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Just Music |
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Bored silly by the bleak, repetitive style of commercial channels in general?
This page will save your sanity by guiding you to the best free net radio directories, individual channels, & a some video channels too!
*If you're looking for talk radio or podcasts, you want to visit the 'parent' page for this category: Auditory Recreation. *FYI-the radio listings here are a mix of my (Yasue) finds & favs , channels recommended by others, and the result of a lot of web searches! My tastes are rather broad, but I found & listened to many channels that aren't my cup of tea to assure the quality of the streams & provide accurate content descriptions! In addition most are commercial free! Can you feel the love? Sorry Mac users...I have a PC, so you're on your own, unless there you see an option to stream with iTunes, etc! Also, if you have some extra dough, consider donating it to the independent stations you love, as free for us, does not mean it's free for them to be on the air!
2 Databases of music videos
(Thanks Faraque!)| 999Music Video's | 1500 Music Video's |
Before you start clicking away...
you may want to scroll to the bottom of this page for Media Player Help. If you are using WinAmp, you can access most of this media easily. Many channels will also load in Windows Media Player.To play the shows or stations, look for a Listen Now link, Tune In link, or play-button icon on each site. In many cases, you'll have a choice of the stream rate. For example, 128k is a fast stream for fast connections & computers. Membership is always optional, but will give you access to forums & more at many of these sites. Also some stations are 24/7 365 streams, while others have select show times & archives.
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General directories & channels with mixed formats:
These sites have rather large lists of different genres for your choosing. And even though Yasue listens to almost as many genres as you'll find listed on these, she can only post so many specific sites!OK, this one has some annoying pop-ups & isn't commercial free unless you buy a paid subscription. It's included here just because it has a HUGE listing of genres, organized in easy to read/find category listings--which may be helpful for our visitors who have no clue what they like or those who want to explore new styles of music they've never heard. Live365
The next site is tied to WinAmp & offers everything under the sun: Shoutcast Radio
BTW--you can also open a directory of radio & TV feeds from WinAmp if you've downloaded it, but there is more available by visiting the above site or searching for content on the web. Some Shoutcast stations are by subscription!
If you like a mix of music that falls anywhere under or even near the (generic) descriptors alternative, indie, or electronic, this site will give you a nice variety programs. Check the schedule to find out when what you prefer is broadcast. Oh yeah...they also have some world music too: DFM RTV INT
To say the next station has a huge mix, is a gross understatement! It's really hard to describe, so here's what was listed on Now Playing, when I went to grab the link: Oingo Boingo, Bob Dylan, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Yo-Yo Ma. And that's not typical, because it includes some down-beat electronic music, classical, modern rock....Get the idea? If you like a uber variety go to Radio Paradise.
If you like independent artists & music from small labels, you will love tuning into this channel; select a favorite category from a drop down menu to pick the style you prefer at RadioAid.com Or click the out RadioWorld (free without commercials for 2 hrs or keep listening with advertising.)
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Specific formats:
The channels that follow may have some variation in programing, however, they tend stick to a central theme or closely related genres.~Pop/ Various Rock/ Dance Club:
In the mood for trendy, electronic, (DJ) club music, but not in the mood (or to old hehe) to go out? This station will give you the tunes, without the annoying crowds or costly drink tab: Groove Radio
Maybe you just want pop music without the constant commercial interruptions? Listen to commercial-style music from the 80's through the 00's on a choice of 2 channels, pop/rock or country at BoredRadio.com
(They have an embedded player or you can open it in a variety of music players)
If hard rock, metal, death metal--if music with heavy, guitar driven sound is your thing--you really need to visit the channel of your dreams: Radio That Doesn't Suck
This station features a variety of rock (classic, metal, punk, blues, etc) PLUS they organized some independent metal bands & recorded a CD to benefit 3 Multiple Sclerosis charities. Head Case Radio
Here's one for pop lovers with hip tastes. A bit of rap, hip-hop, & modern dance club hits at We Take No Requests Radio
100% pop from a radio station in Long Island: WRAJ
Get your oldies fix from the 50's, 60's, & 70's at SCIR.netor add 80's to the mix at Superstar Oldies
Get down! Shake your groove thang with funk & 70's R&B at P-Funk radio! Or have a listen to various funk, jazz & soul at SolarRadio.com
A fascinating look at various artists (modern) both commercial & independent, which includes some excellent interviews. It's broadcast on regular radio by Public Radio International. Look through listings to see what will catch your ear.
Sounds Eclectic
~Synthetic & electronica of many styles.......
If any flavor of industrial, dark wave, and related genres appeal to you you have a more than a few choices. (Because Yasue is a lil' bit biased, even though she listens to a huge variety of music!)
One of the very best places to tune in for a mix of well known & independent bands is Real Synthetic Audio! The shows are never repetitive & DJ Todd is a laid back guy who doesn't take himself to seriously! Yasue loves this station so much, its listed on her Personal Favs page!
Mostly modern goth & industrial & never a repetitive format on Digital Gunfire
A mix of various dark sounds & crunchy- old & new at WayOutThereRadio.
(BTW-not strictly goth and industrial, if that bugs you, skip this one! They have other channels too--metal, bluegrass, rap, hip hop, Motown, & even POLKA--but Yasue has only tuned into the channel linked above!)
