Building your own online radio station has become extremely easy, thanks to modern technology. One of the most well-known platforms used for Internet radio is SHOUTcast. This audio software has proven to be a useful tool and the best thing about it is, it is completely 100% free. However, the catch is you will need a web host to account for the excessive amount of bandwidth that only a datacentre can accommodate. Although, for the price of a cup of coffee there are affordable SHOUTcast radio plans out there that you can take advantage of right now. Believe it or not, you could have your own online radio station on air in mere minutes.
Before starting your online radio station
Before purchasing a SHOUTcast plan you should first study the market to search out the best offer that your money can buy. In this economy, you really can’t afford to throw money away. The best thing you can do in order to find out if a company has quality services or not is to test their free Shoutcast trial, assuming they have one. What you should be interested in determining is whether or not their services are stable. You definitely won’t want your online radio station buffering frequently or when listeners tune in (because they will tune out!). Another thing you should check is the quality of technical support. Are they knowledgeable when it comes to fixing problems? Are they quick to respond? Do they actually care? You should have a clear picture painted in your mind before handing over your hard-earned money.
Add Auto DJ
After you have found affordable SHOUTcast hosting, you should then consider improving your online radio station with the help of an Auto DJ. Most companies these days are offering online radio hosting with Auto DJ. What Auto DJ software does is allow you to play your music 24/7/365, even if you are not at your own computer or studio. Once you have your Auto DJ set up you will need to upload your audio files to create playlists and program your online radio station. Just like you would with a remote third-party encoder such as RadioDJ.
Be realistic
Obviously, cost is also an important factor when establishing who has the best affordable SHOUTcast hosting. Each company has its own pricing, so make sure that you are not overpaying for something you either don’t need or won’t use. Upgrading in place is always a possibility if or when the time comes to expand your online radio station. You need to be realistic from the very beginning that your Internet radio station is not going to have a lot of listeners at first. However, in time, if you are consistently delivering quality broadcasts to your audience, you will have no difficulty drawing in more listeners.
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