Frequently asked questions
We've been asked a lot over 25+ years on air. The 14.4k-modem questions have retired themselves; these haven't.
Is this the same Philosomatika from 1999?
Yes! Same station, same mission: psytrance around the clock since 1998. We went dark from 2011 for a few years and lost a huge listener base in the process, but we came back doing exactly what we did before, and we've been on air ever since.
Why did the station disappear in 2011?
The station was threatened with a cease-and-desist from the RIAA. Even though the artists and labels we played were outside the United States, a legal battle with no financial backing wasn't a risk worth taking, so we shut everything down. It was a hard decision. We returned on a licensing model that doesn't have that problem, and it won't happen again.
What do I get with Premium?
Three channels (Psytrance, Progressive, and Psy-Chill) in 256k high definition, with no ads, playable in your browser or in any app that opens a stream URL: VLC, foobar2000, your phone, a hi-fi streamer, you name it. It starts with a 30-day free trial, then $5.95/month. Cancel anytime, and you keep access through the time you've already paid for.
Is there still a free way to listen?
Yes. The Psytrance channel streams free at 64k with occasional ads, right in the player. Premium is what keeps the station alive, though: it's subscriber-funded, with no label or network behind it.
Can I listen from any country?
Premium has no geo-blocks. It streams worldwide. (Long-time listeners may remember country blocks in the old Radionomy days; those are gone along with Radionomy.)
How do I listen in an app instead of the browser?
Premium members get a private stream link that works in essentially anything. See How to listen for the two-minute setup: download a playlist file or copy your link.
How often is the music updated?
Every channel's rotation is refreshed regularly with new releases and deep cuts. The station is curated by humans who actually listen to this music, not an algorithm.
How do I pay, and how do I cancel?
Pay by card or bank through Stripe, or with PayPal if you prefer. You can cancel anytime from your account page: no emails, no phone calls, no guilt trips. You keep access through the period you've paid for, and we'll thank you for the time you were with us.
Something's broken. Who do I talk to?
Email support@philosomatika.fm and a human will get back to you.