Get your fill of industrial music, listen to community talk radio, or watch a program at Rant Radio
(Fantastic sound quality & a never tedious mix! They also have punk!)
Like the idea of hearing the next big thing in the industrial, goth & related genres before they are signed? This station will deliver that, along with the well known-signed bands mixed in between! Radio Sanctuary
+++Electronic, but NOT necessarily dark.......
If you like ambient, downtempo electronica, exotica, modern lounge, EDM, IDM or anything in between you'll fall madly in love with a site that steams a pleasing mix of channels & shows. They lean to ambient sounds, however, they do have a dark industrial channel & one for American Roots (cowboy) music at SomaFM. (Secret Agent is especially good background music for surfing the net, without being tranced to sleep!)
Even more ambient, downtempo, IDM, & trip hop O 'plenty can be found at: Epiphany Radio
Finding an electronic sub genre to put this in is just not possible, as it has a wide variety. It is most definately listening music rather than dance or club music though. Get lost for hours at OEM Radio
~Folk, bluegrass, blues, jazz, roots, & "other" music:
This is a fascinating interactive channel that's broadcast out of Alaska. They play a variety of music by independent artists & the station is driven by listeners. The music is down-to-Earth modern folk & the overall station style is akin to a close-knit neighborhood. Even if this isn't your favorite genre of music, tune in to experience one of the most unique stations on the net! You can listen in Windows Media Player if the default doesn't work. Check out the community at Whole Wheat Radio
(one drawback is that the bandwidth is limited, so you may not be able to stream during busy times of the day)
Bluegrass from contemporary & classic artists, available in one hr shows at Bluegrass Preservation Society.
Bluegrass fans will find the best mix at this net radio station, on which the DJs are musicians & bluegrass historians who are always on the lookout for most interesting music in the genre. BluegrassCountry.org
If you enjoy American Roots music this program will be heaven to you are, plus you will hear interesting interviews with the artists on :American Routes (available for Real Player. See the bottom of the page for details.)
(Yasue's fav local radio station)
Can't afford a tropical vacation? Escape with your ears! Rainbow Radio-all Hawaiian, all the time!
For mostly modern Hawaiian music, try KCCN FM 100.
Or try a station which offers a mix of Hawaiian, blues, jazz, rock, reggae, & world music. KKCR, Kauai
Like swingin' lounge music? This station hosts a variety of exotica, lounge, surf, & space age pop and more. Luxuria Music
World Music:
If you love African beats & cross cultural music infused with similar sound listen in on Afropop Worldwide.
This site features world music with a mix of jazz & new age. MonadFM
The allure of Flamenco can be found at Tim's Radio (he has metal too)
Tune into Indian radio, which features everything from traditional Punjabi music, various world music, & some ambient at Music Terrain International. (Some of the best dance music is from India!)
The most amazing music stream site out there!
This is so good, it got it's own HEADER!I can not do justice to describe this amazing site. Here's what you do...go there and type in a band you really like & use it will figure out what else you'll like & create personalized stations! CRAZY! It was developed by Stanford graduate Tim Westergren & The Music Genome Project (a group of musicians & technicians) after they researched & analyzed several styles of music, to pinpoint common elements in similar/different styles. They boiled it all down to 400 elements, which is what drives Pandora's ablilty to create your personal stations. Freakin' brilliant! Pandora
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Media Player HELP!
There are many players that can be downloaded for free if the programs you're trying to access are not designed the one you currently use.Good news-many websites now use Flash, for easy viewing/listening. This is bundled with most web browsers. If your browser does not include it, or if you need to update, click HERE!
*This is good news, because there is rarely lag & it is a low maintenance way to access media online.*
WInAmp:
Some websites offer a variety of options for playing music, video, & film. The most common option, which is frequently recommended by content creators, is WinAmp. This free media player will play music on your PC, internet radio, TV, & movies. It is also a VERY small file for a media player, so it won't bog down your hard drive! In addition to working as an off-line media player, it will play media as you encounter it on websites; there is also a listing of radio, films, & TV accessible from a menu within WinAmp. Yasue (& many other geeks) find this player to be the best option to use! Go to the download page!WinAmp tips:
-You can control the volume independent of your PC's master volume using the volume slider. This is a great feature if you want sound alerts for IM chat, game sound effects, etc. Listen to music, but no need to miss other important audio cues!
-Change the screen size by clicking on the buttons marked 1x or 2x. Use the "window" button to enlarge the screen with controls visible, use the directional arrow button to make the viewing area fit your PC desktop.
Other options:
Quicktime is a player for Apple computers, however, a free version is available for Windows (PC) users. This is also recommended, as it is also a very common media format. The drawbacks: no volume control or option to change the screen size. Go to the download page!
RealPlayer is frequently the only option available for playing media on some websites. There is a free version available.
Yasue is not a fan of RealPlayer, because it is a rather large file & the viewer is loaded with ads! The only bonuses for Realplayer are for those who choose to buy the upgrade to the Pro version, which grants you access to a great deal of content, including, Video, TV, Movies, & music downloads. If you decide to download & install it, pay attention to the last step, as it will allow you to choose which media types it plays by default! If you like Windows Media Player, WinAmp, etc, be sure choose the "customize option" & un-check all media types that do not have RealPlayer before the name!
Go to the download page!
If you are using a Linux based OS or would like to have even more options, you can compare features, system compatibility, & cost by clicking HERE!
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