Streaming of WION is SO Popular… (“How Popular is it?”)

 This page is to help you understand streaming, how it works, and how to help keep it going!

“Streaming”…the common name thrown around today for anything brought to you live or “previously live” via the internet includes WION’s (almost) worldwide service that you can enjoy here, on our website, on Amazon and Google Devices, Internet Radios, Tablets, Phones, and other ‘net devices that play audio.

Our Streaming source begins in one of our offices, from an AM stereo tuner. When you listen on the web you are hearing REAL AM radio in REAL STEREO, not from our control board, not from our audio processing gear, not from the sound cards in our computers, but the actual “over the air” signal, piped into an “encoder” which then sends the audio information digitally to our carrier, “Live 365”.  

Live 365 then receives our unique digital audio, and multiplies it out to you, the “end listener” on your chosen device.  This includes listeners on services like “Tune-In radio” which is the backbone for the Amazon and Google services.  WION pays Live 365 not only to carry us, but to pay the various music licensing organizations that govern streaming rules….and, they calculate how many “listening hours” we owe-for.  If you listen for one hour at home, and your brother, for instance, listens for that same hour at work, there’s two listening hours. thus, the more listeners we have which is “success” for us in what we program for you…..also becomes a cost to us….but don’t let that stop you from enjoying us on devices…when a good ol’ fashioned or modern radio is not available.

WION is paying for 7,000 (seven thousand) hours of listening per month.
In 2024, we’ve been exceeding this, and, our carrier has been fairly patient with us. Live 365, however can no longer allow us to have the  over 12 thousand hours that has been our average in the early months of 2024.  So, we have to start PAYING FOR the overage hours that people use our stream.  This really adds up for our small company, as sponsorships specifically for streaming are still AVAILABLE. 

Doing the following will help us keep costs down!  Please read and help out:

When possible, use a RADIO…like, if you listen in your whole office all day.  The internet is convenient, but a RADIO will pull in AM 1430 really well in the city of Ionia and surrounding areas.  FM 92-7 is strong in much of Ionia County, and, Lowell, Cascade, Ada and Eastern Kent County have a strong 100.3 FM.  If your radio isn’t working well, let us know, we’ll find you one.

Check your device’s settings.  If it has an “auto reconnect” option, please shut that off and MANUALLY re-connect when your 2-hour slot of listening to WION has expired.  We have a 2-hour limit per session to keep from internet devices being left on with NO audience, like when a store closes  You’re encouraged to listen as long as you want…but please don’t play us to an empty office or store, essentially to “no audience.” via the web.

When you’re at home enjoying us on the web, if you’re using more than one device to play us in multiple rooms, please play ONLY where you need us.  We are charged for every DEVICE that plays us, as it all adds up to “total listening hours”…and for every device that is “on” the clock-time adds up.   Again, if you NEED to play us in a couple rooms, FINE…but if you’re only doing it because you MAY walk into that room, please don’t turn on the “extra” devices.

Help WION keep the streaming going to you, WHEREVER you want to hear us!