To start an internet radio station, you need a programme to broadcast, a way to send audio, a streaming server, and a link your listeners can open. You can present live from your computer, play uploaded recordings through hosted Auto DJ, or plan a station that uses both.
Start with one show and one reliable listening link. You can add a larger music library, more presenters, and a fuller schedule after the basic route from your audio to your listeners works.
1. Decide what your station will sound like
Write a short description of the station before choosing equipment. Who is it for? What will they hear? When should they tune in? A weekly specialist music show and a station playing around the clock have different day-to-day needs.
For a first broadcast, prepare a simple running order: an introduction, the music or discussion, any announcements, and a closing message. Give yourself enough material for the planned duration. A clear one-hour programme is a more useful starting point than a complicated schedule you cannot maintain.
If you intend to broadcast music, check the permissions and licensing requirements that apply to your country and intended audience. Hosting is a separate purchase. Our music licensing and royalties guide provides reference links to help you begin that research.
2. Choose live broadcasting, Auto DJ, or both
| Approach | Where the audio comes from | What you need to keep running |
|---|---|---|
| Live broadcasting | Software on your computer sends the programme to your server | The computer, broadcasting software, and internet connection |
| Hosted Auto DJ | Audio uploaded to your VosCast account | The hosted Auto DJ service |
| A mixed schedule | Hosted playback between live programmes | A planned changeover between Auto DJ and the live encoder |
Live broadcasting suits programmes where you select tracks, interview guests, or speak as the show happens. Hosted Auto DJ is useful when you want uploaded material to keep playing while your own computer is off.
The changeover needs attention. Stop VosCast Auto DJ before connecting your live encoder. When the live show ends, disconnect the encoder and start Auto DJ again. Build those actions into your running order rather than assuming the switch happens automatically.
3. Pick a hosting plan for the audience you expect
Radio hosting receives your programme and makes it available to listeners. When comparing plans, consider three separate things: the maximum bitrate, the number of simultaneous listeners, and the storage available for uploaded Auto DJ audio.
VosCast's published plans start at $8.95 USD per month, with a maximum bitrate of 128 kbps, 200 listeners, and 15 GB of Auto DJ storage. Larger plans offer different allowances. Use the current plans page to compare the full options before ordering.
You do not need to begin with the largest plan simply because you hope the station will grow. Think about the audience likely to listen at the same time, the amount of uploaded audio you need, and the quality setting you intend to use. Our guide to internet radio costs explains how those choices fit together.
4. Set up the audio you will send
For a live programme, start with a computer, a stable internet connection, headphones, and broadcasting software. Add a microphone if you will speak. Use the equipment you already have to establish a working broadcast before buying a more elaborate setup. Our internet radio equipment guide compares a computer-only music show, a solo presenter setup and a studio with several inputs.
BUTT can send an audio input to your server. If you want to select and mix tracks within your broadcasting application, follow the appropriate Mixxx Icecast or Mixxx SHOUTcast guide.
For desktop automation and mobile broadcasting options, use our internet radio software comparison to choose a workflow and find its setup guide.
Copy the connection details from your account. Keep the host, port, password, and any mount point in their correct fields. The website address for your account is not the host name for your encoder, and your account login is not necessarily the broadcast password.
For hosted playback, use the Auto DJ setup guide to upload MP3 files, create playlists, and check the schedule's clock.
5. Listen from outside your broadcasting software
Before sharing the station widely, open its listening link on another device. Confirm that the programme is audible, that speech and music are at sensible levels, and that the player is carrying the intended stream.
A successful encoder connection is only one part of that check. Listen through a whole transition between tracks and include a microphone segment if your programme uses one. If you will switch between Auto DJ and live audio, practise the complete changeover as well.
6. Give listeners one clear place to tune in
Share a station page or a page on your own website with an obvious play control and programme times. For a website player, use the HTML5 radio player guide and the correct HTTPS listener address for your stream.
Keep the first launch manageable. Publish the schedule you can deliver, ask a few listeners whether they can hear you, and use their feedback to improve the next show. When you are ready to choose the server behind it, compare VosCast's radio hosting plans.