Due to advances in technology and the Internet, computer users have many options when it comes to listening to music. With online radio, music lovers are no longer restricted to a few local radio stations that play the same music over and over again or only offer a limited variety of choices. Users are able to turn on and tune in to online radio stations from almost anywhere in the world with the simple click of the mouse.
Internet radio broadcasts a wide variety of music genres. From Top 40, country and classical to hip-hop, Christian and jazz, the Internet provides the latest and greatest tunes from a wide selection of musical genres, at no-cost to users. News, talk and music videos are also available with many services. No special equipment is needed in order to listen to an online radio. Although some services require specific software, a high-speed Internet connection and a computer is all that is needed in most cases.
Although there are many Internet radio services, some offer free music while others do not. The following websites provide no-cost radio services to users.
Free Internet Radio
Last.fm – Last.fm combines great music with a variety of social networking features. Founded in 2002, Last.fm was purchased by CBS Interactive in 2007. Users are able to listen to radio stations via the website or listen to music with Scrobbler software, a desktop player.
- Last.fm is available in 12 languages.
- Email verification is required in order to sign up.
- Customizable playlists and radio stations are available once registration is completed.
- Listen to 30-second previews or full-length songs.
- Last.fm offers a free, ad-supported service as well as a subscription-based service.
- Users outside the United States, UK and Germany are required to purchase a subscription in order to use the service.
- Over 3.5 million tracks are currently available in the music catalog.
- Offers some support for portable media players.
- Some free music downloads are available on the Free Music Downloads page.
AccuRadio – Founded by Kurt Hanson, this Chicago-based online radio service has over 400 channels and sub-channels of music. Designed specifically with adults in mind, this multichannel radio station was voted People’s Voice Winner award for Best Radio, AccuTunes, from AccuRadio, won a Webby Award in 2008.
- Fully customizable.
- Advertising may be distracting in this ad-supported service
- A handy channel guide is included.
- Compatible with Win98+, Mac OS X 10.3 and 10.4
- Requires Windows Media Player
Live365 – Launched in 1999, Live365 features more than 240 different genres of music on thousands of different stations.
- Registration is required.
- Internet Explorer works best.
- Partnering with iTunes and MSN Music, registered users are also able to purchase and download music by clicking on the “Buy” button.
- Users can also create radio stations.
Rhapsody – Launched in 2001, Rhapsody offers both streaming music and the Rhapsody Jukebox player.
- Rhapsody offers a free, ad-supported version and several subscription-based services. Rhapsody 25, the free service, is limited to only 25 free streams per month.
- More than 6 million songs are currently available in the Rhapsody catalog.
- The service is only available to users in the United States.
- Compatible with Windows2000+, Mac and Linux operating systems.
Internet radio provides a user-friendly alternative to traditional radio by offering a wide variety of music genres at no-cost.
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