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Stream Providers and Music Royalty Payments

R

RadioMan203

Since I'm always seeing new stations popping up without mention of either of these topics, I'd figure I'd start a thread.

For those of you who are streaming who are you using for stream providers? I've seen a few and wonder who has had good luck (or not so good luck) with these: Live365, ServerRoom.us, StreamGuys, Mediacast.

Also, what are you doing for paying royalties: Are you paying them yourself? Are you using a stream provider with a piggybacked license agreement (Live365) or are you using one of the license sub-providers (LoudCity, SWCast, etc). I see so many new announcements of new streams and most every companion web site doesn't have any mention of legal compliance of paying artists royalties. Of course, I suppose there can be "pirate" radio streams, but I wouldn't want to be them when they finally get nabbed by the powers-that-be.

I'm looking to grow my stream and thought it would be good to see how others are handling these two issues.

BTW: Anybody adopt the subscription model for their streams? Any success?
 
I am currently using "Viastreaming" as my stream host.
I am also using Loudcity as my license to stream.

But I mainly stream Unsigned Indie music that the artists have already gave permission.

Hope this helps! :)

~Dj Stitch~
Fox FM
 
Bill,

I've used Live365 since July 2001 with relatively few problems.

I like having the royalty payments covered under my plan.
 
Bill- We are about to begin streaming with Abacast, which gives us good bandwidth at a price point that makes sense. Of course, listeners have to download the Abacast plug-in which redistributes the stream using some of the listener's upstream bandwidth. I received a number of good recommendations for them.
As for royalties, we're a tiny college fm station and licensing is covered by our FM agreements with BMI/ASCAP. At some point our "Class-D" fm may go away since another group wants our frequency and then we will go "internet only." At that point, we will seek a statutory license for music.
 
VeteranPD said:
Bill- We are about to begin streaming with Abacast, which gives us good bandwidth at a price point that makes sense. Of course, listeners have to download the Abacast plug-in which redistributes the stream using some of the listener's upstream bandwidth. I received a number of good recommendations for them.
As for royalties, we're a tiny college fm station and licensing is covered by our FM agreements with BMI/ASCAP. At some point our "Class-D" fm may go away since another group wants our frequency and then we will go "internet only." At that point, we will seek a statutory license for music.
Click to expand...

I'd really be interested in hearing how Abacast works for you. The only drawback (at least in my own mind) is that it's pretty much a Windows-only plug-in so you're leaving those with Macs and *nix systems in the dust. Other than that it sounds like an interesting way not to go hog wild with bandwidth charges.

At least you have the FM to help get the better streaming rates (not all your FM royalty rights cover your stream - you'd be best to consult with people more in the know just to find out what the school's actual liabilities are). I'm working with a high school who wants to put a streaming station online and I certainly want all my ducks in a row before they light their stream.
 
I started, The Cow, as my first Internet radio station in late May of this year. It's a country easy listening station. I started my second station in September, Simply 60's, which features Top 40 hits of the 1960's. Both are through Live365. I'm quite please with the ease of getting the stations set up and the fact that the fee covers the royalties. To me, Live365, is that 'one-stop shop' that provides everything to get started, keep things legal and continue upgrading as things progress. Plus, they have a great message board.
 
Thanks for the heads up on that Bill. Le me know how you make out with that HS station. We have legal representation, so I'm gonna press them on this issue to make sure we've covered.
We're hoping to launch in February. We just got the new computer in to do the streaming and Windows Media Encoder looks like an easy set up out to Abacast. Abacast says they'll have un up in less than an hour, once we're set on our side.
I have yet to figure out what audio I'll feed to the Internet . I'm hoping to take it off our Aphex Coompellor. The "cheap and dirty" way would be an FM tuner into the computer.
 
radioman1380 said:
I started, The Cow, as my first Internet radio station in late May of this year. It's a country easy listening station. I started my second station in September, Simply 60's, which features Top 40 hits of the 1960's. Both are through Live365. I'm quite please with the ease of getting the stations set up and the fact that the fee covers the royalties. To me, Live365, is that 'one-stop shop' that provides everything to get started, keep things legal and continue upgrading as things progress. Plus, they have a great message board.
Click to expand...

