live-streaming American radio
July 16, 2015 1:13 AM Subscribe
I’m looking for some good American radio stations that live-stream through the internet.
I’m an American living in Europe. I haven’t been able to go home in a year, and it will be at least another 6 months before I can go visit. I’m feeling a little homesick, and I’ve discovered that it helps me feel like I’m not so far away from home when I can listen to American radio stations, which I can do through the internet. Can you recommend some good live-streaming radio stations to me?
I’m not interested in pure internet radio stations, podcasts, or things like Pandora, where there’s no one talking, because I really like listening live to local news and DJ’s just talking about ordinary stuff. I also like knowing what the new popular songs are, because I feel so disconnected from American culture at the moment, which is another reason why pure internet radio stations are not interesting to me right now. I’m also not really interested in NPR, because a) I was never a big fan of it to begin with when I was still in the U.S. and b) I already read The New York Times and so I get plenty of national news already, which is what NPR seems to mostly be focused on.
I particularly like alternative rock stations, and if you know of a good classical music station where the DJ’s talk like normal people and not like they’re trying to lull you to sleep, that would be fantastic. But if you know of a great country music station or something else entirely, I’m open to suggestions for all genres as long as it’s not conservative talk radio.
I’m an American living in Europe. I haven’t been able to go home in a year, and it will be at least another 6 months before I can go visit. I’m feeling a little homesick, and I’ve discovered that it helps me feel like I’m not so far away from home when I can listen to American radio stations, which I can do through the internet. Can you recommend some good live-streaming radio stations to me?
I’m not interested in pure internet radio stations, podcasts, or things like Pandora, where there’s no one talking, because I really like listening live to local news and DJ’s just talking about ordinary stuff. I also like knowing what the new popular songs are, because I feel so disconnected from American culture at the moment, which is another reason why pure internet radio stations are not interesting to me right now. I’m also not really interested in NPR, because a) I was never a big fan of it to begin with when I was still in the U.S. and b) I already read The New York Times and so I get plenty of national news already, which is what NPR seems to mostly be focused on.
I particularly like alternative rock stations, and if you know of a good classical music station where the DJ’s talk like normal people and not like they’re trying to lull you to sleep, that would be fantastic. But if you know of a great country music station or something else entirely, I’m open to suggestions for all genres as long as it’s not conservative talk radio.
Don't pretty much all radio stations stream online now? Have you tried your hometown stations? (because you mentioned local news)
posted by acidic at 1:39 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by acidic at 1:39 AM on July 16, 2015
If you use TuneIn Radio app you can pick specific stations in American cities that you may be interested in that live streams on the "interwebs". But that's more Android than PC.
posted by kschang at 1:40 AM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by kschang at 1:40 AM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: A lot of radio stations stream online, but not all of them. I've found my hometown stations (the ones that stream anyway) but now I'm curious about radio stations in places in the U.S. that I've never lived, because it's nice to have more than 2 stations to choose from.
posted by colfax at 1:54 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by colfax at 1:54 AM on July 16, 2015
KCRW out of LA has amazing DJs from 8PM on. Great station.
*Maybe* WGN AM 720 out of Chicago. That's just non-political talk radio.
I found NPR to be a great comfort when I was abroad.
posted by persona au gratin at 2:44 AM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
*Maybe* WGN AM 720 out of Chicago. That's just non-political talk radio.
I found NPR to be a great comfort when I was abroad.
posted by persona au gratin at 2:44 AM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
In a little town on the gulf coast is a city called Apalachicola. It's where you head far enough north to cross from florida back into the south. There is a tiny little totally independent radio station there. The same guy reads all the ads. They're all local commercials. I mean REAL local commercials. It's so..... Folksy or something that it makes me so happy to listen to. (In eastern time:) Weekdays is a great non repetitive general rock mix. Evenings is blues. And weekends is all beach rock. Such a great station. Available on tunein or here:
oyster radio stream
posted by chasles at 2:56 AM on July 16, 2015 [4 favorites]
oyster radio stream
posted by chasles at 2:56 AM on July 16, 2015 [4 favorites]
Best answer: You won't learn what's currently popular, but in my estimation WWOZ in New Orleans is approximately the best radio station in the world.
posted by griseus at 2:57 AM on July 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by griseus at 2:57 AM on July 16, 2015 [3 favorites]
Best answer: KPFT (Pacifica radio out of Houston) is a really cool radio station and they stream, too. Incredibly eclectic, a bunch of different shows that the DJs work free, just out of love for the music. I'm not an atheist but I *love* to listen to the National Atheist Hour because there are always to many intelligent, thoughtful, creative minds on that show.
It's got great history -- a week after they started broadcasting (late 60s or early 70s) the KKK dynamited their transmitter; they were back on in no time at all.
