what makes a good mp3 music site?

[DJHotIce]

I'm designing a music site myself where you can listen/download copyrighted and independent songs. (No you don't get to download copyrighted songs ) but I'm thinking of like having videos, forums, the whole 9 yards...

But anyways, I'm looking into finding out what is the things you most look into a music site?

BTW if you wish to visit the forums, feel free to do so with the link in my signature.

[corkhead0]

If you're hosting video, bandwidth. Loads of it.

[Triton4]

If you happen to be streaming mp3s, please keep it 28/33.6k-friendly (that is the normal speed in India ). For this, I think you'll have to reduce the mp3 bitrate, thus lowering it's audio quality significantly

Otherwise, you could stream OGG files instead of MP3 which sound better at such low bitrates.

[DJHotIce]

Originally posted by corkhead0
If you're hosting video, bandwidth. Loads of it.

We have a truck load of bandwidth!

If you happen to be streaming mp3s, please keep it 28/33.6k-friendly (that is the normal speed in India ). For this, I think you'll have to reduce the mp3 bitrate, thus lowering it's audio quality significantly

Otherwise, you could stream OGG files instead of MP3 which sound better at such low bitrates.

We are looking in how to acomplish this because most of our songs are at a HIGH bitrate and we need to re-encode em on the fly while use SHOUTcast on demand (go figures), or maybe we'll need to take up double the space and manually reencode the songs who knows lol.

[apola_anamisha]

And please don’t change its address over & over........I hate the message the URL you request can’t be found blah blah blah

[Triton4]

Originally posted by DJHotIce
we need to re-encode em on the fly while use SHOUTcast on demand (go figures), or maybe we'll need to take up double the space and manually reencode the songs who knows lol.

By re-encoding on the fly, you mean to rip them again from the original CDs, Right?

As long as you aren't transcoding the mp3s, it's fine

[DJHotIce]

actually the transcoding was what I was thinking.

However, we have a 120 gig server so shouldn't be overly a problem.

[zootm]

see, 120Gb always sounds like a lot of space...

isn't all music automatically copyrighted unless you specifically say otherwise? i would make a different distinction there. let the artists decide - it's fairer.

and don't put any RIAA-affiliated artists on. if they're lobbying not to have independant artists on the radio, then we should be pushing them off of the internet.

[DJHotIce]

Originally posted by zootm
see, 120Gb always sounds like a lot of space...

isn't all music automatically copyrighted unless you specifically say otherwise? i would make a different distinction there. let the artists decide - it's fairer.

and don't put any RIAA-affiliated artists on. if they're lobbying not to have independant artists on the radio, then we should be pushing them off of the internet.

You have a good point there.
However, I will be paying royalties. I feel the greatest income of visitors of the site will be copyrighted music!

So I'll wait and see.

[Russ]

See, it's more tricky than it first appears. I work for www.last.fm, and here are some points:

• 25 online users (average)
• 128kbps stream
• 1.5TB (yes, terabytes)/month usage.
• 300Gb of music
• Hosting cost: free (due to sponsorship)
• UK Internet radio license cost: £3000/year (about $5500).

However much you think you have enough resources, you probably won't.

[DJHotIce]

advertisements would prob cover most of the costs correct?

At least the roalties aren't on a per listen basis correct?

[Russ]

Depends where you are. In the US, royalties ARE on a per-listen basis, and they cost loads.

Here in the UK, it's pretty much a flat fee (you negotiate an individual license with our performing-rights authority).

And if you're moving any serious files, advertising doesn't go anywhere near covering the costs. Banner advertising stopped being effective for funding after the whole .com crash of 2000.

[DJHotIce]

Well, Russ I really do like your true feedback, you have a good side on all this, and I'm very greatful for your opinion.

But hopefully since this is somewhat a NBOX company we can get included in the BMI royalty thinger.