How Do You Feel About Internet Radio?

[radiofan2023]

I feel good.

I knew that you would

 

[wadio]

I knew that you would

...now

 

[boombox4]

The problem with internet radio is being discovered. There are so many many streams. You need brand recognition so that people look for you. You have many advantages if you are streaming a station that has listeners on the radio.

People who depend on content creation and internet distribution (eBook publishing, for example, an industry I am well acquainted with) have been dealing with the visibility issue for probably the last 10 years, and if you're a participant in that sort of business you know that visibility is the biggest hurdle to getting your content discovered. If no one discovers your content, you won't be making money off of it. It's that simple.

It's because there are gazillions of content streams and sites, with all kinds of content -- be it visual or audio -- all competing for the same screen time. When radio goes all online, it will just be another form of internet content, and the larger audio streaming sites like Spotify and Pandora, YT, Apple music, etc. won't have the same visibility issues that the smaller audio streaming operations have.

But at the same time, there still are visibility issues within the larger platforms -- individual content creators don't necessarily have listeners when their songs are competing with literally millions of other songs on the same platform. It's the same with podcasts. I've seen YT vids with thousands of views, and I've seen some with maybe a handful of views. The competition is infinite and visibility is the hurdle to having success.

So your comment about internet radio being discovered is spot on. It's an issue.

 

[gregg75]

I've been streaming Dance/House/Disco for almost 10 years and it's gone through at lot of changes. Royalties are the main thing holding back independent streaming radio (too high). Standing out from the crowd would be next. How do you do it? With 10 stations over there all playing "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge, you be different and play "He The Greatest Dancer" instead. That's how you stand out.

 

[Plate Blocker]

I've made my 'fortune' in broadcast over 45 years, but frankly, I don't listen much any more. At two homes I have a total of six tabletop 'internet' radios where I can program in the URL of a streaming source....everything from metal to polka music. I love it. I've not found a good app where I can do the same for my phone, so I end up playing the 'extra' Sirius channels, Music Choice, Calm radio, or the like in the car.

I don't know what happened, but I think my change was mostly attributable to spots....many don't fit the format, the spot breaks are often too long, audio levels are often annoying, and more.

I'm guilty about it, but it is what it is. I don't see the tabletop streaming radios really taking off....too much user intervention for Joe and Mary Sixpack.

 

[johnbasalla]

Everybody I know, or am aware of, who are in "radio broadcasting" are all on terrestrial stations. That's one of the reasons I listen to over-the-air radio or streams of over-the-air stations. I support AM and FM broadcasting.

 

[ac175]

I've loved country music since I was a young teenager. The last locally owned country station near me sold out to a Christian ministry late last year. It was the final straw for me in listening to fm. All that's left around me now are terrible Iheart country stations that offer no local coverage or content, and just plain play terrible country music. Not to mention I live about 15 minutes from town, there have been times I could drive to town and only hear 1 song on Iheart. The other 12 minutes were commercials. I own a small business and understand commercials are how stations make their money, and I don't mind listening to commercials from other local businesses, but 12 minutes worth straight is just ridiculous. So last month i decided to start an internet radio station to cover my local area and play real sounding traditional country music. I view it as a hobby, I know I will never make money, but thinking I may be bringing some joy to other folks who miss the local connection makes it feel worth it.

 

[fybush]

We live in a multi-platform world. When I'm creating "radio," my goal is to make it available wherever and whenever a potential listener is there to find it. If they're listening on traditional AM or FM, that's great, but I am just as happy if they're hearing me on HD2, on streaming, on their smart speaker or later on via podcast.

In 2024, you have to be where your audience is, because there's a ton of content and a lot of platforms. And there's very little content that's so compelling that it will drag potential listeners to platforms they're not already using - and for a lot of potential listeners, younger ones in particular, FM and especially AM are not platforms they're already using.

 

[cc333]

@ac175 That is supurb!

