Group 4: Qumei (Amy) Yu, Ran Zhuo, Ryan Alexander Prosser, Robert David Hendricks, Paul Yim

Group
[Group Members] Qumei (Amy) Yu, Ran Zhuo, Ryan Alexander Prosser, Robert David Hendricks, Paul Yim

Initial Project Statement
what are the benefits and drawbacks of internet radio on the audience and artists?

Traditional radio
Traditional radio is also know as FM/AM radios. At first a signal generated at a radio station. The signal is basic a electrical wave, so it can transmit in the air and accpet by the radio an audience have. The speaker of raido regenerate the sound base on the signal they get. The problem of traditional radio is that during the process of tasmist a sginal, they are easily disturbed in the air and there is a certain distance the signal can go. Therefore the raido programe can only herad by the audience in a certain area.

What is Internet radio
Internet radio is basically the same thing as a regular broadcast radio, with a few characters that distinguish it. There is minimal lag using a regular radio because it is broadcasted through the air, internet radio has a lag time from 2.5 to 10 seconds, the time depends on the server. Internet radio involves steaming that grants listeners continuous stream of audio which the listeners have no control of, much alike broadcast radio. Receiveing the stream is alike listening to a MP3 player, as it has the same format. Internet radio offers many formations, but MP3 and ACC formats are the most popular.

History of Internet radio
Internet radio stations first showed up in the mid 90s, with few fans. The early internet radio stations had very poor quality, as the internet began over regular phone lines. Audio Firms and terrestrial radio stations had the capability of transmitting high quality over phone lines for many years, but they used a more costly ISDN and T-1 lines. Internet broadcast technology was gradually introduced to the general public with the first cable and DSL internet, because they were more affordable. By the end of the 1990s there were thousands of internet radios online. In the mid-2000s internet radio had become a ever growing phenomenon, there are now radio stations in the number of five figures. There are massive networks such as Last.fm, live365, and Shoutcast, while there are also many smaller networks with individual owners. there are few internet radio stations that have found ways to meet there expenses due to small listener numbers.

Purpose of Internet radio
The purpose of Internet radio is just the same as regular AM/FM band radio. Through sound can audiences can be informed, educated, and entertained. While revenue is generated though advertising. However Internet radio allows advertisements to be visual and not interrupt the flow of the broadcast.

How Internet radio works
Internet radio is streamed, which is to say its an audio video signal that is being continuously received by a user, however the user has no control over this signal.

=Benefits of Internet Radio=

Ability To listen to radio at home or work
Access to the internet has become more common than access to an AM/FM transceivers. Any device be it Desktop, Laptop, Blackberry, iphone or any mobile device with internet access can use online radio.

Internet radio is broadcasted 24/7
Since the signal for online radio can be generated using software the human element of online radio becomes a monitoring endeavor rather than operation which enables it to be run 24 hours a day.

No fees or special equipment required
Because advertisements can be displayed as banners and windows they do not need to disrupt the flow of music or information provided to the users.

Broadcasted worldwide
The range of Internet radio is universal anyone anywhere can listen to any station at anytime so long as they have internet connectivity.

Wide variety of music and non-music stations
There are thousands of free music and non- music radio stations worldwide that are freely available to listeners.

Many local radio stations find the process too long to go through all the stages in local radio business. This long process is also very costly for new artists. Because of this, the demand for internet radio has dramtically increased. Internet radio expose many indie artists to casual listeners that are eager to find music that are not mainstream. Because of this, indie artists may able to be popular.

Attract a audience
Internet radio is a good way for bands to get their music heard because the internet is so widely used around the world

Since the internet has become more common and popular throughout the world, new bands can be heard much more easily. Internet radios play all sorts of music, evne those that are less mainstream. It is also much cheaper and easier for artists to post their music on the internet themselves instead of relying on more professional producers.

Unheard bands get airtime
Bands that are not yet popular and do not have money to advertise their band can use internet radio to get airtime. Because internet radio is cheap to broadcast smaller bands can afford to get their music heard.

Many new bands do not have the money to go to professional companies for their music to play on the local radio stations. Since the internet is so much easier to use by the artists themselves, new music can be posted on blogs or other websites. These websites can be easily viewed by others thoughout the world.

=Drawbacks of internet Radio=

Local radios get smaller audience
Local radio stations get a smaller fan base because people are listening to internet radio instead of their AM or FM broadcasted radio.

In the past, when the interent radio did not exist, local radio stations got much larger fans. However, nowadays, due to the excess advertisements and increase in technologoy, the internet radio has gain much more fame. Instead of waiting for their favorite song to play on the local radio, the internet radio gives you immediate access to the song. The internet radio is much more convenient and effiecent than the local radio stations.

Mainstream bands get less airtime
Mainstream bands get less airtime because listeners are tuning into internet radio stations listening to bands that are not mainstream.

With the internet radio, people can choose and listen to their favorite songs. Websites also recommened and provide new imformation about new bands. Even bands that are not maintstream can be listened to and can be easily accessed through the internet radio. This provides more variety and culture of music to all the listeners.

Production companies make less money
Production companies make less profit because consumers are listening to free music other than buying music cd's.

Producation companies used to make much more profit because that was the only way listeners can have access to their favortie artist and songs. However, today due to the increase in technology, there are so many ways to access to people's favorite songs. Due to this fact, older methods such as the radio station has become less popular. Listening to the internet radio is much more efficient than tradtional radio stations.

=Last.Fm=



Last.fm is one of the most popular internet music radio's available on the internet. It has over 30 million fans and is listened to in over 200 countries.

Last.fm uses a music recorder system named "Audiscrobbler", this system builds a profile for each user's taste in music by recording what songs the user listens to on the steamed radio. Last.fm offers many social networking features and the site recommends new artists for the users to listen to according to their music preference.

Users on this site have freedom over what music they choose to listen to. They can create custom radio stations and playlists from the music tracks that are in Last.fm's library, they can listen to specific music tracks on demand, or they can download tracks if the right holder of the track has authorized it.

=Conclusion=

Internet radio is now a very popular medium on the internet. It allows listeners to listen to the radio at anywhere on the earth where internet is provided and gives listeners a free access to a variety of music and non-music media. Non mainstream bands can now get recognized and gain an audience, this is something that prior to internet radio was very difficult for up and coming bands to gain. There are many benefits to internet radio for both artists and listeners and their are not many drawbacks. The only drawbacks are to already wealthy production agencies. Overall internet radio is a very useful form of media with limitless potential and the benefits strongly out weigh any drawbacks.

=External Links=


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