Guide to Getting an Internet Radio Station Started
In the past several years, Internet radio has boomed, allowing us to listen to streaming audio from anywhere in the world, at any time. We'll go over the various ways to set up an Internet radio station, as well as some of the rules that go along with it.
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History
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In 1993, the first Internet radio station was born. Carl Malamud created a talk show about computers. But back then, it couldn't be streamed, so it was distributed by a single audio file which users downloaded. In 1994, WXYC, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was the first radio station to broadcast on the Internet. Soon after, more radio stations were releasing broadcasts as downloadable options. Internet radio took off from there. Now there are more Internet radio stations than their traditional predecessors because of their reliability and their low cost.
Geography
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The great thing about Internet radio is the fact that anyone, from anywhere in the world, can start one. All you need is access to the Web, a microphone, a means to record and maybe a credit card.
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How It Works
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Internet radio stations are either streamed through a website or through a peer-to-peer program, and sometimes both. If you're going to purchase a website to stream it on, be aware of the costs involved. Make sure your web host can handle streaming and won't charge you for going over your bandwidth usage, or better yet, find a host that offers unlimited bandwidth.
Live365
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Live365 is a popular website which allows anyone with a credit card to create an Internet radio show. They have various packages and they're always having sales. Live365 also offers the opportunity to generate some cash from your show. Also, your monthly cost goes toward royalty costs, which can get complicated. Live365 makes it easy to switch between packages, so the more serious you get with your radio station, the more you can consider upgrading your account.
SHOUTcast
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SHOUTcast is a bit more complicated than Live365, but it's free except for the web hosting. You'll either need to find your own web hosting or find someone else to run it for you. You download their Winamp software and configure your computer to their specifications. If you're going to play any copyrighted music, however, you'll need to think about how you'll pay for the royalties.
Direct From Your Computer
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Using software that is either free or fairly cheap, you can broadcast directly from your computer. Real.com and Quicktime are free streaming servers through which to stream your broadcast. Peer Cast, Icecast and Pirate Radio are some of the most popular software used to create your broadcast and stream it to everyone across the globe. Streaming directly from your computer requires that your computer has enough processing power and that you're fairly knowledgeable about how the software works. There are also hosting providers which can be located in the resources section.
Music Licensing
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In 1998, a law was passed by Congress requiring all Internet radio stations to pay royalties on any copyrighted music used in broadcasts. If you're going to start a radio station that plays copyrighted music, you're going to have to consider the royalties and how you're going to pay for them. You will get noticed eventually and if you're caught not paying royalties, the fines are excruciating.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit www.livewebdj.com
