IDEA - Building a retro radio station

So, basically, I have been playing with a new CMS recently and it had a really annoying radio widget shoved in a corner playing outdated music. Like most developers, I am quite lazy, so instead of removing the code, I just kept pausing it in the hope it would go away.

This has got me thinking, would there be room for a retro-based online radio station? A service which lets users from a range of hotels pick what song they want on next.

I have worked in internet radio for over a year as Technical Manager for a community station in addition to doing Audio Production work for FM stations (Jingles, adverts, backing tracks that sort of thing).

So simple question: Would you use a radio player specifically for retro users?

That would definately be used by many retros if it's:

1. Easily accessible and easily added to their CMS
2. No mentioning of ANY other retro hotel names (People might be worried about advertising)
3. Possibly add some retro news as well with updates, upgrades, developments, etc.

I think not only retros would use it, but if you made a site then lots of people would check it out.

Sounds like a good idea but you must consider what would be needed to run this 'retro radio station'. If you're talking about a 24/7 radio station dedicated to hotels/roleplays then you may have to find people in the retro scene with experience in DJ hosting (like yourself) from various countries. The radio's DJs would need to be given a specific time through the week for when it's their time to DJ. The best solution would probably be a timetable showing which DJ is on at what time & day. The fact that the radio would also have a request system means that the listeners get to listen to the music that they want to listen to. Personally, I like the idea of a retro based radio station. It's different to the annoying free embedded radios that play the same music over and over.

Quick question, who is going to pay for this? Yourself? Because I doubt many people would actually contribute financially towards this.

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Originally Posted by Unphased

Sounds like a good idea but you must consider what would be needed to run this 'retro radio station'. If you're talking about a 24/7 radio station dedicated to hotels/roleplays then you may have to find people in the retro scene with experience in DJ hosting (like yourself) from various countries. The radio's DJs would need to be given a specific time through the week for when it's their time to DJ. The best solution would probably be a timetable showing which DJ is on at what time & day. The fact that the radio would also have a request system means that the listeners get to listen to the music that they want to listen to. Personally, I like the idea of a retro based radio station. It's different to the annoying free embedded radios that play the same music over and over.

Quick question, who is going to pay for this? Yourself? Because I doubt many people would actually contribute financially towards this.

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Sites like Habbox used to be full of people who wanted to DJ, I know from experience, everybody wants their time in the spotlight, so hopefully finding presenters wouldn't be a problem. Getting a 24/7 coverage shouldn't be a problem either, I know a now dead co-worker coded a nice little automated music player for when the station I work is offline (during nights) - This could be used when nobody can cover a show, if that's too challenging I'll use other methods.

I am living at home with parents, and I'm on quite high money for my age so I am happy to pay for a few servers - I might have a nice donations box but I'll make it optional.

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1. Easily accessible and easily added to their CMS
2. No mentioning of ANY other retro hotel names (People might be worried about advertising)
3. Possibly add some retro news as well with updates, upgrades, developments, etc.

I think not only retros would use it, but if you made a site then lots of people would check it out.

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1 - I can make it a nice little widget that'll fit nicely into any realistically themed CMS
2 - I was thinking that myself, was considering the idea of doing like a hotel wide room of the week competition or something like that though? Not sure how people would feel about that
3 - Yeah easily, might do that as a once a week/month thing so it doesn't become too technical for every day users

I am 100% in support of this if the following rules are enforced.
*No favouritism for specific hotels
*A set standard (no n00b dj's using a built in laptop mic)

Note: And please PM me if you go through with this or need any help!

I got a radio i always can upgrade so more people can listen, more GB songs. It have AutoDJ (CloudDJ) and Live DJ. If no Live DJ is on = AutoDJ start playing songs.

Tell me if you need it. I can also get cheap hosting websites :P

I've been actively involved in a few official Habbo fansites with quite senior roles at each of them, I am a huge fan of radio and I'd love to help out - I'm a web designer and developer so would gladly help out.

Like already stated, this would be great as long as it wouldn't become an advertisement radio and biased to any hotels. You should run it like a hotel with staff though. Set time slots. You could advertise openings for DJ slots.

If you want to discuss this, I'm open to helping out with it. Please private message me.

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Originally Posted by Wreckless

Like already stated, this would be great as long as it wouldn't become an advertisement radio and biased to any hotels. You should run it like a hotel with staff though. Set time slots. You could advertise openings for DJ slots.

If you want to discuss this, I'm open to helping out with it. Please private message me.

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The radio i can get cheap is so cheap we don't need any ads on the radio. And yes. I can get the radio but i'm not the best to code websites and then a name.

