Which Stream Player Is Best for Your Station Website?

When it comes to streaming your station online, your website’s stream player is arguably your most critical feature. But not all streaming players are created equal. From simple embedded players to popout windows and advanced persistent players, each one has its benefits and drawbacks.

Types of Stream Players

Today, we’ll explore the main types of streaming players you can use on your website, the pros and cons of each, and some crucial things to check with your streaming provider before making any decisions.

1. Embedded Stream Players

This has been the most common option—your streaming provider gives you a snippet of HTML or JavaScript that embeds a player directly onto a page on your website. Listeners go to that page, hit play, and start listening.

Pros

• Easy to implement—often just copy and paste.
• Hosted by your streaming provider, meaning fewer worries about technical maintenance.
• Usually includes basic now-playing information and volume controls.

Cons

• Playback stops if the listener navigates to another page on your website. Some have gotten around this by embedding the player on a special “listen live” page that opens a new tab.
• Some embedded players come with banner ads or branding from the streaming provider. These ads often help offset their costs but may conflict with your own advertisers or clutter your site.
• Customization options may be limited.

Some streaming providers require you to use their embedded player because the ads they display help pay for your service. If that’s the case, make sure you’re okay with those ads, or explore paid plans that allow ad-free embedding or direct stream access.

2. Popout Stream Player (Separate Window)

A popout or popup player opens in a new smaller browser window. The main site can still be navigated freely, and audio continues to play in the separate window.

Pros

• Keeps the stream playing even if the visitor browses away from your website.
• Your streaming provider may allow ad customization or other integrations like preroll ads and podcasts.

Cons

• Some embedded players come with banner ads or branding from the streaming provider.
• Some modern browsers can block popups by default, requiring the listener to approve them.
• Less elegant user experience than an integrated persistent player.

3. Persistent Stream Player (Sticky / Site-Wide Player)

A persistent or “sticky” audio player stays fixed on your website (often at the top or bottom) and continues playing even as visitors navigate from page to page. This is similar to how Spotify or many podcast platforms handle playback.

Pros

• Seamless listening—users can keep browsing your site without interrupting the stream.
• Opens opportunities for longer listening sessions and more ad impressions.
• Typically integrates album art, now-playing details, and even podcast episodes.

Cons

• More technically complex—requires integration into your website framework.
• Needs specific stream formats: usually a direct MP3 stream URL plus a separate “now playing” metadata feed.
• Some streaming providers don’t allow direct stream URLs to be embedded outside of their own players.

If you’re considering a persistent player (like Skyrocket Radio’s StreamPlayer Pro), verify that your streaming provider can give you:

• A direct MP3 (or AAC) stream URL.
• A URL endpoint for your “now playing” metadata (song title, artist, album art).

It might be helpful to note that our Streamplayer Pro also offers our website clients:

• Scheduling and rotating preroll audio and video, accompanied by client banner ads.
• Multiple station support
• Album artwork for every item in your schedule (local artists, commercials, promos)
• Option to display the current show versus the now-playing information.
• Play analytics for each station.

What to Check With Your Streaming Provider

Before deciding on which player to use, ask your streaming provider these key questions:

1. Do you provide a direct MP3 or AAC stream URL that can be embedded in custom players? Some only offer an iframe or JavaScript embed tied to their advertising models.
2. Do you have a “now playing” or metadata feed? This is essential for players that show current song titles, album art, or recently played tracks.
3. Are there any restrictions in your service agreement on embedding the stream outside of your provided player? If your service is ad-supported, they may prohibit other player options.
4. Do you charge extra for ad-free streams or metadata feeds? Knowing this upfront helps avoid surprises.

Putting It All Together

Ultimately, the best choice depends on:

• Your streaming provider’s capabilities and policies.
• Your goals for the website user experience.
• Your revenue strategy—do you want control over ads inside the player, or are you okay with the provider’s ads?

If listener engagement and maximizing on-site time are priorities, a persistent player is often the way to go. If simplicity and minimal setup are your priorities, a popout player is fine.

Action Tip:

Before your next website revamp or streaming contract renewal, list out your must-haves—whether that’s continuous playback, customizable ads, or rich now-playing features—and double-check that your provider can deliver. It’s a lot easier (and cheaper) to pick the right streaming setup upfront than to re-engineer it later.