The Radio

lindsmuse

Does anybody here listen to the Radio? Must confess I am forced to in a way because of the nature of my work ... Its fine during the week - Cape Talk - entertaining, but on the weekend its terrible ☹ and my Playlists are getting tired .... I really need a nice station to listen to. The other stations seem to play dance music all day. it kills me - there is such amazing music out there. Keep stumbling on it . New music!!!!! New young musicians making beautiful folky fusion, jazzy, intelligent music. great musicians. great production .... but I never hear it on the radio.

And its such a powerful medium to get your music out there. I know people listen to probly the Alternative channel on DSTV to pick it up. Can anyone suggest what to do? Can I stream from the States or UK? And if so, what stations?

I wish there was a channel where people could post their playlists (and I would love some of the people on this forum's playlists - guitarist have such good taste ?) - the music gets played somehow - musicians get their royalties - everyone happy. A community radio - just managed by a couple people - playing selections by the public without having to sit there all day swapping songs around. Anyway ... suggestions welcome.

doc-phil

The only radio station that I've ever come across that is to my taste, and doesn't play non-stop EDM, is Tuks FM, but you can hardly get it anywhere. You will have to turn to internet radio for something like what you speak of. 8tracks, rdio, tunein radio or any other similar streaming sites come to mind.

The problem is getting music to your car. With the cost of 3G data in this country, I imagine there are few people that can afford to stream on the go.

Some sites, like rdio, allow you to sync the music to your phone or tablet for offline use. You could then play it in your car via aux cable or bluetooth if you have either functionality.

lindsmuse

Ta Drphil - I have a friend in the States - recently emigrated - who is so homesick that she only listens to SA radio - and I think it was Tunein she mentioned. Will go check that out - hoping the reverse can happen.

Doomsower

I've given up on radio.
I got one of those FM transceivers for my car.
So when I'm driving around I listen to podcasts/audio books/music that I like.

AlanRatcliffe

Mixfm (http://www.mixfm.co.za) is a streaming station with some great music.

PeteM

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Mixfm (http://www.mixfm.co.za) is a streaming station with some great music.

+1... My favorite station. Leans toward older rock, pop, blues and some folk. Not much new stuff though.

This station has just launched...

Featuring all local talent here in Jozi. A lot of it will be live broadcasts from pubs. I've been invited to play on a live-streaming event in a few weeks time.

Wizard

Trying to immerse myself in classical & jazz --> Fine Music Radio

deebee

Zone Radio, an IT station here in Slaapstad, play good rock, and very behind local music, anything and everything. Being IT is the drawback tho'.

lindsmuse

Thanks for that - Fine Fm - I also tried that - sometimes Classical is nice but sometimes a bit of a downer I find. And strangely here I couldn't pick up the old jazz guys - new stuff - didn't like that much. Maybe I have to listen at certain times. I love jazz piano ... The Tunein - not sure - seems you have to download a special app to make it work on PC. I am working at my PC and am a bit suspicious of add ons and apps etc. Going to try the lot and see ....

Nitebob

I listen to Smile fm...mainly coz it reminds me of Jacaranda....which only have one playlist.... Like the comedy minutes though...

My budget not allowing that many cds so I just switch between station when I hear something that bores the hell outa me

Bob-Dubery

As regards in-car listening, most modern in-car systems have interfaces for USB and personal players. I've got about 100 albums in my car, and on days when I can't make up my mind I can just hit the random button. I find most radio hugely annoying. I used to listen to SAFM a lot, but a couple of years ago they had a major shake up and so many stimulating shows like Bruce Millar's during the day and Richard Haslop's at night fell away. Meh.

I'd like some shows that challenge a bit - present me with something new. There is so much music around and the thing is to find it or stumble upon it. I was in Edinburgh earlier this year and the B&B had internet radio in the rooms. Loads of stations and on the day I spent in bed with whooping cough I heard loads of fab stuff. But I understand that a lot of them don't make much money in the long run.

The future is going to be subscription services is what I think. Things like Sirius. The problem will be in shared spaces - offices and shopping malls where lowest common denominator choices will prevail.

DaFiz

lindsmuse wrote: Its fine during the week - Cape Talk - entertaining, but on the weekend its terrible

I must agree with you, during the week there are some interesting conversations but that weekend playlist really sucks... I plug my iPod into my cars system 8)

Bob-Dubery

The American station NPR has some great musical features, often made available as podcasts. That might be of interest to lindsmuse. It's not current any more, but Google for the podcasts of Joe Boyd's show "Lucky 13" which is marvellously eclectic.

lindsmuse

X-rated Bob wrote: The American station NPR has some great musical features, often made available as podcasts. That might be of interest to lindsmuse. It's not current any more, but Google for the podcasts of Joe Boyd's show "Lucky 13" which is marvellously eclectic.

Thanks - going to try this weekend!

Bob-Dubery

See http://www.npr.org/music/

I note there's a new album from Robert Plant. don't give up on the older generation. Plant's been on a hot streak the last few years.

lindsmuse

X-rated Bob wrote: See http://www.npr.org/music/

I note there's a new album from Robert Plant. don't give up on the older generation. Plant's been on a hot streak the last few years.

Thanks! I won't give up on them - there's incredible musicians there!!

But we never get to hear them and their new stuff on local radio ....

Looking forward to this

Bob-Dubery

lindsmuse wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote: See http://www.npr.org/music/

I note there's a new album from Robert Plant. don't give up on the older generation. Plant's been on a hot streak the last few years.
Thanks! I won't give up on them - there's incredible musicians there!!

But we never get to hear them and their new stuff on local radio ....

Looking forward to this

Well.... we were in the UK in May. I took some discs with me only to find the hire car was wired for iPod. So we listened to a lot of radio. There was a classic station (more strictly classic than our classic fm which gets into easy listening on the weekends ☹), and one that was given over to drama and magazine programs. Other than that it was all pop and chat. With the exception that there were some very good late night shows - I recall Bob Harris and Tom (2 4 6 8 Motorway) Robinson hosting interesting shows (though I never got to listen to them because I wasn't driving around much late at night - but I heard the blurbs and saw notices in the papers). So it's not just our radio that is geared towards the average rather than the exceptional.

A couple of good late night shows would make the world of difference here, but somebody would have to have the wit to free the DJ's from the dreaded play list. It's an old story now, but SAFM fired a DJ on their late night jazz show for the heinous deed of playing some Charlie Parker ?

lindsmuse

That NPR link - can't find Joe Boyd but am listening to eclectic - love it thanks! Just need to check if its causing issues with my tablet - pen pressure - could be unrelated - not sure if streaming uses a lot of RAM whatever.

Amended - doesn't affect anything else - pen pressure et al

Bob-Dubery

Joe Boyd was on some station in the UK. So just google for the show -"Lucky 13". There are official downloadable archives somewhere. It's particularly good if you're interested in world music.

lindsmuse

Ta will do