Haven't checked this post in a while as I've been quite busy. Just to clarify, I wouldn't be using any hosting/streaming pre-setup package. Also, I appreciate the amount of people offering to help out and code and stuff but from experience things become messy when this happens, I'd rather work alone. I am very very slowly working on the site for the radio, I can't work to tight deadlines because I am a busy person.

Yes and No! As an idea, I like this. However, me personally ALWAYS INSTANT MUTE radio from hotel's website. I prefer much more playing my own music than listening some JB from radio, where 10 years old kid screams my ears off. Nuff said.

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Originally Posted by r63

Haven't checked this post in a while as I've been quite busy. Just to clarify, I wouldn't be using any hosting/streaming pre-setup package. Also, I appreciate the amount of people offering to help out and code and stuff but from experience things become messy when this happens, I'd rather work alone. I am very very slowly working on the site for the radio, I can't work to tight deadlines because I am a busy person.

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Sounds good, just figured that I make the offer to help. It still stands. :)

You guys want to create an Radio Community stuff? Like loads of hotels in one single radio?
I think it's not a good idea, firstly is the case if one of the DJ's decide to annouce another Hotel. That's one of the reasons.
Another thing is that Habbo Hotel is GLOBAL, so if I open a brazillian hotel, I'll want a Brazillian Radio!

I think it is a good idea for each hotel have their own radio with Turn On/Off settings at User Settings.

The owner would have more control about it.

An idea I had was a public Ban domain community. Banning user in one hotel for DDoSing and all would ban in 'em all. Though the ban would need to be reviewed from some of the community's Staff, with a full reason.

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Originally Posted by Droppy

You guys want to create an Radio Community stuff? Like loads of hotels in one single radio?
I think it's not a good idea, firstly is the case if one of the DJ's decide to annouce another Hotel. That's one of the reasons.
Another thing is that Habbo Hotel is GLOBAL, so if I open a brazillian hotel, I'll want a Brazillian Radio!

I think it is a good idea for each hotel have their own radio with Turn On/Off settings at User Settings.

The owner would have more control about it.

An idea I had was a public Ban domain community. Banning user in one hotel for DDoSing and all would ban in 'em all. Though the ban would need to be reviewed from some of the community's Staff, with a full reason.

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Well, you would have to establish rules and if a DJ advertises a hotel, they'd be fired. It would just have to be strict. Also, as far as the foreign thing, I don't think that really applies here. Yeah there are foreign hotels, but think about it, you don't need a foreign retros list.

This would be mainly for English hotels. Foreign hotels could use it, but that's on them.

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Originally Posted by Wreckless

Well, you would have to establish rules and if a DJ advertises a hotel, they'd be fired. It would just have to be strict. Also, as far as the foreign thing, I don't think that really applies here. Yeah there are foreign hotels, but think about it, you don't need a foreign retros list.

This would be mainly for English hotels. Foreign hotels could use it, but that's on them.

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Yeah, but a big part of the community doesn't have English as a main language. But it's ok, it's not a big problem since it's maded for the English part.
And yeah, I agree.

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Originally Posted by Droppy

Yeah, but a big part of the community doesn't have English as a main language. But it's ok, it's not a big problem since it's maded for the English part.
And yeah, I agree.

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You can always make the text translatable, but I think it's mainly for the English-speaking community.

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Originally Posted by Wreckless

You can always make the text translatable, but I think it's mainly for the English-speaking community.

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It would be good i there was multiple language assistance, though.

The radio could earn money by ADS (directed ads by some company paying you directly, instead of google ads).

For a more professional stuff, you could add the possibility of donations AND ads money earning to the current DJ.

For instance, you get like $100 (big number, but only for an idea), 40% would go to the actual DJ, 85% to the website, 5% only for technicians, or save-money stuff.

And in donation would go the same way, if donated to the actual DJ.

It would be a better way to do it professionally.

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Originally Posted by Droppy

It would be good i there was multiple language assistance, though.

The radio could earn money by ADS (directed ads by some company paying you directly, instead of google ads).

For a more professional stuff, you could add the possibility of donations AND ads money earning to the current DJ.

For instance, you get like $100 (big number, but only for an idea), 40% would go to the actual DJ, 85% to the website, 5% only for technicians, or save-money stuff.

And in donation would go the same way, if donated to the actual DJ.

It would be a better way to do it professionally.

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Honestly, I think this would be as least profitable monetarily as possible. The minute people start profiting from this is the minute every goes down hill.

