GUS.FM Blog

Get Ready For Our Christmas Music

2009-11-02T16:27:00.005-06:00

Last year our unique Christmas music line up was such a success that we didn't have to think twice about returning this holiday season beginning on November 16.

Within a 5 week period in 2008, our audience had surged past 1000% as they enjoyed the 'Christmas Hit Combo'. Much as the trademarked 'Classic Hit Combo', the Christmas side offers a blend of traditional hits and favorites in rock, blues, country, Christian, all time classics and more. The reward this time around is a bonus week before Thanksgiving.

If you joined us last year, the hits you loved then will be back as well as additional tunes we picked up throughout the year.

Bookmark our site now and get ready for Christmas holiday tunes as you've never heard them before!

Time For You to Join Us

2009-09-22T11:31:00.003-05:00

Online radio has officially crossed the threshold of the new mega-trend in interactive communication. The latest projections show the industry has experienced a whopping 700% increase in less than 2 years.

Since it's debut on January 1, 2008, GUS.FM has experienced the ups and downs, the tweeks, time and investment. Now it's time to move past the development stage and establish it's rightful place as a major trend setter in the online broadcasting world.

We are a formidable force. With a unique, trademarked format known as the 'Classic Hit Combo' a worldwide fan base is now experiencing and appreciating a unique variety of music presented in a way that gels genres and demographics that cries for more.

This is where your help is needed. We are building a national sales force that will be responsible for referring new advertisers to our original platform. More info can be found at our Sales Reps Needed page. You will find a bit of useful information there about our industry and a compensation plan.

Portable Internet Radio: GUS.FM and XYZRadio

2009-08-17T14:06:00.008-05:00

There are a plethora of internet radio directories that you will find we have placements on. There's an almost 100% probability that you found us through one of those. For the most part we're quite pleased with the results of bringing a whole new batch of our audience base and very beholdent to those websites for the fine job that they do. Can't say enough about their services.

There is a new generation listing network service that I would like to bring to your attention and I'm very proud to say that we are included on. XYZmp3.com focuses on the application of internet radio to the mobility of iphone, PSP, PS3, and beyond PC only apps by way of Wii, even TiVo.

Registering on the site is easy. Download the app for your paticular device then if you have an internet plan, point back to XYZRadio and voila!, you have internet radio on the go. The site also has an HD quality layout, so we not only sound good but look good on it as well.

If you happen to put all this together, please pound some feedback. I'd love to hear from you!

New Choice Listener Downloads Available

2009-08-09T09:06:00.005-05:00

The Top Listener Picks is a new feature added to the GUS.FM homepage and blog. Mp3 downloads of complete albums, or, select singles from popular artists are available at a special price through our link to Amazon.com.

Based on the artist(s) rankings from daily, minute by minute connections that are compiled from data received at our streaming servers, the totals are a true and unbiased reflection of what the listening audience responds to or is searching for. With that in mind, it's interesting and fun to see the variety that pops up with the different genre blend that make up The Classic Hit Combo.

An example of this is when a song is playing on GUS.FM and broadcast out to the many directories and search engines. Discovering listeners connect to the stream at that very moment, adding to the number within the time frame that the song plays. That builds towards the top 5 position, which in turn earns the placement in the top listener choices. Music is available for downloads at a promotional price. It should be noted that not all artists or record companies participate, so there is no guarantee on artist/song availability.

Regular Amazon customers will be able to access their accounts through the links, allowing customers to redeem any benefits that accrue for Amazon purchases if applicable.

An earlier feature are downloads available at a discount when ever a song is currently playing. Visitors to the site will be able to view what is on-air and (if applicable) purchase their mp3 at the Home, Control Room or Blog pages.

Since the numbers are updated daily, music showcases will refresh daily as well. Stay tuned for feature enhancements that are expected.

Another Broadcasting Legend Passes; If Not by Name, By the Indelible Words

2009-08-05T20:25:00.013-05:00

This year, there have been many notables passing within the entertainment and radio/TV industries. All have had the respective tributes and special reports garnered. Well earned, considering their impacts and legacies. Most notable, were two giants in the broadcasting industry, Paul Harvey and Walter Cronkite.

However, there is the occasion in which a local event so impacts the world, that the lightening strike is marked not only in the exact time of the event itself, but is recorded for posterity by the source available at the time.

An example of this was WLS reporter, Herb Morrison's May 6, 1937 spontaneous cry, "Oh, the humanities.." in witnessing the Hindenburg disaster. The name to the voice is oblivious, but the impact of the broadcast plays on for infinity.

Sam Pate, a local radio reporter for then KBOX Radio in Dallas, triggered volume knobs to be turned up by being the very first to bring real-time surreal awareness of the earth shaking event of the Kennedy assassination on November 22, 1963. That, by the words, ..."something has happened in the motorcade route...something has apparently happened in the motorcade..there has been a shooting in the motorcade...." in response to police dispatch traffic he was monitoring on the only live Dallas radio report of the motorcade in progress. All others that had been credited were breaking reports, after-the fact actualities that interrupted scheduled programming. (ie; Cronkite's oft replayed report of the death of JFK in his post-mortem tributes last month.)

Sam Pate died August 3rd at age 77, after a long illness. His report lives forever.

Click here to listen to the report.

Social Networking: What is the Point, Really?

2009-07-24T23:17:00.005-05:00

I'm here at my blog. I will post something that will capture the attention of someone that is gathering. Gathering information, solice, perhaps their wits about them.

Nonetheless, I'm in the act of posting. I've put aside the moment that it requires, and have a subject in mind. But, will it really matter? The fact that I'm posting is all that is important. You are reading it, and I would expect you to pursue further.

I just left my Twitter after posting a serious personal status that my wife and I overdid it while eating at a Mexican restaurant and linked several trending topics to my website. What's the point? I'm assuming this will drive the traffic for my business.

