Radio Definitions: Sweepers, Liners, Voiceovers, Promos, Bumpers

[stevewa]

What is your definition and the differences between a Sweeper versus a Liner? 

UPDATED 2019-May-16 based on discussion with others...

STATION IDs
Station ID's are short duration audio recordings (i.e. less than 15 seconds) which identify the station name, frequency, and slogan, and they always reflect the marketing branding and image that the station wants to promote, i.e. "WNEW - The Newest Hits!" (spoken in an upbeat, happy, excited voice, etc). They usually utilize an audio background melody ("jingle") as a branding method to store this melody into the listener's memory ("a catchy melody"). This helps the listener recall which station they listen to the most often, when asked by marketing research polls and surveys, which is important for setting advertising rates based on the percentage of the listening market.
Note, they are played as stand-alone elements, not overlayed on top of audio during the intro or outro of a song.
RadioDJ Track Type = 2.Jingle

SWEEPERs
Sweepers are very short duration audio recordings (i.e. less than 5 seconds) announcing the name of the station with background audio elements and sound effects that reinforce the marketing branding of the station (upbeat pop, or aggressive rock n roll), which are inserted in-between programmed songs, and remind the listener of the name of the station they are listening, to strengthen their memory of their favorite station name. They are very similar to Station ID's, but shorter in duration. They are named "sweepers" because they "move" the program forward to the next piece of content, i.e. music song, talk segment.
Note, they can be are played as stand-alone elements, or they can be overlayed on top of audio during the intro or outro of a song, if they are overlayed, they do not use any background music bed in the recording.
RadioDJ Track Type = Sweepers.

LINERS
Liners are longer duration audio recordings (i.e. less than 30 seconds), and are similar to Station ID's, but they have a less formal attitude to them, i.e. they can be funny, unique, not as serious as formal Station ID's. Examples:

• Music Artists - "Hi this is Michael Jackson, when I'm in town, I listen to WNEW!"
• Funny sayings - "Have you been put to sleep by another radio station's boring music? Listen to the fun people on WNEW!

They are named "Liners", because they are usually a 1 line sentence.
Note, they are often played as overlays on top of audio during the intro or outro of a song.
RadioDJ Track Type = Sweepers

VOICEOVERS
Voiceovers are a pre-recorded voice track of short duration (i.e. less than 30 seconds) that sounds like a live dj is talking, but it's actually a recording playing as an overlay on top of the song music during the intro or outro.
RadioDJ Track Type = Voiceover

PROMOTIONS
Promos are audio recordings of short duration (i.e. 30 seconds) that announce promotions for a content themed radio show, i.e. "Weekly Top 40 Countdown" and include the day and time that the show will be live on the radio.
Note, they are played as stand-alone elements, not overlayed on top of audio during the intro or outro of a song.
RadioDJ Track Type = Commercials (even though they are not paid commercials, they are advertising a show)

BUMPERS
Bumpers are audio recordings of short duration (i.e. less than 10 seconds) that are used to transition between different program content, such as changing from previously played set of "fast tempo" songs, into an upcoming set of "slow tempo" songs, or when switching from one on-air personality's show, to another on-air personality's show, "and now it's time for 2 hours of the dopest rap music with NoFool2Kool on WNEW!"
RadioDJ Track Type = Sweepers

[plauri]

As far as Voiceover and Promotion are concerned I agree with your description and usage. Sweepers and Liners are the same to me: I use them over the intro's song.

[stevewa]

I updated the definitions along with explanations and examples, as some of our students were confused what the differences are, and which track types should be used for which type of audio element.

[Chip Douglas Mosley]

 

That's pretty much the way I've described these format elements in 40 years of radio programming. Good job!

[JoshTheRadioDude]

I would offer a couple of suggestions here.

Liners, in my experience, generally don't run for more than 10 seconds -- 15 tops.  If you're going 30 seconds into the intro with a liner, you're almost guaranteed to walk right over the post in most formats.  I think it would be safer to say that some stations use "Power Intros," or pre-produced copies of songs that include a longer intro (usually a looped part of the instrumental track) with a sweeper edited over top of it.  I've heard those last up to 20 or 25 seconds in the more extreme cases.  But liners are generally short to fit the normal intro of a song.

I would also add that, at least in my experience, bumpers in the music programming realm are more commonly referred to as "transitions" since they transition the tempo upward or downward or transition from one genre to another.  "Bumper" (again, in my experience) has always been more associated with talk programming, as in "bumper music" used to open or close a show block.  I've heard "transitions" in music programming referred to as "bumpers" before, as well, but not very often.

