Internet radio allows you to hear your favorite station without turning on the radio. All you need is a computer and an Internet connection. You can listen to stations from around the world.
In the past, broadcasting required expensive equipment and technical expertise. Now, a wide range of radio stations are accessible online. Broadcasters can reach a wider audience, and smaller, more niche stations can compete with large professional stations.
Most internetradio stations are funded by private or government endowment, and most are free to listen to. Some provide call-in services, or even live transmissions.
Streaming content is available to anyone who has a smart device and an internet connection. For ad-free listening, some providers offer paid accounts. These also allow for more customization and options.
To create your own internet radio, all you need is a PC, a broadband connection, and some broadcasting software. The software translates the audio data stream from a server to a format that can be played on a web-enabled device.
Once you have an Internet radio station up and running, you can share it with your friends. You can send a broadcast stream to others, or save it to an MP3 file. Many providers also allow you to set your own listening preferences. This means you can control when and how you hear your favorite station.
You can search for internet radio stations by genre, popularity, and location. Some national networks also offer live transmissions.