The Muze Documentation

Introduction.

Radio has never been more accessible. Across the world — and especially online — more blind broadcasters than ever are planning, producing, and presenting outstanding programmes. We know this from the growing number of users relying on our JAWS scripts for StationPlaylist Studio. But great radio requires more than great music — it requires great information:.

Who recorded a song?
When was it released?
What made it special?
What can you say about it right now, on air, without hesitation?

The Muze gives you those answers — instantly.

Originally developed in 2020, The Muze has grown into a powerful, accessible gateway to music knowledge and radio presentation tools. You do not need StationPlaylist to use it. Whether you are preparing a show, researching music, or speaking live on air, The Muze is designed to put rich, broadcast-ready information at your fingertips.

How It Works.

All Muze functions are available from a convenient list box or through dedicated global shortcut keys, accessible from any application. Each feature uses a simple, guided wizard — asking only what is necessary — then delivers clear, structured results designed specifically for screen reader users.

Information is divided into logical headings for easy navigation, allowing you to jump straight to the details you need while preparing or presenting.

Core Research Sources (Retained from the Original Muze.)

The Muze continues to provide seamless access to trusted music information resources:

Every Hit.

Search UK singles, albums, EPs, and sheet music from 1947–2013. Retrieve weekly Top 40 charts, search by artist, song, date, peak position, and more — all through our accessible interface. Results remain open so you can make notes easily.

Other sources include:

These core tools remain a powerful research foundation — but the new Muze goes far beyond research.

Canadian and American Charts

Canadian and American Charts lets you explore historical chart information for songs and artists, find recordings credited to a particular composer, and build lists for a year or a selected period. It is useful for preparing music programmes, researching an artist’s chart history, and comparing a recording’s success in Canada and America.

The information comes from a music database compiled in June 1999. It contains more than 60,000 recordings across 43 chart series, including Canadian RPM and The Record charts, American Billboard charts, and Radio and Records charts. The earliest American chart information begins in January 1955, and Canadian coverage begins in June 1964. Coverage varies between charts and ends in 1999; some series cover only a few years. This is a historical archive and does not include later chart activity.

The archive provides dates and statistics for a recording’s chart run, together with stored chart appearances that can be used to calculate rankings across selected months. It does not retain enough detail to reproduce an exact weekly chart, including each song’s previous-week position.

Opening Canadian and American Charts

Select Canadian and American Charts from the Muze Menu, or press the Muze key, release it, and then press Shift+C.

The Canadian and American Charts menu contains five choices:

  1. Artist and title search.
  2. Artist recordings.
  3. Composer search.
  4. Chart lists by date and peak position.
  5. Rankings across selected months.

Use Up Arrow or Down Arrow to select an item, then press Enter. Follow the prompts for your chosen search. Press Escape at a prompt to cancel the search.

Results open in the JAWS results viewer. Use your usual JAWS reading and heading-navigation commands to move through the information. All matching results appear together, with no pages to select. A broad search may produce a long list and take longer to retrieve. Press Escape to close the results window.

Artist and title search

Choose this option when you want the chart history of a particular recording.

  1. Select Artist and title search from the Canadian and American Charts menu.
  2. Enter the artist’s name, followed by a space, a hyphen, another space, and the song title. For example: Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger.
  3. Press Enter and wait for the results.

This search uses the Canadian and Billboard charts. The results identify the song and artist, followed by the available information for each matching chart. A recording may have separate sections for RPM 100 Hit Tracks, Billboard Hot 100, and an adult contemporary chart, for example. Read each statistic with its chart heading: a song can reach different positions and spend different numbers of weeks on different charts.

Searches ignore differences in capitalisation and accept partial wording. If your wording matches several recordings, they are displayed together and may have shorter descriptions. Use a more specific artist and title to narrow the search.

Understanding a recording’s chart statistics

A detailed recording result can include:

These week counts overlap. Do not add the weeks at number one, in the top ten, and in the top fifty to obtain a total. The database supplies the total separately.

Recording notes may include awards, film connections, or other background information. Artist notes may provide a short biography. These notes reflect the information held when the database was compiled. An identical artist note appears only with the first matching recording that carries it; a different note for the same artist is retained when it first occurs.

Recording statistics describe the full chart run held in the June 1999 database. They are not figures calculated as of a date you choose. A run still in progress when the database was compiled may be incomplete.

Artist recordings

Choose this option to explore an artist’s charted recordings. For example, you can use it to follow Paul Anka’s chart history from his earliest entries onwards.

  1. Select Artist recordings.
  2. Enter an artist or group name, such as Paul Anka, and press Enter.
  3. Choose the chart coverage you want to search, then press Enter.

The coverage choices are:

Recordings appear in date order, earliest first. The date used for ordering is each recording’s earliest entry on any of the charts included in your search. Its individual chart sections also appear in entry-date order. Changing the coverage can therefore change both the recordings returned and their order.

Each result includes its available chart statistics, composer credits, and notes. All matches are shown in one results window. This is a list of recordings found in the chart archive, rather than a complete discography of everything the artist released.

Composer search

Choose this option to find charted recordings credited to a particular songwriter or composer. You can search all matching songs or narrow the search to one title.

  1. Select Composer search.
  2. Enter the composer’s name as it is likely to appear in the credits, then press Enter. For example, enter Peterik.
  3. Enter a song title, such as Eye Of The Tiger, or leave the title blank to find all matching songs. Press Enter.
  4. Choose the chart coverage, then press Enter. The choices are the same as for Artist recordings.

The results identify the recordings and their performers, together with composer credits, chart statistics, and available notes. The search looks at the stored writing credits, so the performer need not be the composer you entered.

Some credits contain only a surname or abbreviation. If a full name produces no result, try the surname. A surname may match more than one person, so check the credits and recording details before using the information.

Chart lists by date and peak position

Choose this option to find recordings on one chart according to their entry or peak date and their highest position. You could find songs whose recorded peak was number one during 1982, or songs that entered a particular chart during a chosen month and eventually reached its top ten.

Select Chart lists by date and peak position, then choose a chart, such as RPM 100 Hit Tracks. Next, choose how to search its dates.

Choosing the dates to search

There are four date choices:

For a whole-year search, choose a year from the list and press Enter. For a date range, select the start date using three successive lists: Day, Month, then Year. Use the arrow keys to choose each value and Enter to confirm it. Repeat these three selections for the end date. Both boundary dates are included.

The year lists run from 1955 to 1999, although each chart has its own coverage. The initial start date and year are based on the selected chart’s earliest recorded entry. The end date initially matches the start date you selected. Check both year selections when you want a particular period.

If you choose a day that does not exist in the selected month and year, such as 31 April, you will be asked to select a valid day. The end date must be on or after the start date. Pressing Escape at any date selection cancels the search.

Choosing the highest position

After choosing the dates, select one of these position filters:

Press Enter to retrieve the list. Results are ordered alphabetically by artist and title, with the statistics and notes for the matching recordings.

For example, choose RPM 100 Hit Tracks, Peak date: whole year, 1982, and Number one. This finds recordings whose stored number-one peak date falls in 1982. A recording that first peaked in the previous year may be excluded even if it continued at number one in 1982.

The date and position choices select which recordings appear. Their displayed statistics still describe the full chart run held in the database. Selecting an entry-date range does not limit the peak or total-weeks figures to that range. This feature does not produce the chart for a particular week; use Rankings across selected months when you want to compare performance within a period.

Rankings across selected months

Choose this option to compare recordings’ performance on one chart during a month or a range of months. The Muze calculates a ranking using the chart appearances stored for that period. This is a calculated period ranking, rather than an official published weekly or year-end chart.

  1. Select Rankings across selected months.
  2. Choose the chart, such as RPM 100 Hit Tracks, and press Enter.
  3. Choose the start date using the Day, Month, and Year lists.
  4. Choose the end date using the Day, Month, and Year lists.
  5. Confirm the final selection and wait for the results.

