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Celtic Radio Community > Celtic Radio > Highlander Radio Is Offline

Posted by: Macfive 10-Feb-2004, 10:50 PM

No, there is no trouble with your computer. Highlander Radio has been brought down temporarily for an indefinate amount of time.

We have recently been made aware of certain license fees that need to be paid by webcasters in order to stream music as a digital radio broadcast. I am not going to get into all of the details, but clearly, we need to research and learn more about this aspect of web broadcasting before we continue to stream 1 more byte of data.

Tonight we had a discussion with a very knowledgable person from the industry who does not want to see Highlander Radio end up being shutdown. Our conversation was a real eye-opener for us and after some reflecting on our goals for Highlander Radio, we decided that we need to insure that Highlander Radio is going to be around for the next year, 5 years, 10 years down the road.

We will provide more details on the license issue in the days and weeks to come. Until then, our live365 stream appears to have the proper licensing through live365 (although we are going to confirm this). We will change the rotation of this stream to be a reflection of the songs we played on our live broadcast. Here is the link:

http://www.live365.com/stations/celtichearts

We are also going to be in need of donations to continue our live broadcast to pay for these license fees. I don't know the exact price tag yet as we are going to be reviewing all of the music we have received from artists and comparing those songs to the current laws. We will appreciate anything you can do to help!

http://www.celticradio.net/php/service_mod.php?type=donations

Thanks again for your continued support. By faith and work we will return better, stronger and prepared to take on new challenges and adventures in the exciting world of digital radio broadcasting.

Posted by: talleyrand 11-Feb-2004, 09:29 AM

I could be mistaken here, but I thought I'd read somewhere that the shake down of internet only radio stations for licensing fees was found to be .... ummmm wrong or not applicable or something that translated to ``they will threaten and bluff and throw lawyers at you but they don't have a true legal leg to stand on.'' Sorry I can't back it up with a related reading but I sure hope I remembered it right. Perhaps a lawyer could provide more insight than I have. Best of luck with the fight and the fund raising (my donation's in).

Posted by: pneumandro 11-Feb-2004, 12:29 PM

Unfortunately that is not the case.

My local Christian rock radio station, 98.7 Power FM in Dallas, TX used to have a webstream going. I used to listen to it, until they yanked it one fine morning after the "shake down" rulings came across.

They also are supported by listener donations, and they realized that they would be unable to continue providing this service, as the back-costs already are going to be in the millions.

You see, the way the ruling works, is that there was a rule made back in '98 (Digital Millennium Copyright Act), saying all web broadcasters had to pay similar fees as typical radio broadcasters (actually I THINK, don't quote me, the web broadcaster fees are even worse!). They also have to keep logs of all the songs they play. Tracking it all (25 pieces of info per song played). This costs beaucoup bucks.

Then a moratorium was placed on that ruling, to allow web broadcasting to flourish (similar to Web taxation ban in the US).

Then in May 2002 that moratorium was overruled/lifted, and the ruling authority said that it was as if that original ruling never went away! AKA now all the web broadcasting that was allowed to flourish, had to back pay for all the songs they played all the way back to '98! Talk about setting people up for a fall!

So stations began yanking their webstreams, en masse. None but the "big guys" could afford it, and most of them typically didn't even want to!

Side note: Internet taxation ban in the USA just expired Jan 31, without renewal. And now the web commerce that was allowed to flourish will go down the same path.

But no, there has been no ruling (except by common sense of the mass population) overturning this ruling. I almost said "ridiculous" ruling, but it DOES make sense. If radio broadcasters have to pay, why shouldn't web broadcasters?
Mind you, it just turns web broadcasting into the same multi-billion monopoly structure as radio/tv broadcasting is.

Just because it makes sense though, doesn't mean I support it

Anyway if you want a link:

http://anti-dmca.org/
http://www.educause.edu/issues/issue.asp?Issue=DMCA
http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/DMCA/

And the DMCA itself:

http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/DMCA/hr2281_dmca_law_19981020_pl105-304.html

Just another implementation of a stupid WTO treaty....

--Pneumandro (gettin' politicky wid' it!)

Posted by: silverdragon 11-Feb-2004, 02:19 PM

Very sad news.

Paul, I have in the past and will continue to support Highlander Radio with donations, and I will switch my at-work listening to the Live 365 stream. Since at home I do not yet have broadband, I hope you can provide a modem-quality stream via Live 365. If not, I'll... survive somehow (snivel).

