Hi & thanks for stopping by to read for a minute!  I'll use this soapbox page to let you know how things are going with Music Sojourn, changes and improvements that we are making to the site, and other things that might impact what we do to bring you the music on Music Sojourn.

Topics:  (see bottom of page for archive links)

1. NetRadio, Disc Jockey and other online radio sources are GONE.  Click here to read more.  Please help ensure that MusicSojourn is NOT NEXT!  We depend on your DIRECT SUPPORT to be able to continue, and listener support, as well as purchases through our links are way down since September 11th.
2. Our Special Page where we post September 11th Memorial and Tribute programs (click here)
3. They have finally gone too far... with the Pop-up ads.  Help get rid of them.
4. We're not large enough to start our own September 11th contribution program, so we refer you to this link that was suggested by President Bush: LibertyUnites.org.
5. Updated Survey Questions ... what's most important?
6. MP3 Streams update - Most will continue (for now)
7. Q: So how do we keep this web site going?
8. New Membership Benefits
9. ECHOES Series update - click here for latest news

2. They have finally gone too far... with the Pop-up ads.  Help get rid of them.  Ok, we had a few complaints about it, but because it did not display often, we didn't see it initially.  We finally saw the "Group Lotto" ad that spawned at least 3 pop-up ads (a new, larger one every time you closed one), so that was gone as soon as we saw it.  We've been tolerating the single pop-under or pop-up window ads only because, honestly, they are almost the only ads that have been paying us anything at all.  Only 12% of those of you have responded to our survey have said that the most important thing for us to do (to retain their support) was to remove these pesky ads, but we're going to go ahead and try this anyway:  Our "Remove The Pop-up Ads" campaign.  As soon as we receive $500.00 in contributions to this campaign, we will remove all Pop-up and Pop-under ads for a 30 day period.  When we reach $1,000.00, we will keep them removed for another 30 day period, etc.  We'll track the progress on this page (when available) so you know how the campaign is doing.  For more info and how to contribute to this campaign, please click here.

4. Updated Survey Questions: Are ads driving you nuts, would premiums be great?  What's most important to you?  Let us know by taking our survey - its only 1-2 minutes.

5. Live 365 and MP3 streams  It looks like our streams will keep playing, but it will start costing us monthly fees to keep them running soon. The monthly fees should be affordable enough to keep some or even most of the streams running, but it ultimately depends on your DIRECT SUPPORT and how you tell us you want us to use it.  If you particularly enjoy what we are doing (and CAN DO) with these streams, please indicate that when you make your contribution to our efforts!  We really do look at what our supporters want to see and hear.

6. A: We don't - YOU do via your DIRECT SUPPORT!  Basically, we run this site with the revenue available from Direct Contributions (THE Primary source of funding), Advertising Revenue (very little), and the small percentage (5% - 7%) that we get from your CD Purchases through Amazon & CDnow.  There are no private funders, loans, or generous benefactors.  If we don't get the funds to pay the bills from the above sources, we'll have to stop.

If you have not considered a direct contribution to Music Sojourn, we would encourage you to do so, even at a level as low as $4.00!  If everyone who uses Music Sojourn regularly contributed only $4.00 every once in a while, we could expand what we do here significantly.  If you're a regular listener and there's a specific reason why you would not contribute to our efforts, Let me know.

SPECIAL THANKS to those of you who have contributed directly by check or money order!  We realize that it is not as convenient, but it provides us with an extra 16% that we would lose to the credit card processing costs!  For more information, click here.

7. Membership Benefits

Thank you for your direct support!  We are developing a membership program to provide extra premiums and services for those who support us at very generous levels.  Check this page often for updates to the program.  But we also know some folks can afford to support us more than others, so we want to develop some extra services and premiums to encourage your generosity!

Please take a look at our new Membership Resources Index for more information.  While we will soon have "Premiums" to encourage your continued support, we hope to define "Membership" as something more than just another gimmick term to get you to contribute periodically.  Read more about this idea here.

Everyone who supports us at any level really wins because it keeps the programming available, and there are presently no restrictions on any program content - and we hope to keep it that way. 

Scott Ericson