How to Start Your Own Internet Radio Station with Live365.com
I started trying to do an Internet station with Winamp, but found it kept freezing my machine, no listeners, and illegal. So, I turned to Live365.com. What a lifesaver.
First, You go to live365.com and select a package. I chose a personal package with 7 days free. I started on the $14.95 plan, but if you do not pay for the year up front, then you are charged an extra $5. Not bad. You then set up the page with the station name, description, keywords, and things like that.
Then it is time to upload the music. Live365.com has a program (Studio365) that you put on your computer to make this easier. You choose the format, such as live, relay, or basic. Then you decide on the speed of songs. The higher the speed the less space you have on the server. I did 64 mp3 pro, but kept running out of space, so I went to 32 mp3 pro. It sounds great, and I have over 200 songs online. I did upgrade to a higher package which was $24.95 ($29.95 monthly), so that I could put music on more freely.
When you put your music online to be played it must be compliant with the DCMA Guidelines. These guidelines include such things as how often a song or artist can be played. All artists that are members of ASCAP, BMI, and the like are paid royalties through the fees that we pay. If a station owner goes through programs such as Wimamp , Icecast, or their own site then they will have to pay a minimum of $2000 in royalties. Most underground stations will never be hit with those fees, but my guess is if it becomes really popular than someone will eventually come to collect. By having it on Live365 you will be forced into compliance by the program, legal, and have an audience.
Since starting the station in May, there have been listeners in over 16 countries that have found us. I did a little marketing with a press release, and banner ads, but not much. Weekends are the slowest for the station, so I use that time to add new music.
This brings me to a feature called the Scheduler. I have multiple small lists, and one main list. The main list has every song that we play. The smaller lists have different styles which I then schedule to play at certain times during the week. I usually put 2 hours on each list, and play it for one hour. This avoids people listening to the same songs each week during that time period. The full list plays in between the scheduled lists. It has over 17 hours of music, so odds are that listeners will not hear the same song twice during their listening time.
At night on the weekends I sometimes broadcast live, so that I can see how it functions. If I want to add my voice I can, but I usually don't. You can learn tricks of the trade in the community boards that are for your format, or the green room for broadcasters.
I add music once a week or so just to mix it up a little. Where do I get my music? CDs that I own, the music library that Live 365 has that does not add to your storage space, downloads.com, emusic, and places where they want you to download their music.
Some basic things you need to do: Make sure the music was recorded or converted at 128 or higher or it will sound like the chipmunks. I use Real to convert my music to the format that I want it to be, so that I know. If it is lower the Studio365 will tell you and let you know that it will not sound well. Studio365 then converts my file to 32 mp3 pro. This is like FM radio.
You are allowed to make money with your station through banner ads, donations, and rewards, but on the personal broadcasting plans you cannot sell ads. The professional packages are good, but they are expensive and not for the hobbyist. It does take time to get an audience, so I recommend picking one of the personal broadcaster packages for at least the first six months. When you have consistent listeners then you could consider the pro packages.
If you have lots of music, and want to share it legally then Live 365 is one of the best options for doing that. You can even do live shows, tape some shows, and put your producers hat on. Try it for 7 days and see what you think.
Published by Delwilliams
Delores is an author, media strategist, a member of the International Travel Writer's Alliance and a member of freelancers Union. She specializes in expos/summits, publishing, and the arts. She has produced... View profile
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- Live 365 is the Largest Provider of Internet Broadcasts
- It takes over 24 hours of music to make sure listeners do not hear the same music over and over
10 Comments
Post a CommentI never heard back from you. Doesn't matter, I decided not to begin work with another start up. Am staying in my old job at the University of Florida, Institute for Child Health Policy (http://www.ichp.ufl.edu/).
I Been listening to live 365 on broadband radio within the last 6 days on my computer but the only music I Been listening to whilst been on the computer was listening to "Orchestral pop"music it really sound beautiful so that what interest me & I used to listen to that kind of music on BBC Radio 2 & elevator music in new st station in Birmingham,hotels out abroad,watching TV whilst closingdown on BBC 2 during the day & in some department stores & also that sub-genre makes me feel like loving it.
everyone is wrong i have my own radio station n it cost money to start a radio station nothing free in this country
This article may be of use, for people wanting to start an internet radio station
http://www.wavestreaming.com/?section=articles&page=start
This article may be of use, for people wanting to start an internet radio station
http://www.wavestreaming.com/?section=articles&page=start
Hello,
Several days ago I sent you an email inquiring about your company and your services in hopes of starting my very own internet radio station from my home..I have yet to hear a response, and it is upsetting to me that I haven't yet heard from you.Are you so big that you think that you don't need or want my business? Am I too small an operation for you to take on? I certainly hope that is not the case because I feel I'm being ignored and I find that rather insulting. I also find your lack of response highly unprofessional and absured..Maybe it's me but when I email or call a company inquiring about one's services I expect a response in a timely,professional manner and so far you're anything but timely and professional..
I'll expect a response to this email no later than 48 hours from now if I hear a response and get my questions answered than I will forget this episode. If not, than I will recommend that no one chooses your company. I'll await your response.
Regards,
Chris Ba
I had a Live365 station for about 3 years, until very early this year I had to drop it because of non-station related financial problems. I'll be able to get it back on the air within the next month, but the recent CRB/RIAA royalties ruling has me worried and considering not going back on. They want to collect 2006 royalties (retroactively) at the new rate they are trying to pass. That means that if you have a 24-hour Internet station like mine was, and with the audience I had, they could be trying to assess me with as much as $185,000 in royalty fees for 2006, and 2007 could be double that! There's going to be a fight over this!
Umm using the shoutcast stream service to broadcast a radio service through winamp isnt illegal. We run a streaming audio broadcast and as long as you get permision from the bands to play the music then you have no problems. You can check it out at www.penehoff.org/radio/.
It would be a more balanced and thus better article if you mentioned the weaknesses/negatives of Live365. As is, it sounds like an advertisement.
good tips. i used to be a deejay on live 365. it was fun.