Overall Live365 is ok as far as the "one stop shop" goes, but since my stream is on their C2000 package they're going crazy by pulling all of us off of iTunes at the end of the year and jumping the pricing up by eliminating that package. I understand they have to make a profit, but come on guys! I told them on more than one occasion that I would be happy to air their ads in my live stream but they have no interest. They'd rather pepper somebody's basic stream with ads and let them pay the $2000 SWSA fee.

I have two clients I'm consulting for - a commercial FM and the high school that both want to stream. I'm going to straight out tell Live365 I have two big clients for them and they should consider the business I'm bringing them in regards to my station. If not, I'm going to send them both to LoudCity and another stream provider. Live365 never seems too interested in dealing with their clients and considering I've been with them over 5 years I would have hoped they see me more as an asset to their service. I had a non-commercial classical music and fine arts FM station client I got streaming on Live365 and the stream had so much trouble the station demanded I find them another provider. They've been quite happy to move away from Live365 and while it may mean I will have to scale my own station down, I'm strongly considering another provider once my current stream plan expires.
 
My station is on Live365. I have not had any problems with them. And I like not having to worry much about the licensing stuff. The only beef I have is the itunes restrictions mandated by 365. My station is not yet large enough to warrant moving to the expensive packages.

Cheers,
Eve
 
eve said:
My station is on Live365. I have not had any problems with them. And I like not having to worry much about the licensing stuff. The only beef I have is the itunes restrictions mandated by 365. My station is not yet large enough to warrant moving to the expensive packages.

Cheers,
Eve
Click to expand...

I don't know how long you've been with Live365, but you should consider yourself lucky if you survived the "Disk Crash of 2005" when their server farm have a drive array soil the linen. It was bad enough when all the basic broadcasters lost their files then add to that all the dropouts caused by the traffic generated when the affected broadcasters attempted to re-upload their content. They have a business model with potential but the way they tiff off some of the higher paying hobbyist-class webcasters they're not going to have them long. Of course, it's pretty appearent they don't give a rat's backside about live or relay mode users since they can't put their ads in their streams. As long as you're a basic-mode user they seem to take alright care of you.
 
Bill,

I can sympathize with you situation on Live365. Having only had my stations for a short time I haven't run up against any problems...just the usual downtime occassionaly for their maintenance work on weekends. I've been associated with radio broadcasting for nearly 40 years now, still in it. But my Live365 stations give me a hobby that I enjoy and feel I can provide something someone likes to listen to. Both have done quite well in the rankings under country/classic country and easy listening for "The Cow" and in Oldies/60's/Rock & Roll for "Simply 60's". I'm not as involved in it as it sounds you have been.

A few years ago a station I owned was one of the first few to sign on with a new network. I didn't hear from their rep but once during the first six months. Then someone at the net smartened up and realized that the success of the network was determined by the success of their affiliates. That's when things changed. Maybe Live365 will realize this, too.
 
radioman1380 said:
Bill,

I can sympathize with you situation on Live365. Having only had my stations for a short time I haven't run up against any problems...just the usual downtime occassionaly for their maintenance work on weekends. I've been associated with radio broadcasting for nearly 40 years now, still in it. But my Live365 stations give me a hobby that I enjoy and feel I can provide something someone likes to listen to. Both have done quite well in the rankings under country/classic country and easy listening for "The Cow" and in Oldies/60's/Rock & Roll for "Simply 60's". I'm not as involved in it as it sounds you have been.

A few years ago a station I owned was one of the first few to sign on with a new network. I didn't hear from their rep but once during the first six months. Then someone at the net smartened up and realized that the success of the network was determined by the success of their affiliates. That's when things changed. Maybe Live365 will realize this, too.
Click to expand...

Actually I'm moving my music station from Live365 to Loud City and am actually simulcasting on both right now. Listenership on the shoutcast stream is up to 1/3 fo the audience I'm allowed on Live365 so I feel soon I'll make up the difference. Going to flip formats on the Live365 station, go basic and downgrade to P300. I was a C2000 but have dropped to P1000 already due to the switch and the change of Live365 packages. Bill drop me an email at [email protected], I have a question for you offboard.

http://www.90sandnow.com
 
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