Live365 will be doing their monthly maintenance this Saturday, August 2nd from 9:00 to 11:00 pm U.S. Pacific Time. (5:00 to 7:00 am UTC) During that time stations will be restarted and if you’re listening you will be disconnected.  You should be able to re-connect almost immediately.

This upgrade sets the stage for a new Flash based player for the Live365 player window.  It will become available in the next few months.  Also a few minor bugs, not noticeable to listeners, will be fixed.

Beginning May 31st Stuck in the ’50s will be under a new Live365 package which will drastically cut the number of simultaneous non-VIP listeners from 100 to 40. If you have trouble tuning in it might be time to get a VIP membership.  Besides no “station full” messages you also won’t hear commercials.  However, although the VIP ads say “CD quality sound”, Stuck in the ’50s will stay with glorious mono AM radio quality.

One advantage to this new package is triple the space on the Live365 servers.  I’ll be adding more music over the next few months including some of the songs of the ’50s that didn’t make the top of the charts but are good listening anyway.  As always, comments and suggestions will be appreciated. I’ve already received a few and am starting to get the music together.

The new broadcasting packages from Live365 offer some advantages, including higher quality streaming rates.  I’ve experimented, using Grandpa D’s Place, with various rates and as of now have set the rate to 64 kbps mp3PRO.  To me it sounds very good.  If you try it be sure you have an mp3PRO compatible player such as Winamp w/mp3PRO plug-in, Jetaudio or better yet, the Live365 Radio365 player.  VIP members get the latter free; other can try it for 35 hours playing time at no charge.  And if your decide to sign up for VIP  membership be sure to do so by clicking here.  (Yes, I do get a commission which helps pay for these station.)

In a email to broadcasters on March 3rd, Live365 announced major changes to the packages it offers.

Live365 has worked for months to come up with a way to continue to cover royalties but keep rates reasonable. Though we will be increasing rates for the first time in 4 years, the end result of our efforts are some great new package features for you, the broadcaster, which help alleviate the increase in royalties, and give you even more of what you want and need to build and maintain a successful Internet broadcast.

While this mainly affects me, you as listeners will also be affected. Part of the changes are a decrease in the number of non-VIP listeners allowed.  If you don’t have the VIP membership you may find that the station is full more than in the past. I’m sorry this had to happen, but as of January 1st the royalty rates  have more than doubled since 2005.

The lowered availability to non-VIP listeners won’t take place all at once. For now, only the Dream Catcher is affected.  Other stations will be affected later in the year as my present contracts with Live365 expire. 

I’d like to thank all listeners, especially those with VIP memberships.  When you listen Live365 returns a portion of your membership fee to me which helps defray the costs of broadcasting.  With your continued support all four stations (five if you count my test station Grandpa D’s Place) will be able to continue.

A Classical Concert listeners may have noticed a slight change in programming.  Beginning yesterday I’ve eased up on the lighter selections, those that fit more into the “Pops” category that “Classical”.  So far listener numbers indicate they approve.  I’ll be adding more as I make space on the Live365 servers.