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Independent alternative
rock from webcasting pioneers |
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Broadway musicals --
over 20 channels |
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12
channels of rock, pop, jazz, more [MC] |
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Indie rock, California
AOR, Modern Rock Classics, Twang [MC] |
|
Nine channels from Britain's
BBC Radio |
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Popular Internet-only classical station |
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Cabaret from Blossom Dearie
to Frank Sinatra |
 |
Top 40 FM from London, England |
 |
Modern AC FM from
Salinas, CA (currently not streaming) |
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Tech news 24 hours a day |
 |
Dozens
of channels of pop, rock, rap, dance, R&B, and oldies [MC] |
|
Popular techno/ trance station
(Shoutcast's #1) |
|
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Hundreds of channels!
(for Canadians) [MC] |
|
The original "World
Class Rock" AAA rock station. |
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Five Internet-onlys
from London's Capital FM: R&B, dance, etc. [MC] |
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Hard rock Internet-only
webcaster from L.A. |
 |
Americana (rock-country-folk)
FM with personality |
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Hit music FM from
Sydney, Australia |
|
|
Public radio, including
live and archived programs |
 |
Top 40 FM from Paris |
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Top 40 FM from Singapore
|
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Over
140 channels, a/k/a AOL's Spinner [MC] |
 |
AAA-formatted Internet-only
(Aimee Mann, U2, Pete Yorn, etc.) |
|
AAA-formatted rock featuring Jimmy
Buffett and friends |
 |
Progressive AOR from
KPIG's Bill Goldsmith |
 |
100 channels
of satellite radio (20-min. time limit per session) [MC] |
 |
Internet-only all-'80s
station |
 |
Hot AC "Real
Music for the UK." (Often Arbitron-rated #1) |
 |
Popular 70s-80s-90s rock
Internet-only station |
 |
Classical FM owned
by The New York Times |
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Below are our picks for some
of the best and/or most popular Internet radio stations now playing.
(Just click on the illustration of the player
to visit the site.) |
|
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3WK
Independent, underground alternative radio
20kbps mono, RealAudio and Windows Media
An "underground," independent alternative-rock streamer.
Has stayed near the top of Measurecast's charts for a long time. Also
offers "Classic" version
|
 |
97X (Oxford, OH)
"The future of rock & roll"
24-56-128 kbps Real & MP3, 20 kbps Windows Media
(20 kbps streams are mono, others are stereo)
From Oxford, OH, one of America's legendary alternative rock stations, made
famous nationally by Dustin Hoffman's character in "Rain Man"
repeating their slogan (with sound effect).
|
 |
AccuBroadway
More than 20 channels of all-Broadway music
32kbps stereo, Windows Media
Channels include shows from a given decade, shows by specific
composers (Kander & Ebb, Rodgers & Hart/Hammerstein, Sondheim),
jazz versions, London casts, an all-overtures channel, and more. (A spin-off
of one of the channels of RAIN
Radio)
|
 |
AccuJazz
Saxophone jazz, piano jazz, and more
32kbps stereo, Windows Media
Another fine product from the crack team of interns at RAIN
|
 |
Antenne Bayern
English-language rock and pop from Germany
Two streams: (1) Live "Hot Adult Contemporary" FM simulcast, (2)
Interent-only rock version (Deep Purple, Scorpions, Live) called "RockAntenne."
Great sound. |
 |
AT&T WorldNet Radio
47 channels of Internet radio
20kbps mono, Real Audio and Windows Media
Produced by RadioAMP (which also does radio stations for Barnes & Noble,
BellSouth, RealONE, and Bolt), this is a nice, clean, well-done product.
Has all the basics -- skip button, presets, CD cover art, good "Help"
section, etc. |
 |
AudioRealm
Links to dozens of independent webcasters that stream in MP3 or WIndows
media using this firm's software. (See also Live365 and Shoutcast below.) |
 |
BBC Radio Online
20-44kbps, RealAudio
All of the BBC's channels are available here, from pop-station
Radio-1 to the news on Radio-5. In addition, most channels have healthy
online message boards and chat areas
|
 |
Beethoven.com
"The World's Classical Music Station"
32kbps RealAudio and 21kbps Windows Media
Atypically for an Internet-only radio station,
Beethoven.com actually has live DJs in
studios playing the music! Beethoven.com is a very popular classical music
site that has a strong and loyal listener following. |
 |
 |
Cablemusic
Twnety mainstream channels
20kbps stereo, Windows Media
About 20 mainstream channels of music --
classic rock, Top 40, etc. Player featuers a "balance" control
(atypical!) and seven presets that work just like a car radio. |
 |
Choice Radio
22 channels of pop and rock
20kbps stereo, Windows Media
Twenty-two channels of mainstream pop, rock, and dance
music, including a nice "Voices of Women" channel and a unique
"Native American" channel. (Now playing,
skip)
|
 |
c|net Radio
News/talk for techheads!
30kbps, RealAudio and Windows Media
Live stream for c|net radio news.
|
 |
CyberRadio2000
Classic rock, top 40, hair bands, disco...