Other than that, I concur with what you've got here.  Nice work!

[stevewa]

thanks for your input. The duration of the liner was just set to differentiate it from the very short duration of a sweeper. I agree with you, in real life the duration would probably never be 30 seconds, and if it was, it would not be an overlay on top of an intro.

Bumpers are good for the students to use for different student hosted shows.

This was mainly to create a dictionary so the students would learn a standard descriptive language when using RadioDJ.

[deVynel]

This was mainly to create a dictionary so the students would learn a standard descriptive language when using RadioDJ.

This point is hugely important! I lecture part time to postgrads in broadcast and there are so many terms that it can seem daunting to the newbie.

[Chip Douglas Mosley]

Hey stevewa!

I just printed out your definitions to put in my operators handbook. Thanks for sharing!

Chip

[Lotus]

You would think with my years of being a production director I would have written all of that down instead of having of verbally saying to new interns
I like it.
I would say like others have said to me a sweeper/liner are one in the same and I tried to keep them short. The ones with bits in them I tried to not go over 12 seconds.

I do have a question. Voiceover?
To me I always said voiceover work...as in the people I would pay to come in and record parts for commercials/promos.

The DJ would come in and record voice tracks to cover his show. Is that what you are saying voiceover is? Not saying one is right or wrong...probably a lot of things called different things over the years.

[CallumK9]

What is your definition and the differences between a Sweeper versus a Liner? 

UPDATED 2019-May-16 based on discussion with others...

STATION IDs
Station ID's are short duration audio recordings (i.e. less than 15 seconds) which identify the station name, frequency, and slogan, and they always reflect the marketing branding and image that the station wants to promote, i.e. "WNEW - The Newest Hits!" (spoken in an upbeat, happy, excited voice, etc). They usually utilize an audio background melody ("jingle") as a branding method to store this melody into the listener's memory ("a catchy melody"). This helps the listener recall which station they listen to the most often, when asked by marketing research polls and surveys, which is important for setting advertising rates based on the percentage of the listening market.
Note, they are played as stand-alone elements, not overlayed on top of audio during the intro or outro of a song.
RadioDJ Track Type = StationIDs.

SWEEPERs
Sweepers are very short duration audio recordings (i.e. less than 5 seconds) announcing the name of the station with background audio elements and sound effects that reinforce the marketing branding of the station (upbeat pop, or aggressive rock n roll), which are inserted in-between programmed songs, and remind the listener of the name of the station they are listening, to strengthen their memory of their favorite station name. They are very similar to Station ID's, but shorter in duration. They are named "sweepers" because they "move" the program forward to the next piece of content, i.e. music song, talk segment.
Note, they can be are played as stand-alone elements, or they can be overlayed on top of audio during the intro or outro of a song, if they are overlayed, they do not use any background music bed in the recording.
RadioDJ Track Type = Sweepers.

LINERS
Liners are longer duration audio recordings (i.e. less than 30 seconds), and are similar to Station ID's, but they have a less formal attitude to them, i.e. they can be funny, unique, not as serious as formal Station ID's. Examples:

• Music Artists - "Hi this is Michael Jackson, when I'm in town, I listen to WNEW!"
• Funny sayings - "Have you been put to sleep by another radio station's boring music? Listen to the fun people on WNEW!

They are named "Liners", because they are usually a 1 line sentence.
Note, they are often played as overlays on top of audio during the intro or outro of a song.
RadioDJ Track Type = Sweepers

VOICEOVERS
Voiceovers are a pre-recorded voice track of short duration (i.e. less than 30 seconds) that sounds like a live dj is talking, but it's actually a recording playing as an overlay on top of the song music during the intro or outro.
RadioDJ Track Type = Voiceover

PROMOTIONS
Promos are audio recordings of short duration (i.e. 30 seconds) that announce promotions for a content themed radio show, i.e. "Weekly Top 40 Countdown" and include the day and time that the show will be live on the radio.
Note, they are played as stand-alone elements, not overlayed on top of audio during the intro or outro of a song.
RadioDJ Track Type = Commercials (even though they are not paid commercials, they are advertising a show)

BUMPERS
Bumpers are audio recordings of short duration (i.e. less than 10 seconds) that are used to transition between different program content, such as changing from previously played set of "fast tempo" songs, into an upcoming set of "slow tempo" songs, or when switching from one on-air personality's show, to another on-air personality's show, "and now it's time for 2 hours of the dopest rap music with NoFool2Kool on WNEW!"
RadioDJ Track Type = Sweepers

To add on to this with more examples of radio definitions.