I'm glad to know you're continuing to look at this. Illigitimi non carborundum!

Posted by: Aaediwen 11-Feb-2004, 04:43 PM

/me looks for something that makesthe DMCA a good idea and fails to find anything.

Think I'll start a thread in the politics forum and vent before I explode like I was ready to this morning in a PM to Paul (Sorry about the foul language, my friend)

Hmmm, I don't have the PW, ohh well. Why should anything good happen right now? The best Celtic radio station on the planet just went offline :'(

Posted by: mingkee 11-Feb-2004, 05:32 PM

what the heck why all the junk stations on FM/AM can live forever
this is pretty annoying
even I want to listen to WFUV (which plays celtic weekends), some reason I don't know that make it impossible to listen in Brooklyn (the station located in just Bronx)
thank T-Mobile, that I use GPRS in order to listen to radios from my hometown, and WFUV
the policy is gonna to kill ALL THE LISTENER'S FREEDOM, THIS IS TERRIBLE!
then what's different from living in Communist countries? (no freedom to listen)

Posted by: dbarnhart 11-Feb-2004, 06:57 PM

I am heartbroken. You guys play the finest collection of Celtic music ever to grace my humble ears. Whenyou get it all sorted out and need contributions to keep Highlander Radio going, just say the word. I will be there for you.

Posted by: Macfive 11-Feb-2004, 07:09 PM

Ok, here is a quick update. This by no means is etched in stone:

We are looking for a quick return to streaming via utilizing the services of LIVE365. Now I know this is not the best streaming service, but it looks like the most viable way for us to return quickly. I am not sure how quickly we will be able to return, because we are going to need to review the hundreds of CD's we have received from artists to insure that they are covered under LIVE365 licensing agreements. Music from countries outside of the U.S. will need to be verified. It is possible we may need to contact the artist, recording studios and record labels of these CD's for authorization.

The bigger job is returning to our previous manner of broadcasting through shoutcast and windows streams. This will definitely require the purchase of yearly licenses from certain music organizations. It will cost a minimum of $500 a year to cover most of the music. But that is not the only cost. There is something called royalty payments that we need to pay for every song we play times the number of listeners. I have already done the math and there is no possible way we could pay for those type of additional fees. We will need to review and determine if the artist, record label or studio will give us permission to play the music on our stream. In some cases, the artist can give us that release; in other cases it might come from the studio and or the label.

We are fortunate in one aspect, there is a wealth of Celtic music by independent artists across American and Canada. We already have alot of independent music, so it is just a matter of verifying and obtaining written or electronic permission to broadcast these songs. Going forward we will need the artist to printout a form and obtain the proper authorization. Of course, we are going to get some legal advice on this at some point down the road to insure we are ok.

Obviously, there is alot of work to be done on our end and I am sorry that this has effected our stream. The Highlander way has always involved honor and integrity and we are sure that if we take the necessary steps to protect our little niche on the internet, we will be here for years and years to come. It is just very unfortunate for the musicians and listeners. We have been responible for countless unrecorded CD sales, new gigs and networking between agents/musician in the music community. We have never asked for anything in return for this valuable service, yet that is not considered in any of the rules or regulations.

We thank you for your continued donations and hope that we can find the best balance to make those donations go the longest way for us all.

Posted by: stevenpd 11-Feb-2004, 07:38 PM

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle.

The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.

Ayn Rand
Russian-born American Author

Posted by: Macfive 11-Feb-2004, 07:43 PM

QUOTE (stevenpd @ Feb 11 2004, 09:38 PM)

Those are words not only for this plight, but for life's trials and tribulations. I am printing this one out! Thanks for sharing that one Steven!

Posted by: single speed 11-Feb-2004, 07:52 PM

HMMM. That paid membership idea sounds mighty good tight now. I would fork over some cash for it. I love the station, the music, and the family. Keep uis posted, and thanks, Paul for the forum for us "celtamaniacs".

Terence

Posted by: stevenpd 11-Feb-2004, 08:12 PM

QUOTE (Macfive @ Feb 11 2004, 05:43 PM)

QUOTE (stevenpd @ Feb 11 2004, 09:38 PM)

Those are words not only for this plight, but for life's trials and tribulations. I am printing this one out! Thanks for sharing that one Steven!