32kbps mono, Windows Media
Whether you like to dance or to rock out, this
station has lots of channels you might love: Sock
Hoppin', Doo Wop Corner, Deep Funk, WBMX/Chicago House Classics, Euro Dance
Party, Salsation, Ragin' Cajun Zydeco, Old School Jamz, '70s Lite Hits,
TV Tunes, Commercial Heaven, Metal, Hair Bands... |
 |
Digitally Imported
European techno and trance
24 to 96kbps stereo, MP3 or Windows Media
Generally the #1 station on the "Shoutcast" system
of indepdent Webcasters. Offers five channels of music (Trance, Hard Trance,
Hard House, Eurodance, and Classical (also available at MostlyClassical.com)
in a wide variety of formats and bitrates. (Listening to MP3 streams requires
a player like Winamp)
|
 |
The Iceberg.com
32kbps, Windows Media
Cool, creative stations such as Vinyl FM, Red Seat, 1groove.com
and PrimeTicket.net (which rebroadcasts live concerts) set this Canadian
webcaster apart from the crowd, plus dozens and dozens of new channels
spanning over a dozen genres of music! Requires entry of a Canadian postal
code (analagous to a zip code) to listen.
|
 |
IM Networks (a/k/a Sonicbox)
About 800 well-organized "Best of Planet"
stations (primarily independents and internationals) streaming in MP3
format via their customized tuner/player. Also available as a hardware
device with remote control to get music to your home stereo...and as the
Internet radio tuning system in stereos including the now-available Philips
FM-i1000.
|
 |
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KBCO/Boulder
"World Class Rock" (Mono?)
The first AAA (Adult Album Alternative) station to use the
phrase "World Class Rock" -- thus,. when Clear Channel shut
down its innovative "WorldClassRock.com" website, it directed
those listeners to this excellent Boulder, CO-based FM station..
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|
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KCRW / Santa Monica, CA
Real and/or WMA, depending on choice of stream
KCRW is one of the nation's leading NPR radio stations,
offering an eclectic schedule of news, locally and nationally produced
music, public affairs, political analysis and cultural programs. Named
"Best Bit of Everything" radio station by Details magazine,
Offers three streams: KCRW Live, KCRW Music, and KCRW
WorldNews
|
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KFOG/San Francisco
"World Class Rock"
20 kbps stereo, WindowsMedia
Another legendary "AAA" radio station (see KBCO
above). Note in the screenshot at left that Yahoo is running banner ads
for their Internet radio station (Launch) to KFOG's audience.
|
 |
KISS 92 / Toronto
"Toronto's #1 hit music station"
And has a great-looking website |
 |
KNAC
Pure rock
Internet-only hard rock outlet named after a legendary
(but now defunct) Los Angeles station |
 |
KPIG
Americana (rock, country, folk, blues)
16kbps Windows Media, 24 and 128kbps RealAudio and
Windows Media
This little FM station in Freedom, CA really was the first
terrestrial radio station to have a continous live stream on the net.
That, along with creative, non-corporate programming (rock, country, blues,
folk) and a good sense of humor, makes KPIG a popular destination
|
 |
LAUNCHcast
Customize your own station
32, 64, and 128kpbs, Windows Media
LAUNCHcast lets users create their own stations by giving
the player preferences and rating songs and artists. In addition, you
have access to stations created by other LAUNCHcast users. (Recently purchased
by Yahoo!)
|
 |
Live365
"The world's largest network of independently-produced
audio content"
Variety of bitrates, MP3
Live365 is a collection of thousands of independent streamers
-- largely amateur/hobbyist radio programmers who set up a playlist from
their home or dorm. Requires MP3 player like Winamp or its own custom
player.
|
 |
Lycos Radio: Pure Jazz
Internet radio producer Radio
Central provides 18 channels of music to Lycos Radio (plus other
channels to Earthlink, About.com, Scour.com, and A&E), but one of
their best is the "Pure Jazz" channel found here. Great sound
quality, with knowledgeable and live-sounding air personalities.
|
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MediAmazing
Lets you create a mix of genres
20 and 48kbps, Windows Media
Allows you to create your own "station" by
choosing which formats you want to hear. Requires registration (~10 questions).
|
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MSN Music
32, 64, and 128kbps Windows Media
Microsoft's multi-streamer site, which acts like a cross
between Spinner or Radio Free Virgin's original channels and LAUNCHCasts'
customization
|
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MTV Radio
Dial-up and Broadband Windows Media and Real Player
Approximately 60-channel network of channels covering various
types of music, but mostly those that might appeal to MTV's, MTV2's, and
VH-1's core viewerships. Promos and Music News from MTV. Features a "skip"
button.
|
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NME Radio
Cutting-edge new music mixed with popular favorites
32kbps, Windows Media |
 |
Nova 100
Melbourne, Australia's newest
FM
From the press release (December 2001): "Tthere is only one commercial
radio station in Melbourne that guarantees no more than four minutes of
advertising per hour (less than half the advertising content of other FM's)...
