For Immediate Release
Station Admin announces the release of FesterHead’s SAM Plugin v1.0.1, a free WordPress plugin that connects SAM Broadcaster Pro to WordPress, giving internet radio stations a live Now Playing panel, a full playlist browser, and an interactive song request interface on their websites.
The plugin was originally developed by Steve Kunitzer (FesterHead) and has long been a favourite tool among internet radio operators running SAM Broadcaster Pro. Station Admin has taken over maintenance and distribution, completely rewriting the plugin for modern PHP and WordPress environments.
Sam broadcaster: What the plugin does
FesterHead’s SAM Plugin adds shortcodes to WordPress that pull live data directly from the station’s SAM Broadcaster Pro MySQL or MariaDB database:
- [fhrsamNowPlaying] — displays the currently playing song with title, artist, album, year, genre, duration countdown, Coming Up next, current show name, album artwork, and lyrics; visible to all visitors.
- [fhrsamPlaylist] — a full playlist browser where visitors can browse by artist, album, or title and submit song requests directly through the website.
What is new in version 1.0.1
- PHP 8.x compatibility — detects the PHP version at runtime and adjusts accordingly; tested on PHP 7.4 through 8.x.
- WordPress 7.0 compatibility — works with both classic themes and Full Site Editor block themes.
- MariaDB 12 / MySQL 8.0 compatibility — database connections use the utf8mb4 charset required for full modern database support.
- Song request browser fixed — a missing function call that prevented album track lists from displaying has been resolved; numbered track lists now display correctly with aligned numbering.
- Amazon PA API v5 — the Amazon buy-link feature has been rewritten from the deprecated PA API v4 to the current PA API v5 with AWS Signature Version 4 authentication.
- Security hardening — all output is escaped, all inputs are sanitised, all form submissions use WordPress nonces, and all admin actions are gated with capability checks.
- Automatic updates — the plugin checks for updates every 12 hours and surfaces new releases through the standard WordPress update mechanism.
- Removed Flash — the deprecated song preview feature (Flash Player, end-of-life since 2020) has been removed.
Who this is for
Any internet radio station running SAM Broadcaster Pro that wants to show listeners what is playing and let them request songs through their WordPress website — without paying for a hosted service.
Availability
FesterHead’s SAM Plugin is free to download with no licence key or account required. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.
Download and full documentation: https://stationadmin.com/downloads/fhrsam/
About Station Admin
Station Admin builds practical tools for internet radio operators, including SA Tag Manager, SA Re-Streamer, SA MetaSync, and the FesterHead SAM Plugin. All products are designed to work with SAM Broadcaster Pro and related broadcasting software. Website: https://stationadmin.com
Table of Contents
PHP Coding Practices for Plugin Compatibility
The FesterHead SAM Plugin adheres to best PHP coding practices, ensuring compatibility with modern web environments. By detecting and adjusting at runtime based on the server’s PHP version, it supports both PHP 7.x and PHP 8.x seamlessly. This flexibility is crucial for radio stations using SAM Broadcaster Pro who may operate in diverse technical setups.
The plugin also incorporates WordPress-specific coding standards, such as utilizing nonces for form submissions and capability checks to secure admin actions. These practices enhance security and reliability, making it a robust choice for any internet radio station running SAM Broadcaster Pro.
Future Roadmap and Upcoming Features
The development team behind FesterHead SAM Plugin is committed to continuous improvement. Future updates are planned to include enhanced listener analytics, detailed playback statistics, and improved integration with SA Re-Streamer for more dynamic live stream experiences.
In addition, the roadmap includes support for advanced database queries to optimize playlist management and a streamlined interface for easier customization by non-developers. These features will further solidify SAM Broadcaster Pro’s position as a leader in internet radio broadcasting solutions.
PHP Coding Practices for Plugin Compatibility
The FesterHead SAM Plugin employs robust PHP coding practices to ensure seamless compatibility across various environments. It dynamically detects the server’s PHP version at runtime, supporting both PHP 7.x and PHP 8.x without requiring manual configuration changes. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for internet radio stations using SAM Broadcaster Pro that operate on different technical setups.
The plugin also adheres to WordPress-specific coding standards by utilizing nonces for form submissions and capability checks for admin actions, enhancing security measures while maintaining functionality across diverse web environments.
Future Roadmap and Upcoming Features
The development team is dedicated to continuous improvement of the FesterHead SAM Plugin. Future updates are planned to include advanced listener analytics and detailed playback statistics. These features will provide radio stations with valuable insights into listener behavior and preferences, enhancing the overall user experience.
Further improvements aim at streamlined integration with SA Re-Streamer for more dynamic live stream experiences. Additionally, support for advanced database queries will optimize playlist management, offering better control over track lists and song requests. These enhancements will strengthen SAM Broadcaster Pro’s position as a leading solution in internet radio broadcasting software.
Enhanced Security Measures
The FesterHead SAM Plugin prioritizes security through various mechanisms. All output is escaped to prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, while all inputs are sanitised to protect against SQL injection and other forms of data tampering. Form submissions use WordPress nonces for additional layer of security, ensuring that only legitimate requests can be processed.
The plugin also gates admin actions with capability checks, limiting access based on user roles, thus providing a secure environment for managing SAM Broadcaster Pro’s integration with WordPress sites.