Back in Scotland, Scotsman William Wallace - Hammer of the English - raised his head holding true to his family motto: "Pro libertate" - "FOR FREEDOM".

Sir William Wallace of Elerslie
Pro Libertate - For Freedom. Part II
© 1994/98 Highlander Web Magazine

Posted by: mingkee 11-Feb-2004, 09:27 PM

I like it here
the sound is more balanced than others (and celticgrove keeps killing my winamp and sound device in computer)
and this one is the ONLY has user forum
I have been looking for the ppl has same taste
sigh...it looks almost impossible for me till I found it here
I don't want the station get shutdown

actually, Highlanderradio is more like community netcast service, not commericial radio, then ASCAP and BMI should leave you alone, or just pay less license
if the record industry has gone that far, and if they go more further, it will crumble the WHOLE industry, and ALL WILL LOSE
spare a way for such community radio service to give us more choice
I DON'T WANT B&W TV
I DON'T WANT B&W TV
I DON'T WANT B&W TV!!!

wish everybody understand what I'm yelling about

Posted by: silverdragon 11-Feb-2004, 09:39 PM

I DO understand, mingkee. I remember B&W TV... :-)

Posted by: silverdragon 11-Feb-2004, 09:45 PM

I too would consider a paid membership. I'm considering subscribing to Live365 if, and only if, it will help y'all out. Let us know what's best, there, please!

I've made a small donation and will be changing my avatar and signature for the duration.

Posted by: mingkee 11-Feb-2004, 09:48 PM

the world looks better when there're some different ethnics appear on the same place, that make it more colorful
(as I discover the most beautiful sound in the world...Celtic)
but now somebody wants to make the world Black and White...I wouldn't see that happens

Posted by: Sea Dog 11-Feb-2004, 09:52 PM

We've thoroughly enjoyed it in the short time we've been here. I've even bought a few CDs based on what I've heard. I'ld buy a few more but the boss has cut me sporran away. Told me she had the range for further cutting.

This is definitely a great way to hear the "local" groups in other areas. Our favorite local group disbanded due to some family illnesses and we miss them.

Posted by: mingkee 11-Feb-2004, 09:58 PM

I have made a small donation
for support and appreciation
I am just a poor guy, do not have a lot of money to support

Posted by: Aaediwen 11-Feb-2004, 10:15 PM

Hmmm, I just thought of something. Something trite and simple. I do believe that a lot of this is due to corporate stong-arming in fear of P2P and similar resources.

/me looks through the group

Perhaps we should see if we can make our voices heard somewhere else in addition, beyond just ranting and raving in here. Anyone with more Govm't experience than I aware of what might be the best approach? I agree with the idea of artists getting at least some reimbursement, but there should be some way to do it that won't kill wonderful places like this. I honestlythought that such things were already much of what the donations to this site went towards.... royalty payments.

Posted by: mingkee 11-Feb-2004, 10:21 PM

other than that
I'd like to introduce THIS to the ppls in Hong Kong
give them a discovery
and there's been too much sadness there
they need something sweet to feel better

Posted by: Kacela 12-Feb-2004, 06:16 AM

I live about a mile from John Whelan here in Milford, Connecticut - Oh, how I wish I had some influence now... He would be an incredible asset on our side - as a Celtic artist and producer, someone like him would surely like to showcase his and our love for Celtic music. Maybe if I see him at the supermarket, I'll ask if he would be willing (or is even capable) to sign that release - he may not have the rights to his own music...

Posted by: Macfive 12-Feb-2004, 06:21 AM

Just a quick note, in the donation department we now have enough for the first licenese through BMI!!! The yearly fee is $267. We are $120 away for the other license from ASCAP!!!

I will be contacting the UK equivilant of these licenses to determine how much their fee is.

This is just the first part. We will need to contact the artists to get permission to play their music without royalty payments. In return we provide CD buy links to amazon.com or back to their website (whichever they perfer) and also promotion in our musician database.

We are on our way. Thanks so much for these donations, we will try to be back up as soon as possible, we might have something through live365 this weekend as a go between.

Posted by: talleyrand 12-Feb-2004, 08:00 AM

Just a random thought, would setting up this site in ``Elbonia'' or some other country less concerned about licensing fees and royalties be an option?

