How to Set Up YourTown Live (YTL)
Step 1: Decide What Your Station Will Include
Before setup, decide which of the following your station will use:
- Licensed music
- Talk-only programming (podcasts, sermons, shows)
- Live broadcasts (DJ shows, services, special events)
- Podcasts scheduled into the station
- Church or community promos
This determines whether you need music licensing and which assets to prepare.
Step 2: Set Up Music Licensing (If Streaming Music)
Do you need music licensing?
You need music licensing only if your station will stream copyrighted music.
- Talk-only stations do not need music licensing.
- Music stations do need licensing before launch.
How to get licensed
Godcaster works with Live365 for U.S. music licensing.
Live365 provides:
- Music licenses (SoundExchange, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR)
- Listener-hour tracking and reporting
- Compliance protection
Cost (Typical Entry Plan)
Live365’s lowest tier starts at approximately $59/month, which typically includes:
- ~1,500 listening hours per month
- ~30 GB media storage
- Full music licensing and royalty reporting
- Standard support
You contract directly with Live365. Godcaster does not resell or mark up licensing fees.
Step 3: Gather Your Station Assets
Create a single folder with the following items:
Required
- Station name
- Station IDs (audio files)
- Promos (events, podcasts, church announcements)
- Local temperature info
- Zip code
- How you want it phrased (city, street, etc.)
Optional
- Podcasts to feature
- Name or link
- Preferred day and time to air
- Pastor shorts (30–90 second clips)
- Music files to add to rotation
This folder is what Godcaster uses to build your initial station.
Step 4: Godcaster Builds and Activates the Station
Once assets are received, Godcaster will:
- Create your YourTown Live station
- Upload station IDs and promos
- Configure local temperature announcements
- Add and schedule selected podcasts
- Set up default programming clocks
- Prepare live takeover capability
You do not need to configure timing or hour lengths.
Step 5: Add Podcasts to the Station
Podcasts can come from any hosting platform.
How podcast scheduling works
- Episodes can be any length
- You do not need to trim or edit episodes
- If an episode runs long, the system waits until it ends
- Scheduled programming resumes automatically
Example: A two-hour podcast scheduled at 8:00am will play fully, then the station resumes.
Step 6: Manage Content Using the Library
The Library is where most updates happen.
You can:
- Upload new promos
- Replace station IDs
- Add or remove music
- Add new podcasts
- Manage pastor shorts
Promo rotation behavior
- Promos play automatically
- Spacing logic prevents the same promo from repeating too often
- No manual scheduling required
Step 7: Go Live Using Live Takeover
YourTown Live supports live broadcasting at any time.
Supported tools
- Riverside
- OBS
- BoxCast
- Any RTMP-capable platform
How live takeover works
- Send audio/video to the provided RTMP endpoint
- The station switches to your live broadcast
- When you disconnect, the station returns to automation
Live broadcasts can also be automatically recorded and replayed later.
Step 8: Re-Air Live Broadcasts (Optional)
When live takeover is enabled:
- Live shows are recorded automatically
- Recordings appear in the Library
- You can schedule them for replay like any other program
No re-uploading is required.
Step 9: Review and Adjust Over Time
After launch, most stations only adjust:
- Promos (events, series, announcements)
- Podcasts added or removed
- Music rotation preferences
The station is designed to remain live and stable with minimal daily effort.
Final Launch Checklist
Before launch, confirm you have:
- Station name
- Station IDs
- Promos
- Local temperature zip code and phrasing
- Podcast list and schedule (optional)
- Live365 account (only if streaming licensed music)
Once provided, Godcaster completes the setup and delivers a walkthrough.