How To Create Your Web Radio Station
It is easier than ever to create your own Internet radio station and stream your music, thoughts or discussions live over the web. Not so very long ago you would have faced either incredible equipment expenses and music licensing fees, or the continuous threat of having the authorities shut your pirate radio station down, seizing your music collection in for the bargain.
Photo credit: Brosa
That no longer needs to be the case - whether you decide to create a talk-only station, join a network with pre-paid music licensing, or showcase your own or others Creative Commons licensed music, there are plentiful opportunities to reach out to a global audience in the world of online radio.
Where traditional radio broadcasting only traveled as far as the radio waves would let it, with your own Internet-based niche radio station you can reach audiences anywhere on the planet. The only possible limit on your popularity is the quality of your content. But how do you get that content out of your home and streaming across the Internet?
In this mini-guide I guide you through several alternative routes you could take, including:
Desktop applications that will set you on your way to broadcasting from your bedroom or office
Existing networks that will cover all of your music licensing worries, protecting you from potential copyright infringement issues
Peer-to-peer solutions that distribute the bandwidth needed to broadcast among your listeners
Furthermore, I give examples of some great sources of copyright-free material for those who want to broadcast music without worrying about royalties to be paid or having to license commercial tracks from the recording industry majors.
So if you want to set the airwaves alight with your charismatic banter, teach the world a thing or two about great taste in music, or engage a global audience in live, no-holds-barred discussion, you came to the right place.
Online radio networks
The following networks supply a broadcasting infrastructure for you to make use of and in the case of music-based shows will cover what might otherwise turn out to be huge music licensing fees. As such, these services allow you to play copyrighted music without incurring extra fees, within your online radio shows.
One of the main advantages of creating your radio station through these existing networks is the fact that you are able to use their streaming technologies to reach a large audience, rather than having to rely on your own bandwidth.
Live 365
http://www.live365.com/broadcast/
Live365 is a network of over 10,000 online radio stations, which are free to listen to. Broadcasters pay a monthly fee for the hosting of their mp3 files and use of the Live365 infrastructure, which includes the following features:
Live streaming capability: Yes (basic account excluded)
Pre-recorded streaming capability: Yes
Embed player in own website: Yes, in pro accounts
Directory of online radio stations: Yes
Music licensing: Yes, full details at Live365 website.
Monetization: Yes. Rewards program gives broadcasters a portion of revenues made from users signing up to a preferred membership program. Professional accounts can add advertising to their ad-free broadcasts and keep 100% of the revenues.
Pricing: Pricing ranges from $9.95 per month for a basic account, to $84.95 per month for advanced features. A full list of price plans is available at the Live365 website.