diff --git a/asteroid-radio-growth.org b/asteroid-radio-growth.org new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cdb7fa2 --- /dev/null +++ b/asteroid-radio-growth.org @@ -0,0 +1,181 @@ +#+TITLE: Asteroid Radio - Growth & Listener Retention Ideas +#+DATE: December 2025 +#+OPTIONS: toc:2 + +* Current Situation + +- 3 listeners (project contributors only) +- Curated ambient/electronic playlist (Biosphere, Autechre, Four Tet, Brian Eno, etc.) +- Solid technical foundation now in place + +* Why Listeners Might Not Be Sticking + +** Discovery Problem + +- How do people find Asteroid Radio? +- No presence on streaming directories, social media, or music communities +- "If you build it, they will come" doesn't work for internet radio + +** Content Predictability + +- Curated playlists can feel repetitive to regular listeners +- Same tracks in same order = listeners know what's coming +- Ambient/electronic is niche - smaller potential audience + +** No "Appointment Listening" + +- Nothing that makes someone think "I need to tune in at X time" +- No live shows, no special events, no schedule + +** Passive Experience + +- No chat, no requests, no interaction +- Listeners have no reason to engage or return + +* Ideas to Explore + +** Quick Wins (Low Effort) + +*** Shuffle/Random Mode + +- Let Liquidsoap shuffle the entire music library +- Fresh experience every time someone tunes in +- Reduces repetition fatigue +- Could offer both: "Low Orbit" (curated) and "Deep Space" (random shuffle) + +*** Multiple Themed Streams + +- ~/asteroid.mp3~ - Main curated ambient +- ~/asteroid-shuffle.mp3~ - Random from full library +- ~/asteroid-dark.mp3~ - Darker ambient (Lustmord, Atrium Carceri) +- Let listeners choose their vibe + +*** Now Playing Integration + +- Post to a Twitter/X account automatically +- Discord webhook for a music community +- Last.fm scrobbling for discoverability + +** Medium Effort + +*** Submit to Internet Radio Directories + +- [[https://www.radio.net/][Radio.net]] +- [[https://tunein.com/][TuneIn]] (requires application) +- [[https://streema.com/][Streema]] +- [[https://www.internet-radio.com/][Internet-Radio.com]] +- These are where people actually discover internet radio + +*** Discord Community + +- Create a Discord server for listeners +- Bot posts now playing +- Request channel (even if manual fulfillment) +- Builds community around the station + +*** Listener Requests + +- Simple web form to request tracks +- Queue gets reviewed and added by admins +- Makes listeners feel heard + +*** Schedule/Programming + +- Even fake "shows" create structure +- "Midnight Ambient" 00:00-06:00 +- "Morning Drift" 06:00-12:00 +- "Afternoon Orbit" 12:00-18:00 +- "Evening Descent" 18:00-00:00 +- Different playlist vibes for different times + +** Higher Effort (But High Impact) + +*** Live DJ Sets + +- Even occasional (monthly?) live sets create events +- "Tune in Saturday at 20:00 for a live set" +- Creates appointment listening +- Can be promoted in advance + +*** Guest Mixes + +- Invite ambient/electronic producers to submit mixes +- Cross-promotion to their audiences +- Fresh content without ongoing effort + +*** Mobile App / PWA + +- Make it easy to listen on mobile +- Push notifications for special events +- "Install to home screen" prompt + +*** Podcast Feed + +- Archive special shows/mixes as podcast episodes +- Another discovery channel +- People can catch up on what they missed + +* Interface Improvements + +Current UI is functional but could be more engaging: + +- *Visual identity* - Logo, consistent branding, memorable aesthetic +- *Album art* - Show cover art for current track (if available in metadata) +- *Listener count display* - "X people listening now" creates social proof +- *History* - "Recently played" visible on front page +- *Schedule display* - Even if automated, show what's coming up +- *Dark mode* - Essential for ambient music listeners (probably already dark?) + +* The Music Question + +** Is the music the problem? + +Honestly, probably not. Ambient/electronic has a dedicated audience. The issue is more likely: + +1. They don't know we exist +2. There's no reason to come back vs. Spotify/YouTube + +** Random shuffle pros + +- Surprise factor keeps it fresh +- Showcases full library depth +- Less maintenance than curated playlists + +** Random shuffle cons + +- Less coherent "vibe" +- Jarring transitions possible (need good crossfade) +- Might play obscure tracks that don't fit + +** Hybrid approach + +- Keep curated "Low Orbit" as flagship +- Add shuffle stream as alternative +- Let listeners choose + +* Recommended Priority + +1. *Submit to radio directories* - Free, one-time effort, ongoing discovery +2. *Add shuffle stream option* - Technical, we can do this easily +3. *Discord server* - Free, builds community +4. *Now playing social posts* - Automated discovery +5. *Visual polish* - Album art, listener count, branding + +* Metrics to Track + +Once we have more listeners: + +- Peak concurrent listeners (we have this now) +- Average listen duration +- Return listener rate (would need cookies/accounts) +- Geographic distribution (we have this) +- Which stream/quality is most popular + +* Final Thought + +The technical foundation is solid. The music is good. The problem is almost certainly *discovery* and *engagement*. People need to: + +1. Find out we exist +2. Have a reason to come back + +Radio directories + social presence + community = growth path.