Linking to & Playing Radio Stations

[billh]

Hey Folks,

I had someone ask if I could write a MOD for their (script) site. They want to link to radio stations, have a pop-up window and have the music play. I know it uses your bandwidth so I'm not sure. So my question is, Do you (station owners) allow people/sites to link to and play your music on their site?

 

 

Thanks,

Bill

[THREETEN RADIO]

I would allow it. I have a shoutcast provider who relays one of my streams on his server (he did ask) as it's a station he likes and it's a good ad for his service I suppose. My streams are on my own server anyway.

[Brutish Sailor]

Its not bad for us, but it may be a legal pickle for them

 

I will look into it.

 

Here is where we get pissed about it.

 

Most of the internet stations are money pits due to our prospective countries royalty collection agency.

 

SO, with that being said, how do stations with high maintenance (a lot of listeners) stay afloat? Simple. Donations via paypal or some other means.

 

So if it had a link to connect to our prospective websites, usually it wouldn't be a big deal.

When in doubt, and as a matter of CYA legal principal, ask the station before you do this.

 

 

ALSO, their are TONS of widgets for this, including the new shoutcast/aol flash widget. It launches from a licensed script so you don't have to pay for launch encoder licensing (and yes, this is a usual problem with this kind of script.)

 

You also have the Shoutcast/winamp aol mini flash widget designed with Myspace in mind, so it fits nice and easy.

 

 

JUST DO NOT!!!! @$)$)@*$+)@*$!!!! :

 

Mod a SC/IC/ Flash server that randomly pulls stations into it for listening.

 

For those that have a SESAC license (or whatever its called for countries outside the US) they live and die off of head counts.

 

So if you make a cron job relay switching server, it will steal our ratings via headcounts and hurt us in the long run.

 

Thats a NO NO.

[MADcHATTER]

I not only allow it, I beg them for it! I've got plenty of slots and bandwidth so go for it. I setup links on blogs, player on our myspace page. Anywhere possible. I wish I could post something permanently on our Twitter page!

 

MADcHATTER

[Trueheart]

Hey Folks,

I had someone ask if I could write a MOD for their (script) site. They want to link to radio stations, have a pop-up window and have the music play. I know it uses your bandwidth so I'm not sure. So my question is, Do you (station owners) allow people/sites to link to and play your music on their site?

 

 

Thanks,

Bill

 

Some people will do it even without the station owner knowing. I found my station linked on a Russion site a few weeks ago. It's not legal to launch somebody else's station unless you are willing to pay the huge amounts that iTunes, Windows Media and Shoutcast pay to launch streams. I don't like that this has been done to me in the past but I'm not going to complain about it either because in the end, people are going to do what they please.

[billh]

3 10 and MADcHATTER,

I take you have link/code you allow people to use? If so can you PM the information and I'll use your sites for testing. I was at 3 10's site, like some of the music lol... I'm more of an Oldies, late 60s (Woodstock era), early 70's and Blues fan myself.

[billh]

Trueheart,

This is way I am asking before I do anything.

 

 

But Brutish gave me an idea to help keep everyone out of the “legal pickle” as he put it.

There is nothing wrong with linking to a site, right?

There is nothing wrong with a site having it's music etc. set to auto play, yes/no?

Your station may need information about how many visitors you've had etc.?

 

 

So to stay out of the “legal pickle” part of it. If a site has music etc. set to auto play and someone links to that page. It should be ok, yes/no?

 

 

The site will have all the stats it needs as long as the page is set up to track the information needed.

 

 

As I've stated in one of my very first post. I am not into broadcasting. I only came here looking for voice over artists for my site. And look at me now, Can you do this lol ...

 

 

When in doubt, ask someone that knows, right?

[GKIye]

Well I have to agree with MadChatter ..

Afterall every web station who's streaming with shoutcast is at a lot of spots on the internet .. as redirect link, as listen link, as player on seperated pages etc etc

In other words : the station is added to tons of station directories

I not only allow it, I beg them for it! I've got plenty of slots and bandwidth so go for it. I setup links on blogs, player on our myspace page. Anywhere possible. I wish I could post something permanently on our Twitter page!