Posted by: stevenpd 12-Feb-2004, 11:26 AM

Court: Royalties must be paid for online music

http://www.mediareform.net/news.php?id=1497

From Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2003
By Jon Healey

In a blow to Internet "simulcasting," the 3rd District Court of Appeals has ruled that over-the-air broadcasters must pay royalties to recording artists and labels for the songs they play over the Internet.

The appeals panel's opinion, issued Friday, upheld earlier rulings by a federal judge in Philadelphia and the U.S. Copyright Office.

Several leading broadcasters struck a royalties deal with the record labels earlier this year that calls for them to pay about 0.07 cent per listener for each song played. Nevertheless, National Assn. of Broadcasters spokesman Dennis Wharton said the trade group disagreed with the appeals court's ruling and "will be exploring all of our legal and legislative options to overturn this decision, which we believe misinterprets the intent of Congress."

Posted by: stevenpd 12-Feb-2004, 11:46 AM

The best defence is an informed citizenry. Here is a link to those that would like to learn more:

http://www.webcasteralliance.com/

And here is a recent article that probably created our current situation, which actually started last year and has been resurrected.

http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article.php/3311261

February 11, 2004
Copyright Office Sets Webcasting Rates
By Ryan Naraine

The U.S. Copyright Office has given the thumbs-up to an agreement on royalty rates between the recording industry and online radio broadcasters, a move that gives webcasters several royalty payment options.

For the 2003-2004 period, the settlement agreement spells out the royalty rates for all webcasters -- ranging from Internet-only Webcasters to subscription services to non-commercial radio broadcast simulcasts.

The deal calls for commercial non-subscription and new subscription services to decide between paying per performance rates (per song, per listener) or aggregate tuning hour (per listener, per hour). It also sets rates for what is described as "new subscription services" to have the option to pay a percentage of subscription revenues. Large-scale commercial broadcasters also have choices of royalty payment terms, the Copyright Office said in a statement.

The Copyright Office also designated SoundExchange as the collection and distribution agent for the royalty fees.

The royalty agreement means that large scale Internet-only webcasters like Microsoft (Quote, Chart),Yahoo (Quote, Chart), America Online (Quote, Chart) and RealNetworks would pay either .0762 cents per song per listener of 1.17 cents per listener per hour. The minimum payment for Internet-only webcasters is $2,500.

For subscription services, the Internet-only options are available along with a third option of paying 10.9 percent of revenues. Fees for commercial and non-commercial radio broadcast simulcasts are fixed separately.

Posted by: funny1 12-Feb-2004, 12:02 PM

Its very sad,I miss checking on the station. I used to check on it and make sure all was up and running for all to enjoy.It was our gift of a break for families from the real world . It was an escape and I hope it made some real quality family time for many.In a world where things are so nuts. It was a place to chat and enjoy the music. I am starting to go through the cds and see if I can help make sense of it all.
Mrs Macfive

Posted by: RavenWing 12-Feb-2004, 12:06 PM

Wow! Ms. Mac is on!

Hi Mrs. Mac. glad to see you on here, I just wish the circumstances were better.

I don't envy your job of going through the cd's. Wish there was a way I could help.

Posted by: pneumandro 12-Feb-2004, 01:08 PM

QUOTE (Aaediwen @ Feb 11 2004, 10:15 PM)

Perhaps we should see if we can make our voices heard somewhere else in addition, beyond just ranting and raving in here. Anyone with more Govm't experience than I aware of what might be the best approach?

Well, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a LARGE voice in this whole thing.
They are constantly fighting the battles against the RIAA and other organizations that like to put strangleholds on communication and media.

There are alot of other groups out there.

The RIAA and their ilk already know their are alot of voices out there. And they frankly could care less. I'm not advocating taking this lying down, not by no means! But I don't know how my/your voice could be added to the powerful voices already speaking (and the powerful ears which are closed).

The voices screamed in '98. this was the compromise. Some compromise.

Posted by: pneumandro 12-Feb-2004, 01:15 PM

QUOTE (RavenWing @ Feb 12 2004, 12:06 PM)

I don't envy your job of going through the cd's. Wish there was a way I could help.

Hey Paul, any need for us to contribute by helping you contact the artists? Maybe someone could come up with a form letter, a beginning of a form phone call (some sort of introduction to put the artist or his/her agent at ease with us), or anything else?

And then maybe disperse a list of "artists to contact" with any contact info you may have to those of us willing to share your burden?

