This is an interesting and hard to believe it’s free service.. They will assign your station a phone number which people can dial and listen to on any telephone!
http://zenoradio.com/en/broadcasters/
All of the following information is from their website…
ZenoRadio offers listeners a unique service and offers broadcasters and advertisers interactivity and user information not possible with conventional or sattelite radio.
Becoming a broadcaster is easy and best of all, it’s FREE!
Just send us your broadcast stream (URL or IP) and ZenoRadio will assign a dedicated phone number for your station. Users just dial and start enjoying your station’s content from any phone. Now promote the service to your listeners and sit back and enjoy your new audience.
ZenoRadio enables radio and other audio content from around the world to be heard on any phone in North America at no cost to users who have unlimited voice plans. No smart phones or data plans are needed.
Benefits of becoming a Broadcaster
- Free dedicated phone number for your station
- No computer or smartphone required
- See real time detailed statistics about your listeners
- Have the ability to reach out to your audience
- Marketing and support team to help you grow your radio station
No more estimating, and no more guessing! ZenoRadio provides all of our broadcasters with reporting tools that will give you insight on who is calling in, when they are calling in, and which station they are listening to. We will give you real-time information and metrics on the number of listeners, calls, call duration, and peak hours. All of our reporting is a free service for broadcasters who sign up to ZenoRadio’s network.
Zeno Player
Imagine the convenience and ease of use in a ZenoRadio web player. All your stats collected in one easy to use Web Interface.
- 100% free
- Cut down on stream costs
- No limit on listeners
- Customized welcome prompt -just like on your ZenoRadio phone player
- We can help sell your advertising
http://zenoradio.com/en/broadcasters/
Revolutionary
What an amazing service. But it makes you wonder.
How can the suppliers of this incrwedible free service possibly benefit from providing it at no cost?
I cannot come up with even one theory about why this service is being made available.
It must cost the provider (the Zeno folks) to be able to provide free phone hookups. Do you know of a way you could freely distribute phone numbers just to be nice?
I can’t even come up with a scam theory about it.
Please input your thoughts to help explain if this is as good as it looks.
No Cost? Doubt it…
Zeno says they’ll help sell your advertising. They probably also load in 1 or 2 minutes of their own CM’s in there, the way Live 365 had been doing it. And Ive seen enough news reports of “hidden charges” that get buried in users’ phone bills to wonder about it being a truly free service.
The best possibility I can think of is they run it as a loss leader for a brief time, then sell the users’ mined phone data to outside agencies at a profit. A lot of times when users agree to a new service, the service wants cookie rights and permission to scan all phone data. I turned down a Pandora subscription because I felt their EULA was way too intrusive. If I want playlisted music so badly, I’ll load my own.
Only way to truly find out is to pose as a potential subscriber and get all the info.
Was blind but now I saw..
Ohhh-kaay..
A CNBC article explains:
So how does ZenoRadio make money?
A loophole in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, originally intended to help compensate rural carriers, allows the company to receive a few cents for every five minutes or so that a customer listens to the station. The exact amount depends on the carrier, but for the most part, it’s only a few cents. But multiply that by close to a million customers—some of who listen for hours a day—and revenue starts pouring in.
…experts say changes in telecommunications technology have allowed rural carriers to turn this into a profit center by partnering with providers of services like free conference calling and radio…
“The model is pretty strong because of the regulatory loophole that they are exploiting. Without that, the business would be unsustainable,..”
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100746807
But here’s something I completely managed to miss on the website, there’s only two brief mentions about it…
“Join ZenoRadio, the fastest growing network of immigrant and niche focused content in the U.S. ZenoRadio helps expand your audience.”
Well, I know what immigrant is, but wasn’t sure on the define of a “niche” focused content.. So I looked it up:
niche
noun ‘nich also ‘nēsh or ‘nish
a : a recess in a wall especially for a statue
b : something (as a sheltered or private space) that resembles a recess in a wall
2 a : a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted <finally found her niche>
b : a habitat supplying the factors necessary for the existence of an organism or species
c : the ecological role of an organism in a community especially in regard to food consumption
d : a specialized market
So… don’t see how any of us might apply to such catagory.. unless d: a specialized market, which Part 15 kinda is!.. but I doubt it.
Like they say.. When something sounds too good to be true…
Nevertheless, it still is a preety cool service, unfortunately most of us are not eligible to use it.
I’ll conclude this post with the opening of a NPR story..
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/11/15/245227755/cellphones-as-radios-immigrants-dial-in-to-native-stations?ft=1&f=1019
A year and half ago, Baruch Herzfeld, an entrepreneur in New York City, had a novel idea: connect immigrants in the U.S. with radio stations in their home country using nothing more than a cheap cellphone.