Earlier I was on Facebook. Sharing major developments on softball games, laundry details, garage sales and backaches. Yes, I back-linked. It's supposed to be the right thing to do.

I must put something productive into this activity, because, standing on it's own merit, it's only mindless marauding. Blah, blah, blah. What's the point? Fess up, you've felt the same way and still wonder where it's getting you. Assume nothing. Do you honestly know the answer to "What Are You Doing Now"?

Here's to Farrah Fawcett

2009-06-26T11:59:00.005-05:00

I was just collecting my thoughts, struggling with a writer's block and sitting down to write this blog about Farrah Fawcett, when out like for many of us, the bolt from the blue concerning the news about the death of Michael Jackson sent me into info overload and subsequent shut down.

How can I process this dual event and be able to grant equal time to two iconic performers?

Perhaps it was best that I waited. This gave me the opportunity to view the Barbara Walters special last night. Afterwhich, I decided that it was more appropriate to go away recognizing the courage Farah had in the battle with her cancer and the love that Ryan O'Neal had for his lady. Ironic, considering art imitating life. I saw "Love Story" with a date when it first came out. Okay, it was a date chick flick thing and what did I have to loose? I got the girl, but didn't connect to emotion of the whole thing.

Now a generation later, I'm bawling my eyes out like a girl. Reality check. I questioned myself. I concluded. I do love my wife that much.

I'm looking past the pin-up girl poster, Charlie's Angels connection, Texas pride and big hair. Sorry MJ, you'll have my tribute through the music on GUS.FM. But for Farrah Fawcett, I'm truly a better person for knowing your story.

Ed McMahon

2009-06-23T13:52:00.004-05:00

Hard to believe but another legendary broadcaster is gone this year. Ed McMahon died Tuesday at age 85.

McMahon to many may have been considered as the 'second banana' to Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show for 30 years, but he carried that banana stick on label to an art.

I can remember the many occasions where Johnny would be somewhere else and the 'guest host' whether Joan Rivers, David Brenner or even Jay Leno would fill the void. The void would be much larger without the true supporting lead and show spirit continuity of Ed McMahon.

He carried that craft well. As a spokesman that was built on the trust America had with an icon, a friend they would definitely feel at home with.

Second banana to none.

The Summer of '69

2009-06-19T22:30:00.004-05:00

To coin the Grateful Dead lyric; "What a long, strange trip it's been". A long, strange trip indeed. For 40 years.

Take pause, it's unbelievable too so many. Especially, to those who would question if there were any brain cells remaining to recapture the long term memory of one milestone summer, within one milestone year.

A gathering of bodies on a remote farmland and a gathering of eyes on a remote point in the universe converged on one single week of July 1969 and the world was never the same since.

Woodstock and man's first walk on the moon. Will we ever experience another legendary set events like that again?

iPhone and Internet Radio

2009-06-18T16:27:00.005-05:00

Don't have one yet, but it's on my wish list. Since it's roll out a short time ago, the iPhone 3GS has brought a plethora of new fans to our site and associated webcasting stream.

For close to two weeks now, the trends on Twitter and other social network gatherings have consistently proven that the buzz is well worth the excitement. It is also the very element that webcasters as myself have been waiting for. With the white knuckled fingertip death grips at the edge of the operational cliff here, we may have been given an initial boost thanks to this handy device that breaks internet radio away from the traditional tethering of a PC.

My accountant approached me the other day to tell me that she's now on the road with GUS.FM via the website. That's exciting because the link to our stream is at the full blown 128k/44MHz bandwidth. I was intrigued and envious. Happy too, because her excitement turned into advertising dollars with a purchased placement prominently displayed on the homepage.

Beleaguered as it has been for it's young upstarts, the iPhone is turning the page and ushering a new era to an emerging industry. Internet Radio To-Go.

It's 'Make' or 'Break' Time for Us

2009-05-31T18:38:00.005-05:00

We certainly hope you are enjoying the great music in our unique format that you are hearing on GUS.FM. Just as your home or business, our daily costs continue to escalate. In fact, June is the 'make' or 'break' month for us. There are different ways to choose as we ask you to please help keep us on the air.

* Click on any ad that you see on our homepage and purchase the featured product.
* Donate any amount securely through PayPal by clicking the button above. (Donate $50 or more and we will give you your own two hours of music and honorable mention throughout!)
* Refer new advertisers to our site (and make a little cash yourself) by clicking the 'Referrals for $' tab.
* Pass on the word by blog, social networking, email or even pony express about GUS.FM!

Thank you again for your support.

Why We Play Christian Hits

2009-05-06T14:25:00.005-05:00

We are different. But, structuring a fined tuned, mass-appealing blend of music in a radio format isn't as easy it may appear.

Bottom line this is a business with a marketable product. The main goal across the board from the artists, songwriters, record companies, station and reps is to make a profit.

Granted not only is there the right audience to target to in the effort of gaining the greatest share, but the retention of those that have made the effort to allowing our unique programming to be received. That mass appeal in the sheer millions have made mega-stars of many in the music rotation that you hear on GUS.FM. Or, anywhere else as that matters. You could just have easily have tuned into a terrestrial Jack-FM or, Bob-FM, or Pandora to get exactly what your taste associates with at a certain, precise moment.

All well and good for the secular hits. But there is this matter of Christian Contemporary music that leeched in there somehow. What gives?

I've been in and around the broadcasting industry for over 30 years and to claim that there is no personal tastes injected at the control of the programmer at the helm, is not true. I've seen it, and have done it myself. It's simply human nature. And it's an art. (Albeit, a dying art.) This is a behavioral pattern with the audience, and whether you know it or not, the programmer is part of the audience as well.

In our personal and professional lives we strive to live by Christian principals, values and most certainly motivation. The music here is the core. The motivation is the result. That motivation has blended into a mission. And the mission of Christ is to tell all the world.

