Welcome

I'm Phil Critcher from Stone Mountain, GA. When I was a teenager in the Southeast US, I would spend hours at night listening to AM radio stations from as far away as I could. I was fascinated to be able to hear what was going on in cities like New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago and even Del Rio, Texas. It was like traveling without leaving my home town. Sports, music, local events, it was great!

Things have changed a lot since then - now you can hear radio from all over everywhere on the internet. And the sound quality is way better, too! This blog is designed to help you find the best radio on the web from around the world. Check out the links below, or browse the various categories to find what you want, then sit back and enjoy the ride.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Ocean FM, South Coast, UK

32K Stream
Web Site
Listen with Windows Media Player

A classic hits pop and rock station from southern England. Another opportunity to experience the sounds of everyday life in an English holiday area.

BRMB FM, Birmingham, UK

32K Stream
Web Site
Listen with Windows Media Player

A local radio station from Birmingham, England. I love this kind of station. Even though it's part of a chain, it lets you eavesdrop on Birmingham life no matter where you are. And the music is good, too, a pop mix that's typical of what's playing in England these days. Good sound quality at 32K.

"haven't you heard?"

SKY.fm

96K Stream
Web Site
Listen with WinAmp
Listen with Windows Media Player
Listen with RealPlayer


This is part of the SKY network from Great Britain. It is a great web station that plays the best of smooth jazz. They also have other genres on the web site. These links go to the smooth jazz station, but if you select Listen Now from the banner menu on their web site, you can access equally good stations covering other music styles. A lot of good tunes here.

More Than Just Another Radio Station
"Give us a few minutes of your time and you will like all of it. Listen for an hour or two and you'll find it very difficult to tear yourself away."

SHOUTcast

Various Stream Rates
Listen/Web Site

This site has a huge variety of different stations, covering all genres. It is from Nullsoft, so all of the streams play on WinAmp. Some are good, some not so, but the vast majority offer great choices for listening. You can spend virtually a lifetime checking them all out.

"SHOUTcast Radio, the home of free Internet Radio. Tune-in to thousands of free online radio stations from DJs and broadcasters around the world."

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Slacker Radio

Unknown Stream Rate
Listen/Web Site

Another of the web sites that creates custom radio stations based on your favorite artists. This one assigns similar artists to each of the artists they have in their database. When you choose an artist or artists as the basis for a station, you get the option of adding any or all of the related artists to the station's playlist. The site appears to have a wide variety of artists and songs, so you can create pretty much any kind of station you like.
Note: There's some classical here, but mainly it's more contemporary stuff.

"Slacker is a new kind of music company. We deliver personal radio that is customized for every listener. Slacker is effortless to use and the music is accessible at home, in the car, or on the go."

Monday, October 29, 2007

Pandora

Unknown Stream Rate
Listen/Web Site

This is one of a special type of sites that develops custom playlists based on artists or songs that you like. Pandora is a product of what they call the music genome project, where songs have been broken down into characteristic components and classified. When you create a station by planting an artist or a song "seed", the station plays that artist or song, plus others that have the same characteristic components. Sounds intriguing, and the results have been great so far. You can even mix your different stations, increasing the variety. A great concept. Check it out.
Note: There's no classical here yet, but they say it'll be coming soon.

"It's a new kind of radio - stations that play only music you like."

Limerick's Live95FM, Ireland

64K stream
Web Site
Listen with Windows Media Player

Another Irish commercial station, this time from Limerick, on the West Coast. I visited Limerick once. An absolutely wonderful place, full of very friendly people. And their radio reflects it, too. Lot's of bouncy songs, bound to make you feel good. I like to listen when I'm working, especially on Monday when I need a good pick-me-up.

Australian Broadcasting - dig Radio

132K Stream
Web Site
Listen

Another Australian station that puts out a great variety of very tasty blues, rock, and soul-tinged fare. Frankly, I'm amazed that a government-sponsored station could be so cool. Of course, all of the radio stations where I'm from are private, so maybe I'm just not used to it. Oh, well, take the good stuff wherever you find it, right?

"Whether you're a big music fan, or just an occasional listener, listen to dig for a diverse mix of great sounds - blues, soul, country, roots, world music, jazz, rock and lots in-between."

