Frequently Asked Questions

Gensokyo Radio operates as an internet radio station which is freely available to people around the world. As such, there are many different methods that people use to tune in and listen, and these methods vary depending on the situation.

First-Party Listening Methods

We have made the following first-party options available for listeners including:

• Our website's player at GensokyoRadio.net/playing
• Our progressive web app's player at app.GensokyoRadio.net/player

Previously, there have been other first-party developed methods of connecting to the radio station including a native Android app (unsupported since 2021, delisted in 2024) and a Discord bot (not available since November 2021).

Third-Party Listening Methods

Third-party applications used to stream online media as a listener are generally allowed (see stream.GensokyoRadio.net for endpoint URLs). Some examples include:

• Local media players (VLC, Winamp, Foobar2000, Media Player Classic, etc.)
• Online listing websites and directories (TuneIn, Radio Garden, Xiph.org, etc.)
• Video game "radio station" that let users input a URL to a streaming service (e.g. War Thunder)

Listener Servers

Using any software to ingest the radio station's audio signal and re-transmit it to an online audience without prior authorization is expressly forbidden. Some examples include:

• Re-transmitting the radio station through a different service without accompaniment
• Connecting to the station using third-party bots/applications on platforms such as Discord
• Using an application or service which makes one connection but allows multiple listeners to connect

There are some cases which may involve multiple hardware devices or outputs which do not function like listener servers and are allowed. Some examples of allowed setups or scenarios include:

• Using multiple connected devices (Google Home Audio, Sonos systems, etc.)

In general, we want to have an accurate picture of the number of listeners using our service, and listener servers obfuscate the true number of listeners which is why they are not allowed. The rule of thumb is: one connection = one listener.

Background Music for Events and Livestreams

While our radio station has established itself as a platform built around discovery, learning, and support, we also recognize that the independent artists featured on Gensokyo Radio maintain the rights to their derivative works. As such, we cannot guarantee that using Gensokyo Radio as background music for livestream content won't result in other plarforms' automated systems recognizing content as a copyrighted work; you do so at your own risk.

If you do use Gensokyo Radio as background music for an event or livestream (so long as it is not the main content of your stream), we ask that you make it clear that Gensokyo Radio is being played so that interested members of your audience can learn more about what the music is and where it comes from, the same as direct listeners on our radio station. We ask this in the hopes that your audience may also be able to learn about and support the artists featured on our platform.

Fan-made Projects

In addition, there are projects which have been created by fans designed specifically for use with Gensokyo Radio. As long as your project abides by the above guidelines (such as no rebroadcasting / listener servers), you are free to do so as long as your project does not create a burden on the service. With that said, we make no guarantees as to the availability of the service or related resources, and changes may occur without notice.

One example of a fan-made project is CraftGR made by KanbanFriends. This project specifically creates a connection per listener (so it's not a listener server), mentions our radio station in the project description, and displays information about the songs and artists that play in real-time to enable artist support. While Gensokyo Radio and LunarSpotlight Media are not affiliated with this project, it is a good example of how to abide by the above guidelines.

The temporary ban ("temp ban") system is designed to ensure fair usage of the station and prevent excessive or unusual activity from interrupting service to the majority of listeners. Here's how it works:

What is a Temp Ban?

A temp ban is a temporary restriction placed on a user's IP address when unusual or excessive activity is detected. This system helps maintain a fair and enjoyable experience for all listeners. Temp bans only affect a listener's ability to connect to the station; they do not restrict access to our website or community.

How Long Do Temp Bans Last?

The duration of a temp ban increases with repeated violations within a rolling 6-month window. Temp bans issued outside of this window are dropped and do not currently contribute to the duration of future bans. The ban durations are as follows:

• 1st ban: 15 minutes
• 2nd ban: 1 hour
• 3rd ban: 1 day
• 4th ban: 3 days
• 5th ban: 1 week
• 6th ban: 2 weeks
• 7th ban: 1 month
• 8th ban: 2 months
• 9+ bans: 3 months

The rolling window and ban durations are subject to change without notice. Any changes made will not be applied retroactively to existing bans.

What Happens After a Ban?

When a temp ban is issued, users are simultaneously given a grace period which may or may not exceed the temp ban's duration. The exact length of a grace period depends on the conditions that caused the temp ban in the first place, and it's typically only useful if the temp ban issued has a relatively short duration. This grace period is intended to allow users additional time to make any needed adjustments and avoid further restrictions.

How Can I Avoid Temp Bans?

To avoid restrictions:

• Connect to the station responsibly and avoid excessive reconnections.
• Disconnect when you're not actively listening.
• Follow the station's community guidelines, available at gensokyoradio.net/terms.

The system is automated and designed to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for all listeners. Under normal circumstances, regular users will not encounter temp bans. However, if you do experience a temp ban, it is likely due to unusual activity from your IP address.

LunarSpotlight Media maintains a blacklist of IP addresses which have exhibited clear misuse and/or abuse of our service which has the potential to degrade the experience of genuine users. The entries in this list stem from a wide variety of demonstrated bad behaviors which include things like spam, scanning, search engine abuse, excessive activity, etc. Blacklists extend across all of LunarSpotlight Media's web properties.

If you suspect that an IP you typically browse from has been placed on the blacklist:

• This can happen if we find significant evidence of service abuse from your current IP address or service provider. This is a violation of our terms of use. Our service is provided for free, and abuse is not tolerated.
• Being incorrectly affected by service abuse is more likely if you are using a VPN, public network, or sharing IP addresses. You can try using a different network connection to resolve this issue.