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Rookie Question

R

Radio-Bored-Op

I am interested in streaming.
I am going to register the domain name
to the station website with godaddy and create all the socials to go along with it,
however I'm confused about:

does one need to get a service such as
nextKast to schedule programming
AND then invest in something ( live365, radio . co ) to be "on the air" ??

Is radio co the equivalent to the FM tower? or can nextkast program the Playlist and schedule ids, etc AS WELL AS get the station "on the air" (Sream online) .... and since I'm here, will that be separate from the station website.

This in fact my first rodeo.

Also, the music files / Playlist, library on my hard drive or is that something included with the purchase of software to broadcast ??.

Thanx everyone
 
FWIW....I use Radio.co for my streaming service. You can set up your schedule and playlist(s) with them.
Reach out to Radio.co for advice.....They've been VERY helpful to me and stay in close contact once you're connected.
BTW....I use Godaddy for my website, and have the Radio.co stream set up on a "LISTEN" button.
Even Radio.co's basic (STANDARD) operating tier provides bandwidth of (up to) 192 kbps....and a listenership of 20, 000!!
Radio.co is based in Manchester, UK.....Don't let a distance factor put you off --- they do a REALLY good job of getting you on the air,
and KEEPING you running smoothly!! Good luck!:)
 
Radio-Bored-Op said:
I am interested in streaming.
I am going to register the domain name
to the station website with godaddy and create all the socials to go along with it,
however I'm confused about:

does one need to get a service such as
nextKast to schedule programming
AND then invest in something ( live365, radio . co ) to be "on the air" ??

Is radio co the equivalent to the FM tower? or can nextkast program the Playlist and schedule ids, etc AS WELL AS get the station "on the air" (Sream online) .... and since I'm here, will that be separate from the station website.

This in fact my first rodeo.

Also, the music files / Playlist, library on my hard drive or is that something included with the purchase of software to broadcast ??.

Thanx everyone
Click to expand...

Hey there!

We run a successful, profitable station in Destin, Florida (DestinFM). I had all these questions (and more) when we started two years ago. I’d be happy to hop on a call for about 15 minutes if you want to fire off your questions!
 
I too started as a complete rookie back in February. I use live365 as all the music licensing is built into the monthly price. Makes it easy that way. I use PlayIt Live for software. Both make it easy enough that even if you're not a seasoned professional you can still make a quality sounding station. The only tech part I've struggled with so far is getting the remote studio to work on PlayIt Live for live remotes. Also don't get down on your self at first if you're the only listener. It's taken me 9 months to get closer to where I was hoping as far as listenership
 
ac175 said:
I too started as a complete rookie back in February. I use live365 as all the music licensing is built into the monthly price. Makes it easy that way. I use PlayIt Live for software. Both make it easy enough that even if you're not a seasoned professional you can still make a quality sounding station. The only tech part I've struggled with so far is getting the remote studio to work on PlayIt Live for live remotes. Also don't get down on your self at first if you're the only listener. It's taken me 9 months to get closer to where I was hoping as far as listenership
Click to expand...

So live365 is the FM transmitter and
the legal eagle for the music played on the station.

▶️ playIt luve: works as cool edit _ the audio production.... okay, cool.

my next inquiry:
where / how does one store the play list
? _ ie: the SoundCloud 1 hour mix.
or the ( modest at first ) 50 song Playlist.

I'm not too concerned about being live on location right now. and then an entity such as Go-daddy hosts the website.
( or is that thru live365) or both.
I would like the business model of the professionals, the live365 stream would be similar to the geocities - and the long and tricky address, but the quick link would be the station website, ( simple ) and less than 15 letters dot com ☆
or dot fm

I'm getting there.....
 
And, Will need to upgrade the main frame computer _ and how much memory will be required ( bare minimum )

any suggestions ?

Microsoft Surface Pro
? or go Apple / mac ...
 
Radio-Bored-Op said:
I am interested in streaming.
I am going to register the domain name
to the station website with godaddy and create all the socials to go along with it,
however I'm confused about:

does one need to get a service such as
nextKast to schedule programming
AND then invest in something ( live365, radio . co ) to be "on the air" ??

Is radio co the equivalent to the FM tower? or can nextkast program the Playlist and schedule ids, etc AS WELL AS get the station "on the air" (Sream online) .... and since I'm here, will that be separate from the station website.

This in fact my first rodeo.

Also, the music files / Playlist, library on my hard drive or is that something included with the purchase of software to broadcast ??.

Thanx everyone
Click to expand...
LIVE 365 is best, INCLUDES LICENSING!
 
Definitely recommend Live 365 if you're just starting out, they have tools that can help you grow and expand as well. And if you want to start running your own playout system and doing live broadcasts, remotes, etc, they can help you with that as well. Think of Live 365 as the studio and transmitter, and you just "come in and broadcast" in their (virtual) facility.
 
Oldie919 said:
FWIW....I use Radio.co for my streaming service. You can set up your schedule and playlist(s) with them.
Reach out to Radio.co for advice.....They've been VERY helpful to me and stay in close contact once you're connected.
BTW....I use Godaddy for my website, and have the Radio.co stream set up on a "LISTEN" button.
Even Radio.co's basic (STANDARD) operating tier provides bandwidth of (up to) 192 kbps....and a listenership of 20, 000!!
Radio.co is based in Manchester, UK.....Don't let a distance factor put you off --- they do a REALLY good job of getting you on the air,
and KEEPING you running smoothly!! Good luck!:)
Click to expand...
I can vouch for Radio.co, I used to work for a streaming rival in the same part of the world (back when these guys were called Wavestreaming) and we could always tell they were going places. Good people, based out of a real office with real humans on support. I know a few people who use them for studio-less DAB stations in the UK, and the campus radio station at the university where I work these days (I work at the university, not the radio!) uses them successfully.
 
That's the million-dollar question. You have to offer something that makes folks choose your station over Spotify, YouTube, etc. I try to cater to my local audience which helps. I've gotten to know a lot of the local bluegrass bands and play a lot of their music, so they promote my station and tell their fans to listen. In fact I went to one of their shows a couple weeks back, and they had me get on stage and tell everyone about the station, gained some new listeners from that. I'm currently in early talk with the county fairgrounds to put together a bluegrass festival of all local artists. That's what Spotify, YouTube, and even FM terrestrial stations nowadays don't do.
 


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