This feature includes the whole of each selected month. The day selection is provided as part of the date-selection sequence, but does not restrict the results to particular days. The prompt reminds you that the whole selected month will be included. Choosing the first day of both months is a straightforward way to specify a period.

The initial start date is the first day of the earliest month with stored appearances for the chosen chart. For RPM 100 Hit Tracks, this is 1 June 1964. The end date initially matches your selected start date.

To search June 1965 alone, choose 1 June 1965 for both the start and end dates. To search a whole year, choose 1 January and 1 December of that year. Both months, and every month between them, are included. A start date in June 1964 and an end date in June 1965 includes thirteen calendar months.

The results state the chart and selected months before listing the recordings. For example, a period displayed as 1965-06 to 1965-06 means June 1965 only. All matching recordings are returned together.

Understanding the ranking figures

An appearance is one stored chart entry for a recording within the selected months. These entries retain their month and year but not their exact weekly dates, so this report calls them appearances. The counts may differ from the separate total-weeks figures supplied for a recording’s full chart run.

Positions 99 and 100 are combined in the stored appearance data. Where relevant, the results describe the position as 99 or 100. This is why the label refers to a position or a band. For a recording whose best position was number one, the figure simply counts appearances at number one.

Example: Rag Doll by Four Seasons

Suppose the results show:

Ten entries were found for Rag Doll during the chosen period. Four place it at number one. Seven place it in the top ten, including those four number-one entries. Nine place it in the top twenty, and all ten place it in the top fifty.

These counts overlap and should not be added together. The separate breakdown is four appearances at number one, three at positions 2 to 10, two at positions 11 to 20, and one at positions 21 to 50. Four appearances at number one does not mean four separate climbs to number one, and the information does not identify the exact weeks involved.

How the recordings are ranked

The Muze first compares the best recorded position: number one ranks ahead of number two. If recordings share that position, it compares their number of appearances at that position, with more appearances ranking higher. If they are still tied, it compares top-ten appearances, then top-twenty appearances, then top-fifty appearances, and finally total appearances. Each comparison uses only your selected months.

Recordings that remain equal on all those measures share a rank. Ranking numbers may therefore repeat and then skip a number. The number before a title represents this calculated order; it does not mean the recording occupied that chart position in a particular week.

If a search finds no matching recordings

Check the spelling and try a shorter artist name, title, or composer credit. For artist and composer searches, try a wider chart coverage. For searches by date, check the chosen chart, both dates, and any highest-position filter. A song may appear on another chart, fall outside the dates you selected, or be absent from this archive. Selecting a year between 1955 and 1999 does not guarantee that the chosen chart has entries for it.

New Intelligent Features — Built for Modern Radio.

As of this year, The Muze is no longer just a music information tool. It is now a complete radio presenter’s assistant.

Song Facts — Full Breakdown.

Enter an artist and song title and receive a fully structured report:

Perfect for deep research, documentaries, and feature programming.

Artist Facts — Complete Profile.

Instant, structured artist intelligence:

Everything you need to introduce an artist professionally.

Music Discographies.

Need a complete picture of an artist’s recorded output? The Music Discographies feature retrieves full singles or albums discographies in a clear, accessible format.

Enter the name of an artist or group, choose whether you want singles or albums, and The Muze gathers the results for you.

Quick Facts — One Line Mode.

Sometimes you need something fast.

Ideal for live radio, quick links, and tight timings.

Chart Positions

Need quick chart facts for live presentation? The Chart Positions feature retrieves chart performance across multiple countries in seconds.

Simply enter an artist name and song title, and The Muze returns a clear list showing how the record performed internationally. The results focus purely on chart positions, making them ideal for quick on-air references and music trivia.

Typical output includes positions from major charts such as:

Perfect for adding quick chart statistics to your links, highlighting international success, or giving listeners a snapshot of how a song performed around the world.

Song Origins & Covers — Detailed Song Information.

