Art Bell

[dan7800]

I would be all for Knapp. It's about the only thing I miss about canceling streamlink way bak.

That said, he has a day job. He has stated in so many words that he's not interested in doing more than he does already. And at 62, he's probably more interested in sticking it out to retirement with KLAS, than doing something risky with Coast.

Make sense. He doesn't belong with the garbage at C2C though.

[Northern Nights]

Could be some last minute re-negotiations going on.  Maybe the big player got bluffed.

[Juan]

I found another article - the bill will require radio stations and streamers to pay a fee to the artists and record labels in addition to fees paid to ASCAP and BMI.  My first assumption is that it is a way to completely kill off playing music on the radio or internet.

[YNOT]

Make sense. He doesn't belong with the garbage at C2C though.

Agreed.

[sorefinger]

It will be in 64K Stereo so it should sound first class. Very few if any commercials and a suprise or two, fun fun fun.

Art

Talk & news stations (& PBS) that I listen to all broadcast in 32k, because the bandwidth costs them half of what 64k costs.  Also, since we are talking smartphones here, not everyone has an unlimited data plan, so some consideration should be given to preserving bandwidth of the audience, too.  Not only that, but 64k drains batteries considerably faster than does 32K, extremely critical for a three-hour broadcast.

[raistlin]

Talk & news stations (& PBS) that I listen to all broadcast in 32k, because the bandwidth costs them half of what 64k costs.  Also, since we are talking smartphones here, not everyone has an unlimited data plan, so some consideration should be given to preserving bandwidth of the audience, too.  Not only that, but 64k drains batteries considerably faster than does 32K, extremely critical for a three-hour broadcast.

Keep in mind at some point if not from the beginning they'll be able to implement a way for users to choose which bit rate they want to listen to.  That way the original will still sound decent while those with limited plans etc can save bandwidth.  Also nowadays just about everywhere you go there is free wifi available, it's just up to you to decide to use it.

[sorefinger]

I found another article - the bill will require radio stations and streamers to pay a fee to the artists and record labels in addition to fees paid to ASCAP and BMI.  My first assumption is that it is a way to completely kill off playing music on the radio or internet.

Maybe we need to grant copyright protection to not just intellectual property but to all labor. Rather than pay salaries to, say, automobile workers, pay them instead a royalty every time you use your car. That way, by extending intellectual-property privilege to labor, too, you get a system where everyone gets the same chance to play on a level field. Is it fair that people who are smart enough to be creative (or rich enough to commission it), really need the additional advantage of a playing field that is not level, in their favor?

It would give me unlimited pleasure to watch a guy like Gene Simmons of KISS, forced to pay a royalty for every mile that he drives his car.  This intellectual property crap is now out of control, nothing more than a disguised variation of slavery, which had once been out of control, too.

[chinaclipper]

At the thought of you dating yourself I tripped over the ottoman...

now Pate, you DO have thumbs!

[sorefinger]

Keep in mind at some point if not from the beginning they'll be able to implement a way for users to choose which bit rate they want to listen to.  That way the original will still sound decent while those with limited plans etc can save bandwidth.  Also nowadays just about everywhere you go there is free wifi available, it's just up to you to decide to use it.

You are right.  some TuneIn stations already provide the option to choose bandwidth.

As for wifi is just about everywhere, ya, if you live in a city.  And even if you do, who's going to drive down to McDonalds to listen to Art, where too many users bog down the wifi bandwidth, forcing you to listen while buffering. When it comes to driving your car, there's no such thing as wifi, free or otherwise.

[raistlin]

You are right.  some TuneIn stations already provide the option to choose bandwidth.

As for wifi is just about everywhere, ya, if you live in a city.  And even if you do, who's going to drive down to McDonalds to listen to Art, where too many users bog down the wifi bandwidth, forcing you to listen while buffering. When it comes to driving your car, there's no such thing as wifi, free or otherwise.

Yeah it won't be like the old days of just tuning into a station over the air waves and listening.  But I do imagine if you're paying $5 a month, you'll be able to pre-download whatever shows you want from Midnight in the Desert using your wifi at home and then listen to them in your car later.  Personally I'll never be on the road past 9pm at night so it'll be a non-issue. 

[albrecht]

Yeah it won't be like the old days of just tuning into a station over the air waves and listening.  But I do imagine if you're paying $5 a month, you'll be able to pre-download whatever shows you want from Midnight in the Desert using your wifi at home and then listen to them in your car later.  Personally I'll never be on the road past 9pm at night so it'll be a non-issue.

Yeah, there was something magical the first time you happened upon the program scanning the AM dials driving late at night somewhere. Amazing. But I can't wait for new show regardless of delivery media.

[raistlin]

Yeah, there was something magical the first time you happened upon the program scanning the AM dials driving late at night somewhere. Amazing. But I can't wait for new show regardless of delivery media.

No doubt, I can't wait either.  I really appreciate that Art is going to the lengths that he is to make this all happen. 

[coaster]

Coin flip huh... Knowing Art, the coin will somehow land on its side.
I was really looking forward to July. Hope we still can.

[DesertFox]

Coin flip huh... Knowing Art, the coin will somehow land on its side.
I was really looking forward to July. Hope we still can.

A ceremonial coin toss is a good thing--it's the toss that happens before a big game...aka Midnight in the Desert.

[MV/Liberace!]

