Internet Radio

June 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The advent of the Internet brought us huge technological advances in productivity and entertainment. Businesses are more profitable than anyone believed imaginable and we can now take our television shows, movies and music with us everywhere we go using laptops and web-enabled mobile phones. Internet radio has been one of the biggest innovations for mobile entertainment, featuring customizable stations that actually learn what types of music its user prefers and is able to provide related artists and albums based on the user’s history.

When we think about Internet radio, Pandora comes to mind as one of the largest and most popular of such services. Pandora apps are also available for Windows, Android and iOS mobile phones and devices as well as the web-based service access via computer. It is not uncommon to walk through any office today and find cubicle inhabitants all listening to their own personalized Pandora stations through ear bud headphones. Of course, Pandora isn’t alone; other web-based radio providers include Yahoo Music, Google Music and Last.FM are all giving Pandora a run for her money, especially in the North American markets.

The future of the music industry, including satellite radio, traditional AM / FM radio and Internet radio, is difficult to predict. We have seen so much in the way of innovation and new technology over the last decade that it is nearly impossible to ascertain a future direction. One can only be assured of the fact that there will always be some type of radio, in one form or another, and that this entertainment venue will never die.

 

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How To Start An Online Radio Station

January 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

You hear more and more about internet radio.  It is a growing industry that many want to get their hands into.  There are different ways to start your own online radio station, but for the purpose of space, we will stick with the easiest.  You have some websites that pay the royalties for you and then some that just allow you to play music that you own the rights to.  What you decide to choose comes down to your preference.  Right now we are going to look at two websites that offer online radio stations to anyone.

Live365.com is a website that basically works as a transmitter for you.  Their packages start at 5.95 a month and go up to 100 dollars a month.  Live365 also offers a Pro package that you can customize.  The Pro package allows you to broadcast live or pre-recorded material.  You control the advertising.  The price per month for this is dependent on your customization and therefore you should contact Live365 for exact pricing on the Pro package.  In order for you to play popular music that we all hear on the radio, you have to pay royalties to the singers and record companies.  All royalties are included in your price.  You can not only play music but you can put your own voice out there as a broadcaster.  You can also earn revenue with this website.

Ubroadcast.com allows anyone to broadcast television and radio to any audience all over the internet.  Your broadcasts can be embedded to be shared on Facebook, MySpace, or virtually any web site.  For just a basic broadcast all you need is a microphone, camera and the internet.  It can be as simple or as complex as you want it, but give that free trial a shot first.  The cost for this ranges, but ubroadcast.com does have a free account.  This website pays no royalties; it will only broadcast music you own the rights to.

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A Brief Look at Radio Ads

November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Radio advertising has been a popular form of marketing since the radio was invented. Just a short commercial can make a huge impact on listeners. It can persuade them to purchase something or try a new product. While this form of advertising has been around for over 100 years, it’s undergone a transformation in that time.

When the radio was first invented, advertisements sounded like a story. There were characters, songs, and interesting voices. All this was designed to get listeners excited about the products. The majority of advertisements were for items that were considered essential household goods such as laundry soap, refrigerators, and even cigarettes.

Over time, radio advertisements began to change. Songs and jingles are still a part of the advertising effort today, but the types of products and services that are being promoted have changed. You can hear advertisements for software companies that run update driver scans, movies, new restaurants, retailers, and automakers.

Another way that radio advertising has changed is in its use of time and space for announcements that promote something other than for profit enterprises. Radio time can be bought by politicians who are running for office and even community organizations that have events and various charitable efforts to promote. Some radio stations even broadcast a number of public service announcements for free on behalf of non-profit organizations. This helps stations fulfill the promise that’s inherent in their FCC-issued broadcast license to be stewards of the airwaves and serve the public good. However, these PSAs do impact the amount of time that’s available for traditional ads.

Radio advertising changes with the times, and it will be interesting to hear what radio ads sounds like in another 10 or even 20 years. Who knows if traditional radio will even exist a decade from now as Internet radio, podcasts, and satellite radio become more popular.

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Starting a Internet Radio Station

September 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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As the popularity of the Internet continues to grow, many people are taking advantage of the ability to be heard by millions around the world. Starting an Internet radio station can be a simple task once a person has obtain all of the right resources needed to get started. However, there are some decisions that
will need to be made before the dream of having an Internet radio station can come true.

One of the first steps is to buy all of the equipment that will be needed to start the station. A computer that is no more than three years old should be purchased
along with the latest updates, programs like FileZilla for transferring files and virus protection. This computer can be used to run the radio station software and talk to the listeners online during the show. In addition to the computer, the following equipment may be needed as well: speakers,
microphones, amplifiers, webcams and audio cables.

After purchasing the equipment, a decision needs to be made on the format of the radio station and where the files will come from and be transferred from via software like File Zilla. This decision will determine if licenses are needed. A talk radio show would be perfect for someone who enjoys talking and wants to educate their listeners on important topics or a certain interest. Starting a music radio
station would require licenses to be obtained or royalties to be paid to play national and local recording artists songs on the station.

It is very important to know about the right type of licenses to obtain before starting a radio station. Due to copyright laws, no radio stations can play any protected copyrighted content without paying royalties. There are strict
penalties for breaking these laws. There are agencies available that will handle the collection of the royalties for the music artists on your behalf for a fee. Before selecting a company, an individual should always do some research first.

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