UK music industry silences radio for overseas listeners
6 May 2006From 1 April 2006, internet streams of British independent radio stations ceased to be available for listeners outside the UK.
Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), who collect royalties on behalf of record companies, informed broadcasters that they are only in a position to sell broadcasting rights for the UK. Therefore, when the old licences expired on 31 March, all of the independent radio stations had to restrict their internet streams to British listeners only.
Radio has never stopped at national boundaries, such is the nature of radio waves. The internet should be a technology that brings people from different countries closer by breaking down communication barriers. It should now be easier than ever to reach a global audience, without having to construct a network of shortwave radio transmitters. But instead, the music industry is using this technology to place restrictions on who can listen to radio stations, based on geographical location. It’s turning technology against people instead of using if for the common good. In much the same way, it should now be easier to distribute recordings and sell them online, but the music industry has insisted on crippling such products with so called “digital rights management” (DRM) which makes the online purchase far inferior to buying a physical CD.
I am a regular Classic FM listener, and there would often be e-mails read out from people listening on the other side of the world (for example, a lunchtime request sent in by an American listener over breakfast). That has now ended. So for all those people who don’t know anyone from outside their own country, that one time of the day where they might have felt part of a global community has been taken away, a step backwards to the insularity of the pre-information age.
There is, however, some light relief, and an indication that the broadcasters aren’t exactly happy with the new arrangements. Coupled with the 1 April date, I even thought the whole story might be a joke, but sadly not. GCap Media plc, who own many independent radio stations including Classic FM and Capital Radio, have restricted their internet streams to listeners in the UK. This is done primarily by IP address, but in case they wrongly identify a UK-based listener as being abroad, they also offer the option of entering a valid British postcode to prove that the user is in the UK. This is the message that overseas listeners receive when they attempt to listen online to Classic FM:
Due to licensing changes, we’re only allowed to offer our radio stream to those in the UK. You seem to be outside the UK, so you need to enter a valid UK postcode below:
[...]
If you don’t have cookies enabled, you’ll have to enter your postcode each time you listen. This service is managed by GCap Media plc, 30 Leicester Square, LONDON, WC2H 7LA
That wouldn’t be a valid UK postcode that’s part of their address, by any chance? Just in case listeners are uncertain about this, Capital Radio give the following advice on their How to Listen page:
If you don’t live in the UK, and are unable to provide a valid postcode (eg WC2H 7LA) you will be unable to connect to the player.
Given that GCap didn’t ask for this restriction in the first place, there are no prizes for guessing whether entering their own postcode in the box allows the listener to hear the internet stream. But even if it didn’t work, it’s simple enough to find a valid UK postcode anyway.
Good Day Sir..
I live in Miami, Fl .. and am unable to stream ClassicFm. I found your above article extremely infomative… I tried putting in a valid UK postal code after running a search using your search engine. However I am still not able to get a feed.
I would appreciate any tips and or info you can give as I am a huge fan of classicfm..
Many thanks for your help and hoping o hear from you soon
Reagrds
Memphis
I also was a long term overseas Classic FM listener until recently. I live in Canada but I entered my old UK postal code, which allowed me to get online for a few weeks. Now I cannot connect at all, but simply get the message “Opening…”. After a few seconds it times out and stops trying to connect. I agree with your comments, and I am very disappointed at the loss of this fine streaming audio. I still continue to get e-mail from Classic FM, as I have contacted them several times and felt a part of the community.
Since I wrote the article, Classic FM have moved the stream to a different server. Now, the servers for both the playlist (mediaweb.musicradio.com) and the actual stream (mediasrv.musicradio.com) are unreachable from outside the UK (or from certain countries at least). This is quite separate from the postcode validation, which continues to operate. Entering a correct postcode just leaves the browser attempting to connect to the server.
If they are no longer going to allow listening from outside the UK using a postcode, they should remove the instructions for doing so from the site!
I’ll keep working on this, and will report anything I find here. If anyone else has any success listening, or has anything else to add, please leave a comment.
