Music streaming is one of the most popular forms of streaming. But in times of app-based music streaming, is music streaming on 24/7 channels still relevant? Well, the answer is yes. People still consume music and voice tracks on linear channels. The only difference is that they are shifting gradually from satellite-based to internet-based music playout system setups. In this blog, we will discuss how as a music or radio streaming service provider, you can launch your very own 24/7 automated streaming service for your audience.
Music streaming is an integral part of probably everyone’s lives. Consuming music on channels can be tedious if it happens on television sets. However, with the right music playout automation system software, the content gets internet enabled and accessible across a large range of devices.
What Is A Music Playout Automation System?
A music playout automation system is nothing but converting existing or new music or radio stations to internet-based broadcasting environments. Such music playout systems offer multiple features such as playlist management, voice tracking, scheduling of content, and more. Used by radio stations, DJs and channel owners, music playout automation systems ensure top-quality content is seamlessly integrated with broadcasting hardware and reaches every corner of the world as decided by the business.
A music playout automation system is a boon for music and radio channel owners who are looking to tap the Internet market. Thanks to its huge list of features, it enables seamless broadcasting, scheduling, and managing of audio content. We will get to the features and benefits in a little while but before that here are a few insights about music and radio streaming insights that you should know.
Radio Streaming Insights
Music is hugely popular and so is radio though not in its traditional form. It still contributes significantly to the internet traffic and needles to say it is a massive industry. Here are a few insights that you must know.
According to Statista, internet-based or online radio platforms now account for over 672 million dollars’ worth of streaming music revenue and the format continues to grow with each passing year in the United States.
Washington D.C.-based WTOP-FM was the leading radio station in the United States in 2023, with estimated revenues of 66.3 million U.S. dollars.
During an average week in June 2024, radio reached 85.6 percent of all American men aged over 55 years of age. Men of this age or older were the group most engaged with radio, although listening frequency was similar among men and women.
Radio station advertising revenues in the United States will amount to approximately 13.76 billion U.S. dollars, of which 2.98 billion (or almost 22 percent) will come from online radio.
According to Nielsen Media Research radio listener statistics (2021), 88% of Americans listen to terrestrial (AM/FM) radio on a weekly basis.
In the third quarter of 2023, the number of music streaming subscribers worldwide amounted to 713 million, up from 616 million at the end of the second quarter of 2022.
In 2023, streaming revenues reached 19.3 billion U.S. dollars worldwide, the highest ever recorded and more than seven times the figure given for 2015 when music streaming revenue amounted to 2.6 billion.
Audio streaming is quite popular and will continue to flourish. This industry for radio, music, and voice track streaming has to have a linear streaming component for those who wish to simply listen without being overly concerned with choices.
Benefits of Using Music Playout Automation Software For Streaming
The stats shown are promising and using music playout automation software gives you an edge over your competitors in the audio streaming industry. Whether it’s internet radio or music scheduling, playout automation software can ease audio and video playback.
Power of Internet
Music playout automation softwares extract the complete advantages of the internet. The Internet has the power to reach the global audience instantly and with the right software deployment, your linear audio channels can run all over the world thus increasing your audience base thanks to the instant transfer of audio files.
Playlist Management & Scheduling
Such software allows users to create, manage, and organize music files with ease. This gives the admin complete control of what to broadcast and enables them to do it more efficiently than ever. It also helps in easy ad insertion and allows scheduling months of content in advance if you need it. Further, it also allows the admin to generate playlists as per requirements.
Cost-Effective Remote Broadcast Studio
Setting up studios can be costly but not anymore. Music playout software just requires a computer and music library and you are good to go. With easy-to-use broadcast software like Muvi Playout, you can easily launch 100s of channels and manage all of it from a single CMS. This saves a lot of money that can be further invested to acquire more content.
Seamless Integration With Broadcasting Hardware
Music Playout systems integrate with online radio station hardware, like transmitters, audio mixers, and sound processors, to provide a complete broadcast solution. This ensures that the setup remains ready for anything that comes its way.
Platform Customizability & Multi-Platform Delivery
Most playout systems are fully customizable. This means you can fully customize the look and feel of your music streaming applications and websites to give them your brand’s outlook. Also, since the entire setups are internet-based, it means that you can launch your apps on a wide range of ecosystems such as Apple, Android, Smart TVs, and more.
Things to Consider While Choosing Music Playout Automation
If you google music playout streaming solutions, you will find endless companies building such solutions. With so many options available it becomes difficult to choose what works and what does not. Here are a few important things to keep in mind before you invest in such software solutions.
Always Ask For A Free Trial
Try before you buy. Software can be bad and until you try it you can never be sure of its true nature. Especially in the streaming business, consistency is a major factor that determines a platform’s success. Try multiple broadcast software before you make the final decision.
Feature Comparison
Each platform comes with a long list of features but not everything is meant for your use case. Hence, compare all the features such as automation, scheduling, bitrate, external audio support, etc, and then decide what works best for you.
Cost Analysis
Any playout streaming software will essentially have 2 cost components. The recurring subscription charges per channel and then the variable bandwidth consumption costs. Always ask for detailed cost details of using the software.
Content Security & Platform Customization
Content is king but at the same time, it’s the age of piracy. Data stolen is revenue stolen. Hence, always opt for a software solution that offers complete content security for your media library. Additionally, always look for customization possibilities to make the best in terms of brand recognition. Your channels should reflect your brand and a good music playout solution must take care of that.
Muvi Playout: Your One-Stop Solution for Music Channel Automation
Music streaming on an internet-enabled linear setup is a complex problem to solve but not anymore. Introducing Muvi Playout, a feature-rich fully functional no-code playout platform builder that takes care of all your audio streaming channel requirements. Equipped with the latest security protocols, Muvi Playout comes with out-of-the-box ready-to-stream solutions that can be set up within a span of just a few hours.
Here are a few features that make Muvi Playout the best thing you can ever get your audio streaming channel requirement.
Simplified program scheduling with an electronic program guide to ease the workload of broadcasters and give full control over music scheduling and internet radio deployment.
24/7 linear live streaming capability for agile television channel programming for your audio engine.
Multi-DRM content security backed by Apple’s Fairplay, Google’s Widevine, and Microsoft Playready to deliver secure content across the globe.
HLS streaming output for ease of access on a wide range of platforms and devices.
Exceptional ad support and easy deployment.
Next gen viewership analytics to make informed business decisions.
Supports remote broadcasting so no more expensive studios for radio automation.
No code platform and easy user interface.
Album art for music files and stereo sound quality.
What’s more?
Muvi Playout comes with a free 14-day trial for you to understand the software and see if it works for you or not. So get the trial today and build your very own radio channel with Muvi Playout today.
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