WCPE

Branding itself online as The Classical Station, WCPE is an eminently likeable classical music station from North Carolina. Its been listener-supported for over 30 years, and continues to pay for most of its operating costs from pledges and donations which is a sure-fire sign of a station that knows and respects its audience. Their playlists tend towards the popular - rather than the obscure or experimental - end of the classical spectrum, with regular appearances by Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Handel and Rachmaninoff.

AM 1710 ANTIOCH OTR

When Im trying to explain the peculiar magic of Internet radio to a non-convert, I tend to use this marvellous little station from Illinois as an example. Run by a radio enthusiast and techie called Jay Lichtenauer, it plays a huge variety of American radio dramas from the 1930s, 40s and 50s, scheduled by genre (family comedy, spy stories, science fiction, frontier stories, etc) and complete with ads for now-defunct household products and cigarette brands. Tuning in for the first time is rather like stepping into an audio time machine; but the pleasures of listening extend beyond this novelty factor: the shows themselves, taken from the golden era of American radio drama are often miniature masterpieces of suspense, intrigue and entertainment.

AUDIOBOO

This useful website and phone app, which is evidently aiming to become the Twitter of the audio world, allows users to record, upload, share and discover sound files. These can be anything from homemade rants about Premiership football teams to short clips from BBC and commercial radio shows to full concert recordings of the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone.

RADIO REVERB

This sparklingly creative community radio station from Brighton is a bona fide reason to be cheerful. With a schedule that takes in everything from theatre-going to jazz to electronic dance music, its a welcome reminder that you dont need commercial or license fee backing to make great radio.

ART INTERNATIONAL RADIO

Operating out of the beautiful Clocktower Building the heart of the New York art scene of the 1970s and 80s AIR is one of the most smartly curated arts stations on the planet. All music, interviews, documentaries and experimental pieces are also available on demand via its website.

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The 60 best internet radio stations