And no matter how adventurous the station, there are times when only an obscure '50s swing tune or fatback '70s funk jam will do. Fortunately, for users with a multimedia PC, a few free programs and an Internet connection, there's a solution close at hand with a simple name. Truth be told, what passes for radio on the Internet isn't really broadcasting. Through such technology, you can hear National Public Radio reports, routines from top standup comics or that Mets game you forgot about last week. The attraction is obvious.
Listeners can find online radio broadcasts in a wide variety of places.
Other broadcasters, such as NPR and CNN, maintain their own archives, allowing users to catch up on past programs and peruse additional material. Many online radio sites allow users to click through and purchase the single they're listening to or the album containing the featured track. Radio.sonicnet lets users indicate their musical likes and dislikes, refining the stream of music presented on a personalized radio station and requesting performers more or less often in the future. Or users can click through to a chat room where they can talk with other listeners who share their musical preferences. Because online audio software often operates separately from the Web browser, listeners can peruse one site's radio offerings while listening to broadcasts from another.