View source for Shoutcast

{{Short description|Media streaming software}}
{{for|the generic term for esports commentators|Shoutcaster}}
{{notability|Products|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Shoutcast
| logo = Shoutcast 2018 logo.svg
| screenshot = 
| caption = 
| logo size = 200px
| collapsible = 
| developer = [[Radionomy]]
| author = [[Nullsoft]] (Stephen 'Tag' Loomis, [[Tom Pepper]] and [[Justin Frankel]])
| released = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| discontinued = 
| latest release version = 2.6.1 (Build 777)
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2022|1|30}}<ref name="Shoutcast Release 2.6.1 (Build 777)">{{Cite web |url=https://yp.shoutcast.com/v/2_6_1|title=DNAS 2.1.6 Build 777 Changelog|date=2022-01-30|website=Shoutcast Yellow Pages}}</ref>
| programming language = 
| operating system = 
| size = 
| language = 
| genre = [[Streaming media]]
| license = [[Registerware]]
| website = {{URL|https://shoutcast.com/}}
}}

'''Shoutcast''' (formerly '''SHOUTcast''') is a service for [[streaming media]] over the internet to [[media player (software)|media player]]s, using its own [[cross-platform]] [[proprietary software]]. It allows [[digital audio]] content, primarily in [[MP3]] or [[High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding]] format. The most common use of Shoutcast is for creating or listening to Internet audio broadcasts; however, there are also video streams.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asuracast.com/can-i-stream-video-through-shoutcast/|title=Can I stream video through SHOUTcast? {{!}} Internet Radio & Audio Streaming|website=www.asuracast.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-15}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The software is available to use for free or as a paid [[cloud service]] with additional professional features.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shoutcast - Pricing |url=https://www.shoutcheap.com/shoutcast/ |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Shoutcast}}</ref>

In the early days of [[esports]] for [[video game]]s, Shoutcast was used by some to stream play-by-play commentary, leading to the term "[[shoutcaster]]" as a name for esports commentators.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/story/overwatch-videogame-league-aims-to-become-new-nfl/ | title = The Overwatch Videogame League Aims to Become the New NFL | first = Nathan | last = Hill | date = December 7, 2017 | access-date = December 7, 2017 | magazine = [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref>

==History==
Created in 1998,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990627&slug=2968794|title=Internet Radio -- Computers Help You Hear What Might Be Broadcasts &#124; The Seattle Times|website=archive.seattletimes.com}}</ref> Shoutcast's streaming protocol uses metadata tags and responses that all start with ICY, which stands for "I Can Yell." Nullsoft was purchased by [[AOL]] on June 1, 1999.

On January 14, 2014, AOL sold Nullsoft to Belgian online radio aggregator [[Radionomy|Radionomy Group]]; no financial details were publicly announced.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/01/01/aol-sells-winamp-and-shoutcast-music-services-to-online-radio-aggregator-radionomy|title=AOL Sells Winamp And Shoutcast Music Services To Online Radio Aggregator Radionomy|last=Lunden|first=Ingrid|work=[[TechCrunch]]|publisher=[[AOL]]|date=1 January 2014}}</ref><ref name=verge-winampacquired>{{cite web|title=Winamp lives on after acquisition by Radionomy|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/1/14/5263086/winamp-radionomy-acquisition-internet-radio-service|work=The Verge|date=14 January 2014 |access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref><ref name=bw-radionomytakeover>{{cite web|title=Radionomy + SHOUTcast?|url=http://www.broadcastingworld.com/news/view-477/|work=Broadcasting World|access-date=16 January 2014}}</ref> In 2018 the software was rebranded from its original name of SHOUTcast to Shoutcast. In 2020 Radionomy shut down its own streaming service and migrated to the Shoutcast platform.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

==Software==
The Shoutcast software uses a client–server model, with each component communicating via a network [[protocol (computing)|protocol]] that intermingles audio or video data with [[metadata]] such as song titles and the station name. It uses [[HTTP]] as a [[transport protocol]].

Shoutcast [[server (computing)|servers]] and [[client (computing)|clients]] are available for [[FreeBSD]], [[Linux]], [[macOS]], [[Microsoft Windows]], and [[Oracle Solaris|Solaris]]. There are client-only versions for [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[BlackBerry OS]], [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]] ([[iPad]], [[iPhone]]), [[Palm OS]] and [[webOS]] (Radio Hibiki), [[PlayStation Portable]], [[Windows Mobile]], [[Symbian]] [[S60 (software platform)|S60]] and [[UIQ]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.playstation.com/en-us/ps5/|title=PlayStation®5 &#124; Play Has No Limits|website=PlayStation}}</ref> [[Nintendo DS]] (DSOrganize), and [[Wii]].{{update inline|date=June 2022}}

The output format is supported by multiple clients, including Nullsoft's own [[Winamp]] as well as [[Amarok (software)|Amarok]], [[Exaile]], [[foobar2000]], [[iTunes]], [[Songbird (software)|Songbird]], [[Totem (media player)|Totem]], [[XMMS]], and [[Zinf]]. If the client does not support the Shoutcast protocol, then the Shoutcast server sends the stream without the metadata, allowing it to be heard and viewed in clients such as Windows Media Player. Shoutcast servers are usually linked to by means of playlist files, which are small text files (usually with extensions .pls or .m3u) that contain the URL of the Shoutcast server. When that URL is visited in a Web browser which identifies itself as [[Mozilla]]-compatible (as most do), the server will return a generated Shoutcast server info/status page, rather than streaming audio.

In 2010, [[VideoLAN]] dropped support for Shoutcast from [[VLC media player]] at AOL's request, as Shoutcast's license forbade its integration into other software that contained [[free software|free]] or [[open-source software|open-source]] components, additionally specifying that it "forces us to integrate the spyware and adware based Shoutcast Radio Toolbar inside your browser".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.videolan.org/press/2010-1.html|title=Press Release about Shoutcast Removal in VLC|date=January 2010|website=[[VideoLAN]]|access-date=8 June 2022}}</ref> An alternative to Shoutcast is [[Icecast]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gossdhosting.com/blog/general/shoutcast-vs-icecast-choosing-the-right-radio-hosting-solution-for-you/|title=Differences between shoutcast and Icecast|website=www.gossdhosting.com}}</ref>

==Popularity==
A feature of Shoutcast servers is the ability to optionally publish server information, including the current number of listeners, in a directory of stations that Shoutcast maintains on their website. Site visitors can pick a station to listen to and download a playlist file for use in their own Shoutcast-capable media player.

In 2011, up to 900,000 concurrent listeners could be seen on public Shoutcast streams during peak hours.{{Update inline|date=June 2022}} The maximum and minimum number of listeners fluctuates widely during a day, with roughly three times as many listeners during peak hours as at low use times.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

{{As of|2022|6}}, 85,317 stations were streaming using Shoutcast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shoutcast |url=https://www.shoutcheap.com/shoutcast/ |access-date=20 January 2025 |website=Shoutcast}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Radio}}
* [[Icecast]]
* [[List of Internet radio stations]]
* [[List of streaming media systems]]
* [[Nullsoft Streaming Video]]
* [[Edcast]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://directory.shoutcast.com/ Shoutcast Directory] of streaming stations
* [https://www.shoutcheap.com/shoutcast/ Shoutcast Hosting]

{{Music digital distribution platforms}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shoutcast}}
[[Category:AOL]]
[[Category:Radionomy]]
[[Category:Internet radio in the United States]]
[[Category:Internet radio software]]
[[Category:Internet Protocol based network software]]
[[Category:Streaming software]]
[[Category:Cross-platform software]]
[[Category:1998 software]]