In a previous article, we showed how to use an online programming guide to find interesting programs that are playing at a given moment. Now, we turn our attention to online radio archives, which let us tap into programs past and play them on-demand.
Let's start with the National Public Radio (NRP) radio archive, which lets you search for old shows and program segments by keyword. For example, a search using the keywords "music downloads" turns up a recent segment in which a musician discusses how he finds good, free music to download (legally) on the Internet.
When you click on the "Listen" button for the first time, you are given the option of playing the story in either RealAudio of Windows Media Player format (older shows are only available in RealAudio format). The archives search page also lets you restrict your search by date range and/or show. Using this page you can search for interviews with favorite artists or for programs devoted to a particular kind of music.
Many NPR Programs have their own archives Web page, which lets you browse through old programs. This includes the NPR "All Songs Considered" show. Two weeks ago, this show broadcast a two-and-a-half hour Wilco concert. Prior to that, they broadcast an interesting "Best Music of 2004" show.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has also done a good job archiving radio programs. Their BBC Listen Again page lets you play the most recent broadcast of a wide range of programs. Also notable is their Discovering Music archive, devoted to classical music appreciation. From the archive description:
In DISCOVERING MUSIC the presenter takes a piece of music apart to reveal its inner workings and discusses what the composer had in mind. Each programme ends with an opportunity to listen with fresh ears to a masterpiece.
There are over 140 programs to choose from, sorted alphabetically by composer. Though NPR and the BBC are perhaps the richest sources for progam archives, many smaller radio organizations are maintaining archives of quality programming. One such organization is the radio station WFMU, a free-form radio station in the New York City area known for its independent music programming. WFMU archives its shows and (in many cases) its playlists as well. One if its better known programs, The Radio Thrift Shop, is hosted by country singer Laura Cantrell, who:
scours the bargain bins, church bazaars and yard sales for those forgotten rekkids of all RPM. Often scratchy, swingy and stringy.
If you can't tune in to the live broadcast (Saturdays from noon to 3 pm), fear not: you can play it from the Radio Thrift Shop archives page (highly recommended). If you know of any great radio archives, please let me know. In future articles I will highlight new and worthy archives.
—Andy Breeding
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