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Maximum Broadway Radio

A blog to accompany Maximum Broadway Radio. Stop by for updates, reviews, and various musings related to the station, theatre, and the world at large.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

February Update

Show Tunes 48/14. Maximum Broadway Radio's quest for worldwide domination took a big step forward in January with the launch of Max Broadway - Select. This new station features the best of the Maximum Broadway library and a different style of mixing and rotating the songs. January also brought the option of listening to either station without logging in if you launch from the station web site or Live365 station page.

Expanded distribution. Maximum Broadway Radio will soon appear in the iTunes Radio tuner giving iTunes users even easier access to the streams. I am also hopeful that one or both stations will become part of the Motorola iRadio program which allows users to listen to internet radio in their cars. Keep your fingers crossed on that one. The station should also become available soon to all users of Tivo's internet services. Currently, only Live365 VIP members can access the stations on Tivo.

New tracks. I've been so busy launching the new station and implementing the other changes that I have not added any new tracks to the station library in quite a while. I have a big pile of CDs waiting to be added, so look for new tracks from Jersey Boys, Lone Star Love, Runaways, Lucky Stiff, Five Guys Named Moe, Snoopy, and many others coming soon.

Album of the Month. February brings us Valentine's Day, so I've picked an Album of the Month with romance in mind. Opposite You is an album of duets from the husband and wife team of Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley. With songs from a variety of composers like Irving Berlin, Fats Waller, and Stephen Sondheim, this album is sure to melt the heart of your valentine.

Valentine's Day Special. Like last year I will feature all love songs all day for Valentines's Day.

Playlist Info. The station web page now features links to give you a popup window with all the playlist information for the station and stream (free or VIP) of your choice. I have also created Dashboard widgets that Mac OS 10.4 users can download to add the playlist display to their Dashboards. I will try to create similar widgets for users of Yahoo's Konfabulator, but it may be a while before I can get that done.

As always thanks for listening and making Maximum Broadway Radio Live365's #1 station for show tunes.

Zack

Monday, January 16, 2006

Show Tunes 48/14

Twice the Show Tunes. As promised in the January update, the new year brings a second station to the Maximum Broadway Radio family. The original station is now called Max Broadway - Variety, and the new station is called Max Broadway - Select.

The Variety station will continue to feature the wide-ranging mix of tracks that has made Maximum Broadway Radio so popular. The Select station features the most popular tracks in the MBR library mixed using a different approach than the original station.

Logins - No, Ads - Yes. You no longer need to login to Live365 to listen if you launch from he station web site or Live365 directory. If you are a VIP member, you still need to login to get all the benefits of your VIP account. Non-VIPs are now hearing ads on the station. You can eliminate these ads with a Live365 Preferred Membership.

Hear MBR on your TiVo. Maximum Broadway Radio along with all other Live365 stations is now available to owners of TiVo Series2 boxes connected to the internet via broadband. Currently only VIP members can access the station, but it should become available to all users next month. You may need to request an update for your TiVo.

Happy Listening!!

Zack

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Monthly Update - January 2006

New Station. The 2nd station in the Maximum Broadway Radio family launches soon, so I have made a slight name change. The original station is now called Max Broadway - Variety, and the new station is Max Broadway - Select. You do not need to adjust your Live365 presets. These new names reflect the difference in emphasis for each station. Variety will continue to play the wide range of tracks that has made the station so popular. Select will not include solo recordings and will be programmed with a different philosophy. Select is currently running a temporary 3 hour looping playlist until the station is ready for a full launchnext week.

Other Changes. You will notice other changes in the next week or so. On the negative side, the online request system is no longer available,and non-VIP listeners will start hearing commercials at some point. On the positive side, you will soon be able to listen to MBR without logging in to Live365, and both stations should become more widely available. Finally, I spent the last month editing all the tag information for the 3000+ tracks in the station library so you will now see the names of the performers rather than the name of the cast. Many listeners have requested that this information be displayed, and I hope you find it adds to your listening enjoyment.

Album of the Year. Since it's January, I've decided to look back at 2005 and pick an Album of the Year. Last year I selected Caroline, or Change. This year I've selected the Actor's Fund concert recording of Hair. I listened to this album more than any other CD I got this year and never tired of hearing it. You can find a more complete review in the Archive for May 2005.

As always thanks for listening and making Maximum Broadway Radio Live365's #1 station for show tunes.

Zack