I went through a personal crisis 20 years ago that the Lord saved me from. During that time period, I was emmursed in the Word and became acquainted with a new and fresh approach to gospel music. Christian Contemporary. Rich Mullins, Amy Grant and Steven Curtis Chapman had the ability to un-intrusively pull off getting the message to my "radio" ears and through to my spirit. It was healing. I have never forgotten that. So I continue to pay that forward. If one of our listeners can be blessed in a hectic course of the day while working at the pc, then it's worth the one listener that is offended and just didn't get it. But I will still pray for that one.

To include that into the remaining secular tunes to create a 'Classic Hit Combo' has never been a problem for me, nor, obviously, to many of our continuing fans. I often reminded of the fellowship of Jesus and the social riff-raff at the time, much to the scorn of the scribes and pharises. What it told me was, it's the Message that will find it's way, even if it has to enter the back door. It's proven that the most subtle approahches are the most effective.

Hopefully, you have discovered your own personal reasons at to how the blend of the hits at this station affects you.

Pass It On!

2009-03-26T14:26:00.002-05:00

Copy and paste the following. Then send to 10 of your closest friends;
"You can make a MILLION DOLLARS! You just have to know where to find it."
Visit the website http://www.gus.fm
Pass it on...

The Corner Bakery Cafe

2009-03-12T23:53:00.005-05:00

You may have me pictured running around a traditional radio station punching the active buttons to keep the great music flowing to the world.

In all actuality, I'm out and about in the field with a million or so things on my list trying to keep the business afloat. With that it's necessary to keep my mind and eye on the store while shuffling about miles away from home base. Thanks to a great GoToMyPC connection, I can "hands-on" remotely. Whenever I feel the unction, all that is required is either an air card or a favorable WiFi hotspot.

Until recently, the WiFi location was an automatic Starbucks. After all, a cheap "tall" and a comfy corner (if possible) was all the admittance I needed to park and click. I've never been a fan of Starbucks. The ambiance has been cavernous, crowded, loud and with featured CDs blaring at 120 decibels over my head, somewhat obnoxious. I'm not into the "frapachapachino" or latte louver. Just the regular coffee is akin to 40 weight oil. Face it, settling for the place has played out long enough. No wonder they're hovering the bankruptcy cavern.

However, I have frequented a spectacular location that I would highly recommend for a login or a business one-on-one. That being The Corner Bakery Cafe. The space is larger, the staff friendlier, actual lunches are detailed, tremendous and affordable. Best of all, the coffee is tasty and you get refills!

The Corner Bakery Cafe, check out to see if one is near you. If you're an investor, this would be a great franchise idea.

Follow Up on Gus

2009-03-11T23:09:00.002-05:00

After a new set of MRI tests we're very happy to report that any evidence of a mass was not detected. Effectively, the screen was clean.

We feel very blessed by those of you who sent up prayers. However you would like to look at it, a misread or a miracle, it still a big relief to know that a devistating diagnosis can be set aside.

Nevertheless, little Gus still has those migraines. So we continue to pray that a valid diagnosis can be found and treatment can begin right away.

Bryan & Ann

Pray for Gus

2009-03-08T13:01:00.003-05:00

Your prayers and thoughts are requested for our 8 year old grandson and inspiration, Augustus 'Gus' McLarry.

For quite some time, Gus has suffered progressively painful and mysterious migraines of which batteries of tests have not turned up anything conclusive, until the latest MRI, which revealed a mass that is growing between the back of his left optic nerve and brain.

Doctors at Children's Hospital in Dallas have narrowed this to one of three things;
-A benign tumor.
-A cyst.
-Malignancy

Obviously, the the first two would be favorable as the actual diagnosis. Nevertheless, considering the location, it will be quite a delicate procedure ahead to treat and eliminate.

In the good times, Gus is quite the normal energetic kid. But when the headaches flare, it has become quite debilitating. We can only imagine how excruciating it must feel.

Feel free to keep posted on Gus's progress at our Facebook page. Thank you again for your continued prayers.

Bryan & Ann

FiOS...Kicks Ass!!

2009-02-05T23:51:00.014-06:00

Within a few weeks, we should look forward to the migration of the GUS.FM multiple bit upload streams by way of Verizon FiOS. No longer depending on just "blazing fast" broadband, the conversion will be remarkably enhanced by light speed.

FiOS, the trademarked acronym of "Fiber Optic System", (or as I've coined it, "Fastest Internet On Steroids") is revolutionary with the fiber optic-to-the premises (FTTP)line. A monumental undertaking that Verizon established a little less than five years ago, has set the stage for a massive revolution in communication delivery. In essence, this throws out the traditional copper wire delivery of generations old phone and cable systems, no longer up to par to ever increasing velocity and unlimited bandwidth requirements.

Thanks to the onslaught of consumer dedications to the market for new ticket items, ie; high definition and real-time streaming, infrastructure had to make way. FiOS is the one and only solution in pure and uncompressed data. In our case, the buffering caused by jams in our upstream has been too much to bare. FTTP should eliminate a great deal of that problem.

Word-of-mouth is spreading to levels not seen since the explosive growth of metropolitan cable TV systems of the early '80s. To date only 4% of the country has access to FiOS. However, the emergence of FiOS is already seen overlapping into non-Verizon service areas. This sets the stage for a projected sustained market in the very near future. Not to mention a welcome relief when considering the current economic employment situation and career opportunities this opens. FiOS is seen as a leverage to a new consumer's boom of the 2010 decade.

Traditional cable and satellite systems have seen the writing on the wall. Much as the latter stages of VHS, Walkman and the carburetor, providers fear a helpless dwindling demand is picking up at an accelerated pace as subscribers jump ship to a brash and comparably priced platform.

Speaking as a former cable TV veteran, I see the adrenalin has reinvigorated a complacent and in some cases, bankrupt industry. We'll put it to the test when the connection to our HD stream is full blown soon. We'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, if you're one of the lucky few that can get FiOS, by all means, see the light and get it!