I don't volunteer much, but I do believe I'd be willing to chip in on this one if you needed the help. You've put together FAR to great a site to have it crumble down so quickly (and I am not a usual net-radio listener, usually can't stand the stuff).
This music is the only thing that keeps me chipper through my workday lately (work has taken a turn for the horrible, this keeps a smile on my face!).

Of course, if you do not wish to do this, its very understood. Just thought I'd toss the suggestion out.

Pneumandro

Posted by: MacEoghainn 12-Feb-2004, 04:27 PM

In my humble opinion,

While I am not against the motive of profit in business I can not see where these licencing schemes, as currently configured, help fringe music communities like Celtic Music. The amounts of money this could generate for the Recording Companies is miniscule compared to Pop, Rap, or what ever is currently in vogue on the mainstream music scene.

The sad part about this whole rotten situation is that, with the exception of a few big name Celtic artists and their Recording Company/Label (mostly the Recording Company, artists make their money touring, not from record sales/royalties), organizations like ASCAP/BMI and RIAA don?t have the individual Celtic Artist(s)(or their Labels) best interests in mind. It?s the Pop music business that these organizations are working for.

When it comes right down to it this is only about the money!!!!

Posted by: corrigan 12-Feb-2004, 05:27 PM

I am overjoyed to see that you are starting to reach your goal. I've tried the celtic hearts option and I keep getting booted out. Also I like the sense of community created by Highlander. I would definitely pay to suscribe! I have already donated and will again. I would like to volunteer if you find a way for us to do so. After years of loving celtic music and history, I am just now exploring the celtic community, online & locally. I thought I'd check out a local bar called McSwiggins (in Bradenton, FL - does anyone know of it?). If they have a bulletin board do you have anything to post?

Let us know what we can do!

Posted by: Chimzembque 12-Feb-2004, 06:46 PM

It is sad, I just start to get into this wonderful thing that is Highlander Radio and the government does what it does best. Simper Coitus!

Posted by: Macfive 12-Feb-2004, 07:38 PM

Update.

We are now seriously looking at live365 as being our sole provider of streaming services for the immediate future.

Based on our research, it would cost $4,000 + a year between licenses and royalty payments. (that is a conservative low estimate - based on the IRS giving us tax exempt status). That would be to continue our current state of the station as it is right now. If we obtain Royalty releases from all of the artists then the cost would be around $700 a year, but this would take a huge effort of reviewing 300+ albums; documenting the addresses, email, and a place to store all of the releases. If an artist does not sign the release, we could not play their music. And the job of rearranging/sorting 5000+ songs and slowly re-indexing the music back into the broadcast is really more than we could possible do. We would not be back online for 3 months min. (if at all), and even then our collection would be crippled to how many artists respond.

Whereas the live365 route, we could be back online within days with all of the songs you have come to know and love intact. Our website will still function the way it has and we can continue to expand it. They cover all licenses fees and royalty payments. It's just a sure bet that when we use the donations, we are providing the best value and safest route for continue broadcasting. Plus we will be able to purchase 1 year of broadcast at a discount, although the total cost for these accounts will exceed our current donations.

Thats where we stand now. If we go through live365, we could be back up this weekend!

Posted by: mingkee 12-Feb-2004, 08:26 PM

I'd like to thank Paul, the highlanderradio is back on live365
though there's a minute of announcement, it's okay for me
since highlanderradio looks like non-profit Celtic communitiy, the license fee may be less (like NPR)

Posted by: RavenWing 13-Feb-2004, 07:57 AM

Paul,

Live365 sounds like a good deal compared to the other option. Will you be contacting artists in the meantime?

Posted by: Dreamer1 13-Feb-2004, 08:24 AM

QUOTE (Macfive @ Feb 12 2004, 08:38 PM)

Paul and Shari,
Thank you both so much for all that you're doing for us to keep this wonderful station going!! I'll give 365 a try, though I've tried it before and kept getting timed out. I don't mind commercials every so often as long as it helps keep Highlander Radio going. I just let my attention wander during those ads.

You've said that current donations don't cover all the costs you'll have. How close are you to that point? I'd be willing to kick in a bit more, if that will help. You do provide an invaluable service to all of us, but also to the artists themselves. I suspect that they're not the ones who'll benefit from all this, though, as others have pointed out. Still, I have bought several cds as a result of listening to the music you've provided, and have told friends and family about this station. The artists are getting more recognition and listeners because of all that you've done for us. It's a royal shame that you can't charge their record companies for the exposure service that you've given them!! I wish there was a way we could buy directly from the artists themselves. Their companies are alienating the very people they want to sell to!