The result is ZenoRadio…
Hey, I know!
Hey, I know!
Part15er’s are a niche.. We need to be able to listen to the Low Power Hour. Carl, you need to join as a broadcaster so we can listen on our phones while were on the road.
Post your ZenoRadio phone number here.. I’ll call it tommorow.
Stand Off
If only I wasn’t so shy.
UPDATE :
There was a few flags that came up in my mind while reading some interviews and articles about ZenoRadio that influenced me to shoot them an email for clarification..
On their contact page at http://zenoradio.com/en/contact/ it says
Broadcasters and Affiliates
If your radio station would like to Join ZenoRadio’s network of stations, or if you have general inquiries about ZenoRadio please contact…
Yanil Flandez
1-212-822-3460
Ext. 418
[email protected]
=========================================
So, I did that… I sent an email to Yanil:
=========================================
Sat 3/29/2014 2:51 AM
To: [email protected];
Hello Yanil,
First I just would like to mention that I am fascinated with the entire concept of ZenoRadio!
I have just a few basic questions, and will try to be very brief.. First, it’s unclear to me if a broadcasters target audience must be an immigrant group to be able to participate.
I am putting together a local area tourist information AM station which has a broadcast range only receivable to the immediate area. It is employing three transmitters to cover approximately a two and half mile area. However in the very near future it will also have an online stream of our programing, thus making it available on the web and to smartphones.
My station is located on Tybee Island, Georgia, which is a tourist spot. My website is http://www.end80radio.com . Mine is not a music station, it is primarily a station for tourist and the locals, providing information on the area history, where to eat, night life, lodging, events, amenities, what to do, where to go, local news etc…
The station also has advertisers for the local restaurants, bars, hotels, etc.
I guess I only have one question..
Is a station such as mine eligible to be a broadcaster with your service?
Thank you so much for your time, and eagerly awaiting your reply.
Best Regards,
Rich Powers
[email protected]
=========================================
Well, I’ve just now checked my email to find I received the following short reply..
=========================================
Yanil Flandez <[email protected]>
Mon 3/31/2014 12:44 PM
Hello Richard,
Yes, Richard your station is welcome on board. Does your website have a stream?
Thanks,
=========================================
Well, this means one of two things;
1. ZenoRadio’s broadcasting service is not reserved only for immigrant target audiences, thus meaning any of us can use their service.
or..
2. Yanil just answered my email with out really reading it!
So what do you all think about that??
What I Think
Richard Powers I think you do have a stream because I remeber listening to it late one night. Guess you forgot.
Actually wasn’t a stream,
Actually wasn’t a stream, just a couple mp3’s -.. But the point of my last post, in case you missed it, is that I did recieve a conformation from ZenoRadio that our broadcast does not have to be targeted for an immigrant group to use their service.. That was just the original intention when they started.
In other words, we are all welcome to use their service. Anyone can sign up for free and be assigned a phone number for any listener to call (also free) and listen to your stations audio content on any telephone.
BIG NEWS
NO, I AM NOT SHOUTING AT YOU.
I AM EMPHASIZING THE FACT THAT WHAT RICHARD POWERS JUST POSTED IS MAJOR NEWS.
WE SHOULD ALL GET CONNECTED TO THIS AMAZING FREE SERVICE RIGHT NOW.
I AM WAITING FOR THE FIRST CONNECTOR TO POST HIS OR HER ZENO TELEPHONE NUMBER SO I CAN CALL AND LISTEN.
THEN I ALSO WILL SIGN UP.
Back to normal.
Forgotten Costs?
If a station is not yet streaming, this could be incentive to begin doing so. However…
Correct me if I’m wrong, but Zeno is a delivery vehicle to telephones only — it does not cover the cost of actual streaming in its method (music permissions, data useage blahblah). A 15’er is still on the hook for footing the expenses of legally streaming a signal over the web, as if Zeno was not there.
Just want to be sure.
Zeno Station List
Is there a list of stations already using Zeno?
I know I could go on their website and find out, but I’m being lazy by asking.
Wow Carl.. That is lazy!
Wow Carl.. That is lazy!
Ok, their website doesn’t display much of a list, but does show a few.. 2toneroom, Actone JAzz, ccfm 107.5, R radio, Union Radio, Playdio, NYEM FM.
Other online press publications mention other stations too. I’ve also come across a few Facebook pages with members who say they also use it.
..A 15’er is still on the
..A 15’er is still on the hook for footing the expenses of legally streaming a signal over the web, as if Zeno was not there.
Anendale, I don’t know, but assume that is correct.
ZenoRadio is loving this
Hey Everyone,
I see ZenoRadio has come up a bit here and wanted to hear what you guys thought of us.
