Backbone
Pirate! is very excited to partner with Backbone as they have a suite of Internet software/services that are perfect for any radio station interested in adding / improving their online stream. Backbone provides station set-up, automation software, server hosting, music hosting, an easy to use and update web-site template/hosting and bandwidth for your stream all in one easy to use and affordable package. Your stream is instantly available as AAC, MPEG-4, HTTP Live, and Shoutcast allowing users of almost any device able to listen without extra software or headaches. Backbone will submit your stream to iTunes, add you to the College Radio Tuner iPhone APP, and more.
In addition to the great features of the stream we’ll also be populating the system with all new Pirate! adds (and eventually non-Pirate! adds as well) so you can instantly play new records without having to receive the CD or go through the hassle of downloading the music and uploading it to your system yourself. The system will also allow your station to share music/programs with any other stations on the network, so once one station has shared a title on the network any other station can play it from the Backbone system.
The entire system lives in the “cloud” therefore you can control your station from anywhere and the stream will stay up 24/7, pulling music from your library automatically either via your programming rules or randomly if you like so that even in a power outage / lightning strike / finals / breaks / etc your station can stay on-air. You can seamlessly switch back and forth from live to automation. The system can even tell you where/when your listeners are coming from or help you compile your weekly charts. The package comes with a template to build a site including the stream / recently played songs / etc or you can add these widgets to your existing site if you like.
Pirate! has created a station with many of our new records spinning on it if you want to check it out, please keep in mind it’s in beta and we’ve done nothing to spruce it up just yet. In addition to the Pirate! station which may prove to be a good way to hear some of our new titles we’ll be producing some weekly shows that you can pick up in syndication for free should you like to add some national programming / specialty shows / etc to your times in the schedule that may be otherwise empty or automted. Check out the beta of Radio Pirate! Pirate! here: http://radiopiratepirate.com/
If you would like more info on Backbone for your station please contact doug at backbone dot com!