Please keep trying. Let us know how we can help. Again, a huge Thank You to both of you for all that you're doing!!

Dreamer1

P.S. There was some mention of working in tandem with Amazon and other such companies to track album sales from Highlander Radio. Is that a viable option to help reduce some of these new costs?

Posted by: Aventar 13-Feb-2004, 01:24 PM

Ok....argh......ah.....ah.....ah.....I can not compose myself.....this is horrible. I wish I was not so broke I would donate to help. I listen to this station when I am at work. It makes the day go so faster. I would never have learned about all these wonderful groups like Barlyjuice and Wicked Tinkers if not for this station.

D--n greedy companies.

Aventar

Posted by: Aaediwen 13-Feb-2004, 06:29 PM

Would be a lot better if it didn't keep dropping out, I'll still be giving it a chance though =)

Posted by: mingkee 13-Feb-2004, 08:32 PM

if T-Mobile will offer unlimited EDGE (up to 118k)
I'd go for it
and hope highlanderradio will be recovered like it was
then I'll be happy
I can listen even on long bus ride

Posted by: valpal 59 14-Feb-2004, 06:58 AM

When I follow the link to Live 365, it says that the station is unavailable.

Posted by: Irish Stepper 14-Feb-2004, 08:11 AM

I wish we could request songs on Live 365, like we could here.

Oh well...I guess it's better than nothing.

Posted by: Macfive 14-Feb-2004, 09:17 AM

Here is another update!

I see a few questions here so I will try to answer as best I can.

First, thanks for all of the wonderful donations! Raising $453 to pay for 1 year of streaming is an incredible accomplishment by our listeners. I was really surprised by the tremendous response. We are now trying to purchase 1 years worth of streaming for a modem account (32kps), a special streaming account for special events and a new hosting provider for faster loading of our website. The donation account is looking very good as we have a little over $200 in there. Donations are always appreciated because the cost of keeping the servers going, (as an example the power supply blew yesterday in one of them - $29), a dedicated DSL-T1 line and IP address ($64.95 a month), and for expanding the website is a constant drain. For example, we needed a photo editing program to batch resize all of the album covers ($15). So, thank you very much! And please, while we appreciate donations very much, if it is a drain to provide us with a donation - don't worry about it! We receive atleast a few donations regularly every few weeks and I am sure these will continue to support the site.

Ok, to answer some of the questions:

Yes, you will still be able to make live request through our website and it will play on live365. We may only make this option available to broadband stream.

We need to develop a plan to contact artists and get waivers. But with live365 we do not as we are now officiallly licensed. Over the course of the next year we will develope that piece of the station. We have to build stuff to track it, keep it, maintain it, etc. I tend to think that for right now, we will use our time to build the site to make it even better, but the long term goal is for us to become an independent broadcaster paying for all fees ourselves and being completely in complaince with the rules and laws.

Please give us a few days to get the site and broadcast running again. We have to make alot of changes, but hopefully by the end of today the broadband stream will be back up with requests. I'll post a message in the news section.

Also, live365 has ways to support broadcasters. We have put some links on our frontpage to sign up for a preferred live365 account and to also make live365 your favorite station. We get a small kick back for this ($1.50 for a new account and pennies for favorites), but understand that the accounts are with live365 and you get access to all of their stations.

Oh, and right now there might be some issues with buffer on live365. I was reading last nite they were having some issues. Other broadbasters I have spoken to said that they have pretty much been trouble free for the past 2 years.

Ok, thats it for now!

Posted by: Aon_Daonna 14-Feb-2004, 09:24 AM

Paul, I will resize Album covers for you en masse! Whatever you want done concerning pictures, ask me and I'll do it for free.