I also am a longtime Classic FM listener and have the same problems as those above. I have contacted them and received the same response to place a valid UK postal code in the assigned box. I’ve placed many and always get the connecting then ready command but unable to do anything else.
Please let us know if any progress is being made. Keep up the good work.
Hubertus, WI
I am an active listener of classicfm. I appreciate your work on this matter in hopes that the issue can be resolved.
What is it with the record companies, are they trying to turn everyone against them? …aren’t they shooting themselves in the foot? – all of my recent CD purchases have been based on music I’ve heard and liked from sources such as Classic FM.
And now, I can no longer listen to it (I live in Holland), and it makes me so sad. Saturday mornings are not the same anymore.
What a bad decision to cut off non UK listeners! It reminds me of the man who had to carry a flag in front of early cars.
The whole point of the internet is comminication and this decision is a BIG step backwards.
So a Canadian listener hears Classic FM from the UK – so what? I can listen the BBC. How can my listening to a passive feed upset anybody?
Come on guys, this is the 21 century – this decision belongs in the dark ages of censorship
John Rose
Calgary
Canada
Like Peter (above), I live in Holland. For several years I have been listening to Classic FM online while I work. I get the newsletters, I enter the contests, I buy the magazine, and I buy many of the CDs that I hear on the programmes.
But one day last week I was suddenly cut off. I too was very, very sad. I actually cried. It’s like being thrown out of your favourite club, like losing a close friend. Happily, I have an alternative: I can listen via the satellite. But most of the Classic FM international community don’t have that option. I hope that someone sees sense and restores the internet stream soon.
BTW, this situation is being blamed on ‘licensing arrangements’. If Classic FM itself does not agree with the restrictions, surely it would be able to invoke the European rules (Treaty of Rome, arts. 48 to 73) which provide for the ‘free movement of persons, services and capital’ throughout the European Union?
I wish to join the sentiments expressed on this page.
My wife and used to find ClassicFM an invaluable link with our home country – keeping up with the news, hearing new CD’s (and buying them – no restriction there…) and just thouroughly enjoying an English voice.
But it has all gone, as of June 1 (UK time).
Maybe we were lucky to miss the April 1 cutoff, but we now feel bereft.
‘Classic King FM’ (the Seattle equivalent) just doesn’t cut it in terms of quality or presentation.
Anyone know of a proxy server re-broadcasting the content ?!
Yes, Classic FM UK was also my favorite station. If anyone knows any way to access it, please let us know.
Michigan, USA
Like many others living oveseas I have been an ardent listener of Classic FM for many years (whilst living in the UK and since moving to Australia). If anyone knows a way around the problem or has an update I would appreciate hearing from them.
someone could try connecting to http://audio.musicradio.com/audio.asx?Station=classic with a proxy located in the UK
Update: I’ve just added a new article which gives details of how to listen to Classic FM from non-UK IP addresses.
Hi,
Just tried the various proxy servers could not get any further than “Ready” “connecting” etc
I tried a number of stations and players all with the same result,
It would appear that the home IP is still being detected,anyone know how to mask your own IP?
Perhaps someone knows how this can be done?
Hello
I am a long time Classic FM fan happily listening from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada until April 1st. And then nothing!!
Playing around with the very helpful information on this page (thank-you Jonathan Rawle) I found I was able to get Classic FM again using the following method.
Using your browser (MS Internet Explorer) go to http://audio.musicradio.com/
Allow popups and choose “Classic FM” “listen” from the ‘Listen and Surf’ window.
It takes a little longer to load but I am happily connected again.
Thanks Jonathan, from that I was able to find an alternate stream, which is available from outside the UK, so no proxy is needed:
http://gcap5.planetwideradio.com/ClassicFM
I’ve added details to the new article on Classic FM.
Thanks Jonathan(s), I am a really happy bunny. I now can receive CFM loud and clear.
Let’s hope in the long term that the powers to be supposedly representing the interests of hard working musicians rethink this absolute nonsense that they have created.
Sandy
Perth
Jonathan,
The following words sum-up everything.
Thank You Very Much – New Life.
