NoWhere Radio Forums

Traffic issues:

 Some people have been complaining about occasional skips/buffers in the on-demand streams recently, or that downloads are taking longer than usual.  While this is currently occasional, it may happen more often for a short while.

 A couple things are happening:

1) I'm testing the newly developed broadcast server, and distribution software that will run the radio station.  This increases bandwidth, and will happen for another month or so.

2) Traffic has increased 10 fold in the past month, meaning that NWR will have to move to new lines again, it also means that one of the core servers need to be upgraded.  Unfortuneatly, this means more $$$'s, which I do not have at the moment, I need roughly $2,000 for the change over, and a couple hundred extra a month after that.

Possible Solutions:

- We are getting more artists signing up for the iSpace options, so there is some income, enough to support NWR as it is now.  A large increase in signups could help alot, lets say about 100 or more, would cover the initial expense of the upgrades.  From there, at least 5-10 new pay signups a month would be required to continue operation.  As was stated before, I'm willing to give a small commission to encourage pay signups.

- Donations are always good.

- A professional compilation project for NWR, where the artist covers their share of the expenses, between $100-$200 depending on the number of participants.  2,000 CDs are professionally silk-screened and pressed (all tracks professionally mastered), 500 given away as promotional items (some to radio stations for airplay, etc.), 1000 are divided up to each artist to sell or give away (selling would be good, since they could actually profit), the remainder are sold at around $5-$10 (including shipping in North America, extra if outside), the profit going to the continued development of NWR.

- Purchased Ad space.  We'd need a large number of advertisers to foot the whole bill, but it would be good to get a few extra to get the ball rolling.  $25 for a banner ad in rotation per month is the current rate.  Anywhere from 30,000-100,000 impressions is what you get for that.  (Price is about 1/10th of what mp3.com and such charges)

Or simply live with it, until I've had my surgery, and can find another job to fund the upgrade!

You say 100 more iSpace signups would generate the funds required to get more server power.  But wouldn't 100 more signups and all the knock-on effects of those signups generate so much more traffic than you've got on the site now that the recent tenfold increase would look like a drop in the bucket?  100 more signups would completely swamp Nowhere in hits and downloads and streaming, right?

It seems to me that Nowhere is suffering from success.

100 more iSpace signups would be less than a 1% increase in membership, so no, there wouldn't be an impact.  The only difference would be that it would be 100 more PAYING members.

In fact, even converted accounts could be done, so there wouldn't even need to be an increase in membership/usage.

Theoretically, with current lines and servers, 5-7,000 more sign-ups would be needed to swamp NWR to the point of being useless.

The CD idea sounds pretty good.

Okay, everybody who is interested in the CD compilation project, e-mail me at waldo@nowhereradio.com with the subject 'Compilation project'.

I'll start making a list of who is interested, as obviously, we'll need a minimum amount of participants.

The CD idea is interesting, but if I'm gonna ante up 100-200 dollars that has only one of my songs on it, I want it to be a good compilation.  Who decides which songs go on the CD?

Also, aside from the selection issue, a compilation CD is a mountain of a project.  Slackmaster at hr.com found out recently - ask him.  Who would be in charge of the project?  It's a lot of work.

I've done it for several groups of musicians, several times, and the longest time it's taken for the project so far, has been about 2 months, most of which was waiting for artists to submit there material via. mail, etc.  As you've seen, I've offered to help out for the next HR comp. as well.  This will be a first for NWR artists however, so I'm not sure as to how long it will be before enough participants are involved.  The actual production, and ready for shipping process, takes about 2-3 weeks.  In essence, I'll be in control of the process from the beginning, to end, some of the variables will be the control of the artists.

The last project, it was a collective decision of the artists as to which songs got on (actually, it was more of a deductive process, artists would state that they 'didn't' want a certain song on, rather than the ones they did want on).  No money changes hands until the final decision is made.

Remember, each artist recieves around 100 CDs themselves as well (number depends on the number of artists, 1,000 will be divided amongst the participants), which are professionally mastered, pressed, silk-screened, just like the 'big boys'.  Each artist could easily sell the CDs at $5 and make a decent profit for their investment.  It's also extra publicity for each artist, as 500 are given away, some of which to radio stations to play the tunes, and 500 more are sold after that.

It's cheaper than hunkering down with blanks and a CDR, and printing them yourselves, and it's a more professional package.

