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Wolverine Data’s Internet WorldRadio with 15,000 radio stations now available

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An Internet-based WorldRadio that can receive broadcasts for free from 15,000 radio stations from more than 160 countries is now available from Wolverine Data, Inc.

“WorldRadio is the most complete guide to the world of digital quality live entertainment, sports, music, news and talk on the Internet receiving thousands of stations from over 160 countries around the globe,” Matt Mardini, Wolverine Data president, said. “By connecting our new WorldRadio to the Internet via its built-in Wi-Fi or Ethernet/LAN, consumers can indulge their personal listening preferences by genre or country anywhere in the world.”

Offering a stand-alone Internet radio capability with vTuner portal, the WorldRadio is the most advanced Internet radio with maximum worldwide station reach. The device features built-in 6-watt stereo speakers and external audio jacks to connect to headphones or a stereo system and users can sort by genre, country or add their own music. In addition, the WorldRadio uses Windows Media Player 11 to wirelessly stream music from a computer.

The WorldRadio package includes a 100-240V auto switching AC to 9V power adapter, remote control with batteries, quick installation guide and user manual.

Originally posted on October 24, 2008 @ 4:15 pm

Pandora expands availability to Reciva-powered Internet radio devices

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reciva.pngReciva and Pandora announced their partnership to make Pandora available on Reciva-powered Internet Radio receivers and networked devices in the US. Products from more than 30 Consumer Electronics brands are expected to be upgraded to offer Pandora’s unique Internet radio service.

Pandora is a personalized music service which has exploded in popularity to more than 10 million users, almost entirely by word of mouth. Pandora makes listening to favorite music and discovering new music simple and fun. Users just type in a song or artist that they like, and within seconds, Pandora delivers a free and personalized radio station with a continuous stream of songs that fit the same sound and style.

The songs are selected based on the Music Genome Project, Pandora’s innovative system that utilizes highly trained musicians to analyze music one song at a time. These musicians identify hundreds of different musical qualities of each recording, including melody, harmony, rhythm, instrumentation, arrangement, lyrics and vocals. Using this analysis, the listener’s personalized radio stations are created

Reciva-powered radios allow users easy and convenient access thousands of live radio stations from across the world without the need for a PC. These are mostly terrestrial broadcasters streaming their broadcast signal over the Internet in a process known as “simulcasting”. The addition of Pandora to the Reciva platform adds a unique and highly personalized service that is tailored to the user’s preferences.

Users can rate songs on Pandora through the “Reply” button on every Reciva powered Internet Radio with either “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” so Pandora can immediately adjust the station’s programming, and they can pause a song as well as skip a song that they don’t want to hear. Using the “Reply” button, listeners can also bookmark a song, and the song name and artist will be saved.

Originally posted on January 9, 2008 @ 1:01 pm

NowLive user broadcast service adds widget

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nowlive.jpgNowLive, a relatively new online service which combines social networking and user-generated broadcasting, announced a new widget today for making it easier to get a talk show noticed by the online masses. This widget can be plugged into a variety of Web sites.

The NowLive Talk Show widget lets anyone with a social networking profile on sites such as MySpace or blog sites like LiveJournal, Blogger and TypePad embed their own live talk show directly into their personal profile. NowLive in general works by letting one dial a local phone number to create voice streams for his or her new talk show. Talk show hosts can interact with listeners through a variety of tools and the shows are later made available as downloadable podcasts.

“Bloggers, podcasters and anyone who wants to be heard can be on the air in less than 60 seconds,” said NowLive Co-founder & CEO Kevin Bromber. “But unlike traditional radio, a social broadcast lets the audience actively participate in the show from their computers and cell phones.”

Originally posted on July 23, 2007 @ 3:36 pm

Court rejects webcasters’ motion to delay royalty rates

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Federal court of appeals rejects webcasters’ motion to delay the onset of internet radio royalty rates passed by the Copyright Royalty Board early this year.

The new fees are set to kick in on Sunday as scheduled, as the webcasters’ party failed to “satisfy the stringent standards required for a stay pending court review.”

The Digital Media Assocation, headed by executive director Jonathan Potter, is hopeful that webcasters could still make amends with the music industry and the royalty board. In the meantime, Internet radio stations will be “forced to make very difficult decisions about what music, if any, they are able to offer. The result will certainly be fewer outlets for independent music, less diversity on the Internet airwaves, and far fewer listening choices for consumers.”

This agreement made by the Copyright Royalty Board requires internet radio stations to pay .08 cent per song played online, retroactive to 2006, which rises up to .19 cent by 2010. Also, stations ahave to pay a minimum of $500 royalty payment per channel. It was because of this that webcasters around the world staged a day of silence last July 26 as a plea for reconsideration.

Originally posted on July 13, 2007 @ 5:13 am

CBS partners with Paltalk, adds live video streaming to talk shows

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CBS Radio’s Sports station improves its popular talk shows with interactive video streaming courtesy of Paltalk. Among these shows are The Mike North Morning and The Boers and Berstein which are aired at 6-10 am and 2-6 pm respectively.

This latest development allows listeners to participate through live video streaming so that they get to see both on-air personalities as well as other listeners who are viewing the videos too.

“We have been aggressive in implementing digital technologies into our everyday operations and our listeners have responded to all our initiatives with great enthusiasm,” Paul Agase, VP and general manager of the station, said. “Of all the ways our listeners have to connect with the station, live video streaming brings an entirely new level of engagement, which we are excited to offer.”

Originally posted on July 5, 2007 @ 9:16 am