Only on Nova 100 will you hear a mix of modern
rock, alternative, pop, dance and hip hop..." |
 |
NPR: National Public
Radio
The NPR website includes links to all NPR member station
websites, many of which stream their programming on the Web, plus audio
archives including today's programs (posted after they air on the West Coast)
and up to six years' worth of past programs. |
 |
NRJ
Hit music from Paris
|
|
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Radio@AOL
Rebranded version of Spinner
20kbps mono, RealAudio
Radio@AOL is only available to AOL users with recent
versions of the AOL client software. Features a slightly different selection
of channels than AOL-owned Spinner (see below). |
 |
Radio Free Virgin
Programming that "challenges"
traditional radio
32, 96, and 128kbs Windows Media
Radio Free Virgin has 40+ channels that vary from mainstream
to niche, from Adult Alternative and Modern Rock to stations such as The
Crossroads (blues), an all-soundtrack channel, and even "Garbage
Radio," a channel dedicated to the band of the same name. ("Lite"
version works immediately; full version requires program download.)
|
 |
radioio
"Intelligent, eclectic, adult alternative"
24, 48, and 64 kbps MP3; 20, 64, and 96 kbps Windows
Media
Adult album alternative (triple A) format: "Intelligent,
eclectic mix of acoustic centered alternative, rock, folk, and world music.
strong playlist emphasis on current and upcoming releases (75%) with material
from the 90s, 80s, and 70s. phish, u2, REM, patty griffin, steely dan,
ryan adams, grateful dead, elvis costello, midnight oil. visit www.radioio.com/playlist.php
for a list of this week's adds"
|
 |
Radio Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett and friends
32kbps stereo or 11kbps mono, RealAudio
Nice variety: Paul
Simon, Allman Brothers Band, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band,
Donald Fagan, etc. Seemingly live -- with actual DJs! However,
no custom player -- plays through standard RealPlayer interface.
(No "skip" and no "Now playing," but tight and bright!)
|
 |
Radio Paradise
"Eclectic intelligent radio"
16, 32, 64, and 128kbps, mono and stereo, MP3 and
RealAudio
Programmed by KPIG's Bill Goldsmith, Radio Paradise
is a reaction against increasingly commericialized terrestrial radio.
Nice variety of Alternative music: Genesis,
Radiohead, Suzanne Vega, Bob Marley, etc. etc...
|
 |
RAIN Radio
32kbps stereo, Windows Media
A 14-channel Internet radio station developed by the interns
at "RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter," a web-based daily
trade publication (here).
Includes indie rock, avant-garde classical, "Motel California"
(AOR), and more.
|
 |
Shoutcast
All bitrates, MP3
Shoutcast is actually a listing of hundreds of independent
MP3 streamers of almost every conceivable kind of audio. The quality of
these streams can vary widely, but with a little searching you're likely
to find something you want to hear. Listening to Shoutcast streams requires
an MP3 player such as Winamp for Windows, or iTunes for the Mac.
Most-listened-to stations typically include Digitally
Imported (see above), Radio
Paradise (see above), WOLF-FM
(see below), SmoothJazz.com,
Groove Salad (ambient
beats & grooves from SOMA FM), and RadioStorm
(pop/rock/R&B).
|
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Sirus Satellite Radio
47Kbps Windows Media
This satellite radio provider also offers all
of its 100+ professionally programmed stations, via a nicely designed
and useful web-based player.
|
 |
Spinner
"The leading multichannel music service"
20kbps mono, RealAudio
The largest multi-channel webcaster, Spinner offers over
150 channels in a variety of genres spanning almost every format you're
likely to hear on traditional radio. Requires a download.
|
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Ultimate 80s
Best of the 80s music today
Windows Media Player, Hiwire enabled
Ultimate-80s is "your only live music station dedicated
exclusively to bringing you the best of the 1980s, today [and] is proud
to currently have Richard Blade and Richard Skinner, both 1980s radio
icons, as DJs (Digital Jocks)..."
|
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Village Voice Radio
20kbps Windows Media
Features occasional live shows, interviews, and even concerts!
|
 |
Virgin Radio UK
Live FM radio from London
34kbps RealAudio, 20kbps Windows Media
Good webcast of the popular UK adult CHR FM radio station.
Also features two Internet-only "sidechannels."
|
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WGN Radio
16kbps RealAudio
Historic and still very popular Chicago news/talk station.
Mostly original content, including an archive of interesting bits from
past shows.
|
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WOLF FM
"The hottest mix of
the 70s 80s and today"
24-56-128 kbps MP3, plus Windows Media 20kbps
|
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XACT Radio
Download a different version of this custom player
from any of several dozen radio station websites. It starts out offering
an Internet-only version of the radio station...but then allows you to
customize it by adding or subtracting music from over a dozen compatible
genres.
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More coming soon: Cornerband.com, Hard Radio, WebRock.net, HotCountryHits,
BoomerRadio, KCRW/Los Angeles, WQXR/New York City, SmoothJazz.com, Perfect
10 (Singapore), JazzFM.com, Ani-Ko Radio, Measurecast-rated stations #31-50,
and others. NetRockRadio, Skyline Jazz, FlareSOUND, Sunlite-Radio, (Are
you a Webcaster? Get listed! Click here.
|
|
(a/k/a
QuickTuner)
