# Hey, I just heard this on the 'radio'. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2001, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254 "2001-08-07T10:52:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/1 "2001-08-07T10:52:35Z")
I just called my family to tell them the radio news report said there was a severe thunderstorm coming into their area. Damaging winds, hail, the whole nine yards. They didn’t know it, then heard the thunder, thanked me for calling and went back to sleep. I knew about it before they did, and I live 1200 miles from my family. I was listening to my hometown classical station and heard the weather report. I love listening to the radio on the internet. I can pick up live broadcasts from places I used to live and say: [li] Auto accident reports - “I know that intersection! Yup, still sucks to drive through there.”[/li][li] Sales ads- “I remember that store!”[/li][li] Restaurants ads - “Wow, they made the best burger/pizza/wings/steaks. What I wouldn’t give for one right now.”[/li]And just to confuse my boss, at work I’ll turn on the “World Music” format on Windows Media Player and play all-Celtic, all-Jewish, all-Greek or Radio Afghanistan at my desk. He’s getting used to the strange sounds coming from my speakers: just shakes his head and moves on. So what do you listen to on internet radio? ---
**Author:** ![VitrolicBump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a587f6/32.png) [@VitrolicBump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VitrolicBump)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/2 "2001-08-07T11:42:58Z")
I listen to [LAUNCH.com](http://LAUNCH.com) and [Sonicnet.com](http://Sonicnet.com) because I can program the artists I want to hear (I rate them). There are barely any commercials, too. I have tried to listen to radio stations that were originally only available through a regular radio, but I hate all the commercials. :mad: But what do I listen to, you asked. Let me see. I have mostly rock programmed with a little new age. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/3 "2001-08-07T12:36:25Z")
I got the MLB radio package, where you get every radio feed of every game for $10 for the year. It’s great for keeping up with the Sox when I’m at school. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/4 "2001-08-07T12:39:52Z")
What kind of software do I need to lsten to stations on my PC? ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/5 "2001-08-07T13:12:52Z")
I like to listen to Shoutcast–the sound quality seems a bit better and the selection is pretty good. On the other hand, I can’t get Rockwave (from Sao Paolo, Brazil) on Shoutcast as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/6 "2001-08-07T13:53:42Z")
an internet radio station called **WOLF-FM** two reasons: 1 - it’s named after me! 😃 2 - it always plays music I like. Well, almost always. Most of it is really good 80’s music, but often they play stuff a bit more recent. I’ve been listening to it for months and only once have I had to endure Celine. ---
**Author:** ![Fredge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@Fredge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fredge)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/7 "2001-08-07T14:03:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*What kind of software do I need to lsten to stations on my PC? \*\* Generally, RealAudio (the free version will work) or Windows Media Player (get the latest version) should enable you to listen to most stations that broadcast on the net. Many places that offer internet broadcasting will have a link to the player you need to listen to their format. From there, go to the station’s web site and see if they have a link to ‘listen live’ or something of that nature. Oh, you’ll also have to have a soundcard and speakers or headphones. Be aware, some of the stations owned by larger corporations (e.g. Clearchannel) have suspended internet broadcasting until they can implement some form of advertising that is applicable to mass audiences. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/8 "2001-08-07T14:05:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*What kind of software do I need to lsten to stations on my PC? \*\* Just a browser with the most recent version of some sort of audio plug-in (RealPlayer or Windows Media Player) will do. You can also get the complete shareware version of RealPlayer. Problem is, nearly every station capable of Net broadcasting (aka bitcasting) stopped due to perceived contract problems with commercial actors. That problem has either been, or in the process of being, solved. When I’m not lisening to NetRadio, my favorite station is KTRS-St. Louis. I’ve also listened to Cubs games on WGN radio, a Chicago classic rock station before their format changed, local DC radio (Oldies 100), and a bunch of other stations across the country and one in Australia (3GG-FM). ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/9 "2001-08-07T15:07:38Z")
I tend to listen to either the BBC, Radio Nederlands or most usually our local CBC station on Internet radio. The sound quality of the CBC is much better there then it is on the AM band and my 'puter also interferes with my radio as well, so I get the best of both world. Unfortunately I usually listen on headphones and sometimes I forget that and I stand up and get ready to leave the machine and I get yanked back on my leash. Keith ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/10 "2001-08-07T15:56:36Z")
I really enjoy internet radio. I’ve picked up a couple CDs based on songs I’ve heard via I.R. (Russell Gunn and Oceania - the former is Maori chants set to electronica-type music. Very sweet). My husband asks, “Where do you get this weird stuff?!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JosephFinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JosephFinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JosephFinn)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/11 "2001-08-07T16:03:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > > \*\*What kind of software do I need to lsten to stations on my PC? \*\* > > Just a browser with the most recent version of some sort of audio plug-in (RealPlayer or Windows Media Player) will do. You can also get the complete shareware version of RealPlayer. Problem is, nearly every station capable of Net broadcasting (aka bitcasting) stopped due to perceived contract problems with commercial actors. That problem has either been, or in the process of being, solved. When I’m not lisening to NetRadio, my favorite station is KTRS-St. Louis. I’ve also listened to Cubs games on WGN radio, a Chicago classic rock station before their format changed, local DC radio (Oldies 100), and a bunch of other stations across the country and one in Australia (3GG-FM). \*\* And for the Mac users, you can listen to internet radio through iTunes, which works much faster than RealPlayer for Mac. Comes with a ton of stations in various formats, and of course you can also enter in new stations. It’s seriously nifty. ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-i-just-heard-this-on-the-radio/75254/12 "2001-08-07T16:26:51Z")
I listen to the radio on a radio- Lot’s of stations, although atmospheric conditions play a part, and there are seasonal variations as well. Still, no software to download, nor monthly fees. BBC has recently ceased direct programming to the United States in favor of internet broadcasts, but the slack seems to have been taken up by Radio Netherlands, Deutsch Welle, Radio Sweden, and others. It’s also free, which I’m afraid is unacceptable these days. With the coming of digital radio, I suppose the only programming available will be via the internet or subscription based services, eventually.