Want more than the headline facts? This feature delivers a deep dive into the story of the song — where it came from, who wrote it, how it was first recorded, and how it evolved through notable cover versions.

Enter a song title and The Muze retrieves a structured report you can navigate quickly with headings:

It also includes One Line For Air — a succinct, broadcast-ready line you can announce instantly when you need something tight, confident, and accurate.

Radio Script Generator.

Create smooth, natural links between songs.

Enter:

The Muze generates a ready-to-read talkover script that connects the tracks professionally including interesting song facts. You can also specify just one song, perhaps for a show starter, or whether you are going into or out of a break.

Hour Planner.

Design a complete hour of radio instantly. Enter your show style and The Muze builds a balanced hour of music to match the format.

Linked Songs.

Find perfect follow-ups instantly:

Never struggle for the next song again.

Talking Points Generator.

Enter any subject (e.g., 80s movies, best Christmas gifts) and receive a two-minute broadcast-ready segment you can read live on air.

On This Day in History.

Two powerful modes:

Music History.

World Events.

Search by day/month or full date for precise historical programming.

Album Lookup by Track.

Enter a track and instantly discover:

Music Finder.

Search singles, albums, or 78s to retrieve:

Theme Builder.

Enter a theme and receive:

Perfect for themed shows, specials, and features.

Muze Emergency Mode.

When you’re stuck live on air, The Muze helps instantly.

Choose a 10, 20, or 30 second filler, including:

Dead air becomes engaging radio — instantly.

The Muze Prep-Sheet

The Muze prep-Sheet prepares a ready-to-use sheet of information you can use during your show — perfect for keeping links flowing, adding variety, and reducing prep time.

You choose what goes into the prep-Sheet. A simple wizard asks a series of questions, then generates structured output you can review, copy, or read live on air.

Options include:

You can also choose the overall Prep-Sheet length:

The result is a clear, presenter-friendly sheet you can rely on when you need quick content, fresh ideas, or a strong structure for your breaks and links.

Designed for Accessibility First.

Every Muze feature is structured with clear headings and logical navigation for JAWS. Information is presented in a way that allows presenters to move quickly, gather facts efficiently, and stay focused on delivering great radio.

The Ultimate Tool for Radio Presenters.

Whether you are:

The Muze is your intelligent, always-ready radio companion.

It combines:

All in one accessible environment.

Optional Integration with StationPlaylist.

As an optional feature, The Muze interacts with StationPlaylist Studio or the Remote Voicetrack Client. You can easily gather songs from playlists and feed them to The Muze — for example, to generate biographies of six songs rather than one at a time.

Audio Demonstrations.

You can download any one of these audio demonstrations of the new functions in The Muze.

Song Facts In Depth.

Song Quick Facts, Song Origins and Album By Track Name.

Artist Facts and Music Finder.

On This Day in History.

Prep-Sheet.

Hour Planner and Theme Builder.

Radio Script Generator.

Linked Songs, Muze Emergency and Talking Point Generator.

The Charts.

Subscription & Pricing.

The Muze is now offered as an annual subscription: £100 per year (approx. $137 USD).

Upon careful research of similar mainstream tools, typical pricing is around £90 per month.
Compared with these services, The Muze represents exceptional value while delivering a specialised, fully accessible solution designed specifically for radio presenters.

There are no upgrade paths — your subscription always gives you access to the latest version and all services.

The increase in cost reflects a major expansion behind the scenes. The Muze now relies on a wide range of
professional, music-based information and content services, which require ongoing financing to maintain accuracy, depth, and reliability.
This investment ensures The Muze continues to deliver the rich, broadcast-quality information and intelligent scripting tools that modern radio presenters depend on.

Feature suggestions are always welcome and very much encouraged. Please email:
brian@hartgenconsultancy.com

Full documentation is included, along with short, bite-sized audio demonstrations explaining how to use specific features quickly and effectively. The audio demonstrations are displayed above. Read the Documentation.

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The Muze — More than music information.
Your complete, accessible radio presentation system.