Here's another option:

An MP3 CD, wherein each artist only has to chip in a couple dollars (since a few hundred tracks could be listed).  This, however, would be limitting as to who could play the album, and most likely wouldn't get radio airplay.

It would also require the participation of a much larger number of people.

I'd be interested in that Compilation CD actually!

I'm in the system here...The Lonely Ghost Project!

http://www.nowhereradio.com/deanmason

There is a possible issue with covers, you must of course have rights to distribute, and perform.

I assume you have all appropriate paperwork?

welll

I don't have money to spare of course... but on my end,

I'd be willing to grant use of a song to a NWR compilation, whatever you would like from my entire catalogue (my entire catalogue, not the couple songs I have up on NWR) though you'd only want the traditionals and originals, you'd have to cover royalties otherwise. . I wouldn't want any copies of the compilation, can't use them anyway, honestly.

the fact is I'll admot I don't really know enough about how everything is set up at NWR as dar as fee services etc goes.. and what  who pays for what and how it all pays for everything... so its hard to make a realistic comment... but why not.. I guess you didn't differentiate between wanting uninformed or informed opinions!

otherwise, don't know how many artists are on NWR, but if downloads/fundamental infrastructure etc is the issue, seems like a minor surcharge wouldn't be out of order instead of a totally free service.. though I know from the beginning the idea was to keep that aspect for people... but $12/yr is only a $1 a month which is little enough to pay for the service given, if there is only 200 artists posting downloads for a free service, well, that would be $2000 there. Even I could handle that much. Maybe if there are more than 200 it could be less. If there are 2000 it would be $1 each. either that or put it out like this.. "there are "X" artists on NWR, if each could donate "$X" that will do it"... instead of looking at a actual fee... seems to me, if it takes the artists pitching in some along the way to get this all off the ground, seems logical enough.. and as above, it doesn't start any sort of fee.. ir if there is a fee, start it planning on discontinuing it as soon as possible.

I have yet to have downloads translate into anything meaningful for me.. I feel its part of my job to let people who may never get to hear me perform can still get a chance to hear my music.  But to me, the people who support me with tips on the street are the ones paying to get my music out to the rest of the people on the street, and all the free shows I do.. schools and old folks homes etc, and the internet as wel.. since I've never made anything significant off the net. So if a few dollars out of the hat goes to NWR, that's what it takes, and that's what the money is for, to keep the music going, anywhere it goes, including nowhere. Me, I don't believe there is such as a free lunch.. everything has to be paid for somehow...

anyway.. I got to get to it.. have to work like crazy to get everyjthing done before I hit the road.. bought an old (200K mile) van and need to get it ready to live in and get in the road again... long ways to go. But I had a good night on the street sunday.. I mean.. it was a good time, some great scenes, keeps me going.. I haven't counted the money.. may never.. I just stuff it in a sack till I have to send it to ma to cover credit card bills if i don't spend it. I really don't like to connect the money with the shows.. it really isn't connected anyway.. I mean.. there's no logical reason why sometimes you do great and sometimes not... so why even notice?

whoa.. got to go.. to much to do, too tired and babbling off the subject when I need to finish with thre e-mail and get back to work on updating the website before I hit the road and no longer have this nice free internet access temporarily.

peace
Brian

That one song NEVER AGAIN? (I Can't Breathe) ....I'm still looking at whether or not I 'use it' past this medium.

Right now, I'm working on a cover of Universal Mind by the Doors. This may not be finished for a couple of weeks yet.

However, if you think Never Again? is 'potential'...(it needs some extra work) let me know.

I have some older stuff...that's all original...but it's a bit 'retro' sounding. Plus it's a strange melange of Metal/and God knows what.

dmason@lonelyghost.com

I'd say potential is there Deeno, but we do have to make sure we cover the legal side of things.  I can't sell anything I don't have rights for.

Folksinger, there is optional charges + services for NWR, for eg. the iSpace options, starting at $2.50 a month with infinite space for mp3's, and other services such as direct (opaque) links, etc..  That's what I refer to when I state 'pay' accounts.  Free users get 15MB of space.  As it stands now, I'm covering the expense, but if we upgrade, there'll be a large initial expense, a small monthly increase, and it will even out after that.

There should be no problem!  Much depends on how soon this will 'happen'. I'm on it though. And....if I do use Never Again? it will be the last time! (get it... ...ok...just being silly)

You have my email yes?

Yep, noted, keep a watch on the forums, in the compilation section, if we get enough interest, we'll move on it.