The silence is so loud.

     I am not sure why I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face, but I am.  I was lying in bed reading, listening to Ian sleep beside me, the dogs snoring all around us.  I checked a group on Facebook created for "live365 refugees" when I saw the post.  I jumped out of bed, walked into the office and unmuted my speakers.  All I heard was a tick tick tick and then an announcement that the connection had been lost.  I tried to refresh and -nothing.  No tick tick tick..no announcement. no music.  Just silence.  Live365 is no more. Test Track is showing as the last song played.  
      I knew this day was coming.  We were prepared for it.  Our stream on shoutcast is going strong, yet I am so sad.  I feel like I lost a good friend  Live365 gave us the platform to create nearly 13 years of happy memories.  It provided  us an escape.  It helped make those long work days go by a little faster. In those 13 years, 10051 people felt as we did and made Mouse House Radio their favorite station on Live365..
     The uncertainty of what will happen moving forward doesn't help squelch the sadness.  There is hope the CRB will change their minds and make internet radio friendly for the hobbyist once again.  Nothing is certain though and we do not have the power of the large companies like spotify and pandora who are most definitely not shedding any tears tonight.  If you haven't done so already, please check our home page and click on the link provided to sign the petition and get more information on how you can help.     I hope and pray MHR will stay streaming all of our favorites for a very long time.  I also hope that the majority of our fellow fan based Disney music stations are able to continue on as well.   Stations going silent is not the way we want to gain more listeners.  

     One more thing I want to mention.  I know of at least one Disney fan site that is now playing music on their webpage because some of their favorite stations had to shut down.  I just beg you to be careful.  Please go through the process to play the  music legally.  My plea is not because I don't want the competition.   My concern is sincere.  There have been enough people hurt by the ridiculous increase in royalties we have to pay.  I don't want to see others bury their heads in the sand and end up with huge penalties or law suits.   Create your station - join us..  it's fun and there are plenty of listeners and fans for all of  us.  Just please - do so legally.