Hubertus, WI USA
Although not a Classic listener, I have been listening to all the great Scottish stations, even as late as last week (July 5) in actuality altho it all seems to have ended this week July 11. Being a Scot I love the traditional Scottish ceilidh shows and music that emanated from Glasgow, Ayr, Edinburgh, Inverness, Galashiels, Aberdeen and Dundee. It was a home away from home for the past few years. The stations did survey listeners to see if they were prepared to pay for overseas streaming. I for one definitely said YES but that does not seem to be coming to pass. Like that fix of Java(coffee) that we Canadians need every morning, I badly need my fix of home grown choochter choons music and wonder if anyone knows of ANY way that I can still tune in to these stations-if they do, please send an e-mail to me at : scotchguy2002@yahoo.com ANd many thanks indeed
I’m not a CFM listener either, but I am an ex pat who would very much like to listen to Yorkshire Coast Radio. Any ideas?
I have today tried the Radio Feeds Search website and was able to bring in Tay AM via Media Player which appears to still be streaming them in, but alas the quality of the streaming is turgid and very broken, impossible to listen to, as it breaks up every few seconds. It says ‘contacting’ then the station name comes up but then is flicks back to contacting as the stream breaks. It is VERY inconsistent.
Thank you so much – I clicked the link above and got Classic FM on the first attempt, from Pittsburgh, of all places! I’ve really missed it this past month. Thanks again.
Hi Jonathon,
Just let you you know that using a valid UK post code still allows me to listen to Classic FM from the Republic of Ireland!
Thanks for you help on this.
Hi Jonathon,
Thanks for the information on Classic FM the ‘planetwideradio’ stream works for me here in Australia. Can you or anybody else out there help me with a stream for Capital Radio, London?
Up until a few weeks ago the UK postcode worked for me but now I don’t even get asked my postcode, when I try to listen it creates an error that requires explorer to close. I have deleted my cookies just in case.
Would appreciate any assistance.
Capital Radio is available at:
http://gcap5.planetwideradio.com/CapitalRadio64
All GCap’s stations seem to be available from this server, which is accessible from outside the British Isles.
Dear Jonathan et al.,
Thanks to the messages above I can hear Classic FM again! Since April I managed somehow (using a London postal code helped) to keep it coming to my computer. But it finally stopped for me this week (8/14). When I could no longer access it I was annoyed (because I like it) and irritated (because of the reason).
I work in New York and enjoy the station’s mix of music, not to mention the news and even the adverts.
Thank God for the Internet and the info that is available there.
I can now listen to Classic FM. However, I have yet to find a way to listen to kiss 100 out of London. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Desperate in Austin without my weekly digweed shows.
Thanks in advance. Jason
I listen to classic FM online without a problem with entering a (my old) UK postcode as I now live in the USA. though as with Jason, can’t find a way to listen to Kiss 100 FM. I have tried using supposed anonymous UK proxies but none have worked or the station can see the IP address is being blocked and so gives that same old “sorry..blah blah blah” message. there must be a way, such as configuring kiss through windows media player, as Jonathan did for classic FM., but any URL I’ve put in so far just doesn’t connect. Is there any technical minded people reading this that has the know how to configure this or easier still get around it somehow?!…eagerly awaiting your replies!..thanks
You can open any the following URLs in Windows Media Player to listen to Kiss 100:
http://mars.radica.com/kiss100-70
http://83.245.15.216/kiss100-70
http://wm-peer-emap.london.vrnw.net/kiss100-70?MSWMExt=.asf
http://85.159.188.7:80/kiss100-70?MSWMExt=.asf
See if any of them will work. If not, you’ll need to use an anonymous proxy.
thank you very much!!!!…first one I tried worked!…Where did you get those links from?…tried finding some myself but seemed difficult to locate. It’s all techno right now playing as its the middle of the night in the UK,looking forward to the day time listening. Hope Jason is equally thankful!….as for free UK proxies,there aren’t many,and those that are apparently there,dont relly work very well. I would still be interested if you had a link to a tried and tested (working) UK proxy aswell for when this all goes belly up. Also what about for capital FM,heart FM, I know I’m pushing my luck but you seem to have the expertise and knowledge to point me in the right direction…thanks again Jonathan….from a grateful ex-pat!