I want to do the same in my area, but more focused on classic MOR/soft AC, with a little bit of everything else thrown in (sort of an everything station).

Did you get all the proper licensing and such so ASCAP et al won't come after you?

I'm figuring out how I can have an Internet stream while still having some degree of the kind of freedom I have now with my Part 15 AM (which actually sounds quite good, almost indistinguishable from FM on a good C-QuAM radio with a wideband setting, such as the Sony SRF-A100). I could do Part 15 FM, but it's harder to have a usable range and stay legal (because of how AM works, I've read that it should be possible to have a 100% compliant setup with a usable range of maybe half a mile under good conditions, which is plenty for me).

c

 

[Gregg.]

Let me put in a good word for "Accuradio.com." It's amazing how many services they offer. I like Smooth Jazz while I'm working or reading. They must have a dozen Smooth Jazz feeds. You want only instrumentals? You got it. Mostly guitar, mostly piano? Check. Prefer uptempo Smooth Jazz? They've got Smooth Jazz Dinner Party. How about the Best of 2022? 2023? The current Top 100? All are available. Four minutes of commercials per hour.

They do similar services for AC, Top 40, Country, Classical and other genres.

 

[ac175]

@ac175 That is supurb!

I want to do the same in my area, but more focused on classic MOR/soft AC, with a little bit of everything else thrown in (sort of an everything station).

Did you get all the proper licensing and such so ASCAP et al won't come after you?

I'm figuring out how I can have an Internet stream while still having some degree of the kind of freedom I have now with my Part 15 AM (which actually sounds quite good, almost indistinguishable from FM on a good C-QuAM radio with a wideband setting, such as the Sony SRF-A100). I could do Part 15 FM, but it's harder to have a usable range and stay legal (because of how AM works, I've read that it should be possible to have a 100% compliant setup with a usable range of maybe half a mile under good conditions, which is plenty for me).

c

I'm using live365. It's like $60 a month for up to 1500 listening hours or so. They cover all the music licensing fee's, you just upload your music library. I just started last month, only getting 5-10 listeners a day, but hey maybe it will grow.

 

[cc333]

Ah, I see.

I'm considering Live365 for mine, too, but I don't want Live'365's ads, as I've noticed while listening to other Live365 stations, they insert them indiscriminately, often mid-song (if anything, I'll insert my own, so I can have control over when and how often they play), and I want to program what songs play when and in what order.

And whatever I get set up, I'll probably use it as a feed for my Part 15 transmitter, if only to say, "because I can!"

Do they cover the logging too? I don't relish the thought of having to research every song to determine what labels they were released on, which ones are ASCAP or BMI, etc. If all I have to do is upload my library as is and pay the monthly fee, that might encourage me to go ahead with it sooner rather than later!

I'll have to get some ongoing donations setup to get started though, as I don't have a day job (yet), so no way to pay myself in an ongoing fashion. And I also want it to be at least mostly self-sustaining, so I can concentrate on the fun part!

c

 

[ac175]

I have it ran on auto Dj most times based off the clock wheel I have set up. It has never cut any songs mid way through with commercials that I have ever heard. You can also subscribe to live365 without their adds. I think the $60 plan goes to $90 a month if you don't include their adds. After 90 days they'll pay you for the adds based on how many impressions their adds have gotten on your station. All the music I've bought online in digital form was ready to go. I did have to log some other music I had uploaded through the years. I started on a 7 day trail just to see if I liked it or could figure it out lol, they probably are still offering that if you want to try it.

 

[cc333]

I have it ran on auto Dj most times based off the clock wheel I have set up. It has never cut any songs mid way through with commercials that I have ever heard.

I would probably do the same. Maybe there's different options regarding ads?

You can also subscribe to live365 without their adds. I think the $60 plan goes to $90 a month if you don't include their adds.

Yeah, that sounds about right.

After 90 days they'll pay you for the adds based on how many impressions their adds have gotten on your station.

