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Audacy to Restrict Streaming to their App only

P

pjc1961

There have been announcements that have appeared this past weekend on Audacy's station streams
regarding those streams soon ("in a few days") only being available on the "Free Audacy App".

Along with the likely end of streaming via streamtheworld.com direct URLs (as Audacy has been converting to their own AmperWave platform),
there could be possible future coding of AmperWave streams to make a URL available for only one listening session (or none),
which might have ramifications for Internet Radios and smart speakers.
Also means the end of Audacy streams appearing on various streaming aggregators (such as OnlineRadioBox.com, etc.).

("AmperWave" comes from Audacy's acquisition of Wide Orbit Digital Audio in October 2021.)

As of this post, here's what's available to use to stream via direct URLs copied+pasted in to various media players:

Using WFAN New York as an example:

>>>http://playerservices.streamtheworld.com/api/livestream-redirect/WFANAMAAC.aac<<< (likely to go away soon)
>>>http://live.amperwave.net/direct/audacy-wfanamaac-imc<<< (AmperWave streaming added in Spring 2022)
>>>http://live.amperwave.net/direct/audacy-wfanammp3-imc<<< (MP3 stream)

Using KROQ-HD2 L.A.'s "Roq of the 80s" channel as an example:

>>>http://playerservices.streamtheworld.com/api/livestream-redirect/KROQHD2AAC.aac<<< (likely to go away soon)
>>>http://live.amperwave.net/direct/audacy-kroqhd2aac-imc<<< (AmperWave streaming added in Spring 2022)
>>>http://live.amperwave.net/direct/audacy-kroqhd2mp3-imc<<< (MP3 stream)

Will be interesting to see which streaming URLs are in use after the exclusivity kicks in
or if there will be new ones that make it more difficult to capture. Stay tuned...
 
are the streams still gonna be able to stream via the Audacy website for those using a computer or would they be dumb enough to make it harder to stream their stations online via computer browsers
 
pjc1961 said:
There have been announcements that have appeared this past weekend on Audacy's station streams
regarding those streams soon ("in a few days") only being available on the "Free Audacy App".
Click to expand...

The big issue has been that these outside streaming sites have been profiting on Audacy content without paying. In the cable TV world, cable companies pay for the rights that streaming sites get for free. There is legislation about that, but it's not settled as far as I know.

Will_H_69_9 said:
are the streams still gonna be able to stream via the Audacy website
Click to expand...

Yes
 
Will this also apply to the stations from other broadcasting companies that Audacy includes with its own stations on its app? Cumulus, mainly, but also others, including little Binnie Media here in northern New England. Will those stations have to disable their own streams and have the "Listen Live" button on their websites link to the "official" Audacy stream? I've noticed country station WZLF/WXLF Rutland/Hartford, VT, telling listeners that they can stream it through the Audacy app more and more often lately rather than promoting its own 953thewolf website.
 
pjc1961 said:
There have been announcements that have appeared this past weekend on Audacy's station streams
regarding those streams soon ("in a few days") only being available on the "Free Audacy App".

Along with the likely end of streaming via streamtheworld.com direct URLs (as Audacy has been converting to their own AmperWave platform),
there could be possible future coding of AmperWave streams to make a URL available for only one listening session (or none),
which might have ramifications for Internet Radios and smart speakers.
Also means the end of Audacy streams appearing on various streaming aggregators (such as OnlineRadioBox.com, etc.).

("AmperWave" comes from Audacy's acquisition of Wide Orbit Digital Audio in October 2021.)

As of this post, here's what's available to use to stream via direct URLs copied+pasted in to various media players:

Using WFAN New York as an example:

>>>http://playerservices.streamtheworld.com/api/livestream-redirect/WFANAMAAC.aac<<< (likely to go away soon)
>>>http://live.amperwave.net/direct/audacy-wfanamaac-imc<<< (AmperWave streaming added in Spring 2022)
>>>http://live.amperwave.net/direct/audacy-wfanammp3-imc<<< (MP3 stream)

Using KROQ-HD2 L.A.'s "Roq of the 80s" channel as an example:

>>>http://playerservices.streamtheworld.com/api/livestream-redirect/KROQHD2AAC.aac<<< (likely to go away soon)
>>>http://live.amperwave.net/direct/audacy-kroqhd2aac-imc<<< (AmperWave streaming added in Spring 2022)
>>>http://live.amperwave.net/direct/audacy-kroqhd2mp3-imc<<< (MP3 stream)

Will be interesting to see which streaming URLs are in use after the exclusivity kicks in
or if there will be new ones that make it more difficult to capture. Stay tuned...
Click to expand...
Good luck with that! Their streaming stops every other minute on their app! It's horrible. I can't even listen to it on a run!
 
pjc1961 said:
As of this post, here's what's available to use to stream via direct URLs copied+pasted in to various media players:

Using WFAN New York as an example:

>>>http://playerservices.streamtheworld.com/api/livestream-redirect/WFANAMAAC.aac<<< (likely to go away soon)
>>>http://live.amperwave.net/direct/audacy-wfanamaac-imc<<< (AmperWave streaming added in Spring 2022)
>>>http://live.amperwave.net/direct/audacy-wfanammp3-imc<<< (MP3 stream)
Click to expand...
The AmperWave URLs stream nicely, but they don't record well at all. Both AAC and MP3 end up as very glitchy audio files.