Cork's 96FM, Ireland

64K Stream
Web Site
Listen with Windows Media Player

A commercial pop station (probably part of a chain, but so what) with a great mix of songs you've heard and songs you haven't. Ads and commentary make you feel like your visiting Ireland. Great for those vicarious tourists out there.

"Playing the Hits You Can't Get Out of Your Head."

RadioParadise.com, Paradise, CA USA

128K Stream
Web Site
Listen with WinAmp
Listen with RealPlayer
Listen with Windows Media Player

This has been my favorite eclectic rock station for a long time now. It was one of the first ones I found, and it's still among the best, if not the best. To say it's eclectic rock is probably a misnomer, because a lot of what they play couldn't really be classified as rock. It's just good stuff, that's all.

Listener-supported web radio. No Advertising.

SmoothJazz.com, Monterrey, CA USA

128K Stream
Web Site
Listen with WinAmp
Listen with RealPlayer


One of the best smooth jazz stations that I've heard, be it on the web, over the air, or on my own stereo, for that matter. They're based in California, but their appeal is global. Great if your looking for a relaxing but stimulating groove.

"The Global Home for the Smoothest Jazz"

WUCZ 104.1 Carthage, TN USA

64K Stream
Web Site
Listen with Windows Media Player

A good quality middle-Tennessee country station, with the usual mix of sin and sentiment. Sound quality is excellent, and the DJs are easy on the ears. A comfortable place for country fans to hang out.

"Today's Hot New Country, 104.1 The Ranch"

Play Radio UK

Unknown Stream Rate
Listen/Web Site

Here's a web radio site from England that's like Live365 in the US. They have several different streams, each with a different focus. Includes rock, jazz, urban, classical, dance and others. Good selection of songs and good sound quality. Recommended.

"Play Radio UK - Playing Just Great Music from 80s, 70s and the Best of today, with the internet’s finest live DJs throughout the day bringing you news, views, special guests, exclusive interviews and the chance to win fantastic prizes."

107.8 Radio Jackie, London, UK

96K Stream
Web Site
Listen with Windows Media Player
Listen with WinAmp

This is a southwest London station that plays a different group of songs than you would hear in the US (naturally). They have a commercial flavor that tends towards dance beats. Their program manager has excellent taste within these guidelines, and selects some really fine, upbeat songs. They also let people from far away eavesdrop on life in modern London. Great fun for locals and foreigners alike.

"The Sound of Southwest London"

HD Radio on the Web

Various Stream Rates
Listen/Web Site

Here's a site that has numerous US HD Radio Stations. It appears to be from Clear Channel, and it covers a lot of ground from a genre standpoint. There's a lot of good stuff here, especially if you like deeper cuts than you normally get on regular commercial radio. Several of the stations play really good tunes that you haven't heard in a while. They clearly (no pun intended) want you to try out the broadcast HD stations in your area.

"More Stations, better sound, no subscription fee. HD Digital Radio provides digital quality sound, and hundreds of additional stations. Now you can stream our new stations to experience the quality programming, commercial free."

95.7 The Ride, Charlotte/Hickory, NC, USA

64K stream
Web Site

Listen


This is the station I listen to whenever I'm near Charlotte. Mostly classic rock, but some contemporary songs as well. The playlists are always well-chosen, and sometimes they add interesting commentary about the songs and artists that make the experience even more worthwhile. Definitely a plus for those who like variety in their rock menu.

"INDEPENDENT RADIO" and you can hear the difference.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Bondi 88 FM, Bondi Beach, Australia

32K Stream
Web Site
Listen

I'm not sure if these guys are high or what, but they play really spacey music, even when it's not. They say there's something about the air in Australia that makes films and photos look magnificent. Well, there's something about the sound coming out of Bondi FM that really creates a mood, even at 32K. A mix of original rock, R&B and blues from all eras, plus covers with unexpected yet tasteful arrangements. Even the older songs sound ethereal. Great for those dreamy nights when you need to create a special mood.

"BONDI 88 FM is a small fish in the little pond that is Australian radio broadcasting but is a virtual Titan to millions worldwide who are caught up in The Net. We inform our listeners about tourist and community information, beach conditions and local arts and music events. Annually, more overseas visitors tour the Bondi 88 FM website than the number of tourists who actually visit Bondi Beach, the most famous beach in Australia, and arguably the world!