Houston is sortof a wild mix of old money, oil money, big medicine, insane cops, random violence, a vibrant gay community, a wildly creative art community -- it's one hell of a stew. And good food, too, it's where greazy Tex-Mex meets greazy Louisiana grub and it all comes together to make you happy, or it does me, anyways.
You get a good feel of the city off of KPFT. I recommend it.
posted by dancestoblue at 2:59 AM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
It's got great history -- a week after they started broadcasting (late 60s or early 70s) the KKK dynamited their transmitter; they were back on in no time at all.
Houston is sortof a wild mix of old money, oil money, big medicine, insane cops, random violence, a vibrant gay community, a wildly creative art community -- it's one hell of a stew. And good food, too, it's where greazy Tex-Mex meets greazy Louisiana grub and it all comes together to make you happy, or it does me, anyways.
You get a good feel of the city off of KPFT. I recommend it.
posted by dancestoblue at 2:59 AM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
You want iHeartRadio. They let you stream over thousands of stations.
posted by unexpected at 3:04 AM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by unexpected at 3:04 AM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
Agree with iheart radio.
Fwiw I listen to KROQ (Los Angeles alternative) every morning because I like the morning show.
posted by vignettist at 4:05 AM on July 16, 2015
Fwiw I listen to KROQ (Los Angeles alternative) every morning because I like the morning show.
posted by vignettist at 4:05 AM on July 16, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions so far. iHeartRadio doesn't work for me because I'm not in the U.S.
posted by colfax at 4:13 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by colfax at 4:13 AM on July 16, 2015
Best answer: WTMD in Baltimore is a public radio station with programming that might appeal to you.
posted by mchorn at 4:25 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by mchorn at 4:25 AM on July 16, 2015
Pittsburgh is blessed to have WYEP which is an independently funded public radio station. They're not super heavy with local ads, except during pledge season, but I honestly can't recommend them enough.
posted by librarianamy at 4:49 AM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by librarianamy at 4:49 AM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Here are some Cincinnati, OH area streams:
WOBO: An indie station out of Rural Southeastern Ohio. They're at their best with Bluegrass, old-school country and vintage Garage rock, but they also have a German polka show hosted by an old German guy that is amazing.
WNKU is our local college/NPR affiliate station. They have some great local DJs that play very good alternative/indie rock. As I say about their music, I might not LIKE everything they play, but it's always interesting.
WGUC This is the University of Cincinnati Classical Music station. I've only listened infrequently, so I can't speak to the DJ's excitement factor.
And here is one Columbus area stream:
WOSU This is the Ohio State's classical music station. The DJs were great when I lived in Columbus, but it's been about 7 years, so I can't speak to their current status. I do remember them being super knowledgeable and their commentary was always informative.
None of these are IHeartRadio, but WGUC is an iTunes stream, so I'm not sure how that will jive overseas.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 5:02 AM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
WOBO: An indie station out of Rural Southeastern Ohio. They're at their best with Bluegrass, old-school country and vintage Garage rock, but they also have a German polka show hosted by an old German guy that is amazing.
WNKU is our local college/NPR affiliate station. They have some great local DJs that play very good alternative/indie rock. As I say about their music, I might not LIKE everything they play, but it's always interesting.
WGUC This is the University of Cincinnati Classical Music station. I've only listened infrequently, so I can't speak to the DJ's excitement factor.
And here is one Columbus area stream:
WOSU This is the Ohio State's classical music station. The DJs were great when I lived in Columbus, but it's been about 7 years, so I can't speak to their current status. I do remember them being super knowledgeable and their commentary was always informative.
None of these are IHeartRadio, but WGUC is an iTunes stream, so I'm not sure how that will jive overseas.
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 5:02 AM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
When I miss home I tune into KOZZ Reno's classic rock station. Nothing special just a basic 70s-80s rock station.
For some extra fun, in about a month Burning Man Internet Radio will go live on the playa. BMIR broadcasts all year round but a few days before the event and for the week of, it broadcasts live from the event with more DJs, a weirder mix of music, good talk with artists, announcements of things happening there, and a bunch of great PSAs for the event. It's probably my favorite radio station for that week.
Both of these are available on their websites and in the TuneIn app.
posted by Jungo at 5:13 AM on July 16, 2015
For some extra fun, in about a month Burning Man Internet Radio will go live on the playa. BMIR broadcasts all year round but a few days before the event and for the week of, it broadcasts live from the event with more DJs, a weirder mix of music, good talk with artists, announcements of things happening there, and a bunch of great PSAs for the event. It's probably my favorite radio station for that week.
