Time to become a pirate?

[leggo rocker]

My reggae radio station at live365 has been listened to all over the world, the response has been fantastic, I'm blown away each time I look at the long long list of countries that are tuning in to listen to the shows.

BUT - it's almost time for me to renew my subscription there and it is very expensive, several hundred dollars each year - money I'd rather spend on more records!

So here's my question:

Should I abandon the feed and instead start loading DJ sessions and recordings of my live shows as podcasts on www.leggorockers.com - or a podcasting website - instead?

Please help me make up my mind which way to go in 2008 to ensure I can share all this great roots rock reggae with as many reggae fans as is absolutely possible.

[Jah Glu]

Do what you think is the best. Our opinion does not matter.

[Magnus]

Hi leggo,

I think you should try and find another solution instead of renewing your subscription to the site you're currently on.
Especially now when I hear it's rather expensive deal.

I never got your radio to work properly on my PC, which is really too bad. The bitrate we get to stream your music in seems ridiciously low too? And lastly, the design on the site is not exactly worth mentioning.

Perhaps you should get an account on a site like http://www.podomatic.com/ instead. It looks neat, works, and seems to be popular amongst reggae podcasters.
The episodes can be downloaded and streamed.

Here's links to some of the podcasters there who I think does the job very good!
http://sleeper.podomatic.com/
http://algoriddim.podomatic.com/
http://bmc.podomatic.com/

Also, I don't think this solution would be technically hard, and that's perhaps a good thing if you're no computer nerd.

Alternatively, it would be really cool if you could set up a basic website on your domain. Perhaps with a blog-like design where you could write a tracklist to your programs and a download link.
A really cheap and easy way to host your programs could be on a site like http://zshare.net/

They allow up to 100mb files, with no download wait time, and your files will stay online basically forever.

Or else you could host the files on your own server, but I think that could get quite expensive.


Sorry for a rushed reply, hope you can use it!

Looking forward to more radio from you!!

[kalcidis-is-is-is]

Podcasting is the way to go in my opinion. I think you'll have even more listeners that way. The drawback is that you can't (or can you?) play life but in return your shows are available long after aired.

[mexicojah]

Hey Leggo,
Take a year off and collect some more rare gems and then in the future, if the almighty permits it, continue with your radio station or podcasting.

[leggo rocker]

Thanks, guys, for taking time to add your input here.

@ Jah Glu.

Of course your opinions matter. It's you guys I am doing this for, I can listen to it all any time I want. But I want to broadcast and share this music. It's too good to keep locked away. I am a reggae evangelist, my decks are my pulpit, my records are my bible and playing DJ sets live or by radio or podcasting is my preaching.

@ Magnus.

Thanks for the detailed answer. Good food for thought there.

I'm lucky enough to have my own server with loads of disk space and bandwidth - and some moderate computer skills - so I can develop it any way it works best.

I'm upset to hear people struggle to load 365live, but I had suspected it by the number of people who listen for less than a few minutes - which suggests it wasn't working for them. The bit rate is 64k and that's the highest 365 allows. And boy is it expensive to use that.

I'm going to try to develop the website at www.leggorockers.com into a reggae portal (linking to this website of course, I could never hope to do the job they've done here with the database and forum!). And I'll link my podcasting from there using podmatic or similar.

@Kalcidis.

I agree, podcasting it is. And I could make semi-live podcasts by playing a set through and offering it as a download. I'd never actually got the hang of live broadcasting on 365live anyway!

@ Mexicojah.

Take a year off! Are you kidding? I'd go stir crazy! No, rather than taking a year off I intend to really step on the gas for 2008. And it won't stop me collecting, rather more likely to spur me on to collect even more great reggae records.

[Lion]

Keep it Rocking & Swing.
Don't pay Babylon.

Lion

[Nefta]

Good, Leggo leaving 365 is a step in your evolution as a reggae brodcaster.Big up for you and the work you do!!Only let us know were you at; we will follow.

Fya

[Marky Dread]

leggo -
i'm WAY more inclined to listen to a podcast than a feed - with 2 little ones in my home, time is scarce and not always in the same spot... when time permits - the mp3 player comes out, and i can catch up...
"keep on pushing, a little bit harder every day!"
thanks for your level vibes and effort - we ALL appreciate it!