I can't help but think that that's by design.
 
itsamike said:
The AmperWave URLs stream nicely, but they don't record well at all. Both AAC and MP3 end up as very glitchy audio files.

I can't help but think that that's by design.
Click to expand...
Because you mentioned it, I checked those streams codecs and statistics.
Turns out for the NY City area Audacy talk stations (WFAN-AM-FM; WCBS-AM; WINS-AM + soon to be FM) have lower quality streams on the AmperWave URLs. (64 kpbs, 32.0 kHz AAC and 64 kbps, 22.05 kHz MP3).
The Streamtheworld URLs have been 64 kbps, 44.1 kHz AAC, but the MP3s are lower at 48 kbps, 22.05 kHz.

Randomly checking some other Audacy talk stations nationally, in addition to NYC: Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Pittsburgh + Baltimore have similar setups with lower stream quality while Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Buffalo, Kansas City, Las Vegas + Hartford maintain higher quality at 128 kbps, 44.1kHz AAC.
The MP3s are mostly lower quality across the board.

But most importantly, the music station streams mostly appear to be at the higher quality of 128 kbps, 44.1 kHz AAC.
 
The Audacy app doesn't even work on Android Auto anymore. if they remove streams from other players and they haven't fixed their issues with their app, they are going to LOSE listeners when people don't want to fuss with an app that doesn't work the way they want it to. Several years ago, iHeart moved their stations exclusively to their app, although there were some feeds that continued to work elsewhere. However, their app worked properly and was well-tested before they did that. Then, a year or two ago, iHeart made a deal with TuneIn to restore their station feeds to TuneIn, under the iHeartRadio subcategory (they are only streaming the actual broadcast stations, not the iHeartRadio Exclusive channels, but still) which was a very smart move.
 
powers said:
The Audacy app doesn't even work on Android Auto anymore. if they remove streams from other players and they haven't fixed their issues with their app, they are going to LOSE listeners when people don't want to fuss with an app that doesn't work the way they want it to. Several years ago, iHeart moved their stations exclusively to their app, although there were some feeds that continued to work elsewhere. However, their app worked properly and was well-tested before they did that. Then, a year or two ago, iHeart made a deal with TuneIn to restore their station feeds to TuneIn, under the iHeartRadio subcategory (they are only streaming the actual broadcast stations, not the iHeartRadio Exclusive channels, but still) which was a very smart move.
Click to expand...
does it work on Apple Carplay?
 
Will_H_69_9 said:
are the streams still gonna be able to stream via the Audacy website for those using a computer or would they be dumb enough to make it harder to stream their stations online via computer browsers
Click to expand...
Newer announcements/promos state that one would be able to listen by way of a station website, smart speaker and Audacy app.
 
Some of the legacy (StreamTheWorld.com) streams have disappeared: many (maybe all?) of the HD2 + HD3 streams
and in some markets (for example San Diego) the main signals are only streaming via the newer AmperWave option.

On the New York area legacy streams for their news/talk/sports stations, they've replaced the AAC 64 kbps 44.1 kHz streams
with 64 kbps 32.0 kHz - the rate being used on the AmperWave streams.
 
itsamike said:
The legacy links still stream, but are no longer recordable. They're very good at being restrictive!
Click to expand...
Anything that's playing on your PC is recordable, using Stereo Mix (or "What U Hear") and an audio recorder program like Audacity or Ocenaudio.

www.howtogeek.com

How to Enable “Stereo Mix” in Windows and Record Audio from Your PC

Ever need to record something on your computer exactly as it comes out of your speakers? Enabling “Stereo Mix” will let you do exactly that, and here’s how to do it. This will work on Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
www.howtogeek.com www.howtogeek.com
 
kevtronics said:
Anything that's playing on your PC is recordable, using Stereo Mix (or "What U Hear") and an audio recorder program like Audacity or Ocenaudio.

www.howtogeek.com

How to Enable “Stereo Mix” in Windows and Record Audio from Your PC

Ever need to record something on your computer exactly as it comes out of your speakers? Enabling “Stereo Mix” will let you do exactly that, and here’s how to do it. This will work on Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
www.howtogeek.com www.howtogeek.com
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm well aware. But because of the variety of streams I monitor, I much prefer to record the stream directly, since "What U Hear" can only handle one stream at a time, and I've got several streams to record simultaneously via schedules.

For my primary Audacy station, I've got the output of one of my HD radios interfaced into my laptop and recorded DVR style via multiple programmed schedules, avoiding the stream entirely, but again, that's only a single source set to a single radio station.
 
Last edited:
kevtronics said:
Anything that's playing on your PC is recordable, using Stereo Mix (or "What U Hear") and an audio recorder program like Audacity or Ocenaudio.

www.howtogeek.com

How to Enable “Stereo Mix” in Windows and Record Audio from Your PC

Ever need to record something on your computer exactly as it comes out of your speakers? Enabling “Stereo Mix” will let you do exactly that, and here’s how to do it. This will work on Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
www.howtogeek.com www.howtogeek.com
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm well aware. But because of the variety of streams I monitor, I much prefer to record the stream directly, since "What U Hear" can only handle one stream at a time, and I've got several streams to record simultaneously.

For my primary Audacy station, I've got the output of one of my HD radios interfaced into my laptop and recorded DVR style via multiple programmed schedules, avoiding the stream entirely, but again, that's only a single source set to a single radio station.
 
I've noticed since they killed the streamtheworld streams that I cannot get the Giants games on WFAN in north Jersey.
 
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