LEGAL IDS
(In the US or other countries where they are required for FM stations) Legal IDs are played at the top of the hour in order for a station to identify it's licensed callsign and city, in addition to station branding and (optionally) the company who owns the station as well as a sponsor. They can either be dry voiceovers, produced productions, or a sung jingle. They can be anywhere from 10 seconds in length to 60 seconds in length. An example of a legal ID would be "Rockin' All of Hampton Roads. This is 106.9 The Fox, WAFX and WAFX HD1 Suffolk, a Tidewater Communications LLC group station. Hampton Roads' Classic Rock, powered by OuterEdge Gifts, Tidewater's Best Kept Secret For Over 30 Years."
Radio DJ Tracktype = Station IDs (custom category for Legal IDs)

TOP OF THE HOUR IDS
(In countries where callsign identification isn't required) Top of the Hour IDs, or commonly abbreviated as ToH or ToH IDs, are special station IDs played at the top of the hour. They may include what's coming up that hour, or may just be a sung jingle/dry voiceover/produced production. They could also include a sponsor or live DJ talking segment with a ramp bed. These are commonly used in countries such as Britian (the UK) where stations aren't required to identify as a callsign/callsigns aren't issued.
Radio DJ Tracktype = Station IDs (custom category for ToH)

PAID/UNPAID COMMERCIALS
A paid/unpaid commercial can be either 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 60 seconds, or potentially 90 seconds. It can either be a sung jingle, dry voiceover or a produced production. They are also commonly referred to as "radio slots" or "ad slots" and are where most stations make their money. They are usually played 15 minutes into the hour and 45 minutes into the hour, however, times may vary depending on the station. The cost per advertisement is determined based off of length and times played, and is how local businesses advertise in addition to how station operators can afford to keep operating a station.
Radio DJ Tracktype = Commercials

SYNDICATED PROGRAMMING
Syndicated Programming is a radio show/program in which an individual/syndication company produces a show prerecorded in order to allow for stations to add programs to times where otherwise they'd be on automation. They can either be offered completely free without advertisements, via barter (advertisements ran pay for the show) or outright paid for. An example of syndicated programming can include AT40 with Ryan Seacrest (syndicated by Premier Networks), Streetz Morning Takeover (syndicated by Superadio Networks), etc.
Radio DJ Tracktype = Radio Show (sometimes Variable Duration File)

JINGLES
A jingle can either be sung or can include a musical note/sonic branding. It'd include the station's branding as well as any other information on the format. An example of a sonic branding can include the unique "Beep Boop Boop" KISS FM 'tones' or can just be a unique sound effect/production element. An example of a company who does sung jingles would be ReelWorld and TM Studios.
Radio DJ Tracktype = Jingles

If anybody knows of any more, or if anything I've said needs to be corrected, feel free to quote me in a reply and let me know. I'd be curious to know what was missed or of any errors I might've made.

[PresidentOfACPJ]

PROMOTIONS
Promos are audio recordings of short duration (i.e. 30 seconds) that announce promotions for a content themed radio show, i.e. "Weekly Top 40 Countdown" and include the day and time that the show will be live on the radio.
Note, they are played as stand-alone elements, not overlayed on top of audio during the intro or outro of a song.
RadioDJ Track Type = Commercials (even though they are not paid commercials, they are advertising a show)

Wouldn't it be RadioDJ Track Type = Promos ?

I can answer now my own question, NOT, because theres no any PROMOS option for track type in RadioDJ.

[bulik4lg]

Wouldn't it be RadioDJ Track Type = Promos ?

I can answer now my own question, NOT, because theres no any PROMOS option for track type in RadioDJ.

Category - Promos will not help..?

[Jhonny]

You can your self create more categories
So make promo.And a subcat in promo..

Whit the categories manager.

[PresidentOfACPJ]

You can your self create more categories
So make promo.And a subcat in promo..

Whit the categories manager.

You didnt understand, i actually was talking about tracktype, and not about categories, subcats or genres (sub-subcats).

About using categories manager, i dont like, i actually have created my own categories straight into each station database as mentioned here in another post.