It's the 50th Somewhere

2009-01-01T20:00:00.009-06:00

Happy 2009!

We can now see this as a notable 'Golden Anniversary Year' for some. Milestones can be measured in all arenas of either how old you are to remember, or, how old it makes you feel when you consider that 50 years ago:

-Alaska and Hawaii gained statehood.
-Fidel Castro's Cuban revolution embedded communism in the Western Hemisphere.
-Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the "Big Bopper" died in a wintry plane crash.
-The American Football League was founded. Creating a fresh new approach to pro football which would later spawn the Super Bowl.
-Top Movies were Ben Hur, Some Like It Hot, Anatomy of a Murder and North by Northwest.
-Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments supervises the creation of the first integrated circuit.
-USSR probe Lunik II reaches the moon. Lunik III photographs the dark side of the moon for the first time.
-Tibet's Dalai Lama escapes to India.

Guess I'm still young. Though alive at the time, I'm still too young to remember.

Hope we continue impressive times!

Internet Radio: The New Pirate Ship for Conservative Talk Radio?

2008-11-04T22:28:00.004-06:00

Now that Democrats have won across the board in the elections, initially it's very likely that conservative talk radio will be in jeopardy.

This is no big secret. For quite awhile, icons Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck have voiced that very concern as to what the effect the reinstatement of the "Fairness Doctrine" would have on the industry.

The resulting facts of the broadcast industry are quite evident. Conservative talk is huge. Liberal talk is obscure. Conservative talk is profitable. Liberal talk is anemic. The EIB Network is a monilith. Air America is bankrupt.

Presented as entertainment value to it's audience and with it's growth and staying ability, luring top advertising revenue with impressive demographics, conservative talk radio has for the past 25 years, bell-weathered it's influence (some may say political upheaval) much to the shegrin of liberals who've made a go of it but fall flat every time.

What the picture truly is here, is that if the liberal market can't sway to the dictates of the audience, then the Fairness Doctrine's goal will be to dictate to the market. Therefore, the audience will hear the opposing view whether they like it or not. Regardless of gains by liberal Democrats in recent elections, the goal overall is to squelch any opposition and first amendment rights once and for all.

Beside ethnic genres, it's said that conservative radio, for the most part is what saved and continues to rule the AM dial. That very result is what has angered and notched into the ultra-sensitive craw of the liberal defense. Hence, it's need to wield it's revived political power and silence the voices that stand in the way of government expansion.

Should this happen, the initial drawing board will first create not only over re-regulation by the FCC, but include a break down of local markets to be relentlessly evaluated and scrutinized by politburo styled agencies. On the regional/local level, the force of these mini-agencies would have the ability to gnash teeth and create the resulting fear of progress by commercially-based stations. The final result could be the abandonment of the very programming that fueled the profitabilities versus the government breathing down their respective necks.

Enter, at least for now, a sanctuary of hope to voice opposition to liberal power. Internet radio, may very well be that pirate vessel. Free of government regulation, it offers an extensive escape that branches away from the terrestrial backbone of talk radio as we know it today. Those who want an unwavering voice should milk it for everything that it's worth.

It's worth a try. And definitely worth my investment in that arena.

Like Our Country, Internet Radio Is In Crisis

2008-09-30T08:51:00.007-05:00

Looks like we will have to give up any hope for the "Internet Radio Equality Act".

If you're a regular listener to internet radio, you may have heard aired on ours, as well as pier stations, a request for your support of Bills H.R. 2060 AND S. 1353, otherwise known as the "Internet Radio Equality Act".

To date, this has become a stagnant issue in Washington. The effort is to equalize the higher royalty fees determined by the Copyright Royalty Board to be paid to record companies, artists, and composers for the songs that you hear on internet radio. These are paid through the recording industry's sanctioned agency SoundExchange. Compared to the exact same royalties paid to satellite and eventually terrestrial radio for the same music, this was obviously un-fair and a stealth attempt to slowly bleed internet radio music stations to death.

Already crawling at a snail's pace to begin with, the effort has now hit a brick wall.

Needless to say, the financial debacle by government is now the 10,000 pound gorilla in the room. And because of the exposure of blunders by a majority of representatives, senators and the White House, before and after, the financial bailout action, makes it quite obvious by many that the pending upheaval of the upcoming elections will spell the doom of many incumbents. Perhaps the majority of those who co-sponsor the IREA.

Thus, what would be considered a moral act of establishing fair play of all entities that play music across the board, will take a further back seat, (more like taking a place in the upper pigeon hole in the furthest corner of the guest room closet) when compared to more pressing issues that have had to pause because of the 700 billion dollar mortgage crisis.

Realistically and comparatively to priorities, it's more for the reason that American's could care less about anything else at this point.

With all these delays, life couldn't be sweeter for the recording industry and Sound Exchange, who have had all the opportunities in the world to strategize and re-strategize it's efforts of holding together, the unbelievable large royalty percentage imposed on internet radio. This more than likely puts the internet radio industry at the mercy of a totally new line up in Washington.

The whole story began in Washington and ends in Washington. Who do you currently have faith in there to proceed with anything?

Why Should It Matter If McCain Sends Emails?

2008-09-12T13:29:00.003-05:00

The latest Barack Obama attack ad is trying to focus on John McCain being a "computer illiterate" and how important that in this day and age that a leader should have thorough knowledge of the internet from blogging, emails, OS and IM to be effective. Am I to be so impressed that a candidate that can master "geek-speak" can harness the massive affairs of the free world? (I don't believe I've seen Mark Cuban on the ticket.)

My instant response to that is, if that's the case Sen.Obama, do you have thorough knowledge of the operation of military aircraft?...Or for that matter, an aircraft carrier?..Or for that matter, an entire naval fleet? How about staring the enemy in the eye? That means more to me in a commander-in-chief than for someone who can just set up a MySpace page.