I'm not sure how practical it would be. It could work but it would be a lot of hassle for someone - and for practically nothing in return. I disagree with Wreckless. If this isn't monetised it will almost certainly flop in the first few months when those involved become less and less interested (why would they be? They're running/ paying for/ slaving away for no particular reason. That is why retro hotels start selling out, right?)

lt's difficult to find a valid reason why there should even be live DJs. It poses a few issues in regards to advertisement and with lack of competitions and engagement with users (this is not so easy to do if it's a community radio station), there is nothing to do but allow users to pick and choose like a jukebox. This is nothing special and there are ample free services like the latter that are already way more established.

As Droppy also pointed out, being there such a wide audience, a single community radio would not cater for everyone - which is a shame considering the scene is not explicitly English...

Autoplay... No thanks! People should lay off that one. If people wanna tune in they will!

I could natter on even more but I hope you catch my drift. If a hotel wants something unique they should run their own radio. If not, as aforementioned there are plenty of existing stations to keep their users annoyed.

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Originally Posted by Droppy

For instance, you get like $100 (big number, but only for an idea), 40% would go to the actual DJ, 85% to the website, 5% only for technicians, or save-money stuff.

And in donation would go the same way, if donated to the actual DJ.
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I worked in a radio station which had both volunteers and paid workers and the second a volunteer got paid they thought they suddenly had more power and authority and expected to be paid for every little action. I've seen plenty of people host shows simply for the little ego kick of having everyone listen to them and their songs.

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Originally Posted by Wreckless

You can always make the text translatable, but I think it's mainly for the English-speaking community.

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I was only really aiming at English people, Chrome offers to translate by default I know that much, not sure about other browsers.

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Originally Posted by n0minal

I'm not sure how practical it would be. It could work but it would be a lot of hassle for someone - and for practically nothing in return. I disagree with Wreckless. If this isn't monetised it will almost certainly flop in the first few months when those involved become less and less interested (why would they be? They're running/ paying for/ slaving away for no particular reason. That is why retro hotels start selling out, right?)

lt's difficult to find a valid reason why there should even be live DJs. It poses a few issues in regards to advertisement and with lack of competitions and engagement with users (this is not so easy to do if it's a community radio station), there is nothing to do but allow users to pick and choose like a jukebox. This is nothing special and there are ample free services like the latter that are already way more established.

As Droppy also pointed out, being there such a wide audience, a single community radio would not cater for everyone - which is a shame considering the scene is not explicitly English...

Autoplay... No thanks! People should lay off that one. If people wanna tune in they will!

I could natter on even more but I hope you catch my drift. If a hotel wants something unique they should run their own radio. If not, as aforementioned there are plenty of existing stations to keep their users annoyed.

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I can fully see your point about user interaction, even down to sdimple things like "We have a shoutout for Username" because well which hotel was username from, but I also think users who are getting to listen to the songs they want will be happy enough.


As for any comments about advertising hotels, I have a 100% no-shit attitude towards going behind my back to break rules. All shows would be logged and anybody who advertised would be removed instantly.


Hope I've covered every point

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Originally Posted by r63

I worked in a radio station which had both volunteers and paid workers and the second a volunteer got paid they thought they suddenly had more power and authority and expected to be paid for every little action. I've seen plenty of people host shows simply for the little ego kick of having everyone listen to them and their songs.


I was only really aiming at English people, Chrome offers to translate by default I know that much, not sure about other browsers.


I can fully see your point about user interaction, even down to sdimple things like "We have a shoutout for Username" because well which hotel was username from, but I also think users who are getting to listen to the songs they want will be happy enough.


As for any comments about advertising hotels, I have a 100% no-shit attitude towards going behind my back to break rules. All shows would be logged and anybody who advertised would be removed instantly.


Hope I've covered every point

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Well, you could monetize, but it can't be biased to any hotel at any point. What you could do is have a hotel pay you to give out Free VIP on their hotel or something. Like a competition where a few winners would get free VIP on that hotel. However, it should NEVER be "Join this Hotel". And you can't do that VIP for the same hotel more than once or at least not more than once a month.

You can sell Hotel ads, but it can't be constantly advertised. It should also be once a month.

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Originally Posted by Wreckless

Well, you could monetize, but it can't be biased to any hotel at any point. What you could do is have a hotel pay you to give out Free VIP on their hotel or something. Like a competition where a few winners would get free VIP on that hotel. However, it should NEVER be "Join this Hotel". And you can't do that VIP for the same hotel more than once or at least not more than once a month.

You can sell Hotel ads, but it can't be constantly advertised. It should also be once a month.

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I like the idea but I have no idea how you could implement something like that and be lazy, random adverts for things can be made up easily along with a nice sales package but who would listen to an ad break with 5 different adverts for 5 different retros?

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Originally Posted by Wreckless

Well, you could monetize, but it can't be biased to any hotel at any point. What you could do is have a hotel pay you to give out Free VIP on their hotel or something.

