This may be old news to many here, but it's worth mentioning.

[JohnnyRingo]

Most radio stations broadcast over the internet as well as the airwaves these days, for better or worse. There are many stations that broadcast only over the internet as well.

Radio Garden is a clearing house for all the radio on the web. It's based in the Netherlands and is 100% free with no downloads or apps. One simply navigates the globe and click on one of about 33,000 green dots. Alternatively, there are several search functions.

I found some stations around London and South Africa I enjoy, but one that took a long time to discover. "Handcrafted Radio" in Lansing Michigan reminds me of an old station I listened to in the '70s and '80s before deregulation ruined FM radio, but with no talk, no commercials. They play deep album cuts of classic rock. They just played Highway Star, John Lennon and Foreigner.

It turns out radio only sucks in the US.

I tuned in Handcrafted Radio for you here, but feel free to explore your own world, search international stations, and mark favorites:

http://radio.garden/listen/handcrafted-radio/fMNsEHbE

Thank you for listening, I hope you enjoy background music for the rest of the day.

[Walleye]

1. Thank you, very useful link, bookmarking

[Diamond_Dog]

2. Thank you Johnny. I will definitely try this.

I am old enough to remember those days of FM radio being really out there. Especially late at night!

[JohnnyRingo]

7. Ronald Reagan destroyed music radio.

It used to be a station owner could only own so many others in the same market area. That's why we had indy stations like WPIC in Sharon playing songs the DJ chose. Every disc jockey played slightly different music and it was a wonderful world.

Reagan deregulated the broadcast business so corporations could buy as many stations they desired. Now, 5 companies own all the radio stations in the country and they all have the same playlist for their format. Payola is king now as record labels only have to make one or two payoffs to get Harry Stiles or Post Malone in heavy rotation on the airwaves. And it sucks.

A friend reminded me of an incident back in the '80s when we were driving somewhere on a two lane road and a song came on the radio that they were wearing out by playing endlessly. I stopped the car, got out and walked to the passenger side where I broke off my antenna and tossed it in the ditch. I got back in the car and drove away. I soon replaced the radio with a cassette player and made my own tapes until Sirius came along.

Handmade Radio is a throwback to the days of WMMS when Matt The Cat spun the deep cuts.

[Diamond_Dog]

9. So many things that sent this country backwards can be attributed to Reagan.

And yes indeed I had Matt the Cat and MMS in mind when I wrote my post!

I still remember the frustration you described over hearing the same usually crappy songs over and over again. I was one of those who should have snapped off my car antenna too.

[rsdsharp]

18. The rules you're referring to are the Rule of Sevens (earlier the Rule of Fives),

and the Duopoly Rule. No single person or entity could own more than 7 AM, 7 FM and 7 TV stations, of which no more than 5 could be UHF. The Duopoly Rule prevented anyone from owning more than one of each in any given market.

It was The Telecommunications Act if 1996 that allowed unlimited station ownership, and expanded ownership rules to a maximum of 8 stations in a market. That was signed by Bill Clinton.

Reagan drove a stake in the heart of the Fairness Doctrine. A three judge panel of the DC Circuit, including Scalia and Bork, struck down the FCC’s Fairness Doctrine. Congress, in response, codified it, but Reagan vetoed the bill. Reagan also waived the residency requirement to allow Rupert Murdoch to become a citizen, which paved the way to Fox News.

I won’t go into what “destroyed music radio,” but it wasn’t payola, and is only tangentially related to deregulation.

[KPN]

20. Wait ... please don't tease curious minds. What

“destroyed music radio”?

[rsdsharp]

22. The OP's phrase, not mine.

[JohnnyRingo]

29. Well somebody ruined AOR FM radio in the '80s.

It wasn't a speed bump, but like hitting stop strips when indy stations went silent and repetitious pop stars and morning zoos became the staple of the remaining power players. DJs were obviously working from tight corporate playlists. I resorted to buying a cassette recorder and tapping cable tv for their music channels. At least their Alt Rock channel was less predictable and stale.

[hippywife]

8. I so remember being in my teens,

laying in bed at night with all the lights out and listening to the DJ spin full albums. And all the deep cuts the stations used to play as a matter of course. My sisters are always asking me why I don't like this artist or that artist since I like music so much, but it's all the typical drivel from commercial radio that I've thankfully never even heard.

