Privacy Policy

When you listen. You don't need an account to listen. Our stream servers log each connection: your IP address, the app or browser you used (its “user agent”), when you connected and disconnected, and an approximate location worked out from the IP address (city or region, never your precise location). We are required to report how many people heard each song so songwriters and performers get paid, and these logs are how we count.

When you make an account. Your username, email address, and password (stored hashed, so we can't read it). Then the activity that makes the features work: requests, ratings, favorites, follows, dedications you send, and your credit balance and history.

When you request or rate. The IP address it came from and a timestamp. We use these to catch request-line fraud and to rate-limit abuse; bot networks have padded Texas radio requests before.

When you buy something. What you bought, the amount, and Stripe's reference numbers. Stripe collects your card details; we never see or store the full card number.

Artists and advertisers. If you claim an artist page or advertise, the details you give us: name, business or band name, contact details, bio, photos, links, ad creative, and what we need to verify you.

When you sign up for the newsletter. Your email address, where on the site you signed up, the IP address and time, and the wording you agreed to. You're added only after you confirm by email.

When you email us. Your message and email address.

• to run the streams, your account, requests, dedications, and purchases;
• to file royalty reports with SoundExchange and the songwriter organizations, as our licenses require;
• to keep the request lines and charts honest and the site secure;
• to send email you need: account confirmation, password resets, receipts, and notices about your own activity;
• to send news or offers, only if you opted in, with an unsubscribe link in every message;
• to understand how the site is used, only as described under Cookies and analytics.

These companies handle data on our behalf, only to provide their service to us:

• Stripe processes payments.
• Mailgun sends our email.
• Our newsletter list runs on listmonk, open-source software we host on our own server, not a mailing-list company. Every newsletter has an unsubscribe link.
• ElevenLabs turns dedication text into the voice we play on air. They receive the text of the dedication, not your account details.
• Cloudflare runs our network and security layer, so it sees IP addresses and requests to the site.
• Our servers and encrypted off-site backups are with hosting providers we rent from.

We report aggregate listening figures (songs played and how many listeners heard them) to SoundExchange and the performing rights organizations. We may also share information when the law requires it, to protect people or the station, or as part of a sale of the business.

We set a cookie to keep you signed in, and your browser stores player settings such as volume and channel. These are needed for the site to work.

We may use Google Analytics to measure site traffic and the Meta Pixel to measure our own ads on Facebook and Instagram. Neither loads unless you agree in the cookie banner. If you say no, or don't answer, they don't load. You can change your choice at any time with the Cookie settings link here or at the bottom of every page. If you withdraw consent, we stop loading them and delete their cookies from your browser. Your choice is saved in a cookie named rft_consent for one year. If you agree to the Meta Pixel, Meta may use the data for advertising; under Texas law that can count as targeted advertising, which you can refuse or opt out of the same way.

• your username, on request lists, leaderboards, and activity feeds;
• dedications, which are read on air and may appear on the site;
• anything you put on a claimed artist page.

We never publish your email address, IP address, or purchases.

We don't sell your personal information. We don't give advertisers listener data; sponsors buy airtime, not audiences. We don't publish listener counts. Artist analytics show artists totals about their own music, never who you are.

• Account data: while your account exists. When you delete it, see below.
• Stream listener logs: as long as royalty reporting rules require us to keep supporting records, currently up to three years.
• Request and rating IP addresses: with the request history they belong to, for fraud detection. When you delete your account, we remove the IP addresses tied to it.
• Purchase records: as long as tax and accounting law requires, generally up to seven years.
• Backups: deleted data can stay in encrypted backups until they rotate out.

Accounts from the original community (2005–2013). Usernames, email addresses, and points were carried over so your history survives. They stay dormant until you claim them with a password reset. If you'd rather we delete yours, email us.

Under the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, and similar laws in other states, you can ask us to:

• confirm whether we process your personal data, and give you access to it;
• correct it;
• delete it;
• give you a copy in a portable format; and
• stop using it for targeted advertising, sale, or profiling. We don't sell it or profile you.

How to ask. Email info@radiofreetexas.com from the address on your account, with “Privacy request” in the subject. Say what you want. We may ask you to confirm it's you. We answer within 45 days. If we need more time, we'll tell you, and the extension is at most another 45 days. Requests are free up to twice a year.

To delete your account, send the same email with “Delete my account” in the subject. We delete your profile, activity, and the IP addresses tied to it within 30 days. We keep only what the law requires (purchase records and royalty logs) or what we need to stop fraud, and your past requests stay in chart totals without your name.

If we say no, you can appeal by replying with “Appeal” in the subject. We'll answer within 60 days. If you're still not satisfied, you can contact the Texas Attorney General.

The site isn't meant for children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect their personal information. If we learn we have, we delete it. A parent who thinks their child signed up can email us.

Passwords are hashed, connections are encrypted, payments go through Stripe, and staff tools require a staff login. No system is perfectly secure. If a breach affects your personal information, we will notify you as the law requires.

We'll update this policy when our practices change; the date at the top shows the latest version. If a change is significant, we'll say so on the site or by email.

Questions: info@radiofreetexas.com · Radio Free Texas, PO Box 167, Nederland, TX 77627