A Message from Live365 Regarding Their Streaming Service & BBM Radio

[Phillip Dampier]

I received this notice today from Live365, with whom we've contracted to provide the streaming of Brokeback Mountain Radio 1.  The three key points are:

1) An increased commercial load owing to the tremendous rate increase on music royalties retroactively imposed by the Copyright Tribunal.  Live365 has not increased our rates (yet), but has changed their ad break policy to include ads every 12 minutes instead of every 15.  This is their way to try and recoup expenses.

2) The prohibition of third party players to access their streams.  You will now be required to use Live 365's own player online.  You formerly could use products like Winamp, but now they want to be able to show you the ad banners incorporated into their player.

3) Basic listeners (who haven't paid for the premium Live365 membership) will now find they are prompted by the player occasionally to verify they are still listening.  If they do not respond to the pop-up, the stream will disconnect.  Live365 pays royalties based on the number of songs streamed.  They are implementing this to avoid people running streams which play in empty rooms with nobody actively listening.

I am aware of the fact that a lot of people are irritated by the commercial load and placement on Live365.  These ad insertions occur automatically by that company - we have no power to control when and where they air.  We also do not receive any renumeration from these ads - Live365 pockets all of it.

My intention is to use our new Radio 2 service for longer form programming because it will be programmed without forced commercial advertising.  I am considering alternative service providers for Radio 1, but there are a lot of questions to contemplate dealing with royalties, streaming costs, etc.  But I wanted listeners to be aware of the changes caused by the impact of the Copyright Tribunal in the United States.  The matter is under appeal, but as a going forward concern, Live365 must assume their appeal will fail, at least for now.

Dear Live365 Broadcaster,

As you may be aware, the Copyright Royalty Board recently issued alarmingly high new royalty rates for Internet radio for the period 2006-2010. The ruling increases sound recording royalties by 140% over four years and includes a $500 minimum fee per station per year.  The new rates are so high that they exceed revenue generated from audio and visual advertising on our stations.  See http://www.live365.com/choice/ for more information on the CRB ruling and what you can do about it.

Although we are appealing the new rates, the outcome of an appeal will take some time.  In the meantime, the new rates go into effect immediately and Live365 must pay higher rates retroactively from January 2006. We will not charge our broadcasters for any of these retroactive fees, but we do need to pay the additional royalties for the past 15 months and the future. 

We are taking several steps to help us recoup these fees, pay the new royalties, and keep down your broadcasting costs.  In the past week, we have rolled out our "Are you still there?" campaign on a limited basis and confined most listening to our own ad-bearing Player Window.  If an ad-based business model is to succeed, though, we need to find ways to generate more advertising revenues on our existing stations by serving more ads on more stations and selling ads for more money over wider stretches of time throughout the day.  As one of the first such measures, beginning Thursday, March 29th, we will decrease ad block intervals from 15 minutes to 12 minutes -- so the frequency of in-stream ad blocks will increase approximately to five per hour.

While we certainly recognize that this may have a negative impact on some non-paying listeners' listening experience, the impact is expected to be minimal, because each ad block is only around 60 seconds long. Eventually, we'd like to settle back down to three or four blocks per hour with two or three ads per block, when the Internet advertising market is ready to make this change and when we roll out a more powerful ad-insertion engine to handle multiple advertisers per block.

We appreciate your understanding that without an ad-supported business model, broadcasting fees would be many times higher than it is today. Thank you for your continued support of Live365, particularly in a critical time like this.

Regards,
Live365 Broadcasting Team

[SFEnnisSF]

Howdy Everybody! 

15 min to 12 min, you won't even notice the difference!  Every once in a while, instead of 4 or 5 songs in a row, it might be 3 or 4 songs in a row, depending on the length of the songs.  And the commercial breaks are less than 60 seconds, unlilke regular radio, where you have the 5 minute block of commercials.  Some of the commercials on Live365 are kind of fun too.  Ok, admit it.  The chimpanzee with headphones on at the Zoo is funny.  You laughed!

As far as the "are you still here" pop up.  Well, XM Radio on-line already does the same thing.  Let's see how often the pop up comes up before we rush to judgement on it.  On XM it comes up about once every 2 hours.

I understand most of you are 'regular' free listeners.  And I'm not advocating paying for a Live365 VIP membership.  But if you do find the commercials or the 'are you still here' pop up become annoying, the VIP membership is only $5.95 for a whole month!  Hell, that's the cost of one beer at a gay bar on Saturday night.    And you can look at it like this: either way, you're paying, whether it's via listening to the commercials, or via the $5.95 for the whole month.  Nothing's really free, I guess.  And we've got to pay the artists who have blessed us with our wonderful music on our radio station somehow.  I Just want to let everyone know what our options are and put everything into perspective.

Please Keep Listening! 

[injest]

Howdy Everybody! 

15 min to 12 min, you won't even notice the difference!  Every once in a while, instead of 4 or 5 songs in a row, it might be 3 or 4 songs in a row, depending on the length of the songs.  And the commercial breaks are less than 60 seconds, unlilke regular radio, where you have the 5 minute block of commercials.  Some of the commercials on Live365 are kind of fun too.  Ok, admit it.  The chimpanzee with headphones on at the Zoo is funny.  You laughed!

As far as the "are you still here" pop up.  Well, XM Radio on-line already does the same thing.  Let's see how often the pop up comes up before we rush to judgement on it.  On XM it comes up about once every 2 hours.

I understand most of you are 'regular' free listeners.  And I'm not advocating paying for a Live365 VIP membership.  But if you do find the commercials or the 'are you still here' pop up become annoying, the VIP membership is only $5.95 for a whole month!  Hell, that's the cost of one beer at a gay bar on Saturday night.     And you can look at it like this: either way, you're paying, whether it's via listening to the commercials, or via the $5.95 for the whole month.  Nothing's really free, I guess.  And we've got to pay the artists who have blessed us with our wonderful music on our radio station somehow.  I Just want to let everyone know what our options are and put everything into perspective.

Please Keep Listening! 

*GASP*

You have been to .....a.....GAY.......BAR???!!!

 

no $5.95 is not much at all...and if you are not used to paying for radio; commercial breaks arent' that big a deal. (well to me they are not)

none of this sounds like a big deal! 

[SFEnnisSF]

*GASP*
You have been to .....a.....GAY.......BAR???!!!

Imagine that! 

[injest]

Imagine that! 

yep, all the good looking men are down at the gay bar....(that is what I heard... )

[nic]

That reminds me of a song suggestion: Electric 6's "Gaybar"      If you know the song, which is a good track in its own peculiar way, you will know how really inappropriate it is for BBM radio!  I can just imagine everyone listening along then that comes on    They'll think the pentecost has come early 

[Penthesilea]

Thanks Phillip for keeping us informed  . And thanks for pointing us directly to the key points. To be honest, I skipped reading the whole message by Live365  .


For me it's not a big deal at all. I used the Live365 player anyway, so nothing will change for me. And a pop-up every now and then, I can stomach easily. Even the ads being every 12 minutes instead of 15 mins, doesn't bother me.

From Eric:
And you can look at it like this: either way, you're paying, whether it's via listening to the commercials, or via the $5.95 for the whole month.  Nothing's really free, I guess.  And we've got to pay the artists who have blessed us with our wonderful music on our radio station somehow.

Absolutely agree with you. That's why the ads don't bother me none.

[SFEnnisSF]

That reminds me of a song suggestion: Electric 6's "Gaybar"      If you know the song, which is a good track in its own peculiar way, you will know how really inappropriate it is for BBM radio!  I can just imagine everyone listening along then that comes on    They'll think the pentecost has come early 

LOL. I have the 45 for my jukebox.  Have you seen the video with George W Bush singing it?  Muwahahahaha   

[goaboydc]

Is anyone else having problems connecting? For two days now, I log on just fine, but get caught in an endless loop of advertisements while the station "loads," which it never does. I've been listening at work, and now I'm hooked. Two days without BBM Radio, and I'm going through withdrawal.

Help!

FWIW

goaboydc

[Scott6373]

Mine has been fine, though I think I hear the same stuff over and over again.  I know there are songs on there that I haven't heard in days, and I listen at least 8 hours a day.

[SFEnnisSF]

Goaboydc, did you get it to work yet?

Scott, that's one of the things with having the station on random shuffle.  We have no control over what's going to play.  The playlist is 10 hours and 50 minutes long, and you will not hear the same song within the playlist.  However, when the playlist restarts itself, a song that was played at the end, could end up playing at the beginning of the re-started playlist, therefore, you hear it like twice in an hour or something.  Otherwise, tuning in and hearing any particular track is completely luck of the draw.  We have no control over it.  But regular radio is like that!  That's how it is.

I think I might spend some time this weekend to create a pre-mixed playlist, and put that up for a while.

[Kelda]

I was listening last night with no problem -its great Eric!- you have another convert!

[SFEnnisSF]

I was listening last night with no problem -its great Eric!- you have another convert!

 

[Scott6373]

Goaboydc, did you get it to work yet?

Scott, that's one of the things with having the station on random shuffle.  We have no control over what's going to play.  The playlist is 10 hours and 50 minutes long, and you will not hear the same song within the playlist.  However, when the playlist restarts itself, a song that was played at the end, could end up playing at the beginning of the re-started playlist, therefore, you hear it like twice in an hour or something.  Otherwise, tuning in and hearing any particular track is completely luck of the draw.  We have no control over it.  But regular radio is like that!  That's how it is.

I think I might spend some time this weekend to create a pre-mixed playlist, and put that up for a while.

Eric...Have I told you lately that I love you?


Great song isn't it? 

[SFEnnisSF]

Eric...Have I told you lately that I love you?

Great song isn't it? 

Have I told you lately that I love you?
Could I tell you once again somehow?
Have I told with all my heart and soul how I adore you?
Well darling I’m telling you now 

Have I told you lately when I’m sleeping
Every dream I dream is you somehow?
Have I told you why the nights are long
When you're not with me?
Well darling I’m telling you now 

My heart would break in two if I should lose you
I’m no good without you anyhow
And have I told you lately that I love you
Well darling I’m telling you now 

My heart would break in two if I should lose you
I’m no good without you anyhow
And have I told you lately that I love you
Well darling I’m telling you now

[Scott6373]

Have I told you lately that I love you?
Could I tell you once again somehow?
Have I told with all my heart and soul how I adore you?
Well darling I’m telling you now 

Have I told you lately when I’m sleeping
Every dream I dream is you somehow?
Have I told you why the nights are long
When you're not with me?
Well darling I’m telling you now 

My heart would break in two if I should lose you
I’m no good without you anyhow
And have I told you lately that I love you
Well darling I’m telling you now 

My heart would break in two if I should lose you
I’m no good without you anyhow
And have I told you lately that I love you
Well darling I’m telling you now

Are you singing to me?

[SFEnnisSF]

If'n you want.    I was more imagining you singing to me.    Let's sing to each other!    Care to dance?

[Scott6373]

If'n you want.    I was more imagining you singing to me.    Let's sing to each other!    Care to dance?

Boy's got me blushin' again...so few can do that.

[goaboydc]

Goaboydc, did you get it to work yet?

No, it's weird. I can get it at home on my laptop.

So, I went in and cleaned out my cache and temporary internet files. Then, when I clicked "play," the player loaded, but without sound or volume control. Must be a gremlin.

FWIW
goaboydc

 

[SFEnnisSF]

No, it's weird. I can get it at home on my laptop.

So, I went in and cleaned out my cache and temporary internet files. Then, when I clicked "play," the player loaded, but without sound or volume control. Must be a gremlin.

FWIW
goaboydc

I'm sorry to hear it's not working.  I can't listen at work either, due to we have a firewall at work.  It works fine at home.

[Scott6373]

Well I told you this before Eric.  I can listen at work, but not at home.  The page opens, but when I click on the little icon, nothing happens.  I'm sure it has something to do with my internet security, but I am too numb to figure it out.

[SFEnnisSF]

Well I told you this before Eric.  I can listen at work, but not at home.  The page opens, but when I click on the little icon, nothing happens.  I'm sure it has something to do with my internet security, but I am too numb to figure it out.

Do you have your pop-up blocker on?

[Scott6373]

Nope

[injest]

WATCH OUT ERIC...I think he is trying to lure you over there with his sad story about not being able to get the computer working....

I think he has evil intentions!!!

 


 

was gonna make a funny about something popping up...but I am FAR too classy for THAT....

[Scott6373]

WATCH OUT ERIC...I think he is trying to lure you over there with his sad story about not being able to get the computer working....

I think he has evil intentions!!!

 


 

was gonna make a funny about something popping up...but I am FAR too classy for THAT....

Classy yes...but I can see the little she-devil under that gingham outfit. 

Neah, Eric is so safe with me...I'm way too old for him...oh and married kinda puts a damper on it a little as well.

[injest]

Classy yes...but I can see the little she-devil under that gingham outfit. 

Neah, Eric is so safe with me...I'm way too old for him...oh and married kinda puts a damper on it a little as well.

yep, just a little...

my fellow seems to think he should be the only one too...crazy man...

(just teasing...wouldn't want another one...got used to this one's little habits)

nothing wrong with a little flirting though! LOL!!

[SFEnnisSF]

I like older men. 

[injest]

I like older men. 

and younger men....

and men the same age...

and

and

 

(they are all nice to look at...)