By Mark Brooks

Whether you're an outspoken activist, sci-fi buff or an aspiring hip-hop DJ, there's more variety of content on Live365.com than an entire city's worth of traditional radio. There's no limit on the subject matter or music to be heard. Best of all-it's free to individuals who want to make their own noise on the digital airwaves.

Started in July of last year, Live365 offers two ways for you to get your show started. "Studio365-Live" allows you to broadcast music from a music library on a home PC, using software downloadable from the site. You can then either broadcast (with a microphone) your voice in real time, or loop a series of MP3s as many times and as often as you wish. According to spokesman David McKie, the "Studio365" option could "revolutionize the mix tape," as it allows you to store up to 365 megabytes of music on the site's servers. For users of RealPlayer software, you can listen to your music 24/7.

Live365.com, in March 2000, saw approximately 750,000 unique web users visit the site to listen to 6,300 channels of audio currently available. Of those stations, 200 to 300 offer urban music, and cover everything from rap and reggae to the most obscure R&B. And like the other genres, the more popular shows are given prominence on the site.

Of course, the biggest hurdle for most users is the long time it takes to upload music to the website. But with the recent addition of "Studio365-Loader", users will no longer have to be present when uploading their content.

If you have your own website already established, you can create a link directly to your station without having web-surfers view the Live365 site.

And while there is no censorship on Live365.com, the company is in discussion with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and other groups, seeking ways to protect the intellectual property of artists.

Live365.com recently entered into a distribution deal with Valley Media to create a Live365 store where the CDs of the artists on the various stations will be sold.

With access to 7,000,000 CDs covering a wide genre of music, Live365.com is also looking into a profit-sharing plan that will offer DJ's a portion of the revenue generated from music sales.