If somebody isn't willing to do this .. its easy .. just set your stream encoder to "non public or privat" and people can only access your stream at your website .. unless a visitor gonna copy the IP Port link and post it aka publish it into a station directory at an other website .. at that moment you're public again .. willing or not

 

PS : MadChatter => take a look at my Twitter pls ... Is it something like that you're looking for ?

if yes .. link to this page and scroll untill the bottom of the page for the ready to use rar file :

http://forums.broadcastingworld.net/showthread.php?t=7851&page=2

[Brutish Sailor]

Im not trying to bust your chops, don't get me wrong my friend, as programmers play a big role in internet radio as the broadcasters. I respect them all. There is, however, greedy powers that be beyond our stations control. I just dont want to see your path to benevolent intentions get paved with glass and claymores.

 

 

I am all about sharing my favorite music and broadcasting experience with others.

[GKIye]

I think the main question of Bill was :

I know it uses your bandwidth so I'm not sure. So my question is, Do you (station owners) allow people/sites to link to and play your music on their site?

Slots means listeners and means traffic .. the more they listen .. the more bandwidth is used

But I think the main idea of making webradio is to share a broadcast with listeners who has the same interests (of music, genre, format etc) .. the more people who are tuned in .. the better

How or where they are listening is not my problem ...

Audiostreaming is into an evolution : first only 3rd party websites where able to link a stream .. currently mobile phone devices - Wi-Fi 3G gonna be and are already for a part the real future ...

Afterall the station who is streaming an audiocontent is paying the Monthly royalties ...

Every 3rd party who is providing audio on their website has to do this also .. thats part of the law in my country (Belgium) and I guess also into several other countries

[THREETEN RADIO]

3 10 and MADcHATTER,

I take you have link/code you allow people to use? If so can you PM the information and I'll use your sites for testing. I was at 3 10's site, like some of the music lol... I'm more of an Oldies, late 60s (Woodstock era), early 70's and Blues fan myself.

Each to their own with music tastes...lol

There is no script, the guy just entered my IP and port into his server control panel and that's it.... a relay. That way my station shows on his list of "public stations". I have put a simple link on my webpage to his website out of courtesy also.

[GKIye]

Hi 3 | 10

A tool who can cover Us the best is the making of a disclaimer .. strange enough these are almost not found at websites of internetstations .. but the content of it explains what is allowed and what isn't (compaired to the laws of the country where the stream is based)

I have a very good one at my website .. see my index :

http://www.gkradio.eu/

and look at the bottom of the middle section for "Disclaimer - Copyright"

I have put a simple link on my webpage to his website out of courtesy also.

I think this can be most important to the most of Us ...

[billh]

GK,

From what I've been reading linking shouldn't been done. Unless the person pays the correct fees to do so. To bad it's like radio stations are being told no one can listen to your shows. Unless they are at your site. Kind of like telling someone they can't play the radio in their car or in their home, because they don't pay fees, well some people do these days.

Well that idea is all done, for me anyway.

[GKIye]

I agree 100% with your point of view

In fact those are the strange ways of the world of royalties etc etc

Notice that I don't say that it isn't allowed .. the more the better ..

I'm just willing to explain what the restrictions are

In my country Belgium all citizens have to pay Annual royalties for the use of the cable etc etc to "may" watch TV and listen to radio .. So as Belgian I know what I'm talking about (concerning my country)

However if all of that should be followed by everyone ... they can close the internet .. because everybody and everyone is doing things on the edge of those restrictions

GK,

From what I've been reading linking shouldn't been done. Unless the person pays the correct fees to do so. To bad it's like radio stations are being told no one can listen to your shows. Unless they are at your site. Kind of like telling someone they can't play the radio in their car or in their home, because they don't pay fees, well some people do these days.

Well that idea is all done, for me anyway.

I guess the following expression excists also in English .. its a translation of the way We are saying this in Dutch = "Live and let Live"

Afterall the internet is a kind of an open source to everyone .. and it can be used and sometimes abused by someone

Concerning all the things who are going around at the net .. We have all a long way to go .. I suppose

[Brutish Sailor]

What you do is have a link to these stations pages that says "listen now"

It would launch the radio from these licensed launch pages.

 

The MAIN CONCEPT HERE.

 

The licensed launch script's address (for Americas rules) has to show in the launch pages browser window.

