 RAIN 5/6: Embattled SWCast Network now offline indefinitely ·May 6, 10:52 AM SX: NO PROGRESS, NO PAYMENTS FROM SWCAST.NETTroubled webcast service SWCast Network has shut down customers’ streams indefinitely.This was the service that was taken offline in April after SoundExchange contacted the service’s ISP with a DMCA In April, SWCast.net founder and president Randall Krause told customers he was working with SoundExchange to “resolve these allegations in a timely manner.” But now, in a statement on the service’s website (here), he says that “we are not able to accommodate any customers at this time.” That said, Krause has “every intent of bringing SWCast Network back online.” The site’s streams were not available at time of publication. He also still claims that he his engaged in “ongoing discussions” with SoundExchange. But SoundExchange says that’s not true. “NO progress has been made Former SWCast webcasters have been migrating to Live365 (which offered them a special discount package, more info here) and other services like LoudCity (here). Reporting on the story is Net radio industry veteran Corey Denis. “Taking money from users for the mutually agreed purpose of paying royalties, and not following through with that obligation as expected by users (ever) is not a business. It reads like a scam.” She continues (here), “SWcast isn’t a victim, as their messaging would lead you to believe. While SWcast provided a platform for small webcasters, the company didn’t fulfill their obligation to customers, consumers or artists.” You can also read SomaFM founder Rusty Hodge‘s take on the story here. NET RADIO VET SHIVELY NOW AOL RADIO CLASSICAL MDFormer VP at classical music webcaster Beethoven.com Kevin Shively is now Classical Music Director at AOL Radio. Though educated in music, Shively managed more of the business side at Beethoven.com. He was extensively involved in the fight for sustainable Internet radio royalties in the early 2000s. He later moved to Net Radio Sales (now Katz Net Radio Sales), then spent 4-and-a-half years as Executive Director of the International Webcasting Association (an Internet radio trade association).
Shively remains VP/Services for Discover Video, and heads up his own full-service webcasting company, Shively Webcast Solutions. FOR THOSE READY TO SUBSCRIBE, EVOLVER.FM REVIEWS “BIG 5” SERVICESLikening on-demand music to settled “agriculture” (contrasted with the “hunting and gathering” of streams and downloads), Eliot Van Buskirk’s Evolver.fm offers side-by-side comparisons of the “Big 5” subscription services. The reviews, (by his account) “emphasize the mobile experience.”Read Evolver.fm’s reviews of MOG, Napster, Spotify, Rdio, and Rhapsody here. share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
CommentCommenting is closed for this article.  Other stories RAIN has upgraded (and moved)! RAIN 9/13: RAIN Summit Chicago takes place today! RAIN 9/12: First Summit in RAIN's hometown takes place tomorrow RAIN 9/9: Summer holidays, "doldrums" impact July Webcast Metrics, but audience up over last year RAIN 9/8: Clear Channel launches new customizable iHeartRadio beta; RAIN goes hands-on RAIN 9/7: Meet more speakers you'll hear at RAIN Summit Chicago in less than a week RAIN 9/6: Clear Channel taps The Echo Nest to take on Pandora RAIN 9/2: RAIN reviews Spotify's radio-like product Artist Radio RAIN 9/1: UK online radio aggregator Radioplayer campaigns b'dcasters to create "all radio" ratings RAIN 8/31: Execs from Merlin, Triton Digital, jacAPPS and more to appear at RAIN Summit Chicago |
take-down notice. Like Live365 and other services, 
in the past weeks toward resolution of compliance,” the royalty collection group states. “