Time For The Holidays

2008-09-03T23:37:00.004-05:00

Look out! Today I started the move toward adding Christmas music into the GUS.FM rotation. You read that right. Face it, after Labor Day passes it's the downhill slide past Halloween, the elections, Thanksgiving and then....voila!

I like to have the time of collecting and then processing the music before the appropriate time comes, so that I'm sure that I have the biggest and best classic hits of the yule. For the most part, whatever I don't have, I'll check with the neighboring libraries well ahead of the game before they too begin to be checked out and depleted from the shelves.

There's a grand master plan in the works for the Christmas season this year. Stay tuned!

Bryan

Phoenix, AZ You're IT!

2008-09-02T14:50:00.007-05:00

It's back! After a summer hiatus the featured city/state of the week has returned to to The Nation page on our GUS.FM website. We're proud to roll the new version out with eyes on Phoenix, AZ!

If you're a regular and you've tracked the week to week focus, what you will find is that it's not much different, but we wanted to remain a bit more relevant to the music. That's the general reason why you visit, right? Among other things what you will find is an embedded video that we can manage to dig up to feature either a song to a namesake, or what would really be great is if you are artist with original material that not only can get the recognition that you're looking for as well as a suggestion to what should be the next featured area.

This is also a way for you to keep up to what Wikipedia has published online about your respective zone. Since you're free to edit, you may be able to pinpoint and correct mistakes or add your own adjustment to their article. Just click on the name of the town and/or the state flag on the site.

GUS.FM 128kbs Server Changed

2008-08-27T09:04:00.005-05:00

If you have the GUS.FM 128kbs Shoutcast stream bookmarked to your media player, make note that we have transitioned to a new server which is online now. You may simply go to the GUS.FM website and click on the listen link in the current song playing window which will open to the new stream address and refresh your bookmark. Or you can enter this url into your media browser:

http://67.159.44.161:8108/listen.pls

We will pull the plug on the original Shoutcast 128kbs stream on 9/1/08.

Though we have diligently made changes to all known portals, we're aware that in time there are many relays that have voluntarily, and unknown to us, picked up our webcast.

If you know of such a situation, please contact that individual service and link them back to this message, or email us at contact@gus.fm.

Boycott Gary Glitter Music

2008-08-19T08:05:00.009-05:00

I will not, and have never aired Gary Glitter material on my radio station! He is a convicted child predator and pervert of the worst extreme!

I could say that would sum it all up and close this particular article, except for one thing. He still receives royalty checks every time his 1971 hit song "Rock and Roll Pt2" is played at virtually every sporting venue in the world. And you may unknowingly be feeding his appetite.

My daughter was in high school band, and I remember each touchdown that was scored was punctuated by each teams' respective band by the familiar duh duh duh...da duh-da duh. The rights that were obtained to play that in a public setting was (or legally, should have been) licensed to compensate the composer. That is Gary Glitter in this case. And my tax money, stadium admission, and band support money funneled to his sick, twisted coffer.

The same for your high school, college, and pro team attendance.

A multiple offender in Britain, and fallen from grace, Glitter doesn't seem to absorb the gravity of his offenses. So it seems, if he couldn't be able to fix in his homeland, he trolled about internationally.

Just released from a three year sentence at a Vietnamese prison for molesting two 11 year old girls, Glitter is now slithering back to London. If that's not bad enough to an accumulation of money he made while he slept and God only knows what type of punishment you receive in a Vietnamese prison. If you ask me, even that was too lenient.

There are appropriate appendages that should be cut off Glitter at this point. If you can't get to the prime one, go for the next best thing and cut off his money. Be aware of this situation and demand that his music no longer be played at any venue.

It's a shame. I enjoyed playing this hit song in my early radio years and had fond reflections of my high school years.

From this point on, however, any time you hear "Rock and Roll, Pt.2" consider it the "Child Predator's National Anthem."

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website

Online Radio-GUS.FM: New and Improved!

2008-08-15T16:45:00.006-05:00

Let's start off by saying.."We're exhausted! But the 'Classic Hit Combo' is back (and ON) with a vengence!" So come back to GUS.FM!

To catch you up to speed, especially if you've tried to login to the music stream, the internet has not been a very good friend for us this summer. Largely due to unexpected failures in the mainframe infrastructure from our origin, one after another. In keeping a discrepency log, the last count was 119 occurances in the last 30 days alone. (Hey, honestly, even we quit listening!)

Frustrations, lost sleep, revenue and a steady decline of listeners hit us with a brick of embarassment. When will it ever end? With a large degree of certainty we believe it has! Running the latest ping, and a little tweaking, I have never seen a such a clean response. And you can tell by listening!

The 'Classic Hit Combo' has gained a worldwide notariety that we intend to keep. Striking a cord with our listeners, that never stopped loving the classic hits of the past and developing new ones. With the likes of Classic Rock, Blues, Country, Christian and Oldies, it's sure to keep you in a grip for a long time to come.

A word of advice, if you ever run an internet radio station, you're at the mercy of your IP. But be nice and willing to work together and they'll be at your mercy.

Drop us a line and tell us what you think. Enjoy!

Clearing Satellite Signal Blockage

2008-08-12T18:07:00.003-05:00

The other day I ran across someone asking a question about whether or not a geosynchronous satellite can drift off the alignment track while sending signal to earth.

Not likely. Characteristics of the earth can, and always do, however. Anything from a sinking foundation, to seasonal exposure can have an effect on a satellite dish in it’s present environment versus it’s original alignment.

For example, last year at our home in Texas, we had a record breaking three month torrential monsoon that didn’t let up almost every single evening. With an approaching thunderstorm from the southwest it was getting fairly routine to have a “rain fade” of our signal. Eventually the rain let up, but we were still having bouts of intermittent signal loss in clear sky conditions.

After a few weeks of troubleshooting the dish and receiver I climbed the roof and placed a laser pointer on top of the LNB. The light went right into about a third of my neighbors tree that had grown an astonishing six feet. After asking him to trim it back, the problem cleared.

