Radio stream now gives HTTP 500 errors due to I suspect, DRM on the server. Any way around it?

tghe-retford

About a month ago, the radio station I listen to stopped working on the Replaio app. It has also stopped working on VLC. I suspect the radio group who runs the station has implemented Digital Rights Management to stop third party apps from accessing the stream. From what I can gather, a key is generated that the server checks for its existence before serving the stream and it's time limited so you can't reuse the same key. The key is only generated when a request is made from a few select avenues - their official app, smart speakers, Internet radios and the RadioFeeds UK website. Anywhere else, the key is not generated and the error occurs.

I could go to the RadioFeeds site, download the playlist file and get a new key from there and put it into the app but I'd have to do it daily at best and it's a task in futility and frustration to say the least (and likely on borrowed time).

Is the any way around this issue so I can listen to the stream again via a third party app or am I as the youngsters say online, "cooked"? I paid for the third party app for features that are not in the official radio station app for anyone asking why I don't use the official app.

Vitor

I think you're out of luck unless you want to try scripting something in PowerShell

tghe-retford

Vitor said:

I think you're out of luck unless you want to try scripting something in PowerShell

As this is used on Android, I don't think that'll be an option. Plus you'd have to copy and paste the new URL once a day and then there's the prospect of being seen as a bot if you automate it and ending up being IP/device banned.

I'm just wondering if there is something I've missed before I give it up as a bad job.

Another step toward everything behind walled gardens and the continuing march of reducing consumer choice.

PHK

It would help if you named the station and which stream you are using. 

tghe-retford

PHK said:

It would help if you named the station and which stream you are using. 

Jazz FM

They have six servers, 01 to 06 but I've only got the even number ones to work. 

http://edge-baueral-01-gos2.sharp-stream.com/jazzhigh.aac?aw_0_1st.skey=1756478551

It will only work with that key after the question mark but its a time limited key so this example no longer works and gives a HTTP 500 error. 

outtatune

Have you asked the developers of the 3rd party app? They may be able to get the app whitelisted.

AstonSmith

Yeah we're out of luck I think, all the Bauer stations now have this key requirement thing

debitcardmayhem

Is this any good https://hellorayo.co.uk/jazz-fm
or this ? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thisisaim.jazzfm&hl=en_GB

tghe-retford

outtatune said:

Have you asked the developers of the 3rd party app? They may be able to get the app whitelisted.

I suspect this has been done to lock out the third party apps in order to nudge everyone to replace it with Rayo. This might also coincide with requests for anyone who uses the old app to switch to Rayo in recent weeks that I heard on the station. 

I also know of Radioplayer which will also be whitelisted as the official UK radio app.

It's frustrating that it appears that they have implemented DRM to lock out third party apps. 

debitcardmayhem said:

Is this any good https://hellorayo.co.uk/jazz-fm
or this ? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thisisaim.jazzfm&hl=en_GB

 I am already aware of those options but the old app is being retired for Rayo (see above). That and Radioplayer seem to be the only options so far.

spud17

Listening to Jazz FM right at this moment, via old Redmi 4x and bluetooth speaker.
Seems to have a fair selection.
Can't get Rage FM (Taunton) on this app.though. 
A cracking little known gem and I've tried loads of the Android apps,
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ilv.vradio&hl=en_GB

tghe-retford

spud17 said:

Listening to Jazz FM right at this moment, via old Redmi 4x and bluetooth speaker.
Seems to have a fair selection.
Can't get Rage FM (Taunton) on this app.though. 
A cracking little known gem and I've tried loads of the Android apps,
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ilv.vradio&hl=en_GB

That app is intriguing. It can play Jazz FM so they must have a working stream somehow. Even though it is 48k AAC while I listen to the 128k one. Annoyingly attempting to analyse what its doing yielded nothing useful other than I now know there are at least eight servers rather than six.

Dunno if I'd pay £30 for a lifetime subscription though. I paid a tenth of that with the current app I have now.