After broadcasting for nearly three years on Live365 (live365.com/dancpm), Birch
Street Radio has branched out by adding a station at Radionomy (birchstreetradio.playtheradio.com).
Why? Well, not just for fun (although it kinda is!). The move was
prompted by a sudden crisis at Live365 -- apparently brought on by new music-royalty
rates for streaming audio services, announced last month by the U.S. Copyright Royalty
Board.
DIYMedia.net has a very good explanation of what’s happening
and how the future of small-scale web broadcasting is suddenly in doubt.
The fact is, Birch Street Radio has been broadcasting commercial-free on
Live365 - so the new fees shouldn’t affect us, since the rates for non-commercial
webcasters haven’t changed. BUT most Live365 streams do carry commercials, so the
new CRB rules threaten its business model. Presumably, that’s why its financial
backers have pulled out, and the company is looking for a rescue.
We’re rooting for
Live365 to find a solution and continue providing an affordable platform for independent
webcasters. Meantime we’re trying out Radionomy
- but it’s unclear whether that will work out for the long term, since that firm
has minimum listening requirements we may not be able to reach.
Ideally, we’ll build
an audience at Radionomy and be able to stay on Live365, too. If you enjoy our Marvelous
Mixture of Music from today and the past five decades, please help - just by listening! And let us know what you think of our stations.
Tune in: Birch Street Radio on Live365
Tune in: Birch Street Radio on Radionomy Follow @BirchStRadio on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
Email us: birchstreetradio@gmail.com
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