Please, please can you let me know how I can listen to Magic 105.4FM – my brilliant AE Wi-Fi radio is now unused & silent since the new regulations – but maybe I could listen to Magic via my laptop ??
Many thanks.
Hi again Jonathan…sorry to be a pain, but for some reason,all of the url links you gave me to use in windows media player to listen to kiss have stopped working. any ideas why?..have they cottoned on and stopped it somehow?…do you have any more links for kiss or as i was wondering above,any information on a solid free UK proxy?..thanks again
Does anybody has an idea to connect to Galaxy 105? (West Yorkshire radio). I used to love this radio, but now it’s not possible, since I live in Brazil. I tried to change my proxy settings on Windows Media Player, but it didn’t work out.
Hope someone can help me.
Cheers.
Hi – I found this correspondence when I was trying to discover why I could not longer access Classic fm from Singapore! I was accessing Classic fm via the windows media radio station site, and interestingly this access was only cut off in mid-September! An obvious question, given that many other UK stations such as Sky are still available via msn and windows, is why can’t Classic fm extend its license..? Or did I miss something obvious..?
Thanks for the tip.
I’m listening to Capital Radio in Brazil!
Do devices such as the Accoustic Energy Wi-Fi radio circumvent the problem?
http://www.acoustic-energy.co.uk/Product_range/WiFi_radio/WiFi_info.asp
I’m assuming their gateway isn’t subject to the same restrictions.
If so, is there an equivalent USB device for those without Wi-Fi?
can you please help me, I cannot listen to magic 105.4, I live in Israel I have tried proxy ips but still no joy
Dear Mr Rawle,
Thank you for this informative and helpful page on listening to British radio stations from abroad. I much appreciate it. Could you please list a URL location for One Word Radio?
Thank you very much and best wishes,
Patricia
For Oneword, try the following:
http://radio.oneword.co.uk:8000/
could you please give us also URLs in Windows Media Player to listen to capital 95.8 fm & radio 1 ?
Many thanks
For Capital (same company as ClassicFM):
http://mediasrv-the.musicradio.com/CapitalRadio
http://mediasrv-sov.musicradio.com/CapitalRadio
I didn’t think the BBC stations were restricted to the UK, but anyway, Radio 1 is:
mms://wmlive-acl.bbc.co.uk/wms/radio1/radio1_nb_e1s1
or for Realplayer:
rtsp://rmlive.bbc.co.uk/bbc-rbs/rmlive/ev7/live24/radio1/live/r1_dsat_g2.ra
The first link to 95.8 capital fm DOES work ! Many thanks
The URL link for Radio 1 unfortunateLy doesn’t work…
Anyway, thanks again
Jonathan, I came across your web site on Google by searching for the reasons behind the ban on UK radio station music streams, hoping to find an answer and work-around. I would like to congratulate you on your work of assisting other ex-pat’s like myself that enjoyed listening to their favourite stations to maintain some connection to England. I have not yet tried any of your suggestions of adding a valid postal code, and was hoping you might have some specific information on how I might connect to Heart 100.7 from the West Midlands? Keep up the excellent work, and many thanks in advance. BTW, is there any movement to petition a change in this ridiculous censorship?
Hi Jonathan…Until today I have been able to listen to Clyde1 and Clyde2 via UK proxy from abroad. Now that (and other the proxies listed on the web) don’t work with audio streaming, though they are fine for normal browsing…I’d be be very greatful if you could help me with this matter. The URL is http://www.clyde2.com
Thank you very much
Hi Jonathan,
I live in Italy and yesterday morning we were happily listening to ClassicFM via their website and when we came back to the office in the afternoon we had been cut off!! We had a cut off period last year as well but one day my boyfriend (a big Italian fan of ClassicFM) tried by chance to connect and it let us in (using their postcode BTW). I have tried all the links in this and your other part of the weblog but can’t get anything!!! Apart from the proxy server option is there anything else that has come up???
Sarah
Update to my earlier post – we were able to connect again this afternoon…..they are just teasing with us!!!!