Our service is definetly a unique one, and our predominat demographic is the immigrant market in the USA. Though we do broadcast domestic content as well, it is our international content that really keeps us original.
What do you guys think of ZenoRadio?
We’d be happy to set up a meetign with our Marketing Director as well.
Thanks and happy commenting!
Best,
ZenoRadio
UPDATED CURRENT INFO ABOUT ZENO RADIO
Wow.. Zeno Radio posted on our forums?.. evidently after our discussion on the topic ran it’s course.. how unfortunate it wasn’t noticed or acknowleged..
Anyway, my interest in Zeno Radio is experiencing a reprise.. I had forgotten all about them to be honest, but just looked into it again.. Since the last time I looked it over about a year and a half ago, I noticed they changed their site a little (which explains why the linked images in post #1 are broken) They’ve also streamlined their registration proccess, making it real easy, which I just experience a couple hours ago.. and it’s all still free!
What’s more, they have expanded their service capabilities, it’s not just limited to telephone listening audiences anymore, so now instead of just dial-in, they can “tune in” from any device in the world utilizing a media player on a computer or mobile app..
There’s even even more tools tools to work with than I recall there being the last time I visited.. This is all free guys, You really need to check it all out for yourself. The ONLY thing they require from you is your station and contact info. http://zenoradio.com/
Here’s some more current features as detailed from the website:
Manage Your Show. Manage Your Audience.
Interact with your call-ins through a simple interface. Bring a song or an entire playlist on air. Know who is speaking through detailed profiles.
Statistics, Trends, Reports.
Live and archived reports that match audio with analytics to let you understand audience frequency, trends, geo-location, and more.
Bottom line is…
Bottom line is, you still need to be streaming for the Zenoradio system to get your audio. So you need a stream setup, and you need to be licensed for any music you broadcast over that stream.
And if you’re streaming, anyone with a Smartphone can listen to your stream as is. However, with Zenoradio they don’t have to be using up their data alotment.
What will the sound quality be Like listening to “music on hold”?
Since I don’t stream, and don’t intend to in the near future it doesn’t really apply to me.
TIB
Yeah, I suppose the bottom
Yeah, I suppose the bottom line is that you’re correct!.. I’m not streaming either, and never have, though I will eventually.. Nevertheless, I did sign up, and everything is ready to go when I do. They even have already assigned me a station phone number for those wishing to listen on a phone – at no cost to anyone, broadcaster or your listening audience..
I still think this is a great option to expand on anyones new or existing streams – They’ve already have provided my free phone number . Here’s a banner which Zeno has already provided with the stations phone number for listening, even though I’m not live currently…
Once you sign up they provide a you with a pdf tutorial walking you through the two options of seting up your streaming service, the first way on how to configure your existing streaming software, or alternativaly how to set up a new one using OddCast, as well as how to upload mp3s and create playlist, using the ZenoRadio interface, as well as autoplay and auto dj features, etc…
Although I haven’t set anything up any of the above stuff, my account is all ready to go, when I am.
Try calling the number on the
Try calling the number on the banner above.. The default would say something in spanish followed by “one moment please in english, so I uploaded a 30 second audio clip to replace it ..
It will play that clip so you can hear the sound quality but there’s nothing that plays after that because I’m not streaming yet.
I dialed it on a regular land line , it sounds like what I would have expected, and best for listening to news or talk.I think it’s great
Have No Doubt
Zeno Radio is the Feature Subject on This Week in Radio Tech (TWiRT) # 289, along with a station called “KPISS”.
If you had doubts about Radio Zeno you will trust it completely once you listen to this prize of a radio presentation.
THE TWiRT ZENO RADIO LINK
You need to go to Link School Carl..
Carl, Your link leads back up to the top of this page. I am guessing it’s supposed to lead somewhere else?
By the way, it’s odd that you posted this, becuase about 5 minutes ago I received a promotional email from Zeno about some new features they just added: a copy and paste below:
We are proud to announce ZenoLive 3.4.6, a major update that will make broadcasting even easier. Log on to see these new features in action!
The MediaQueue is Back!
AutoDJ Playlists
Twitter Integration
ZenoLive is running faster, smoother and cooler than ever.
We wouldn’t have been able to do it without your help.
Happy Broadcasting!
Sheri
Link Luck
I thought I issued a memo to myself to be sure to check links before posting them.
I may not know what I’m doing, but if I did, the link would be this one:
TWiRT ZENO RADIO CERTIFIED LINK
This is really a neat deal.
Let me help Carl out on this
Let me help Carl out on this one, http://thisweekinradiotech.com/twirt-home/2016/1/30/twirt-289-zeno-and-kpiss-with-sheri-barclay.html