• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Finding the right streaming option

R

Radiofan101

We're a local media company that wants to branch out to internet radio. Our plan is to have an internet radio station playing music and local news. Finding the right way to stream has been tough. We want to follow all of the legal rules of streaming but we also want to make it as cost-effective as possible. And selling radio advertising is a must. We're not sure what option to go with here. Perhaps we could get a little help?

Live 365

Pros: Simple. Easy to use. Popular. Covers royalties. And they allow you to run ads with Pro Plans.

Cons: Really Expensive. Some plans have a set up fee of $199, plus you’re paying hundreds of more dollars per month depending on the amount of listeners you have and audio quality.

Radio Loyalty

Pros: Free to use. You can broadcast advertisements (including their own so you can make more money). Free server.

Cons: You have to pay all of the expensive royalty fees first. Ouch.

StreamLicensing

Pros: Covers all royalties. You are allowed to run your own ads.

Cons: Although their fees aren’t too expensive (a decent-sized station will pay between $50-$100 a month), it doesn’t include a server. So you would need to purchase a descent server (add another $50-$100 a month)

LoudCity

Pros: Royalities – check. And you can run your own ads I believe.

Cons: Very similar cons to StreamLicensing.

Loudcaster

Pros: Royalities covered which is great.

Cons: Upwards of $89 per month potentially. You can’t place ads in your broadcast though.
 
You can run ads with LC, but need to purchase a separate SESAC license to do so. Streamlicensing doesn't need this, but similar to LC. Live365 is too expensive, in my opinion, and I'm not familiar with Radio Loyalty, so no comment there.
 
You're going to find out if you want to make $$$$$ its going to cost you $$$$$$$$ as the more you $$$$$ the more the performance right orgs want.
 
MajorArmstrong said:
DJCMedia is combining StreamLicensing and RadioLoyalty into a nice package.

http://djcmedia.com/
Click to expand...

Wow, it's cheaper to go this route than to have StreamLicensing and Reliastream. I'm going to upgrade to this next month since I already made my monthly payment to reliastream.
 
Another possibility which my little slice o' radio heaven is exploring is to handle licensing and streaming separately. We're looking at options like StreamLicensing or dealing directly with SoundExchange (they have special provisions for stations like ours), then perhaps StreamOrbit.com for streaming/webhosting; their rates are really nice. Based at what I've read here, I'll look at DJCMedia as well.

We started with Live365 out of necessity, but they are pricey, and we had a continuing problem with being "de-listed" for imaginary DMCA violations (the metadata we were sending was not what they were reading). They do a good job of "one-stop-shopping", but I always get the vibe that our presence on the web is more about Live365 than our station. On the other hand, we have picked up far-flung listeners via their directory.

Radiofan101, thanks for posting a timely question; I'll be checking back for other responses to see what else I can learn as I do my research.
 
does anyone know of a stream provider that also has video to compliment the audio and is hooked up with the licensing as well ??
 
DJC Media is aces! Really nice folks who are giving our station an absolutely sweet deal! Great personal attention.
 
soundesigner said:
DJC Media is aces!  Really nice folks who are giving our station an absolutely sweet deal!  Great personal attention.
Click to expand...

I may purchase a package probably the first week of March.  I checked out the site and is way cheaper than how I do with Reliastream.  I can't wait to make the switch.
 
Since WRSG is currently off-air for a few days, I've been wondering about streaming. I always thought it was beyond our reach, so thanks for all the submissions. DJC Media sounds like a great way to go. I just don't want to start this then be slapped with a huge bill. Since we have Tyler Countians (West Virginia) all around the world, this may be the way for us to go. I just need something detailed to take to our license holder, the Board of Education. I wonder how many high school radio stations both stream and do OTA.
 
Wondering if anyone can help me out with a few DJC questions. I have emailed them but it's been several days, and I am getting anxious about this project... so just trying to get answers to get the ball rolling...

I am assuming using autoDJ I simply upload music, commercials, and talk show files to the server and then schedule them using the autoDJ tool? I am somewhat familiar with Nexgen, so I assume it operates in much the same way? I know some about the technical side of this, but not a full understanding yet of all what is involved.

My biggest concern is that I am looking to do this as a community side project through my own company... so I am trying to keep it fairly simple and inexpensive, while still providing the opportunity to turn a profit via advertising and a link back to my other websites which would support this. I know on your site you mention " Expenses/Earnings Up To $50.00 ". What exactly does that mean? Does it mean to be in license compliance I can only profit up to $50 a month? If so, is that only from commercial spots? And would I still be legal if rather than selling spots on the stream, I just inserted spots pushing listeners to my other sites, where there is display advertising?

Finally, does the licensing pretty much cover anything? I am looking to a series of fairly eclectic shows, ranging from current issue talk, to jazz, blues, local artists, etc.

Sorry for the newbie questions...
 
Actually, we have tried to answer your emails, but our replies must be going to a spam filter somewhere. Quite strange actually.

Terms of service and licensing help are located on our website at http://djcmedia.com/help.

We have several levels of licensing for your streams and if your income/expense level reaches the maximum. you can upgrade to a custom level. The pricing structure is set to help new broadcasters, such as yourself, get started at a reasonable price.

All of your shows would be covered under our umbrella as long as you abide by the rules set forth in the Terms Of Service listed on our help board.

Running a Internet Radio Station is never as easy as just loading your programs into a AutoDJ Program. It takes much thought and planning. On our help board is a manual you can download to get a feel for how our system works.

If you have further questions please feel free to submit a support ticket on our help board and one of our staff will respond to your questions in a timely manner. We can customize any options you need to make your streaming services very professional, affordable and reasonable.
 
Great! Thanks Wes. I have been checking email lately on my Kindle since I have been traveling so much, and can't get at my spam folder or options from there. I figured it was something like that....
 
Fat Tony said:
Great! Thanks Wes. I have been checking email lately on my Kindle since I have been traveling so much, and can't get at my spam folder or options from there. I figured it was something like that....
Click to expand...

My pleasure. I believe you just signed up with us. Just want you to know we sent a welcome email with your server information.
 
Greg Goodfellow said:
Since WRSG is currently off-air for a few days, I've been wondering about streaming. I always thought it was beyond our reach, so thanks for all the submissions. DJC Media sounds like a great way to go. I just don't want to start this then be slapped with a huge bill. Since we have Tyler Countians (West Virginia) all around the world, this may be the way for us to go. I just need something detailed to take to our license holder, the Board of Education. I wonder how many high school radio stations both stream and do OTA.
Click to expand...

Greg,

We have several options for schools to stream. Our company is all about education, not large profit or gross expansion. Ask soundesigner what we did for Delgado Community College and Dolphin Radio. Delgado brought their own licensing to the table and we provided the stream to the students for free.

In another instance we assisted an High School Career Center in obtaining a blanket license and we are providing their streaming free.

Shoot me a contact request at www.djcmedia.com/help and tell me what your needs are and I will be more than happy to customize something for your school as well.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom