Web radio (or Internet radio) is a broadcasting service transmitted via the Internet. Not every web "radio station" has a corresponding traditional radio station. Many web radio stations are completely independent from traditional ("terrestrial") radio stations and broadcast only on the Internet. Broadcasting on the Internet is usually referred to as webcasting. Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video signals (programs) to a number of recipients (listeners or viewers) that belong to a large group. ...

Because the radio signal is relayed over the Internet through the World Wide Web, it is possible to access the stations from anywhere in the world—for example, to listen to an Australian radio station from Europe or America. This makes it a popular service for expatriates and for people who have interests that may not be adequately catered for by their local radio stations (such as country music). Some of the web radio services available via the Internet offer news, sports, talkback, and various genres of music—everything that is on the radio station being re-broadcast. Graphic representation of the World Wide Web around Wikipedia The World Wide Web (WWW, W3, or simply Web) is an information space in which the items of interest, referred to as resources, are identified by global identifiers called Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs). ... A radio station is a sound broadcasting service. ... World map showing location of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... The Americas (sometimes referred to as America) is the area including the land mass located between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, generally divided into North America and South America. ... An expatriate (in abbreviated form expat) is someone temporarily or permanently in a country and culture other than that of their upbringing and/or legal residence. ... Country music, formerly called country and western music or country-western, is an amalgam of popular musical forms developed in the southern United States, with roots in traditional folk music, spirituals, and the blues. ...

Dang Thi Thu Huong, writing a PhD on web radio at Bournemouth University, UK, argues that web radio is a particular form of media in itself, and cannot simply be the rebroadcast of on-air radio programmes via the Internet. She suggests this definition: "Web radio is a hybrid of radio and the Internet, featuring professional output including live radio programmes online and/or archived radio programmes online, accompanied and supported by some text and/or images, and interactive communication via the World Wide Web."

Web radio technology

One of the most common ways to distribute web radio is via streaming MP3 technology, which uses the well-known MP3 music format. The bits are "streamed" over a TCP/IP connection, then reassembled and played within about 2 seconds. Therefore, streaming MP3 radio has about a two-second lag time. Streaming media is media that is consumed (read, heard, viewed) while it is being delivered. ... MP3 is a popular digital audio encoding and lossy compression format invented in 1987 by the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits in Erlangen, Germany. ... MP3 is a popular digital audio encoding and lossy compression format invented in 1987 by the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits in Erlangen, Germany. ... Format has several meanings; did you mean: Disk formatting — the process of preparing a disk for use File format — various ways information is encoded in computing Format — a command in the Common Lisp programming language Radio format — the musical style and programming philosophy of a radio station. ... A bit (abbreviated b) is the most basic information unit used in computing and information theory. ... The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications protocols that implement the protocol stack on which the Internet runs. ... Lag often refers to delays experienced in computing communications, however it may also apply to written or other forms of communication. ...

There are three major components to an MP3 stream:

1. Audio stream source
2. Audio stream repeater (server)
3. Audio stream playback

There are many methods for creating the audio stream source. Those more technologically savvy may opt for the SHOUTcast service, which utilizes Winamp and the SHOUTcast DSP plugin to deliver MP3 audio at higher bitrates. Other methods include open source technologies such as Streamcast, stream-db, IceS, and MuSE. Using open source stream source tools allows for interesting web interface possibilities like phpStreamcast. In computing, a server is: A computer software application that carries out some task (i. ... SHOUTcast is a freeware audio streaming technology, developed by Nullsoft. ... Winamp is a skinnable, multi-format, freeware audio player made by Nullsoft, part of Time Warner. ... Open source refers to projects that are open to the public and which draw on other projects that are freely available to the general public. ... For other uses see Muse (disambiguation). ... phpStreamcast is an advanced web-frontend for build a web radio based on streamcast or stream-db, both streaming- (and playlist) engines for icecast. ...

Two of the most popular Web radio networks are Live365 and SHOUTcast. Open source alternatives include Icecast and Xiph.org, which include Ogg Vorbis streamings (that can be played by Winamp and Zinf). Collectively, these Web radio servers list thousands of Internet radio stations covering an ever-expanding variety of genres. The purpose of the server is to repeat the stream source to the audio playback software. Live365 is an internet radio Web site where members can create their own online radio station or listen to other Live365 broadcasters online stations. ... SHOUTcast is a freeware audio streaming technology, developed by Nullsoft. ... Open source refers to projects that are open to the public and which draw on other projects that are freely available to the general public. ... Icecast is an open source streaming media project maintained by the creators of the Ogg media format, Xiph. ... The Xiph. ... Vorbis is an open and free audio compression (codec) project from the Xiph. ... Zinf Zinf is a free audio player, released under the GNU General Public License. ...

Some sort of audio playback software, that is capable of reading HTTP data streams, is needed to listen to streaming MP3 audio. Some popular MP3 players are Winamp for Windows, iTunes for Macintosh and Microsoft Windows, and XMMS on Unix/Linux. HTTP (for HyperText Transfer Protocol) is the primary method used to convey information on the World Wide Web. ... Winamp is a skinnable, multi-format, freeware audio player made by Nullsoft, part of Time Warner. ... // Microsoft Windows is a range of operating environments for personal computers and servers. ... Screenshot of Mac OS X version of iTunes The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... The box for Mac OS X v10. ... // Microsoft Windows is a range of operating environments for personal computers and servers. ... XMMSs default appearance The X Multimedia System (XMMS) is a free audio player very similar to Winamp, that runs on many Unix-like operating systems. ... Unix or UNIX is a computer operating system originally developed in the 1960s and 1970s by a group of AT&T Bell Labs employees including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, and Douglas McIlroy. ... Tux, a cartoon penguin frequently featured sitting, is the official Linux mascot. ...

There are also a small number of web radio programs that allow users to rate the songs they are listening to. This allows a user's music listening choices to be correlated against those of others, as with the programs iRATE radio, Last.fm, and Radio Paradise. The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... Last. ... Radio Paradise is a popular Internet radio station that defines itself as eclectic online rock radio. The channel differs from most FM channels and other Internet stations in that the music played is not limited to any specific genre but instead represents great variety. ...

History

The first Internet "radio station", Internet Talk Radio, was developed by Carl Malamud in 1993. Malamud's station used a technology called MBONE (IP Multicast Backbone on the Internet). In February, 1995, the first full-time, Internet-only radio station, Radio HK, began broadcasting the music of independent bands. Radio HK was created by Norman Hajjar and the Hajjar/Kaufman New Media Lab, an advertising agency in Marina del Rey, California. Hajjar's method was to use a CU-SeeMe web conferencing reflector connected to a custom created audio CD in endless loop. Later, Radio HK converted to one of the original RealAudio servers. Today, Internet radio stations such as VoyagerRadio utilize the technologies of web services like Live365 to webcast 24 hours a day. 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Mbone, short for multicast backbone, an experimental backbone for multicast traffic across the Internet. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Marina del Rey boat harbor Marina del Rey is a census-designated place and seaside town located in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, California. ... CU-SeeMe was an internet video-conferencing client written by students at Cornell University. ... CD may stand for: Compact Disc Canadian Forces Decoration Cash Dispenser (at least used in Japan) CD LPMud Driver Centrum-Demokraterne (Centre Democrats of Denmark) Certificate of Deposit České Dráhy (Czech Railways) Chad (NATO country code) Chalmers Datorförening (computer club of the Chalmers University of Technology) a 1960s... RealAudio is a proprietary audio format developed by RealNetworks. ...

WXYC (89.3FM Chapel Hill, NC USA) was the first radio station to start broadcasting on the Internet on November 7, 1994. WXYC used an FM radio connected to a system at SunSite running CU-SeeMe. WREK (91.1FM, Atlanta, GA USA) also started streaming on the same day, using their own custom software called CyberRadio1, although the stream was not advertised until a later date. KPIG also began to transmit a live, 24/7 feed, in August 1995, first using Xing Streamworks and later switching to RealAudio. Bill Goldsmith, who was KPIG's Operations Manager & morning DJ at the time, and the one responsible for starting the webcast, now operates the popular Internet station Radio Paradise. WXYC is the student radio station of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. ... Frequency modulation (FM) is a form of modulation which represents information as variations in the instantaneous frequency of a carrier wave. ... City nickname: The Southern Part of Heaven County Orange County Mayor Kevin C. Foy Area  - Total  - Water 51. ... State nickname: Tar Heel State Other U.S. States Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Governor Michael Easley (D) Official languages English Area 139,509 km² (28th)  - Land 126,256 km²  - Water 13,227 km² (9. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... WXYC is the student radio station of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. ... Frequency modulation (FM) is a form of modulation which represents information as variations in the instantaneous frequency of a carrier wave. ... CU-SeeMe was an internet video-conferencing client written by students at Cornell University. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Frequency modulation (FM) is a form of modulation which represents information as variations in the instantaneous frequency of a carrier wave. ... This article is about the state capital of Georgia. ... State nickname: Peach State / Empire State of the South Other U.S. States Capital Atlanta Largest city Atlanta Governor Sonny Perdue (R) Official languages English Area 154,077 km² (24th)  - Land 150,132 km²  - Water 3,945 km² (2. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Xing Streamworks was the first viable software solution for transmitting live audio over the public (non-M-BONE) Internet. ... RealAudio is a proprietary audio format developed by RealNetworks. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Radio Paradise is a popular Internet radio station that defines itself as eclectic online rock radio. The channel differs from most FM channels and other Internet stations in that the music played is not limited to any specific genre but instead represents great variety. ...

Tuning in to a broadcast like a traditional radio is not possible on internet, so finding different broadcasts has to be done with a search-engine or a website that collects on-line radio broadcasts.

In 1997, Sonicwave, created by producer Edward Lyman, with licensing agreements from BMI and ASCAP, became the first legal internet-only station to broadcast live, 24/7 using RealAudio. BMI can mean one of the following: Body mass index - a measurement of ideal weight range Broadcast Music Incorporated - a music-related organization BMI British Midland - a UK airline founded to serve Great Britains midland regions. ... The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) is an organization known as a collecting society that protects intellectual property, ensuring that music which is broadcast, commercially recorded, or otherwise used for profit, pays a fee to compensate the creators of that music. ... RealAudio is a proprietary audio format developed by RealNetworks. ...

In 1999 a company called MyCaster released a tool that allowed anyone to Netcast in 10 minutes. The MyCaster tool was cleverly simple. It was basically a software MP3 player, similar to Winamp, that as the user listened to music it simultaneously sent a stream to the MyCaster Website. MyCaster then amplified the stream and listed it on its site for listeners to access. The free service allowed even people with little technical skill to easily go live with their own Internet radio station. Like many early Internet radio endeavors, MyCaster succumbed to the dot com bust in 2001.

A new technique for internet broadcasting via P2P technology called Peercasting will hopefully make it easier to start your own station and cut down on bandwidth costs for current broadcasters. A peer-to-peer (or P2P) computer network is any network that does not rely on dedicated servers for communication but instead mostly uses direct connections between clients (peers). ... Peercasting is a method of multicasting streams, usually audio and/or video, to the internet via peer-to-peer technology. ...

Mercora P2P Radio www.mercora.com

A combination of P2P and Internet radio, Mercora P2P radio is streaming only user to user in a legal format. No downloads, though some user's may use audio "hijacking" to record Internet audio signals, Mercora turns each listener into a Internet radio station if they so choose. Mercora keeps it legal by paying broadcasting royalties.

OGG streaming

Now is very easy to stream music and words on ogg format, a free codec, using Winamp or Icecast servers. Vorbis is an open and free audio compression (codec) project from the Xiph. ... Codec is a portmanteau of either Compressor-Decompressor or Coder-Decoder, which describes a device or program capable of performing transformations on a data stream or signal. ... Icecast is an open source streaming media project maintained by the creators of the Ogg media format, Xiph. ...

Corporate policy

Many workplaces ban employee use of web radio in order to conserve internet bandwidth. At ~1500 kbit/s, a T1 line can only handle 7.8 192 kbit/s streams, or 26 56 kbit/s streams, assuming that the T1 is completely unutilized otherwise. In telecommunications, T-carrier is the generic designator for any of several digitally multiplexed telecommunications carrier systems originally developed by Bell Labs and used in North America and Japan. ...

See also

• List of Internet stations
• Community radio
• ADSL radio
• Streaming
• TLH

This is a list of streaming media resources found on the internet. ... Community radio is a type of radio service that caters to the interests of a certain area, broadcasting material that is popular to a local audience but is overlooked by more powerful broadcast groups. ... Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a form of DSL, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines than a conventional modem can provide. ... Streaming can refer to either of the following : In online media, Streaming allows data to be transferred in a stream of packets that are interpreted as they arrive for just-in-time delivery of multimedia information. ... TLH or tlh may mean: Klingon language (ISO 639 alpha-3) Tallahassee, Florida Total Listening Hours [Radio] - A measurement used in Internet Radio to measure the popularity of a particular station. ...

External links

• www.BachataRadio.com - BachataRadio.com, music of the Dominican Republic
• Democaster - UK public sector audiocasting pilot
• History of WXYC's Internet stream
• History of WREK's Internet stream
• WebmasterRadio.FM The Place for Education & Entertainment!
• Party107 - Your Place To Party 24/7
• World Fusion Radio
• chart-radio - webradio made by you!

Open source technology

• Dynebolic GNU/Linux live CD ready for radio streaming
• MuSE audio mixing and streaming source software
• Streamcast
• Shoutcast
• Stream-db
• phpStreamcast
• Icecast
• IceShare P2P IceCast protocol
• Xiph.org
• iRate a web radio that chooses the next song based on your previous ratings for other songs
• Broadcaster for Macs
• Freecast Java application which allows peer-to-peer stream broadcast. Makes possible a stream broadcast to a large number of listeners from a simple DSL connection
• Peercast is a peer-to-peer broadcasting tool which allows you to broadcast without needing much upstream bandwidth.
• Stewie Radio Automation Project Set it and forget it radio automation
• reboot.fm Open-source sheduler/site/radio management software
• Liquidsoap Kind of radio programming language, flexible and extensible, automation without restriction!

dyne:bolic is a LiveCD GNU/Linux distribution produced by dyne. ... For other uses see Muse (disambiguation). ... SHOUTcast is a freeware audio streaming technology, developed by Nullsoft. ... Icecast is an open source streaming media project maintained by the creators of the Ogg media format, Xiph. ... IceShare is a vaporware peercasting system for Ogg multimedia. ... PeerCast is an open source streaming media multicast tool. ...

Free (in the sense of Libre) Speech Radios

• Rantradio: Speak Your Mind
• San Francisco Liberation Radio
• Indy Media Center
• Free Radio Network
• Free Speech Radio News
• Free Radio Santa Cruz
• Radioactive Radio San Diego
• TheoryRadio