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I can't see how that would work without being completely biased.

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Originally Posted by n0minal

I can't see how that would work without being completely biased.

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A system could be worked out, and not five different retro ads. It would have to be like 1 hotel per day or 1 per hour or something. It would have to be thought out. I'm not in charge of this, so it's really up to @r63 if he's going through with it. @r63 Just know that I love the idea, but if it becomes hotel-biased, I WILL remove it from my hotel and I'm sure others will too. :)

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Originally Posted by Wreckless

A system could be worked out, and not five different retro ads. It would have to be like 1 hotel per day or 1 per hour or something. It would have to be thought out. I'm not in charge of this, so it's really up to @r63 if he's going through with it. @r63 Just know that I love the idea, but if it becomes hotel-biased, I WILL remove it from my hotel and I'm sure others will too. :)

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I hate everyone equally lol so there isn't much chance it will become hotel bias

my Idea:

put on your radio website an extra page were you can add newest tracks with an image of the single.
Put a like and dislike button on each track and every full hour it plays the TOP 5 which is voted from the whole community. (votes get reseted after the top5)

I really don't know how to code that but i think it's possible.
and in the other 50-55min. put some topcharts from last 5-6months or 1 year.

Would be great if the community can choose what we can hear, you know?
And yeah i know my english is not the best.

#Onmobilephone .

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Originally Posted by Wreckless

A system could be worked out, and not five different retro ads. It would have to be like 1 hotel per day or 1 per hour or something. It would have to be thought out. I'm not in charge of this, so it's really up to @r63 if he's going through with it. @r63 Just know that I love the idea, but if it becomes hotel-biased, I WILL remove it from my hotel and I'm sure others will too. :)

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I understand, but were it on my hotel, I wouldn't be happy to use a radio that advertised another hotel. Perhaps there's a much better way to monetise and make this community radio viable? Just a thought!

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Originally Posted by n0minal

I understand, but were it on my hotel, I wouldn't be happy to use a radio that advertised another hotel. Perhaps there's a much better way to monetise and make this community radio viable? Just a thought!

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Probably a non habbo radio? Since, anyway, they wont talk about habbo there, why need to be a habbo radio!? So, why not make a normal radio and partnership for you get famous?

Kind of a random idea:
I just read through the docs of Iceast and found the "Move Clients" option.
(http://icecast.org/docs/icecast-2.4....interface.html)
So how about providing people with the possibiliy to create a slave icecast server (Single relay as Master-Slave config seems to require the password) (http://icecast.org/docs/icecast-2.4.1/relaying.html) and if there is stuff specific for one hotel the slave server could be told to move the users to a second stream that will continue playing some music (or similar). Then people could choose wether they would allow things that don't hit their hotel.

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Originally Posted by Droppy

Probably a non habbo radio? Since, anyway, they wont talk about habbo there, why need to be a habbo radio!? So, why not make a normal radio and partnership for you get famous?

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Yeah, but I don't think hotels will be inclined then. However, I do think it is possible to do this without profiting off advertisements. i.e. Donations and what not.

The last time I tried to reply, I had a big message typed out and Ragezone went on maintenance removing the typed message so this time I'm keeping it simple.

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Originally Posted by Cankiee

my Idea:

put on your radio website an extra page were you can add newest tracks with an image of the single.
Put a like and dislike button on each track and every full hour it plays the TOP 5 which is voted from the whole community. (votes get reseted after the top5)

I really don't know how to code that but i think it's possible.
and in the other 50-55min. put some topcharts from last 5-6months or 1 year.

Would be great if the community can choose what we can hear, you know?
And yeah i know my english is not the best.

#Onmobilephone .

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That would be show format, something decided at a later date. I like the jukebox idea but don't want to have it distanced from the listener too much. Unless I get lots of money having 2 different servers running with different songs or languages and having more staff to run the site will get insane.

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Originally Posted by n0minal

I understand, but were it on my hotel, I wouldn't be happy to use a radio that advertised another hotel. Perhaps there's a much better way to monetise and make this community radio viable? Just a thought!

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I don't really like the idea of radio adverts for other hotels, maybe a list of hotels which use the radio station BUT this would be the only time I can see it as acceptable to name a hotel.

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Originally Posted by Droppy

Probably a non habbo radio? Since, anyway, they wont talk about habbo there, why need to be a habbo radio!? So, why not make a normal radio and partnership for you get famous?

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Removes the main attraction of the radio though

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Originally Posted by Wreckless

Yeah, but I don't think hotels will be inclined then. However, I do think it is possible to do this without profiting off advertisements. i.e. Donations and what not.

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I'll probably run it out of my own money until it gets started and allow donations and paid advertising, I'll have to review all of this.