Both of these are available on their websites and in the TuneIn app.
posted by Jungo at 5:13 AM on July 16, 2015
Best answer: WNCW out of Western North Carolina plays a great variety of roots rock, indie, bluegrass, etc. WFMU is great, but you won't hear what's popular. WNCW will, for certain values of what's popular.
posted by rikschell at 5:58 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by rikschell at 5:58 AM on July 16, 2015
89.3 The Current It's technically public radio, but it's a indie and local-to-Minnesota music station, so I think it'll still be good for your use. You'll still have to deal with pledge drives from time to time, but the DJs tend to go a little weird during the pledge drives and do things like tell you to give up vegetables and make personal appeals to Prince to donate money, so the pledge drives aren't so bad.
posted by dinty_moore at 6:12 AM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 6:12 AM on July 16, 2015 [2 favorites]
The live stream is being a little wonky for me at the moment but KDHX from St. Louis, MO has a fantastic, eclectic variety of independent music.
posted by saul wright at 6:46 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by saul wright at 6:46 AM on July 16, 2015
CHIRP - Chicago Independent Radio Project is about to change from internet only to add a broadcast frequency. Independently programmed from volunteer DJs. Wide variety of playlists, many Chicago focused.
posted by readery at 7:04 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by readery at 7:04 AM on July 16, 2015
Local Music stations that i listen to over Apps
104.5 - I heart radio app - Rock/Alt
WHYY - Tune in - NPR Station
posted by radsqd at 7:10 AM on July 16, 2015
104.5 - I heart radio app - Rock/Alt
WHYY - Tune in - NPR Station
posted by radsqd at 7:10 AM on July 16, 2015
Radio1045.com - Philly's alternative radio station and exactly what you're looking for.
Also if you stream them through iheartradio.com there's an option to "swith station" or similar -- it has several similar stations in other cities it will cycle through.
posted by DoubleLune at 7:17 AM on July 16, 2015
Also if you stream them through iheartradio.com there's an option to "swith station" or similar -- it has several similar stations in other cities it will cycle through.
posted by DoubleLune at 7:17 AM on July 16, 2015
Best answer: KOPB from Oregon. There's also locally programmed music station KINK but I couldn't get it to work on Android so can't verify it works.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:34 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by fiercekitten at 7:34 AM on July 16, 2015
Best answer: Seconding KCRW from Santa Monica. They have several streams online. Ecletic24 is the stream that's just music all day, every day (no interruptions for news or other programming). They also have an app, which is quite impressive--lots of the individual deejays have huge catalogs of previous sets of theirs that you can stream on demand. I like Garth Trinidad's shows above all others, although Marion Hodges is very cool and will actually play requests you tweet at her during her sets. But, yes, the deejays talk about upcoming shows and whatnot. KCRW's also got a stream version of their over-the-air broadcast, so you get the whole effect of being in a car in traffic in LA!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 8:44 AM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 8:44 AM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Personally, I love student-run stations. So, how about WHJE-FM, voice of the Carmel High School Greyhounds.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:49 AM on July 16, 2015
posted by Thorzdad at 8:49 AM on July 16, 2015
Here in the US anyway, iTunes comes with an "Internet Radio" selection. It has categories like "News/Talk" that include local radio stations, and there's a "Top 40" with 1,275 streams. Lots of international, too. Some streams have commercials, some don't.
Having all these choices aggregated on one place makes browsing pretty easy.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 8:56 AM on July 16, 2015
Having all these choices aggregated on one place makes browsing pretty easy.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 8:56 AM on July 16, 2015
The TuneIn app is mentioned a few times in this thread, but the website works just as well. TuneIn.com | By Location | North America | United States...
posted by easement1 at 9:50 AM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by easement1 at 9:50 AM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
WXRT Radio Chicago!
WWOZ New Orleans
KCOU Mizzou student station
89.1 The Wood Lindenwood University
posted by cyndigo at 10:09 AM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
WWOZ New Orleans
KCOU Mizzou student station
89.1 The Wood Lindenwood University
posted by cyndigo at 10:09 AM on July 16, 2015 [1 favorite]
Seconding WXRT in Chicago. That was the first station I thought of!
I'll add in WONC, the North Central College (Naperville, IL) student station. You can even request a song via Twitter. And it's commercial-free!
posted by SisterHavana at 9:39 PM on July 16, 2015
I'll add in WONC, the North Central College (Naperville, IL) student station. You can even request a song via Twitter. And it's commercial-free!
posted by SisterHavana at 9:39 PM on July 16, 2015
if you want to use iheartradio, you can download a google chrome extension like HOLA VPN to get around the US restriction.
posted by unexpected at 12:02 AM on July 17, 2015
posted by unexpected at 12:02 AM on July 17, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks so much for all the suggestions, everyone! I really appreciate it!
posted by colfax at 12:58 AM on July 17, 2015
posted by colfax at 12:58 AM on July 17, 2015
WXRT also is worth looking at. For indieish stuff, KCRW is amazing. I never miss Henry Rollins' show on Sunday nights. And all the past shows (on the entire station) are archived at KCRW.com or via the KCRW app.
posted by persona au gratin at 4:24 AM on July 17, 2015
posted by persona au gratin at 4:24 AM on July 17, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by neushoorn at 1:24 AM on July 16, 2015 [5 favorites]