Decades ago, television and streaming platforms were predicted to turn radio into history. But, despite that, radio has never gone away. In fact, thanks to the internet, it is now more accessible than ever.
Today, we don’t need a bulky FM/AM tuner to listen to our favourite station. We can listen to free radio from a PC, smartphone, or with some clever online tools. Let’s see how!
What Is Free Radio?
Free radio refers to stations that provide access to music, news, talk shows, and all of your favourite programmes without a monthly subscription. Even though nowadays some platforms require a paid plan, many stations can be broadcast live for free. No matter what you enjoy listening to on the radio, there is a station available for you without the need to sign up or pay any fees.
VPN Listening
Most of us listen to the radio on the internet. But sometimes, there is regional blocking, which means that some stations restrict their streams only to local audiences. Luckily, there’s a solution to that problem: we can use the VPN!
VPN can reroute your internet connection through another location, and makes it appear as if you’re in the country where the station is based. That means that you can enjoy a British broadcast while in the U.S., or a U.S. sports station in Europe.
VPN is useful for other things you can do online. For example, you can unlock streaming libraries, connect to international gaming servers, or even join online casinos that aren’t available in your region. Many players choose from these ones when looking for trusted options. VPN gives you the freedom to choose your digital location and opens doors for entertainment across the globe.
Listen To The Radio Through Your Browser
Listening to the radio through your browser is one of the simplest ways. Every modern station has a “listen live” feature on its website, and you can search for a specific music genre or program.
However, sometimes, playback won’t start immediately. In those situations, you can enable browser permissions like JavaScript or media streaming. When you set it up once, you can stream nonstop.
Use Media Player On Your PC
If you click play on a station’s website, you may download a small file like listen.pls or listen.m3u. And don’t worry – these are not viruses, but shortcuts to the playlist that connects your player to the station. If you open them in VLC, Winamp, or MusicBee, you can stream them, and your player can store your favourite stations.
Use Your Smartphone
Mobile listening is very easy. Some devices contain hidden FM chips, but most users rely on internet radio apps. Some free apps like Simple Radio can let you browse thousands of stations and stream them immediately. On iOS, Apple Music includes a Broadcast Radio feature, where you can search by station name or frequency.
With these simple options, you can listen to your favourite programs anytime: whether commuting, exercising, or relaxing!