# Shoutcast

## //directory.shoutcast.com/

SHOUTcast is the name of a MP3 streaming server software. It automatically collects all station lists on shoutcast.com. Currently lists over 85000 stations.

- Station entries usually provide current playing information.

- Stream links are plain PLS files.

- Genres are subcategorized, so the main groups in the category list must be expanded to see the interesting entries.

Since being sold from AOL to Radionomy, the directory got cut down. There are no longer entries for currently played songs, and homepage links are largely gone. Hencewhy the Shoutcast channel is no longer considered a primary feature.

## Configuration

🔠 Shoutcast playlist format

  Per default *.pls station links will be retrieved. But shoutcast also allows for *.m3u or *.xspf playlists.

  Alternatively the "raw" option will use IDs to look up the direct streaming URL with a subsequent AJAX request (bit slower; meant as fallback in case the tunein-station.pls links break).

❏ Use developer API

  Instead of scanning the website, there's also an API for searching stations. It's only meant for alternative shoutcast directory websites; and you won't easily get an API key. Required installed module: pip install shoutcast-api