This is a great way to troubleshoot any sat problem; but you must make sure to take a few safety (and regulatgory) issues at hand. Make sure the laser isn’t pointing in anyone’s direction. This can cause severe eye damage. Also make sure there isn’t any aircraft close by. The FAA will be all over you in a heartbeat.

Echo Hill Media Extends a Hand to Extend High-Speed

2008-07-22T08:31:00.005-05:00

New media services company, Echo Hill Media, LLC has announced that it will partner with Germantown, MD based ISP, HughesNet, to market it's high-speed satellite internet service throughout the U.S. by way of it's newly created website, satosphere.com.

With approximately 80 million households having internet access; one-third of those subscribers are already immersed with high-speed internet. However, there remains a market of 13 to 15 million, particularly in rural or beyond extended DSL and cable areas, that have been waiting to almost no avail for faster broadband access.

“It wasn't hard to see the consumer demand, as well as the growth potential that satellite internet has to offer”, said EHM CEO Bryan Thompson. “Today's and tomorrow's connections rely on not only faster speeds, but enabling capacity for larger file downloads and transfers.”

There are approximately 3.4 million small businesses that are under-served, left with dial-up, or WI-FI in extended service areas. An environment that can be costly in a short period of time.

“This paves the way not only for the convenience of optimum service but provides a boost for small and home-based businesses, another explosive trend”, Thompson added.

HughesNet, traces it's beginning to 1971, as Hughes Network Systems and became a part of Hughes Electronics a subsidiary of General Motors, which also owned DirecTV. The internet service was marketed as Direcway. As Hughes Electronics was sold to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, HNS was spun off seperately from DirecTV. Today it is recognized as a leader in satellite high speed internet service. Utilizing a direct two-way communication link from satellite dishes, the upload and download speed times are fast with no need for phone lines.

Specializing in new media services, Echo Hill Media currently operates internet radio station and website GUS.FM and Echo Hill Productions, primarily an audio broadcast production service for TV, radio and audio/visual presentations.

2008-07-05T22:57:00.004-05:00

Player

2008-07-04T17:49:00.000-05:00

Player

‘Going Green’ Corporations: “The Right Thing to Do”…Not

2008-06-26T17:50:00.002-05:00

First of all, let me state the position that we should all be good stewards of our environment. For what little time we have on this earth, there is a God-given and innate responsibility to maintain our dominion. The world we leave behind is precious to those we hold most precious, our future generations and legacies.

So catch me recycling and disposing waste most appropriately. When I see someone throwing litter out the car window the first utterance from my lips is, “pig!”

So now that that’s established, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of an issue that’s trite, ridiculous, condecending, hypocritical and border-line blasphemous by CEO’s and corporations in all out media blitzes, praising themselves of the efforts and operational restructuring all in the name of “going green”, and “doing our part to stem global warming”. (Which for the most part, realistically, isn’t man-made.) Outrageous as these self-serving claims are, it’s amazing how far it has gotten out of hand.

Give us a break. ‘Going green’ is not the motivating factor in a board room or with stockholders. Any, and I mean any business is only in and should be for the major reasons of supplying what the market demands and turning profit for investors that expect a lean bottom line in doing so.

Case in point is the unbelievable claim by SC Johnson that converting their Kentucky factory to run on methane is for the good of the environment. You do know what methane is derived from, right? It’s from the claim that SCJ converted over only for the environment. Lookit, you have astromically rising fuel prices and then a chance to run your factory on cow manure when there is a bountiful supply. Look at this from the perspective of your own home or vehicle. $4.00-$5.00 per gallon foreign oil that sucks up 50% of your take home, versus homegrown poop from your own backyard at next to nothing. Put away the scales because logic has already enlightened most of us at this moment.

Not to pick on just one corporation, there’s plenty of PR smoke and mirrors to go around here. I just saw a report this week of the local Coca-Cola distributor in Dallas putting the outrageous claim in a balloon and streamer news conference that the “reason” for converting delivery trucks to hybrid was for the environment, and “the right thing to do”. Again, let’s look at the major function of the product in the market. Is this about ‘going green’ or, Mr. CEO, is about ’saving, or, heaven forbid, ‘making green’.

And the media at-large isn’t a help either. NBC/Universal, FOX, ABC, etc., with their little ‘greened’ logos in the lower right hand corner of our TV screens make awareness to the environment, but dig deeper and certain there’s a little marketing advantage built into it. If was just the opposite, they wouldn’t be there.

Right now, I’m looking at an AT&T banner ad asking all of us to ‘green’ and refurb for free. Again, is this the purpose of climate change or ridding an overstock of outdated inventory?

In a free market society, corporations can do anything legally that they want to do, if that’s what gives a warm fuzzy to their mission statements. Say anything, do anything to move volume. But when in it comes to the environment, don’t insult our intellegence. Do what you must do, quietly…then shut up about it.

We're Not Like Anything You've Ever Heard Before...Maybe?

2008-06-13T08:17:00.007-05:00

A friend commented the other day that the 'Classic Hit Combo' on GUS.FM, was a "great potpourri of music styles." Love ya'..but, yick! Potpourri is what you use when you want to mask the smell of something. And nothing smells here! Well, quite honestly, a few stinkers get past us every now and then. But thanks to our great search and destroy system, we'll rightly rid them!

Been to a home improvement store lately? Seems as though the 'Classic Hit Combo' is catching on with the programmer of the music system. That seems to be the magic with the flow of our music format. It's tremendous during moments of deep decision. So at this moment you're either tapping your foot, or being nudged to buy a riding lawn mower.

We are most definitely 'America's favorite @work station'. Especially with government employees and certainly with those in the military. What could be the reason for this honor? Couldn't put our finger on it until it dawned on us recently that it must be the attraction of the chevron in our trademark logo. If that's the case, we should have used the picture of a saber going through the head of Osama Bin-Laden!

Listen!

