and familiarity that is timeless.
Channel 4 - Studio
To source music for MUSICLINE Studio our music programmers inevitably look to the US music industry which leads the world in the production of this style of modern instrumental music. Having produced most of the international artists famous in this field, generally only familiar to specialist audiences, the fact that MUSICLINE Studio music titles are not well known provides a refreshing new source of high quality music for your on-hold programming.
Channel 5 - Recital
The music titles used in MUSICLINE Recital are sourced from works written during all periods of classical music history which presents a varied selection of music styles. Both popular classical instrumental music by the most famous composers from each era are used as well as rare and less well known pieces. As record companies extend their classical music catalogues MUSICLINE programmers regularly review material for up-to-date performances of standard repertoire as well as new works.
Channel 6 - Contrast
While music titles used for MUSICLINE Contrast are already contained within the other 'Original Artist' Music Channels it's in the programming that the music adopts a new identity here. By combining modern vocal music with classical and modern instrumental music MUSICLINE Contrast maintains an element of surprise for frequent callers and the broadest possible appeal to the occasional caller.
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Q12 Can we hear examples of the Music Channels before we make our choice?
Yes, of course you can. Just call The Music Centre on 01273 47 11 47. We don’t produce enormous catalogues or playlists for MUSICLINE instead, we provide an interactive phone-based demonstration service that allows you to experience the impact that 'Original Artist' music and studio produced voice & music productions has on your callers. The Music Centre is designed to enhance our service to you and is not intended to replace real people, so remember, to speak to an Account Manager you can press ZERO at most menus.
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Q13 Can MUSICLINE help us to choose the best Music Channel for our brand image?
Research by The University of Leicester shows that callers tend to use the same words to describe their impression of a company as they do to describe the music they hear while on-hold. MUSICLINE MatchMaker is a ‘word-based’ marketing tool designed by MUSICLINE to help you select the most suitable Music Channels for your application. Ask your Account Manager for details.
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Q14 Why are 'Studio Produced' Messages better than handset recordings?
Few features on a business telephone system produce the impact to callers that 'Studio Produced' corporate messages provide. If you use pre-recorded messages to answer and progress calls it's important to create the right impression from the start. Professionally scripted and performed corporate messages, recorded and edited in a studio environment will do just that. MUSICLINE Interactive provides script writing, script revisions, professional voice artists, recording studios and digital editing facilities all designed to produce consistently high quality pre-recorded messages in easy-to-use formats.
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Q15 What Should We Look For In A Message Production Service?
The most noticable element of any voice production is, of course, the Voice Artist so be sure that a good selection of professional voices are available. Next, it's important that the message production service that you choose gives you control over the production of your messages. That really means an in-house recording and editing facility with a controlled recording environment to ensure quality, digital editing & mastering for efficiency and a range of soundfile formats for flexibility. The choice to commission a single production or have a fully managed service is very useful and confidence in your Account Manager to liaise between you and the production team is essential.
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Q16 Does Telecom Audio provide all these facilities?
Our in-house studio suites use digital audio editing technology together with a sound controlled voice recording room fitted with studio quality microphones. This ensures that background noise and room acoustics are eliminated while high quality microphones and monitoring mean that each voice artist's performance is captured at its best to produce clear, professional recordings every time.
Although most of our productions are ultimately for telephone use all work is produced to broadcast standards to ensure the highest integrity for editing, mastering and duplication of your programmes. This policy continues through to our post-production services where high quality conversions are undertaken to provide your programmes in the format required for your particular telephone systems. As well as production staff we also have freelance producers, scriptwriters, voice artists and music programmers who help us to provide you with a wide range of skills and experience to ensure the very best results for your on-hold programming.
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Q17 How do we organise 'studio produced' messages?
By subscribing to MUSICLINE Promotions and Interactive you can easily provide your callers with clear, well spoken messages delivered by experienced voice artists produced in a controlled studio environment. Creative script writing and assistance in the preparation of your own scripts is also available through our script writing and revision services. Completed programmes are equalised and dynamically controlled to optimise the music and voice material for telephone transmission. Programmes can be provided in a variety of formats to suit the equipment used within your particular telephone system.
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Q18 Where can ‘Studio Produced’ Corporate Messages be used?
Corporate messages can be used both as a support mechanism for agents during busy periods and for dedicated automated areas within a telephone service. For instance: ACD Intercept Greetings - ACD Call Queuing & Progress - Customised IVR Prompts - IVR Information Messages - On-Hold - Multiple Call Paths as well as Out-Of-Hours & Emergency messages.
As well as establishing a good first impression your telephone image can also support your other marketing activities and campaigns. Throughout your telephone network you can use call queuing and on-hold waiting times more positively by exposing callers to selected 'Original Artist' music programmes or marketing messages. These corporate-wide voices and scripts can reflect and support television, radio, website and magazine campaigns. This way you will provide brand image continuity as well as improving the caller experience.
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Q19 Can we use any music as a background to messages?
There are strict limitations on the use of 'Original Artist' music in conjunction with the spoken word. While the MDU Direct Update equipment allows music and messages from separately recorded sources to be played in conjunction with one another MUSICLINE also provides two ranges of music that can be recorded with voices over .
MUSICLINE Promotions 'ProMusic' titles have been composed and performed for a wide range of commercial uses including telephone on-hold. Dubbing royalties are included in the subscription and a public performance music licence from the PRS will also be provided. MUSICLINE Promotions 'LF' (Licence Free) titles are music titles that have been pre- licensed for use for telephone on-hold applications. Dubbing royalties are included in the subscription and no public performance licence is required.
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