Ooo, that's nice. About how much do you get with your 15-ish listeners, do you think?

All the music I've bought online in digital form was ready to go. I did have to log some other music I had uploaded through the years.

Ugh, a sizable chunk of the music I have is rather obscure. Some of it I don't even know song title and artist!

I started on a 7 day trail just to see if I liked it or could figure it out lol, they probably are still offering that if you want to try it.

I think they still offer that, and I'm tempted to sign up.

c

 

[Greg Goodfellow]

I've loved country music since I was a young teenager. The last locally owned country station near me sold out to a Christian ministry late last year. It was the final straw for me in listening to fm. All that's left around me now are terrible Iheart country stations that offer no local coverage or content, and just plain play terrible country music. Not to mention I live about 15 minutes from town, there have been times I could drive to town and only hear 1 song on Iheart. The other 12 minutes were commercials. I own a small business and understand commercials are how stations make their money, and I don't mind listening to commercials from other local businesses, but 12 minutes worth straight is just ridiculous. So last month i decided to start an internet radio station to cover my local area and play real sounding traditional country music. I view it as a hobby, I know I will never make money, but thinking I may be bringing some joy to other folks who miss the local connection makes it feel worth it.

I've loved country music since I was a young teenager. The last locally owned country station near me sold out to a Christian ministry late last year. It was the final straw for me in listening to fm. All that's left around me now are terrible Iheart country stations that offer no local coverage or content, and just plain play terrible country music. Not to mention I live about 15 minutes from town, there have been times I could drive to town and only hear 1 song on Iheart. The other 12 minutes were commercials. I own a small business and understand commercials are how stations make their money, and I don't mind listening to commercials from other local businesses, but 12 minutes worth straight is just ridiculous. So last month i decided to start an internet radio station to cover my local area and play real sounding traditional country music. I view it as a hobby, I know I will never make money, but thinking I may be bringing some joy to other folks who miss the local connection makes it feel worth it.

One of my nephews started his station a month or so ago, a country and pop hybrid, and is constantly busy fulfilling listener requests.

 

[ac175]

I would probably do the same. Maybe there's different options regarding ads?


Yeah, that sounds about right.


Ooo, that's nice. About how much do you get with your 15-ish listeners, do you think?


Ugh, a sizable chunk of the music I have is rather obscure. Some of it I don't even know song title and artist!


I think they still offer that, and I'm tempted to sign up.

c

I'm not expecting much in the way of the Live365 advertising payments. I just checked my total advertising impressions last month were 1750 it says, which is a minuscule % of Live 365 as a whole I'm sure. Maybe a couple bucks? As I said I'm just viewing it as a fun hobby. I've wasted more money on worse lol.

 

[Kasper]

I think the key to success when running an online only station is CONTENT. Literally anyone can play music nowadays. You need to find what makes you stand out and take it and run. I've found being a hyper local station and getting out in the streets marketing and promoting is an ingredient to operating a station successfully. Or you can just continue programming your station for yourself if listenership or money don't matter. My two cents.

 

[DJboutit3]

I really like Internet radio I run Phat Beats Radio playing Rap RnB Soul Funk Reggae Chillhop Acid Jazz Triphop Ambient Blues from 1970s to early 2000s. The peak of internet radio was 2006 to early 2013 during this time stations averaged 45 to 60 listeners now days stations average 6 to 20 listeners. There are now 75% to 85% less listeners than during the peak of internet with competition like Deezer Tidal Spotify and Youtube people do not listen to internet radio any more. I like with internet radio most stations are not playing adds which a big plus to most alternative and your favorite genres you have a min 20 stations to choose from. If cars had radios that were capable of picking up internet radio stations then the amount of listeners would increase 2x to 3x this is a min of 5 to 8 years away.

