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.
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- 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.
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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, it’s time you learned how to customize your own station. A few sites allow you to create a custom radio station by choosing your favorite songs, albums, artists, and musical genres. The station software will then play similar types of music and provide the option to veto songs you hate. Or search for music you like online and create your own radio playlist.
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- You’ll find more options for selecting and streaming your favorite tunes in the findingDulcinea Music Web Guide.
- Although you can usually listen to customized radio without setting up an account, there are benefits to logging in. For example, you can save your favorite stations and accumulate your own portfolio of stations from which to choose.
- As explained by the BBC, streaming is different from downloading, but it puts a similar toll on a network connection. Your office Internet policy may ban streaming, so be sure to check if it’s allowed.
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Pandora
lets you customize a station based on a song or artist you like. Simply enter your favorite musician or song, and Pandora finds similar music based on musical characteristics of your original choice. Use the “Guide Us …” tab to find out why a song was selected, and then help Pandora improve your station by choosing “I really like this song” or “I don’t like this song.” Save your radio stations with a free membership or use Pandora’s links to buy the songs (and albums) that it plays.
Last.fm
offers a service comparable to Pandora’s. Listen to free radio based on an artist of your choice and choose songs that you like and dislike. However, Last.fm is more robust in the social networking department. Anyone can listen, but if you sign up and download the software, you can also make a profile and share your favorite songs with others.
SeeqPod
scans the Web for your favorite song or band and collects the tracks that are available for streaming. The best part is that you can create playlists with the music you find, so you’re essentially programming your own radio station. Just note that the site is in beta, so watch out for both kinks and improvements.
Launchcast
, a Yahoo site, also offers numerous radio channels and customizable radio akin to Pandora and Last.fm. Unlike those two sites, you can customize your station by selecting one or more genres or albums, not just a song or artist. You’ll still have the ability to highly rate a song so that Yahoo knows to play it again, choose more like it, or blacklist a song from your station. It’s convenient for Yahoo users who don’t want to set up yet another account, but the player is not supported by the Mac operating system.
Satellite Radio
Although listening to satellite radio typically necessitates the installation of a special radio in your home or car, you also have the option of listening right from your computer. Whether you’re already a member looking to set up your free online account, or you’re trying to decide if satellite radio is for you, the sites below show you how to choose and where to get started.
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- If you plan on using satellite for regular radio listening, both XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio offer discounts when you sign up for longer periods of time. Since you’ll need to purchase a special radio to hear stations anyway, you’ve made a commitment. Explore the plan that will save you the most money.
- Both stations allow you to sample the product for free. Use this time to compare the programming to other free radio available on the Web before you make an expensive purchase.
- If you’re already a subscriber, you can listen online for free. You may need to set up an online account first, as you’ll be asked to log in.
- One of the advantages of satellite radio is the convenience factor. While it’s true that you can find a lot of free stations and programming online, you may have to go through multiple steps for streaming and downloading, or put up with a lower-quality product. You also won’t see any ads.
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To learn about satellite radio …
SatelliteRadioUSA
is a comprehensive, unbiased guide to satellite radio that includes information about cost, history, systems, and technology. However, unless you’re an aspiring historian, avoid the news section: you’ll notice the most recent article announces Howard Stern’s new show on SIRIUS, which occurred in 2005.
CNET
explains the technology behind satellite radio, the minor differences between the two major companies, and the reasons why it might be in your interest to upgrade from standard radio. The article was written in 2005, so the comparison of satellite radio stations by genre is a bit dated, but it’s still a worthwhile gauge.
For satellite radio stations …
XM Satellite Radio
offers free online listening to current members and the option to sign up for the online service only. Regular membership starts at $12.95 a month, whereas an online membership can be obtained for $7.99 a month. Note that regular XM Satellite Radio includes more than 170 channels; the Web version offers around 80. Explore your options with the free online trial.
SIRIUS
also provides an online radio service; however, you’ll get a few less channels and pay a higher price: $12.99 a month. What you do get is Howard Stern and the option to upgrade to CD quality sound for $2.99 a month. Standard SIRIUS Satellite Radio is the same price as XM and also includes Internet listening.
Public Radio
Public radio is vast and varied, but the Internet can help you soak up most of what’s out there. Below, you’ll find station Web sites and aggregators, as well as a compilation of recommended programs. Use the Internet as a way to listen online or to research programs that you’ll tune in to on a regular radio.
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- You can also listen to public radio via satellite radio. The quality and consistency may be superior to that of the programming you stream or download.
- Public radio Web sites can be valuable sources for written news and features. Often, you’ll find an article accompanied by an audio clip.
- You can also download public radio podcasts from iTunes.
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For major public radio stations …
NPR
is one of the largest producers of commercial-free radio programming in the United States, and much of its programming is available to read or stream on the Web. Find local stations or download podcasts. The NPR locator will find the Web site of your local public radio station, or it can help you plan your road trip by finding stations in any zip code or state.
Public Radio International
is produced by the BBC, with the intent of providing a global perspective to a U.S. audience. Look for local station broadcasts with podcasts, articles, and audio interviews.
For public radio aggregators …
PublicRadioFan.com
is a complete compilation of worldwide public radio programming. Small fonts and sparse design make the page seem overwhelming at first, but stations are searchable by name, location, format, and language to help you find what you’re looking for. Customize the page by entering your time zone, then select shows to download or stream off the site.
The Public Radio Exchange (PRX)
attempts to widen the public radio audience with what the Washington Post called a “bottomless grab bag full of radio pieces.” Producers and distributors submit pieces to the site, and PRX staffers select shows to recommend to both programmers and regular users like you. Use the search field at the top of the homepage to search for content on your own.
Radio History
Now that you’ve found all your favorite music and programs online, you’ll need an excuse to sit at your computer and learn while you listen. Behold: your daily history and engineering lesson. The sites below provide a crash course in where radio came from and how it works.
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- If you love gadgets and learning about where they came from and how they work, investigate to your heart’s content with the findingDulcinea Technology Web Guide.
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For radio history …
The University of San Diego
covers all the major topics and events in radio history since its inception. The site is all information and lacking in the design department, but its timeline of important people and programs in radio is quite comprehensive.
For how radio works …
Hope College
offers diagrams and succinct descriptions that explain how sound is transmitted over radio.
Who knew?
NASA
explains how radio waves work and explores some of the more diverse functions of radio—beyond carrying the top 40 from the station to your ears. The site is written for kids, but adults (except for astronauts and engineers) can learn something, too.
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