Coin flip huh... Knowing Art, the coin will somehow land on its side.
I was really looking forward to July. Hope we still can.

no need to slit your wrists.  i'm sure all will be fine.

[sorefinger]

... But I do imagine if you're paying $5 a month, you'll be able to pre-download whatever shows you want from Midnight in the Desert using your wifi at home and then listen to them in your car later.

When Art says the show has to be live, there's a reason.  There's nothing magical about real-time live.  It's just that you cannot call in to a podcast.  It's why podcasting has never really taken off, even among those who never call in.  People just want live, no matter what.  I still recall the days when there was a disaster somewhere, when Art then requested witnesses to call in. That was just pure magic, hearing already what would take Tom Brokaw 24 hours to spew.

I'm with Art. I think the Internet will soon obsolete AM all together.  I quit listening to AM years ago, fed up with static and fading signals.  I'm especially looking forward to listening without all the bloatverts.  That's going to be a real treat, considering most talk shows today yield only about 60% content.

[coaster]

Well you know, when Art first announced the show in July, you could tell he was really excited. Its just a shame to see that excitement turn into stress and frustration.. And we know Art is quick to put his cards all in when things don't go right. I guess I am a pessimist, because the thought of a coin flip worries me. I guess we will know soon enough.

[DesertFox]

Well you know, when Art first announced the show in July, you could tell he was really excited. Its just a shame to see that excitement turn into stress and frustration.. And we know Art is quick to put his cards all in when things don't go right. I guess I am a pessimist, because the thought of a coin flip worries me. I guess we will know soon enough.

I think you are totally misreading what Art meant by the Ceremonial coin toss.  It's a very positive metaphor.

[coaster]

I think you are totally misreading what Art meant by the Ceremonial coin toss.  It's a very positive metaphor.

Hopefully I am misreading it.

[cweb]

I think you are totally misreading what Art meant by the Ceremonial coin toss.  It's a very positive metaphor.

Usually...

[DesertFox]

Ha!  I remember that being a Steeler fan.  So we just don't need an idiot referee.

[VegasI15]

Talk & news stations (& PBS) that I listen to all broadcast in 32k, because the bandwidth costs them half of what 64k costs.  Also, since we are talking smartphones here, not everyone has an unlimited data plan, so some consideration should be given to preserving bandwidth of the audience, too.  Not only that, but 64k drains batteries considerably faster than does 32K, extremely critical for a three-hour broadcast.

64k does not drain battery life "considerably faster" than 32k.   In fact the difference (especially in newer phones) is negligible.  If your phone battery can't last 3 hours streaming audio, you need to replace either your phone or battery.     

As far as bandwidth goes.  64kbps = 500KB/min = 30MB/hr  So assuming you only use your smart phones data plan and listen 5 days a week thats 150MB/wk or 600/MB month.  Really not much as you can use more bandwidth watching a single Youtube.

In any case if bandwidth is that big of a problem, use wi-fi as much as possible.  Or just listen using your PC.  The tune-in page works great on your PC browser also.   64k is more than reasonable in today's high speed environment. 

[ge30542]

Could be some last minute re-negotiations going on.  Maybe the big player got bluffed.

That could actually be a possibility.
Mr. Bell may have played the "EFF it, we're walking away from negotiations" card.

[aldousburbank]

no need to slit your wrists.  i'm sure all will be fine.

We should all probably huuuuuuu

[sorefinger]

64k does not drain battery life "considerably faster" than 32k.   In fact the difference (especially in newer phones) is negligible.  If your phone battery can't last 3 hours streaming audio, you need to replace either your phone or battery.     

As far as bandwidth goes.  64kbps = 500KB/min = 30MB/hr  So assuming you only use your smart phones data plan and listen 5 days a week thats 150MB/wk or 600/MB month.  Really not much as you can use more bandwidth watching a single Youtube.

In any case if bandwidth is that big of a problem, use wi-fi as much as possible.  Or just listen using your PC.  The tune-in page works great on your PC browser also.   64k is more than reasonable in today's high speed environment.

As of the last month or so, I'm already streaming 5 gigabytes monthly -- all at 32k or less.  If I rolled over, as you suggest, and listen to only 64k, my monthly usage would jump to 10 gigabytes. My plan is only five gigabytes.  I'm off the grid, so there is no internet at home, whatsoever. The nearest wifi is 60 miles away.

My provider probably has 30 million subscribers using my same plan, so it's not like my argument isn't based on credibility.

The more you use your transmitter and receiver on your smartphone, the more power it requires.  Battery life is most certainly a function of power usage.

Finally, if you want to preach to me, you should know a little bit about me, first.  Otherwise, you come off as just another troll.

[DontFearTheReaper]

While we're waiting for any news, here is a completely uneducated thought that I had RE: Dave emailing Art awhile back:

WHAT IF Dave was emailing Art to let him know that Coast/Premrat was finally pulling the trigger on offering the entire catalog of Art's Coast shows as part of Streamlink or whatever the hell they call it now. Dave did mention something a few weeks ago about "something exciting" happening in June or July, right?

I'm probably completely wrong, but I wonder if the pieces fit.

[sorefinger]

Who is Dave?

[DontFearTheReaper]

Who is Dave?

Mr. Noorie, the undistinguished host of Coast.

[laserjock]

Dave?  Dave's not here!  "ps psss pss..."  Oh...  Oh yeah, he is, but he doesn't want you to think he is.

[aldousburbank]

Who is Dave?

Dave's not home.