Implement support for ICY Metadata updates

[Borewit]

I'd like to propose adding support for receiving ICY metadata updates from Icecast stream providers.

This type of metadata typically includes information about the currently playing track, which is often not embedded in the audio stream itself. Instead, it is sent separately using the ICY protocol, common in internet radio scenarios.

I've created a proof of concept here:
🔗 Stack Overflow Answer

To support this functionality, I started a new project:
🎧 @music-metadata/icy. This is intentionally a separate module from music-metadata, since ICY metadata is not part of the actual media file content.

I’ve also done a quick integration as a prototype into audioMotions via a rough hack (see incoming update in the console):

To read ICY metadata, you must continuously process the audio stream as it plays.

For a proper implementation, several improvements need to be addressed:

1. Differentiate between use cases:

• Pre-fetching metadata (e.g. for queue or playlist listing) should not require maintaining an open connection.
• Monitoring live radio streams will require a persistent connection to track metadata updates in real-time.

2. Stream handling and CORS considerations:

• Ideally, we’d reuse the same audio stream for both playback and metadata extraction.
• However, due to browser CORS restrictions, accessing raw data from an element’s src is not always possible.
  If the server's CORS policy allows cross-origin fetch, we can:
  • Fetch the audio stream ourselves.
  • Pipe it both to the <audio> element for playback and to an ICY metadata decoder.
• But when CORS is restricted, this approach won’t work, so support for ICY metadata will always depend on server-side CORS configuration.

[Borewit]

I wrote a demo showing extracting ICY metadata from radio stations:

Demo: https://icy-radio-stream-player.netlify.app/
Repo: https://github.com/Borewit/icy-radio-stream-player

Utilizing:

• audiomotion-analyser
• @music-metadata/icy
• music-metadata
• @wasm-audio-decoders/flac

[JesusGod-Pope666-Info]

Interesting, by the way I updated my Radio script not that long ago, there some Radio channels, and I do not... here it is:

#EXTM3U # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 2030 SHAVUOT GRAIN HARVEST
# * M3U playlist using the Extended M3U format directives.
# * Format reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M3U#Extended_M3U
#Notes:
# * Any metadata found in media files will have precedence over content added here;
# * Only EXTALB, EXTINF currently supported;
# * EXTALB will be applied to all songs that come after it, no need repeating the directive for consecutive songs in the same album;
# * Filenames may include folders, but all paths must be relative to the location of the .m3u file (no initial slash or drive letter).
#DATA:
#  #EXTALB:3 text line, LINK FOR WEBPAGE
#  #EXTINF:1 text line FURTHER INFORMATION - 2 text line, RADIO STATION and PLAYLIST name.
#  http://WebAddressForRadio.Link or http://RADIO.URL
#  #Comments not shown Alternative for ----:––––
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # 2030 SHAVUOT GRAIN HARVEST
# - - - -
#EXTALB:JesusGod-Pope666.Info Radio List – *Messianic Jehudahizing
#EXTINF:-1,Law Obedience Hebrew Roots Jehudahizing - *Favourites (Mu=Music Sp=Speech - En=English He=Hebrew Ot=Other)
Lukhash - We Come Together.mp3 
#!!!! make 1 space after the mp3 to make it not read the mp3 metadata! Test files used.
# - - - -

#EXTALB:http://ais-edge101-live365-dal02.cdnstream.com/a42872 (MP3-16kBps)
#EXTINF:-1,live365.com/station/Menorah-Music-Internet-Radio-a42872 - *[email protected] (Mu*Sabbath special*-EnHe)
http://ais-edge101-live365-dal02.cdnstream.com/a42872
#!!!! 2 source http://ais-edge102-live365-dal02.cdnstream.com/a42872

#EXTALB:httpS://live365.com/station/Messianic-Joy-a81295 (MP3-16kBps) – streaming.live365.com/a81295
#EXTINF:-1,Music, Praise, Worship of Jayshua – Beit Tikvah(Hylan Slobodkin), Torah4Today(Brent Emery). - *Messianic Joy (Mu-EnHe) - OliveTreeCommunitySpokane.com
httpS://das-edge14-live365-dal02.cdnstream.com/a81295?type=.mp3
#!!!!

