Intranet radio station over network

My company runs shopping centers around the country and from time to time we receive complaints regarding the music selection playing in the shops.

I'd like to build a centralized music streaming server that the shops will be able connect to using VPN so that I can set up a specific selection of music and commercials.

Multiple channels would be important so that we can provide specialized channels for different situations. For instance, some states may have specific important days, mourning days, etc, where the music and commercial selection may need to be different from those played in shops with different important days.

A web interface and multi-user support is important so that various people can administer the playlists.

Also important would be the ability to customize commercials based on location as the shops are obviously not identical in each location.

It would be best if the endpoint devices were cheap and simple to setup and administer. Sound quality has to be decent, though.

Is there a dedicated server OS that can handle all this, maybe a *nix distro?

Any other advice and help would be appreciated as well.

Solution 1:

Could try looking at something like a ShoutCast server

http://wiki.winamp.com/wiki/SHOUTcast_Getting_Started_Guide

Set up your stream and the stores just connect to it like internet radio.

Solution 2:

This is something that is (relatively speaking) easier to do on the technical side. It's the licensing that will kill you. You have to have not just one but three different public performance licenses for every song you want to play: from the author of the music, writer of the lyrics, and the performer.

If you're not using a service for this now, you'll likely find that this is the way to go.