Live365 Reviews

These folks are speedy and super easy to get the hang of.

Back in January 2016, the original Live365.com, a streaming radio platform that showcased niche stations run by real folks and featured content from their personal CD collections, shut down. This unfortunate event was triggered by the end of the Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009 in late 2015, which had permitted lower royalty payments for smaller net broadcasters like Live365.

The year 2016 was a tough one for those who valued authentic radio, as opposed to the soulless streams offered by services like Apple Music, Pandora, and Spotify. It felt like a huge gap where a diverse range of music used to thrive. But then, in early 2017, news broke that someone had purchased and revived Live365.

Unfortunately, it soon became clear that the new management was allowing—no, even worsening—one of the key issues that had completely derailed Live365's chances of gaining any traction in the streaming music scene. That issue is:

Ads that blast at volumes way louder than the actual station content.

So, the revamped Live365 is just as unnoticed as its predecessor, and the new team seems to be in total denial about the problem.

Like many other streaming music enthusiasts, I try to tune in while working, especially during tasks where music is welcome. But, of course, there are others around. Assuming everyone is on board with the tunes I want to play, all that goodwill goes right out the window when an ad suddenly blares at an ear-splitting volume compared to the music. Every. Single. Time.

This isn’t just a one-off issue with a specific station; I’ve sampled numerous stations on Live365, and it’s the same story across the board. When a song wraps up and an ad kicks in, you better be ready to adjust the volume, or you’re in for a rude awakening.

I’ve come to realize that Live365 is simply not suitable for work environments or any public listening situation. I can only assume that every other potential listener has learned this lesson the hard way, whether at work, school, or home. It even becomes unbearable for me when I’m just chilling at home, leading me to switch to YouTube or something else.

So, it’s no shock that nearly six years after its comeback, Live365 is virtually invisible in the streaming music landscape.

If you search for "Top Streaming Music Sources," you’ll find Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Qobuz, Tidal, LiveXLive, Deezer, Pandora, SiriusXM, Idagio.

But you won’t see Live365 anywhere. Go ahead, open a new tab and check it out. See?

Sure, some of these competitors (like Apple and YouTube) have deep pockets for marketing. But at least they put in the effort, and most importantly: They don’t blast ads at listeners at ten times the volume of the music, which completely undermines the idea of attracting listeners in the first place.

So, the new Live365, much like the old version, is a hidden gem with massive potential but is heading straight for bankruptcy and obscurity. Why? Because the management either can’t or won’t fix a glaring issue that undermines the entire operation from the ground up.

People simply won’t tune in to Live365 because the ad volume makes it unbearable.

It’s disheartening to witness the slow demise of Live365, but for fans and DJs, there’s little to do but hope that someday a more competent group will take over and manage it properly. This is a problem that’s easy to fix, yet those in charge refuse to take action.

I can’t help but feel like I’m watching an old friend spiral out of control, and it’s just heartbreaking.

Fantastic Support Made for a Wonderful Time. I really enjoyed my shopping experience.

Live365 has been fantastic; Romane, Jon, and the whole crew have been amazing. I've had my share of bad experiences with other companies, but Live365 stands out as the best in the game. Their support has consistently been there for me. There have been several times I needed help, and every time, I received quick and friendly assistance. With over 20 years in customer service myself, I can say they really know what they're doing! Recently, Romane and Jon helped me with the new app for individual stations that’s being launched. They answered all my queries and guided me through every step. I couldn't ask for better service.

Ran into a hiccup after my free trial regarding the initiation of a package, but it got resolved super quick. I'm really happy with how it turned out!

We faced some streaming challenges reaching our viewers, but your team's service was top-notch every time, particularly when our Tech was swamped. We’d definitely suggest your crew to anyone in need of streaming help. The support is fantastic!

Romane assisted me in getting my station going. I really couldn't have managed it without his support. Huge thanks, Romane! I also want to mention that I joined Live365 back in 2000 but had to leave around 2018 due to some money issues. I'm thrilled to be back on the air with Live365.

great service

I’m having trouble getting into my page.

I've been using Live 365 for about a month now, and let me tell you, they’ve charged me three times already during this period, which led to my station being shut down. Just three days ago, I made a payment, and guess what? It’s down again. I haven’t even aired a single episode! When I reached out for help because I wasn’t getting any sound, they just shot me an email instead of calling. Every time I try to get in touch, I end up with an answering machine, and they always want to set up an appointment. And those appointments? They’re always 2 to 4 days out. By then, I could lose a ton of customers. I'm really frustrated and losing money here. Can anyone suggest another internet radio service that has proper licensing? I need to switch ASAP!

Fantastic assistance and speedy replies.

My experience with Live365 has been awesome over the last three months since I kicked off my first radio station. Not long ago, I made the choice to separate my original station (a religious non-commercial format) to set up a soon-to-be non-profit while I get ready to introduce a new lost classic-hits format, followed by a rhythmic oldies format, both as commercial stations.

The assistance I’ve gotten leading up to the split and the launch of my upcoming projects has been top-notch! You all are amazing!

Cheers,
Brian,
WLGW, WBRZ, WSPI

The support team got back to me fast and did a great job. I'm really pleased to be using Live365.

I'm really impressed with how Gene and the support crew have been communicating. They've been clear and super helpful. We're still ironing out some issues and I'm hoping to get everything sounding just right before we launch.

I've been on Live365 for about four months now, and it’s been a fantastic journey. They were super helpful in getting me set up and addressed all my queries quickly and correctly. After a few months of operating the station, I had some more questions, and they got back to me in less than 24 hours. Really pleased with Live365!