> > This is a multi-part message in MIME format... > > ------------=_1021688874-31891-3083 > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > OK. I got in my manual and set up XMMS, went to Shoutcast.com and > downloaded one of their site addresses and got it to play stereo on my > computer. Now, three things. Does M$ own all the radio stations
No. Most are independently owned and operated. Many come from peoples garages/basements/whatever. Some are stations that are broadcasting over the internet in addition to conventional AM or FM. The question is not logical - does (insert stereo manufacturer) own the stations your stereo picks up? Of course not. All that MS (or your stereo mfr) does is make a way to listen to the broadcasts. You probably get FM or other services for free, but commercials pay for the airtime, or maybe donations. Truth be told, licencing sharks here in the US may make it next to impossible for the majority of stations featured on sites like shoutcast to keep broadcasting. The content isn't necessarily free. An open-source equivalent in traditional media might be an antenna. Sure paying for the antenna makes it easier to received broadcasts than without it. You could choose from a variety of antennas, or subscribe to (pay) service like XM radio, or cable. > accessible with Windows Media Player? If Icecast and Cool FM are > supporting open source, why are they charging for access? And third and Kodos for them supporting open source. there are many good stations out there that remain either just realaudio or (worse yet) only playable using windows Media Player. They're just making it easier for everyone to access the content. A broadcaster that simply decided to broadcast in a non-standard range (say out of the FM band) wouldn't get many listeners, and probably would not get much advertising revenue either, for it would mean people having to go to a proprietary solution to listen to the stuff. Also check out live365.com. They have a load of interesting stuff.
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