Hello,
I’m a radio freak from Belgium. To day i just see we can not tune in any more to some the UK station’s makes me angry. This bad and sad what do the say a EEC mabay it would better if the UK go out of the EG don’t you think ? The where always a out side leg on many things that’s what i think about it. Freedom on radio to all arround the world not to the Uk i’m a shame to be a member of the EEC with the UK in it !
This look almost the same what the did way back on monday, aug the 14 , 1967 with the Offshore Radio Stations at sea. Many did protest on this but it did’t help. For those ho don’t now what “Offshore Radio” (from the radio ships) was search for more info on the internet very easy to find.
Let’s hope the find some thing so we from outside the Uk can tune back soon woud a prostest help ?
73 Herman greetigs to all
I’ve not tried to listen online for a long while, but my wife mentioned this evening that it was blocked, so I checked and found it was. Long story short, I Googled and found this article.
Thanks!
Glad someone else is trying to find ways around it.
No problems with Classic FM in Spain using a Dundee postcode, but having emigrated from Dundee I really miss Tay FM and had hoped to get it online.
Anyone found a proxy server or link?
Hope you had a good Burns Night last night!
If any of you are interested, try http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk, you have a choice of stations to the left of the screen of wmp or realplayer radio stations, make sure you click on the little link at the end of the line or info 64K or 32K, dhould open the url in either wmp or realplayer… goodluck (not all radio stations are there, but a good few are)
listen to Magic 105.4, I’ve been listening for years, more musc, less talk…lol
I moved to Perth from London – year totally isolated… I thought at least I’d be able to listen to Kiss 100… I’m here for a year without KISS!! Someone help please??
Any updates on how to get it?
John has already gave us the solution how to listen to kiss 100
You can open any the following URLs in Windows Media Player to listen to Kiss 100:
http://mars.radica.com/kiss100-70
It works, and thanks to John, I’m so happy !
That doesn’t always work though. It does cut out during the day i.e. now 15th Feb 2007 1733PM – Perth, Australia
Hi! Any idea how I can listen to Heart FM online from Spain – Proxy server address perhaps???
Thanks!
im gutted im a expat living in dublin and can’t listen to any off my old radio station the law is a joke and should be changed
not happy
Hi Jonathan,
Finally, a web site that addresses one of the biggest world media injustices around! You can be an UK expat with a property at home WITH a valid TV license that pays for the BBC, yet if you want to listen to sport overseas “from the BBC”, they won’t bloody let you!
Does anyone know of how to break the Radio Five Live code for live sport so you can appear with a UK IP address?
Interestingly, you could get the Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland football games on local radio until recently (England was always on Five Live, so no chance there), but now even stations like Radio Ulster and Radio Wales have stitched us up too!
Help! I want live sport onthe radio….
” morbidmedia Says:
30 January 2007 at 7:32 pm
If any of you are interested, try http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk ( this = , is the reason why the linl don’t open) you have a choice of stations to the left of the screen of wmp or realplayer radio stations ”
This weblink works http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk/
Thank you very very much for the info now happy Jock in Brisbane Australia
And another happy ex-Dundee listener to TayFM!
It’s great to hear the old gang again even though I’m working in Toledo, Spain.
Many thanks to you for the http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk/ link which is fine.
As Filipe said, I am (or was) a fan of galaxy (Manchester).
Because I’m living in France, I now can’t listen to “my” radio, and that’s a pity.
My position about PPL’ new regulations is that it’s a old protectionism way of thinking. It’s very simple : the more I listen to British music, the more I buy British music ; and the less I listen to…, the less I buy.
Anyway, if somebody can help me to find a way to be connected again to Galaxy (manchester or 102 is my favourite), I’ll be very glad.
Thanks a lot.
I used to listed magic FM 105.4 when I was working in London, now I live abroad and I’m unable to get their frequencies. I wonder why I can listen certain radios like Capital and Classic FM but others are restricted
TOM
I just discovered that I cannot listen to Real Radio from Scotland. I used to listen to it about 2 years ago, and am devastated its not available anymore. How ridiculous!!! Could anyone help me to find out if there is a way I can listen to it?
