Live365 is making a handful of its best stations available on iHeartRadio, starting today (April 30). The agreement gives the web radio pioneer increased visibility, exposing iHeartRadio’s 144 million listeners to such eclectic fare as Aaron Axelsen’s Flood FM, Shaquille O’Neal’s ShaqFu Radio, and Jack Sonni Guitar Radio, hosted by the musician best known as "the other guitarist" in Dire Straits during the band's “Brothers in Arms” era.
Live365 says the deal is one its first steps to expand its listening network and make it easier for audiences to discover its diverse content. Other Live365 stations available via iHeart include Smooth Jazz Florida, Amazing Hope Radio and DopeRadioFM.com
“Being able to showcase some of our standout stations on iHeart is a testament to the hard work our broadcasters put in to programming quality stations that are not traditionally represented on the radio dial,” Live365 General Manager Jason Stoddard said in a release. “We will continue to work with world-class distribution companies to help listeners discover the top-notch content available on Live365.”
The online radio service returned in May 2017 with hundreds of channels of programming and an open call issued for new broadcaster sign-ups. Live365, which had been providing streaming services to thousands of small webcasters since 1999, was shuttered in January 2016 in part due to the loss of the Small Webcaster Settlement Act of 2009. In July 2016, EmpireStreaming owner Jon Stephenson acquired the company in a bankruptcy auction and brought it back to life, giving small webcasters an online radio home.
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