Streaming to your iPhone

(By George "Loki" Williams, WWOZ Web Team May 02, 2008)

STREAMING THE FEST

So what do you do if you cannot make it to New Orleans for the Jazz Fest? fear not, there is no need to cry in your beer, significant portions of the festival are streamed through WWOZ. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet all you need is a solid connection and you can bring Jazz Fest into your home even if you live in a reaserch station in antarctica!

It is this stream that kept New Orleanians connected after the levee failure, and it continues bring a taste of home to many who have not been able to return (yet). I have the good fortune to have met some of the folks at StreamGuys, the company who provide the streaming services due to another assignment.

When I asked their VP, Jason Osburn, about WWOZ he was kind enough to share the following:

"WWOZ contacted us for [streaming] service shortly before Katrina hit. Having spent some time in New Orleans, I was very excited for the opportunity to work with them. Many of us at StreamGuys have a background in music, so to be working with a station so known for it's support of it's
culturally important local music scene was a treat.[...]

Over the years, we have watched WWOZ's webcast popularity grow immensely. Their unique format is now enjoyed outside the boundaries of their terrestrial broadcast range.

Music spreads and helps retain the soul and the history of culture. To this end, WWOZ is an important station. We hope to continue our relationship with them for many years to come."

So if you are not here, hop in the stream!

What are the most common streaming formats used and their features?
Click Here to find out the answer.

Arbitron and Edison Media say the number of on-the-job radio listeners using their computers (instead of an AM/FM radio) to listen to radio is growing quickly — to 20% this year from 12% just one year ago. And while the report gave no indication of programming preference, Edison president Larry Rosin points out to broadcasters that “on the Internet, the competition is not just the other stations in town… the possibilities are essentially infinite.” The researchers also point out that college grads were far more likely to listen to radio online while at work (30% do) than non-college grads (12%), undoubtedly since college grads are more likely to work with computers and in acceptable listening environments. For the full press release (and an easier-to-read chart), click here.