Make Internet History: Webcast for Free on GUS.FM

2008-06-11T07:45:00.007-05:00

Since it's debut, the online audience for GUS.FM continues to stream to an increasing worldwide audience. And that's due in no small part to the viral networking connections and suggestions by visitors that promote the site. One of the main goals of the station is to keep the 'radio' in webradio. The success is based on music that covers a variety of genres that cover a broad demographic appeal, packaged as 'The Classic Hit Combo'.

In the next phase, the folks at the site have devised a little 'audience participation' scheme, that is poised to create internet history.

In a statement released June 11,2006, Echo Hill Media CEO Bryan Thompson said, "In appreciation, the floor is open for our audience every weekend to webcast and promote special, charitable events to the world.The benefit of this availability is not just reserved for the 'on-air' portion of our service, but as the event unfolds the participants can also send real-time photos and/or videos to be posted and archived on the website.

Best of all, it's free. The only thing we ask in return is that those involved ramp up their campaigns and promote, email, blog and back link the heck out of the event in association with GUS.FM leading up to the date. And prominently display our logo link on site and on the internet."

To qualify the event must follow these guidelines:

* Representation to benefit a registered non-profit organization.

* Have universal appeal and be open for accepting and processing donations from other parts of the US and Canada ie; The American Cancer Society, Toys for Tots etc.

* An event that would be expected to draw on site, more than 100 people at a time. (Sorry, a small bake sale doesn't qualify.)

* Event coordinator or chairperson must sign an advanced waiver that holds GUS.FM harmless of any legal dispute.

* Follow program format guidelines and request availability at least 10 days prior to the event. Time slots are open on a first come, first serve basis.

* Have a designated contact person responsible for making on location call-ins and picture uploads.

Plus a few other minor details that should help create a top-notch webcast.

If you are interested, call 1-800-898-0854, or email contact@gus.fm. to qualify and for details on how you can set up.

Who knows, this could unleash the inner-broadcaster in you.

Bo Diddley, Pioneer and Legend 1928-2008

2008-06-02T17:20:00.007-05:00

Rock n' Roll pioneer Bo Diddley died today at 79 from heart failure at his home in Archer FL.

Born Ellas Bates in McComb, MS on December 28, 1928, he moved to Chicago with his family at the age of seven. It was there that he aspired to be a musician by first trying the violin, but converted to guitar after seeing a performance by John Lee Hooker.

Diddley had said that he had been given the nickname Bo Diddley by transposing the word diddly bo, a single stringed instrument brought over to America by African slaves.

The 'Bo Diddley Beat' (syphoned from the timing of "shave and a haircut, two-bits) became the trade mark and the influencial foundation for the next 50 years by many of rock's famous stars and music.

The beat was very distinctive in Buddy Holly's 'Not Fade Away', later by The Rolling Stones, and was a heavy influence to notables George Thorogood, and Bruce Springsteen.

Along with 1950's contemporaries, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, Diddley, with his induction in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1998, was highly honored as a founding father of that genre, as well as an instrumental bridge in forging Anglo and African-American music with the blend of blues and rock.

Bryan Thompson
GUS.FM
http://www.gus.fm

Whole House FM Transmitter

2008-05-28T10:16:00.001-05:00

Well, here we are...it's summer. The activities are concentrated outdoors. And so has my work. Between the maintaining the playlist stream, website and blogging updates, the lawn and the hot-tub now beseech my return.

How to keep the monitoring of my operation in check is no problem.

I would like to put in my two cents about this product. With the addition of the 'Whole House FM Transmitter' , I'm unchained from the PC and have now allowed my internet station, GUS.FM (or any audio source) to be broadcast not only all over the house, but outside to my car, garage, back yard etc. Talk about going the distance! My neighbors have been caught cheating and listening in at 107.7 (the available frenquency in my area) instead of listening online. I have a Bose Accoustic Wave® and the sound of my little 'ol station is magnificent. From my professional standpoint, it rivals the loudness and clarity of the adjoining 100K FM stations.

About the size of a deck of cards, It's a great investment for home or broadcasting MP3 in your vehicle if you don't have a line in. It's a quick and simple plug-in.

Go to http://www.gus.fm/whatsnewwhatscool.html for specs.

Bryan Thompson
GUS.FM

'WebRadio of the Great United States'

Elmore James

2008-05-27T07:40:00.005-05:00

I wanted to focus special attention this 'Blues Tuesday' on the legendary Elmore James. Not many have heard of the 'King of the Slide Guitar' before, but his influence is immeasurable.

If you could ask the notable blues, country and rock legends of today ie; The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughn, Travis Tritt, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Beatles, The Allman Brothers and ZZ Topp to just name a few, Elmore James would be place upon the Top 5 of the Blues Guitar totem pole. Paticularly with the Robert Johnson penned song "Dust My Broom', the key that opened the box and still endures today.

George Harrison was a paticular maven of the works of E.J...so much as to pay tribute
in a roundabout with the Beatles song 'For You Blue'..which you'll hear George quip in the song...."Elmore James got nothin' on this baby......"

GUS.FM

While We're In That Room

2008-05-22T20:57:00.003-05:00

The Community Page on GUS.FM has now been renamed 'The Nation'. It's a logistics thing.

Let's see, we were discussing Terre Haute, next week it will be another place. But to bring a BIG SECRET out into the open, if ever you were curious as how the city/state of the week are chosen, it's quite a complex and scientific process, really. Data is compiled and extracted from a six-fold compressed zip file. It is then transfered to a sub-level plane. Random monetary value is applied to a trickle down method of placement within a dimension to a geographical area. The sum of these equations reveal the new area for said week. That seemed a bit more logical than to say a map is spread on the floor and a coin flip lands on the sweet spot.

You just gotta have fun with this thing.

Is it "Hot" or Is It "Hoot"? Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

2008-05-21T23:07:00.002-05:00

First of all, my apologies for a cliche. The featured City/State of the week on GUS.FM is Terre Hautte, IN. Probably one of the most mispronounced cities in the world.

