Anyone t hat doubts that the Internet has changed the way we think of entertainment need only look the rapid growth of Internet radio. Starting back in the late 1990's as the MP3 revolution began to pick up speed, Internet radio offered a new, high tech way to listen to music without the need for a traditional over-the-air radio. Individuals who worked inside a thick steel or concrete building that could not receive traditional radio signals could suddenly listen to programmed music again, this time being played through their computer from a distant Internet radio server. Today, Internet radio is bigger than ever but for very different reasons.
What Is Internet Radio?
Internet radio is audio that is streamed over the Internet from a remote server in an order than generally cannot be directly controlled by the user. There are three basic flavors of Internet radio stations available for listeners to choose from:
- Traditional radio stations broadcasting both over the air and over the Internet
- Programmed, niche radio stations that focus on a particular genre or style of music (or spoken word)
- Semi-random customizable radio stations where the user's individual tastes in music help the system select the music to be played
Each of these types of Internet radio station have their own distinct audiences. The first type (traditional radio stations) tend to be listened to by individuals that are local to the station but for one reason or another cannot get the live broadcast signal on a normal radio. Programmed Internet radio stations are very popular for individuals that are looking for something other than traditional Top 40, country, or other styles of music. These Internet radio providers focus on very specific niches such as electronic music, movie soundtracks, comedy, or other distinctive tastes.
The final type of station, the semi-random station consists of providers such as the very popular Pandora Internet radio station. A user sets up an account and chooses a general genre of music or a specific artist. From there the system plays songs that are similar in style or context to the other songs the user enjoys and the user is able to vote up or down on each song that is played. Over time this filters down to music that is very representative of the user's individual tastes.
In all of these cases Internet radio in general remains free. There are some services that offer premium memberships but someone starting out with Internet radio will do just fine with the free versions in most cases. Even if a user has access to terrestrial broadcast radio, Internet radio still makes a great alternative that in turn can open a users mind to new and exciting artists and songs.