 

[passtheword]

I really like Internet radio I run Phat Beats Radio playing Rap RnB Soul Funk Reggae Chillhop Acid Jazz Triphop Ambient Blues from 1970s to early 2000s. The peak of internet radio was 2006 to early 2013 during this time stations averaged 45 to 60 listeners now days stations average 6 to 20 listeners. There are now 75% to 85% less listeners than during the peak of internet with competition like Deezer Tidal Spotify and Youtube people do not listen to internet radio any more. I like with internet radio most stations are not playing adds which a big plus to most alternative and your favorite genres you have a min 20 stations to choose from. If cars had radios that were capable of picking up internet radio stations then the amount of listeners would increase 2x to 3x this is a min of 5 to 8 years away.

Having been involved in internet radio for almost thirteen years, these are some of my observations I've made during that time:

-As someone previously said, internet stations have to be proactive in letting people know about their stations bc listeners aren't just going to stumble across them as they can AM/FM stations on the dial. Being involved in the area (if the station is done locally) makes a huge difference. It's not only beneficial to do so, it's a MUST.

-Internet stations should do a better job of promoting MOBILE access of their stations bc, after all, people are accustomed to listening to AM and FM radio "on the go". Many times I see internet stations providing website addresses and put little, if any, emphasis on the mobile aspect of their stations. Some don't even have a dedicated mobile app or use third-party mobile apps to list their stations. I promote my stations' mobile access EXTENSIVELY; PC/wired access is mentioned but not as a primary way for listening. I don't have a dedicated mobile app for either station I do in order to keep costs down, but I do list both stations on multiple third-party mobile apps. I provide this information to my listeners as well. Website addresses are not bad to use, at least to some degree, but if that is the only means stations give their listeners to tune in, it gives the idea their stations are only available via a strictly, wired-only experience as internet radio was in its infancy. Also, many stations fail to inform their listeners concerning smart speakers and how to listen via that platform, yet another important facet of listening to internet radio.

-Internet radio stations tend to minimize themselves with terms such as "streaming stations", "streams", and "internet-only", the latter of which is very limiting, IMO. Perception is important, which is why I use the term "internet-BASED" for my stations. It's no different than how the used car dealerships changed how they marketed their businesses and inventory from being "used cars" to "pre-owned cars". Again, perception is EVERYTHING.

-People who are involved in internet radio assume the average radio listener is familiar with internet radio and how it works (how to receive it, what they need to receive it, that it's mobile, etc). In many cases, the average Joe Q. Listener out there has little to no knowledge concerning internet radio. Case in point: Many years ago, we had a semi-local FM that offered an oldies/classic hits format and was sold to a christian group. The new owners changed the station's format to christian programming. Since one of my stations offered similar music of the outgoing format, I engaged with many of them on Facebook and told them my station was based on the internet and to give us a listen There were quite a few of them who had NO idea that internet radio was even mobile and assumed it was still a wired-only experience as it was in the 90s. Some knew the internet was mobile with smartphones, etc but they told me they couldn't listen to internet stations bc there was (supposedly) no way for them to connect their phone to their vehicle stereo speakers. And there were those too who knew that it was entirely possible to listen to internet radio while in a car/moving vehicle but didn't have the knowledge to do all of it. So internet stations need to do MUCH BETTER about educating listeners about the media bc we assume they know all of this bc we do, and the reality is they just don't. Education is KEY. That is why I always try to share with my listeners about how to listen to my stations with smartphones and other mobile devices while driving. There's also the myth many of them believe too that listening to internet radio every day will "eat up all their (cell) data" plan for the month. That of course isn't valid unless they're listening for 10-12+ hours per day, every day, lol. I listen to internet radio while I drive and out and about. I have never even come close to exceeding my allotted data for the month and I am listening for several hours per day, and that includes everything else I do online (Facebook, Youtube, checking email and other activities).

 

[davideduardo]

I'm guilty about it, but it is what it is. I don't see the tabletop streaming radios really taking off....too much user intervention for Joe and Mary Sixpack.

On the other hand, you have Amazon and Alexa where you can call up streams and stations easily.