A debate that I had with my wife was whether it's pronounced Ter-ruh Hote, or, Terry-Hot. She's from Central Illinois. Close enough in the region to have heard it mentioned a few times. She says it's Terr-uh Hoot.

Hoot, Hot, Hote...where are we on this?

Lob This At The Next Game

2008-05-18T14:15:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day for baseball. Ann & I had the opportunity to see our two grandsons in back to back games. Just loads of fun.

There's only one thing that can damper the spirit. You got it, the occassional zealot parent that has to make a scene when his/her son (or daughter) is outted in that not so controversial play.

I've seen it enough now that I've become curious as to what you call a parent like this. Is there even a word?

If not, I have a suggestion. Label them 'scuds". You know, in honor of the missles lobbed into Israel by Saddam's Iraq during Desert Storm. A big show but not much blow when the impact is made.

Sioux City

2008-05-13T22:33:00.002-05:00

Wasn't that one of the hot spots during the primary a few months ago? Anyway, if you're from there it's your turn for braggig rights as the GUS.FM city/state of the week.

STARTING MONDAY 5/12, READ THE 'CLASSIC HIT BIO'

2008-05-07T18:36:00.002-05:00

A daily feature that will focus on the stories of an artist/group/song of an individual genre each day.
MONDAY-ROCK, TUESDAY-BLUES, WEDNESDAY-COUNTRY, THURSDAY-CHRISTIAN, FRIDAY-OLDIES.

www.gus.fm

Cel Phones vs. Driving..Some Will Never Get It Right

2008-05-06T10:39:00.003-05:00

I was a kid in the 60's, about the time I began an interest in reading the newspaper.

An editorial that caught my eye was criticizing then President Lyndon B. Johnson's intelligence and ability for snap and important decisions. "Johnson can't walk and chew gum at the same time", the lead paragraph said. I began to picture LBJ chewing gum and stumbling around the oval office. I even questioned my own ability, in trying, I found that wasn't a problem at all. I summed it up, even at that young age, as an exageration.

Fast forward to the 21st Century and I'm not so sure the same can apply to driving and talking on the cel phone. I won't go into boring details about how many of us have been cut-off (or have done the cutting-off) by a driver on the phone.

The facts are obvious. It's impossible for many to connect motor reflexes and conversation together for varied reasons.

Try this experiment next time you're at a 4 way stop with vehicles stopping at close to the same time. Most state-standardized traffic laws have the vehicle that made the first stop to have the right-of-way, with visual contact confirmation to the driver that you will be crossing against.

Virtually every time a driving cel phone user approaches, just watch. In most cases a complete stop is never made. If that driver was number 4 at the stop, they'll proceed. In most cases a visual contact was never made. Phone to ear and straight ahead!

Yeah, there are laws. Reckless driving, knee-jerk election grabbing campaigns, etc. I propose a device that blows the sound of a car horn at full decibel in the ear of the offending cel driver!

Next time you'll take your turn!

CONSUMERS WANT MUSIC, NOT SUBSCRIPTIONS

2008-05-02T11:27:00.003-05:00

I find this interesting, and plausible. Free-flowing is what captures our audience and that's what you'll find on this site.

CONSUMERS WANT MUSIC, NOT SUBSCRIPTIONS

Music subscriptions services aren’t catching on with consumers, according to figures released by the RIAA. Subscriptions to services like Rhapsody and Napster grew from 1.7 million subscribers in 2006 to just 1.8 million in 2007 — an increase well under 1%. Revenues actually fell 2.6% over this same time span (from $206.2 million to $200.9 million). As Digital Music News reports, there are fewer companies competing in the space. Rhapsody has taken over MTV’s Urge, and RealNetworks (Rhapsody’s parent) is assuming control of Yahoo Music.

Source: News@11

Give It Up Fresno

2008-04-30T18:45:00.002-05:00

Here we are. A new week and new town to focus on. It's your turn Fresno. What's your claim to fame?

10 Reasons Why This Project Is Important

2008-04-22T15:45:00.004-05:00

I'm a spiritual person. I'm not ashamed to admit it. Within the ins and outs of my daily routines that consistently average 14-15 hours a day on a one man operation, I pause occasionally to re-evaluate where this stands and question whether or not this is the right path.

I assume everyone that has a business goes through these deep bouts. My deepest one was today. It's one of those that caused me to buckle and cry out.

It was at that moment I had the urge to sit down and write the 10 reasons why the work at this site is important. It's not a matter of ego, mind you. I'm letting it out for the fact that for whomever reads this, that it becomes a point of solice and reconfirmation to forge ahead. Maybe just to realize that there is at least a reason. Perhaps this is the template you're looking for. I would say to fill in your own blanks as to what is important to you.

Well here goes....

1. It's work that I love.
2. It's work that I'm good at.
3. It's work that's available.
4. I'm experienced and I can teach others.
5. I'm in a young industry and I have a good shot at success.
6. The potential for growth has proven to be astronomical.
7. It's my own business.
8. It's my own creation. An innovation that could lead to an opportunity for others.
9. People love it.
10. It's my DREAM!

Habakkuk 2:2-3

State of the Week:Minnesota

2008-04-21T10:40:00.004-05:00

Yeah, Minnesoooota. You're tagged as the 'State of the Week' on the Community page.

http://www.gus.fm/community.html

Excuse me, but the only three things I can identify the state with is Vikings, Ventura and Very cold.

Please enlighten us......

Great Vacations

2008-04-19T20:30:00.000-05:00

This afternoon, I put together a fairly comprehensive link of vacation packages on the webradio site, GUS.FM http://www.gus.fm.

What I don't have is your feedback about awesome packages that you've run across, suggestions, great adventures, your stories about getaway destnations. I'll leave this short and sweet. Just take it and run with it.

Please include some pictures if you can.

Bryan