#EXTALB:httpS://stream.haderekradio.com/live (MP3-16kBps)
#EXTINF:-1,Music, teachings, testimonies, programs, help bridge the gap between Jew and Gentile. - *HaDerekRadio.com (MuSp-EnHe) Jew and Gentile One in Messiah
httpS://stream.haderekradio.com/live
#!!!!

#EXTALB:http://dc3.serverse.com:1120/JesusGod-Pope666.Info?type=.mp3 (MP3-8kBps) httpS iSSue
#EXTINF:-1,Information - *HolyLanguage.com Jayshua Teaching (Sp-En) - Izzi Avraham - iSSue
http://dc3.serverse.com:1120/JesusGod-Pope666.Info?type=.mp3
#!!!!

#EXTALB:httpS://das-edge11-live365-dal03.cdnstream.com/a73249?type=.mp3 (MP3-16kBps)
#EXTINF:-1,TORAH: THE ANCIENT FOUNDATIONS (God’s Teaching and Instruction) teaching about Jayshua HaMashiach the Word made flesh and the Law - *Hebrew Institute Live! (Sp-En) (Lawobedience and Jayshua)
httpS://das-edge11-live365-dal03.cdnstream.com/a73249?type=.mp3
#!!!! learn to interpret the New Testament by the TaNaKH - Revelation Study, Thursdays at 7:30pm EST -
#our Shabbat Service Saturdays 12pm EST. live call-in 1(515)606-5317 Access Code 520255#.

# - - - - DIVIDING LINE NOT REALLY NEEDED - DEACTIVATED. - - - -
#EXTALB:SECONDARY NON FAVORITES
#EXTINF:JesusGod-Pope666.Info - - - - - DIVIDING Secondary non favorites LINE - - - -
#Multifaros - The_Factory.mp3 
#!!!! make 1 space after the mp3 to make it not read the mp3 metadata! Test files used.
#- - - -

#EXTALB:https://ec4.yesstreaming.net:1585/stream (MP3-8kBps)
#EXTINF:-1,https://ec4.yesstreaming.net:1585/stream - FirstAmendmentRadio.net (Sp-En)
https://ec4.yesstreaming.net:1585/stream

#EXTALB:httpS://streams.radio.co/scfd098cbc/listen?type=.mp3 (MP3-16kBps)
#EXTINF:-1,httpS://GoodFightRadio.org/listen-now - GoodFightRadio.org/listen-now (MuSp-EnHE)
httpS://streams.radio.co/scfd098cbc/listen?type=.mp3
#!!!! Works both http and https it seems.

#EXTALB:http://69.28.92.175:8000/JesusGod-Pope666.Info?type=.mp3 (MP3-16kBps) httpS iSSue
#EXTINF:-1,DETAILS - SpiritualFootsteps.com Radio (Mu-EnHe) - iSSue
http://69.28.92.175:8000/JesusGod-Pope666.Info?type=.mp3
#!!!!

#EXTALB:http://us1.internet-radio.com:8107/JesusGod-Pope666.Info?type=.mp3 (MP3-40kBps) httpS iSSue
#EXTINF:-1,DETAILS - Power Of the Cross Radio (Sp-En) - iSSue
http://us1.internet-radio.com:8107/JesusGod-Pope666.Info?type=.mp3
#!!!!

#EXTALB:http://27.131.74.8:8168/JesusGod-Pope666.Info?type=.mp3 (MP3-16kBps) httpS iSSue
#EXTINF:-1,DETAILS - The Light Worship (Mu-En) - iSSue
http://27.131.74.8:8168/JesusGod-Pope666.Info?type=.mp3
#!!!!

# # # # - - - - # # # #
#EXTALB:Dead Radio Stations,offline,nonworking or unused.
#EXTINF:JesusGod-Pope666.Info - - - - - DIVIDING Dead Radio Stations,offline,nonworking LINE - - - -
#Lukhash - We Come Together.mp3 
#!!!! make 1 space after the mp3 to make it not read the mp3 metadata!
# - - - -

#EXTALB:http://dfw.audio-stream.com/proxy/echumney?type=.mp3 #OFFLINE
#EXTINF:-1,#OFFLINE HebrootsRadio.com SoundCloud.com/user-81905958 - *Hebraic Heritage Radio (MuSp-EnHe)
#http://dfw.audio-stream.com/proxy/echumney?type=.mp3
#!!!!https://soundcloud.com/user-81905958 - Not sure, the website is still up and running so..... But DEAD for now.