[hippywife]

3. I've long stopped listening to commercial radio.

For a couple decades now, at least. My fav internet stations have been KPIG (roots, blues, rock and Americana) and Radio Paradise. KPIG has seen better days before it was sold to a more commercial interest, but is still much better than standard commercial radio. It was the first U.S.station to simultaneously stream on the internet, set up by Bill Goldsmith, who then started Radio Paradise that's solely internet based.

I love World Music, too, so look forward to exploring this story for others.

[stevil]

4. I love Radio Garden

My local station is actually quite good.

[highplainsdem]

5. Thanks! Great recommendation!

[Joinfortmill]

6. Thank you

[LoisB]

10. New news to me. Thank you very much.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. No commercials on CBC Radio One and CBC Music (Radio Two). It's great! And they have free streaming

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-music-playlists

[dameatball]

12. I keep going back to Arctic Outpost radio from Longyearbyen, Norway. Cool oldies.

Not to mention that one of my grandsons thinks it's cool as well.

[JohnnyRingo]

30. I was checking that out.

Just imagining a guy hunched over the board next to a pot belly stove shuffling a playlist of his favorites.

[dameatball]

33. Ha! Yeah, hard to figure what life would be like there.

[twodogsbarking]

13. Thank you. Free stuff. Imagine.

[Solly Mack]

14. K&R

[multigraincracker]

15. Been using that site for a long time.

Enough stations to never run out.

I miss the old days of Free Format radio. It was WABX in Detroit in the 60s. The DJs were as cool as the music.

[randr]

23. Free format is alive and kicking all over small town community stations

Always check the left side of the dial!

[Kali]

24. ...

[ancianita]

16. omg I so love this. Thank you. I look forward to having so much radio to enjoy!

[pwb]

17. Good to know Johnny.

Our classic rock I heart F M station plays the same music over and over. Yeah I left radio when the Corporations and pukes ruined it.

[arkielib]

19. Thank you for posting the link!

I love the music and bookmarked the station.

[randr]

21. You must have missed some home grown stations to think all stations in the US suck

The best part of Radio Garden is that you can clear it from your browser, close you screen and it still plays. I love traveling the radio world on this app. Best yet is surf music from Uzbekistan or Blondie at 3am in Mongolia. Also caught some Ferlinghetti readings in northern India. Many community radio stations are included and rival any in the world. Seek out Undercurrents from the Native American Network and enjoy!
https://www.undercurrentsradio.net/

[KPN]

25. Wow! Neat -- thanks for sharing JohnyRingo.

[BunnyMcGee]

26. I like this app/site, thanks!

[bucolic_frolic]

27. If you filtered out Right Wing and Preacher channels, how many choices would there be?

[JohnnyRingo]

31. Yeah. I accidentally homed in on a particularly vitriolic one.

The preacher was throwing southern baked fire and brimstone like Tyson threw punches.
I didn't know, but the lock was on. Had me on the mat before I figured that out.

Still, out of 30,000+ stations there are plenty good ones.

[bucolic_frolic]

32. lol

[dai13sy]

28. Luv, Luv, Luv

Thank you for the wonderful offering. Listened to Ireland - blown away. Includes Donna Summer, All disco, Rap, Rock and Roll - amazing. Listened to Eugene, OR KWAX and the most wonderful classical music and my favorite Rock and Roll station KZEL. Music - all kinds of music is vital to our existence

[BadGimp]

34. Awesome Link!

It's now a central Radio link in my collection(s), and I already share it with a friend in Terra Haute, IN

[summer_in_TX]

35. You might like to check out our LPFM in Wimberley, Texas.

KWVH-LP Wimberley Valley Radio broadcasts on 94.3 FM as well as streaming. We were licensed six years ago. Our town has a diverse set of tastes so it's got a wide variety of programming.
http://radio.garden/visit/wimberley-tx/c16oocE6

[JohnnyRingo]

36. I will tomorrow

I'm skeptical of broadcast radio, but I see that's a low power station owned by a non profit instead of Malright or Clear Channel.
I tuned in long enough to hear some SRV so it's promising, but it's time for bed.