The Radio Guide: Tune in Online
If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you could find a radio station that exclusively broadcasts video-game theme songs, it’s time to let go of the dial, and take hold of your mouse. The Internet is home to an abundance of stations that include FM, AM, online-only, and satellite; you can even create a station yourself. The sites below help you find stations, make stations, find programming, and choose services. You’ll also get a dose of radio history. For a Spanish-language version of the Guide, click here.
Expand All Guide SectionsFind Online Radio Stations
With online radio stations, the rule tends to be: if you can dream it up, it’s probably available. Whether you’re looking to stream your favorite station from home or seeking a station devoted to a specific type of music, use the sites below to research and locate the sounds you crave.
Dulcinea's Insight
- While some stations can be streamed right from their Web sites or via iTunes, other station streams may need to be downloaded onto your desktop or played with a media player or plug-in. A site should give you instructions about the additional software you need to download.
- You can also listen to satellite radio online. To explore your options, visit the satellite radio section of this guide.
- Confused? It’s OK. Other people are, too, which is why HowStuffWorks explains “How Internet Radio Works.”
- Free online radio is available to you because the stations sell ads. Be prepared to be mildly annoyed or fork over some extra cash for plans that eliminate pesky pop-ups and audio commercials.
Dulcinea's Picks
To find a specific radio station …
Radio-Locator
helps you find any radio station in the world, literally. Search by American zip code, state, or radio call letters, or search for stations in a particular country. You’ll find information about the station and a link to the station’s homepage, if it has one. If you’re interested in finding out if your favorite station is being streamed online, this is the best place to check.
For browsing online stations …
AOL Radio
has a list of more than 200 online radio stations you can stream for free. Browse through genres, check out the “Editors’ Radio Station Picks,” or just scroll through all the offerings. Note that you may have to download a plug-in to listen. AOL also offers a help section if you’re having trouble with the program.
Live365
is an index of free Internet radio stations. Browse by category or use the search bar to find a station that plays a song or band in which you’re interested. The design is less aesthetically pleasing than AOL’s, but you may prefer its simplicity. To use Live365, sign up for a free account or pay for a VIP account (packages start at $4.95 a month) and listen ad-free.
Shoutcast
looks messy compared to AOL and Live365, but the “Shoutcast Showcase” lists stations with their genre, and the song that’s currently being broadcast. Search for stations by name or genre to find your listening pleasure. Best of all, Shoutcast will play directly from iTunes if you’ve selected it as your method for listening to MP3s. Otherwise, follow the directions at the top of the page to download a Winamp player.
Who knew?
The New York Times
reported in July that increased royalties on songs played on online radio might be the end of the industry. Online radio stations are fighting back, with some success.
Personal Internet Radio Stations
If the hundreds of radio stations online fail to provide you with what you’re looking for, ... read more »
Satellite Radio
Although listening to satellite radio typically necessitates the installation of a special radio in ... read more »
Public Radio
Public radio is vast and varied, but the Internet can help you soak up most of what’s out ... read more »
Radio History
Now that you’ve found all your favorite music and programs online, you’ll need an ... read more »
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