Posted by: mingkee 14-Feb-2004, 10:33 AM

QUOTE (Macfive @ Feb 14 2004, 10:17 AM)

a photo editing program to batch resize all of the album covers ($15)

gimp can do that, and it's freeware (not free software, that you can even involve the development)

Posted by: mingkee 14-Feb-2004, 10:42 AM

if it's possible to make it 20k realaudio (ra8, not mp3), this'll be better
by protocol
use tcp requires more upstream for surestream
udp, however, requires pretty little or even zero upstream from users, this is more GPRS-friendly (becoz GPRS has only 9k upstream)
or employ 24k low-quality mp3 stream (mono) for modem and GPRS users

highlanderradio is one of 2 mp3 stream I usually listen (the other is wfuv.org, which plays Ceol na Gael, and Thistle and Shamrock weekend)

Posted by: Aaediwen 14-Feb-2004, 11:49 AM

www.gimp.org

I'll be on the lookout for ways to help out. Maybe if you went ahead and becamea retailer of the CD's like you were talking about, then it might help getting waivers too?? and increase revenue to be better able to pay for the waivers you don't get back...

Posted by: Elspeth 14-Feb-2004, 01:26 PM

Do I understand that we modem users may be able to listen to Highlander Radio again? (I hope, I hope)

And is there a way to donate other than using paypal? I used my paypal account once (I think last time I donated here) but I didn't save my paswword etc. and since then I've changed my e-mail and it was a nightmare to try and get access back in there. Sooo, is there another way? Checks accepted? If not, I'll try and break into the unending circle of nonlogic of paypal.

E

Posted by: Macfive 14-Feb-2004, 01:26 PM

Ok, I am going to see if we can have 3 streams. Broadband, modem (24kps) and a special programming stream which won't be live but will have featured artists and special non live programming.

We can try 24kps and see if it works. I hate to go lower, but we could try it out. Since our modem stream was never heavily used, we will get a small # of listeners maybe 25.

Selling CD's is possible and we will probably do it in the future. But we first need the musician database and the back end adm site. Everything is kinda related to each other how we are designing it. Like the song database will interact with the musician database which will interact with the CD database.

I don't want to just throw a HTML page up if you know what I mean. Then, if we start selling CD's and become a for profit, then our streaming costs double! LOL....its a no win situation, so for now we will just focus on developing the site!

Posted by: stevenpd 14-Feb-2004, 02:48 PM

QUOTE (Macfive @ Feb 14 2004, 07:17 AM)

We need to develop a plan to contact artists and get waivers. But with live365 we do not as we are now officiallly licensed. Over the course of the next year we will develope that piece of the station. We have to build stuff to track it, keep it, maintain it, etc. I tend to think that for right now, we will use our time to build the site to make it even better, but the long term goal is for us to become an independent broadcaster paying for all fees ourselves and being completely in complaince with the rules and laws.

Please give us a few days to get the site and broadcast running again. We have to make alot of changes, but hopefully by the end of today the broadband stream will be back up with requests. I'll post a message in the news section.

Also, live365 has ways to support broadcasters. We have put some links on our frontpage to sign up for a preferred live365 account and to also make live365 your favorite station. We get a small kick back for this ($1.50 for a new account and pennies for favorites), but understand that the accounts are with live365 and you get access to all of their stations.

Oh, and right now there might be some issues with buffer on live365. I was reading last nite they were having some issues. Other broadbasters I have spoken to said that they have pretty much been trouble free for the past 2 years.

Ok, thats it for now!

Mac,

You have the beginings of the list of artists already and some of the albums and therefore, the record companies. Tracking down some of the indies may be a little bit trickier. I can organize the info and start making contacts with the easier ones with the more difficult ones to follow. All I would need is a couple of lists, albums and artists. Once the info is organized and coordinated, it could be split among several (?) people. I'm sure we could find one or two around here to help out. Let me know.

The fees from Live365, are they a one-time fee or are they on a monthy basis?

Posted by: Aaediwen 14-Feb-2004, 05:24 PM

And what are your plans for the musician database? Maybe I can help out somewhere in getting that together. Might help with contacting as well...

Posted by: mingkee 14-Feb-2004, 10:04 PM

QUOTE (Macfive @ Feb 14 2004, 02:26 PM)

We can try 24kps and see if it works. I hate to go lower, but we could try it out. Since our modem stream was never heavily used, we will get a small # of listeners maybe 25.

put a note for modem, or change it like
modem/GPRS

since GPRS offers modem-like speed (though upstream is only 9k), I tried the modem stream over GPRS, it's okay, but very unstable, it stops often, and load slowly (up to 10-15 seconds even with bb, GPRS same)

Posted by: silverdragon 15-Feb-2004, 01:19 AM

The modem stream is playing on my Mac right now. Not the BEST quality, but MUCH better than no highlander radio atall...