 

I use an Iframe that connects my domain to the launch, so the can still browse the domain with no radio interruptions and it keeps them on the launch page, only the Iframe when they browse changes.

 

http://www.brutishsailor.com and hit the flash player button.

 

So pop up windows work. NOT Iframe of the launch page in your page, but the launch has to be from a licensed page in the browser address.

[billh]

If I understand this. I could use a pop-up window based on American rules and long as,

The licensed launch script's address (for Americas rules) shows in the launch pages browser window.

Like the voice samples I have on my site. When you click on one it, the window pop's up and the URL/address is in the browser.

This is what I was thinking, use a link that calls the licensed script's address.

This way the station owner will have the stats and other information they need.

But how big should the window be?

I went to your site (Brutish) and you have to IFrame across the top of the page.

 

So if I wanted to try this I need.

1: a station that will let me link to their launch script.

2: Set up a script to work on the site, with a pop-up window that displays the URL of the launch script.

 

Link something like this:

 

Radio Stations

xyz Radio Click Here

Rock, R&B

 

123 Radio Click Here

Country

 

and so on.

 

Anyone willing to let me use their site for testing located in the US?

 

All I need is the link to your launch page.

[Trueheart]

Trueheart,

This is way I am asking before I do anything.

 

 

But Brutish gave me an idea to help keep everyone out of the “legal pickle” as he put it.

There is nothing wrong with linking to a site, right?

There is nothing wrong with a site having it's music etc. set to auto play, yes/no?

Your station may need information about how many visitors you've had etc.?

 

 

So to stay out of the “legal pickle” part of it. If a site has music etc. set to auto play and someone links to that page. It should be ok, yes/no?

 

 

The site will have all the stats it needs as long as the page is set up to track the information needed.

 

 

As I've stated in one of my very first post. I am not into broadcasting. I only came here looking for voice over artists for my site. And look at me now, Can you do this lol ...

 

 

When in doubt, ask someone that knows, right?

 

Hey billh.

 

There's nothing wrong with linking to a radio stations website. However every station site that I've ever visited that had a player, was not set to auto play, at least none that I can remember. If I had a player on my site that was set to auto play, I would be in serious legal trouble. You are correct the responsibility of how the music is launched is that of the station owner. However for those in the U.S., that do pirate radio, and launch their streams from their own site without paying the royalties, it's a big risk to take.

 

I can only launch my station from the domain of loucity.com because they pay for me to be a legal broadcaster. My station can only be launched from the loudcity.com domain (with the exception of iTunes & Shoutcast because they pay the fees to launch streams). Any place else like on my own site bfaradio.net and it's illegal.

[MADcHATTER]

PS : MadChatter => take a look at my Twitter pls ... Is it something like that you're looking for ?

if yes .. link to this page and scroll untill the bottom of the page for the ready to use rar file :

http://forums.broadcastingworld.net/showthread.php?t=7851&page=2

 

I didnt see anything on your Twitter page (unless i'm looking at it wrong, i'm still new to this whole twitter thing!)

 

MAD

[Brutish Sailor]

If I understand this. I could use a pop-up window based on American rules and long as,

The licensed launch script's address (for Americas rules) shows in the launch pages browser window.

Like the voice samples I have on my site. When you click on one it, the window pop's up and the URL/address is in the browser.

This is what I was thinking, use a link that calls the licensed script's address.

This way the station owner will have the stats and other information they need.

But how big should the window be?

I went to your site (Brutish) and you have to IFrame across the top of the page.

 

So if I wanted to try this I need.

1: a station that will let me link to their launch script.

2: Set up a script to work on the site, with a pop-up window that displays the URL of the launch script.

 

Link something like this:

 

Radio Stations

xyz Radio Click Here

Rock, R&B

 

123 Radio Click Here

Country

 

and so on.

 

Anyone willing to let me use their site for testing located in the US?

 

All I need is the link to your launch page.

 

 

this is correct. test away.

[GKIye]

Hi MC

I thought you where searching for a now playing script for your Twitter

For that reason I wrote the BW link into my earlier post

I didnt see anything on your Twitter page (unless i'm looking at it wrong, i'm still new to this whole twitter thing!)

MAD