#EXTALB:http://s3.radio.co/s43b65d791/listen?type=.mp3 #OFFLINE or DEAD?
#EXTINF:-1,#OFFLINE OneForIsrael.org/about-us/radio-agape-fm – firmisrael.org/local-partners/one-for-israel - *OneForIsrael.org RADIO (MuSp-HeEnOt)
#http://s3.radio.co/s43b65d791/listen?type=.mp3
#!!!! Seems to be death, 2 links seems to be dead for the radio, so not sure what is going on here.

#EXTALB:http://ais-edge101-live365-dal02.cdnstream.com/a71993?type=.mp3
#EXTINF:-1,#DEAD CONFIRMED! Testimonies (One For Israel) and teaching pods - *Shuv/Repent Radio (Live365) (MuSp-EnHeOt) #DEAD!
#http://ais-edge101-live365-dal02.cdnstream.com/a71993?type=.mp3
#!!!!

#EXTALB:http://s3.radio.co/sd16d576db/listen?type=.mp3
#EXTINF:-1,#DEAD CONFIRMED! - *IWillGatherYou.com (MuSp-EnHe) #DEAD!
#http://s3.radio.co/sd16d576db/listen?type=.mp3
#!!!!https://web.archive.org/web/20231129060123/https://iwillgatheryou.com/heirs-according-to-promise-a-study-of-the-new-covenant/

#EXTALB:http://dfw.audio-stream.com/proxy/israelne?mp=/live_live
#EXTINF:-1,https://live.israelnewstalkradio.com/323-2 - Jewish - IsraelNewsTalkRadio.com (Sp-En) NON-WORKING
#http://dfw.audio-stream.com/proxy/israelne?mp=/live_live
#!!!! Not working whether http or httpS, upgrades http to https and fails.
#blocked by CORS policy: No 'Access-Control-Allow-Origin' header is present on the requested resource.

#EXTALB:https://s4.voscast.com:9595/stream (MP3-8kBps)
#EXTINF:-1,https://s4.voscast.com:9595/stream - FirstAmendmentRadio.net (Sp-En)
#https://s4.voscast.com:9595/stream
#Obsolete as far as I know, new address sorted.

-#-#-#-# MP3 or other files for playlist

# - - - - RADIO STATION PLAYLIST WEBSITE LINKS
#Jisra'ayl playlist: fmstream.org/index.php?c=ISR 
#Christian playlist: fmstream.org/index.php?style=Christian

[JesusGod-Pope666-Info]

By the way not all FLAC or high fidelity radio stations are always honest on what you really get on the Radio station I recall - anyway.

[Borewit]

It was not a straightforward implementation to extract ICY data from an FLAC live stream. It is totally it designed for streaming to web browser.

• You cannot use the browser audio element to extract ICY metadata
• Hence the stream need to be digested with fetch, which is dependent on CORS policies defined by the broadcast stream, for ICY headers even more CORS policies need to grant that access
• If the CORS headers allow to (cross origin) read the radio stream, but do not (forgot to) include the ICY headers, the interleave interval cannot be read. This can be worked around by analysing the stream and reverse calculate the interleave offset.
• Unlike MP3 or Ogg/Opus Sending a the raw Ogg/FLAC data to the audio element is not supported. Hence decoding must be done in JavaScript and the decoded PCM stream can be played.

Regarding the FLAC streams @JesusGod-Pope666-Info .

At least there is no loss anymore what the studio transmits and what we receive.

There is also this 96kHz 24bit Vinyl, never really understood that. Unless Vinyl contains a secret high frequency tracks which your dog enjoy listing to.

[JesusGod-Pope666-Info]

Yea I think I lose my ability to hear anything at around 12.500 hz - I have a test on http://aM.JesusGod-Pope666.Info
Although it could be the hardware as well.