There is no better place for gauging the vitality of Internet radio than the Live365 Station directory. Within its boundaries lie descriptions of 5,000 plus radio stations, the product of an army of grass roots programmers who use the Live365 Internet broadcasting service. If you spend some time browsing this directory, you will encounter an astonishing variety of broadcasts—a collection that illustrates the richness of the new possibilities. In the two years that I have used Live365, I have accumulated a station presets list of 94 stations. This list provides concrete examples of what I'm talking about. Let me take you on a tour.
Let's start by traveling the world. I often listen to the downtempo station EMjoy, which originates in Dortmund, Germany. According to the station description, it provides "the best of modern Chillout, Downbeat and Lounge Music mixed with highlights from New Age and ambient." Then it's over to "the home of Flamenco"—Jerez de la Frontera, Spain—where Flamenco from Jerez is produced. Traveling musically across the Straits of Gibraltar, you can listen to the Arabix station, with its "massive selection of Mediterranean & North African roots music: rai, gnawa, desert blues, amazigh, touareg, dub, tribal, spiritual, sub-sahara trance, d'n'b, ethnic jazz, ambient and world electronica." Then it's on to the Congo, the birthplace of Soukous, lively dance music that can be heard on Soukous Radio. Still not far enough away for you? Then try Mad Nomad Radio, which plays field recordings from the most remote parts of the world.
Next, let's do some time traveling. Let's turn the way-back machine to 1978, to my sophomore year in high school. By plugging in to The Best of 1978 station, I can access a musical time capsule from that year. And yes, it really does take me back. Alternately, I can check out Sexy Jams from the 70s, a make-out music station which plays "mostly slowjams", including tracks from the Ohio Players, The Commodores, and Bill Withers. I also like the 70s English Progressive Rock station. Going further back in time you will find plenty of stations for each decade. These include Rat Patrol Radio, with its World War II broadcasts:
Groove to the beat of little-known but hard-swinging service bands like the Squadronaires and the Blue Rockets, in addition to famous favorites such as Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and the Dorseys. Listen as FDR proclaims a "Day of Infamy" and Churchill lauds the RAF in "their Finest Hour." We have bond drives by Tommy Dorsey and Bing crooning in the ol' Kraft Music Hall.
Moving across the Atlantic, Weimar Rundfunk radio plays popular music from Germany and England during the 20s, 30s, and 40s. For a station "strictly dedicated to the popular tunes of the Jazz Age 20's and the Songbird 30's" (no big band music), try Sweet and Lovely radio.
Now let's travel to some imaginary places. Do you remember Nick's Bar in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life?" This Pottersville establishment served "hard drinks to men who want to get drunk fast." Its proprietor, Nick, was a surly fellow, to be sure. But I'll bet you didn't know that Nick's Bar has its own radio station, which plays the sort of honky-tonk music you might expect in such a disreputable place. While you're on the bad side of town, you might as well tune in to the Bada Bing Jukebox, featuring music from the TV show The Sopranos.
Further afield, might I suggest a trip to Middle Earth? Radio Rivendell features "folk, renaissance, medieval and other generally good music from Middle Earth" and "poems and comments on the Third Age of Middle Earth." But if you want to hear music from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, you'll want to tune in to Cinemascape, with its up-to-date collection of movie soundtracks. Among the many other soundtrack stations you can find
Cinegroovin', which plays "music from 60s and 70s cult movie soundtracks." Or the Bloodstream station, which plays "the soundtracks of cult horror and giallo [Italian slasher] movies from the 60's to the present."
Which brings us to Halloween, one of the holidays to which many stations are devoted. A search will turn up obvious choices like HalloweenRadio.com. But you will also find an array of gothic stations, including the Engulfed Cathedral station, with its "Gothic, Ethereal & Dark Ambient" music:
The Sunken Cathedral, inspired by an old Breton legend that on clear mornings when the water is transparent, the accursed Cathedral of Ys, sunken in the sea, slowly emerges, with the sounds of priests chanting and bells chiming.
Speaking of chanting, you may want to check out Gregorian Chant radio, or Polyphonica Byzantine radio. Both succeed in creating an otherworldly atmosphere.
But it's not all fun and games. When it's time to work, I prefer to listen to instrumental music. Stations that serve this need include Classicalguitar.cc
and Classic Jazz Corner. If I need calming music, I will play Astreaux World, which features ambient, new age music. Its producers tell us:
This music can be played to accompany certain forms of meditation, hybrid yoga, conscious intent, and transmogrification. Please remember to anchor at least one DNA strand before departing.
If it's after lunch and I'm dozing a bit, I opt for Devlar Surf Sessions radio with its twangy, driving guitar music. If it's late in the afternoon, and I need something slower and steadier to get me to the end of the day, I listen to Dr. Dick's Dub Shack. If my spine needs stiffening, then it's time for Bagpipe World Radio 4. If it's snowing out (as it is while I write this), I can turn my thoughts to warmer climes with Boat Drinks (can you say Margaritaville) or Hawaiian Hits Live.
Many Live365 broadcasts are the result of one person sharing their musical tastes with the world. One such station is called Kicking Death in the Ass. Its author tells us:
This station is meant to be the sonic version of the 8th Round of Foreman - Ali in 1974. If you ever sit around in your underwear drinking red wine from the bottle and reading Harvey Pekar comic books, you will like this station. The emphasis is in pre-1973 jazz and real Delta blues, as well as other assorted sonic flotsam and beats from around the world.
Of course, it's in the listening that your mind will be made up. There are lots of stations with a similarly personal, idiosyncratic flavor. It's a colorful neighborhood!
Then there are the stations that fall into the category of "I just had to try them." This includes Prison Songs Radio, with "songs by, about, or for prisoners." And Sea Shanties radio for the sea-faring types. It's nice to know we have options.
Though I mostly listen to music, I should note that there are plenty of spoken word and talk radio stations on Live365. This includes stations devoted to comedy, radio plays, politics, and religion. If you are a comic book aficionado, you will be glad to know that Comic Book Radio exists. Studying for the AP History Exam? You might be interested to know that a high school professor in Florida has taped his study lectures and put them online. Or that the entire air-to-ground communications of the Apollo 11 mission from liftoff to splashdown is also available online.
Of course, there are plenty of conventional stations devoted to mainstream music programming formats. In short, there's something for everyone here, and much more besides. For more information on Live365, see the profile on this site or go to the Live365 Web site.
Other Sites from My Presets List
—Andy Breeding
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