NEPTUNE NOW | Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a “Custom Music Solution”?
In essence, it’s your own personal “radio station”. In your facility, it will sound just like a radio station, with DJ banter and professionally recorded messages. The difference is YOU control the messages and have control over the type of music that gets played. And with Neptune, you can rest assured that all messages and music are 100% family-friendly!
Do I need any special equipment?
No. Our software can be downloaded onto your laptop as long as you are running on Windows 7 OS or later, and have 100GB of free space, 4GB of memory, and a high quality sound card. If there are any issues or concerns with your existing equipment, we can supply a laptop pre-loaded with our software for a one-time usage fee of $375.
How can we be sure Neptune will work at our location?
Neptune software is designed to easily be downloaded onto your laptop. Or, if you need one, Neptune can provide you with a laptop pre-loaded with the Neptune software. Simply connect the laptop to your PA system just as you would a CD player, smartphone, tablet or other media device. Typically, setup takes a matter of minutes.
We don’t have a public address system -- can you install that for us as well?
We do not provide infrastructure elements such as public address systems, but if you need some guidance on what you might need at your location, we’re happy to recommend vendors we have worked with in the past.
If we want to create sponsorships and sell advertising, how much assistance will you provide?
We have a number of templates we can use to help you design the proposals and set pricing for your location. In addition, we can create a custom Neptune demo for you to use when pitching to prospects. There is no extra charge for these services -- it’s part of what we do!
How long is the contract for the Neptune service?
CMC-Neptune doesn’t require a contract. You simply purchase the Neptune Custom Music Solution service year-to-year. We think you are going to love your custom Neptune station, but at the end of any given year if you want to end the service, you are free to do so. (This doesn’t happen often! Since we launched Neptune, we’ve consistently maintained a very high renewal rate with our partners.)
If we choose to sell sponsorships/advertising, how many commercials will be airing on our station?
We allow for a maximum of eight (8) minutes of commercials per hour at all of our “full-day” partner locations, such as waterparks, ski resorts, fitness centers, etc. By comparison, over-the-air radio stations will run 15-20 minutes of commercials every single hour. The level of service you buy determines the amount of advertising inventory you have a right to sell. The remainder of the inventory is held by CMC-Neptune for Regional or National advertisers. NOTE: Our high school and college sports partners (GameTime) are structured differently because they are event-driven, so the way we schedule commercials differs slightly. Please contact us for additional details.
We have multiple locations -- can we use one single Neptune system for all of them?
For our high school / college sports partners (GameTime), the answer is yes: you can simply move your Neptune laptop from location to location depending on the event. If you have multiple sporting events scheduled at the same time and you want to use GameTime, you would need to purchase additional Neptune systems. For our “full-day” partners such as waterparks, ski resorts and fitness centers, we would need to determine exactly how your specific public address system is structured. We have some partners that use a single system for multiple locations -- and we have others that require a separate system at each. NOTE: We offer significant pricing discounts for situations requiring multiple Neptune systems.
If we use Neptune, are we covered on music copyright licenses?
Neptune is a licensed background music provider with ASCAP, Global Music Rights, SESAC and BMI, and as a result we are able to cover the vast majority of businesses and organizations who use our product. However, the final answer to this question depends on your category. Are you a waterpark? Fitness center? High school sports venue? Car dealership? Parks & Rec district? There are different rules for different categories, and we help you navigate through what can be a confusing process.
How do we submit information regarding music, messages, commercials, etc.?
All items such as this happen on our online partner portal, Neptune Voyager. It has a very simple, easy-to-use interface that allows you to make all of your submissions and requests in one place.
Do we get to choose the DJ voices that we hear on our station?
For our “full day” partners, the answer is yes. We have a team of talented male and female voice professionals and, depending on your level of service, you'll be able to choose which DJ voices you want on your station. For our Neptune GameTime partners, we assign the DJ voices based on a myriad of factors, including schedules, demand, region, etc.
Can we have timed announcements for closing, special events, etc.?
Absolutely! Many of our “full day” partners use their Neptune station to make closing announcements, ensuring that it happens consistently and accurately every single day. Our Trampoline Park and Family Entertainment Center venues often use their Neptune station to broadcast timed wristband announcements. On request, we can also record special announcements, such as early closing due to weather, that can be played at the press of a button.
Can we recognize special groups and events that are happening at our location?
This is one of the most popular features of our Neptune service! People like to hear their name on the radio, and recognizing special guests / groups is a powerful customer service tool. It’s easy to do: just submit the information to us using the online partner portal (Neptune Voyager), and we’ll make sure the messages are produced and in place at the appropriate time.
Is Neptune available worldwide?
At this time our service is available in the United States and Canada only, but we are very close to making the service available in Mexico and other select locations worldwide.
If we purchase Neptune, how long will it take for our station to be installed?
Typically, it takes 2-3 weeks for your station to be up and running at your location -- but it can happen much quicker for partners that need their system in place sooner.
If I want a custom message, how long does that take to get it put onto my system?
After the initial system setup, it typically takes 24-48 hours to professionally record and upload any changes or additions to your custom content. Often times, we can accommodate last minute requests even faster, depending on workload volumes.