Would be much appreciated,
Aloma
They stopped the links for Kiss 100 and Capital FM that were shown above. Anyone got any new ones?
This is the current one for kiss 100
http://earth.radica.com/kiss100-70
Have you tried Virgin Radio? I have had no trouble whatsoever listening to music on THAT site! I listen to it often … daily!
http://www.virginradio.co.uk/
My computer locks up when I try to open the feed, radiofeeds.co.uk. I have to always do cont-alt-del when that happens then I get the “not responding” info. I would like to listen to Radio Tay FM.
Has anone thought about listening to the radio through a sky dish, you can get a sky box from ebay very cheap and you will need a dish to pull it all in , the size will depend on where you live, and it all comes out of the TV nice and clear, just check what you can get on http://www.wildsat.com. I know of people that have no problem listening all over europe this way
Does anyone have a solution to listening to radio city from outside the uk. Any help is much appriciated..
Can anyone help with trying to listen to Wave 105 From outside the UK – Web site won’t allow connection. http://www.wave105.com
Thanks
Have just found this thread – until last week I was able to listen to Capital radio online from Greece – this morning it asked for a postcode – did that, but still not receiving. Any ideas???
i’m a massive english football fan. though we get all the football on tele, recently the power cuts do not allow me to watch my fav sports on tele. and since the internet speed here isnt that gr88, we still live in stone age cant watch it online. i would really appreciate it if some one could either give me a link for a free live audio commentary of BPL link or how to get past the BBC Radio 5 Live barrier that it has for people living abroad.
sincerly,
Ashish
hi thanks for all the info here. i’m trying to listen to an archived show from kiss in london is there anyway to do that? i’ve tried free proxy’s but they never let the stream start :/
i’m in california..
thanks
I have NO problems listening CLASSIC FM or CAP GOLD (just put in their postal code) from the USA but having problems listening to CLASSIC ROCK 106 from Manchester.
Any ideas how to get around the “not u UK” nonsense?
Hi there. I am able to listen to most UK stations online here in Australia except the two Cornish stations Pirate Fm and Atlantic Fm. Any ideas? By the way Its fantastic to hear so many people are annoyed with this situation. Lets hope something can be done about this.
Thanks for the hint about entering a UK postal code. I just tried this and so far, it is working on Cap Gold. Personally, I miss the music and the news from the UK where I was born and lived until I was 21. I used the postal code that used to be mind.
Does anyone know if there is any movement afoot to allow the world to listen without any subterfuge.
It’s working by key in UK postal code. Heart FM.. My favourite!
Hi everyone,
I couldnt get Kiss 100 to work when streaming with WMP. But this link works for me:
http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk/kiss100.m3u
Not a longtime listener to english radio, but I started listening to it as I got tired of listening to the lame music playing on the radio here in Norway. Alas, one day, they took away my lovely english radio, and I was forced back to norwegian.
But; after some time of whimpering to myself and complaining to the world in general about crap radios, I set out to find a way to once more listen to english radio. Epic tale ends there.
Just wanted to say that http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk/ works, just type in the radio station and settle in.
I’m once more listening to Capital and enjoying every bit of it.
Dear Jonathan ,
As an avid expat listener of Capital I was struck by the non valid poastcode problem . It used to work putting in my sister’s but not anymore. Anyway just saying thanks for U helping us all …your link worked for me.
http://mediasrv-the.musicradio.com/CapitalRadio
http://mediasrv-sov.musicradio.com/CapitalRadio
Many many thanks.
Nick thanks so much that link in itunes for kiss actually works!!! My life is complete
Hi! Any idea how I can listen to the French music station MCM TOP – Proxy server address perhaps??? I tried this link http://top.mcm.net but apparently it requires a password…thanks in advance
Hello people
Does anyone know any direct link to be able to stream KISS 100 in WINAMP???
The folllowing one -> http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk/kiss100.m3u is not working anymore. It has failed last nite.
Many thanks for help!!
Hi, I am also having the same problems with the Kiss100 fm link http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk/kiss100.m3u Any help on how to get a new link would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.