Do you listen to radio?

fable · Post by **fable** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 4:47 am

My fellow occupants of the Land of Despair, Despond and Dubyah might be surprised to know that radio is used for many different primary purposes in different countries. So I ask you (yes, *you*), how is radio primarily used where you live, and do you listen to it much? What do you listen to? Does anybody use longwave, or some of the newer digital broadcast developments?

Now, in the MidAtlantic region of the US, I listen to a bit of FM public radio from around the world via the Internet while working--usually classical or jazz (since there's damn few regional folk stations). My wife uses it in the mornings to get weather and traffic reports on the way to work, and in the evenings occasionally for long news programs.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 5:35 am

I never listen to the radio anymore. I used to, but nowadays I can't find any good channels.

Like TV, Sweden only had stately, non commercial channels when I was a teen. I used to listen a lot to the Classical channel, mostly because it was the only channel that played music without talk 24 hours a day. Then, commercial radio entered, and the stately radio lost listeners. Because of this, the Classical channel was combined with another channel with few listeners - the channel with news and programs in all the minority languages. So the music was now mixed with news in 20-25 different languages and not at all a music non stop channel any longer. The new commercial classical channels were crap, they only played the well known, conventional reportoire that I've heard a zillion times already.

When I was a hard core workaholic some years ago, I used to listen to the crap commercial channels at night, just to keep me awake from being annoyed. But I don't do this any longer, those channels have gone from bad to nauseating. So now I never listen to the radio (except when I am travelling - BBC world news on radio is still the most widespread form of news in remote areas).

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 5:42 am

I just can't listen to commercial radio stations, the constant adverts are so annoying... If I listen to anything, it's BBC Radio 1, which is mostly music, with a bit of chat depending on the show... and mostly, I listen to the Evening Session, because it's one of the only shows that doesn't have to stick to the playlist, and isn't a bad source for decent new music.

If I were more intellectual

I would listen to BBC Radio 4... but I mostly listen to the radio when I'm doing something else at the same time, so I only tend to listen to music stations.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 5:49 am

@Georgi: Just out of curiosity: what is on BBC radio 4?

Georgi · Post by **Georgi** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 5:55 am

@CE News, current affairs, radio plays, that sort of thing...

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 5:56 am

I listen to an alternative youth station. Its not one of corny ones, nor is it a really depressing one. Unless you turn it on very late at night that is. I listen to it everyday, news in the morning, morning show and a bit late at night. Plus it doesn't have any pop songs on it, nor does the intended audience demand it.

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 1:29 pm

i used to listen to a lot of BBC radio 1, but as i started to like music that is only played while i want to be asleep [and detest the daytime pop music with a vengance] i mostly listen to radio 4 - see Georgi's description.

there are a couple of programs on other stations i sometimes listen to, jazz, classical, blues etc., but i frankly can't be bothered to listen to so much music i don't like, and as a consequence i don't listen to much music on the radio.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 1:35 pm

I sometines listen to Radio 1 and (less frequently) several of the commercial radio stations. Like Robnark, I would listen far more if the music I wanted to listen to on Radio 1 wasn't on between 12.00 and 2.00 in the morning...IMO, and this may make sense to Brits, XFM should go national, or there should be at least one station that would play rock and metal consistently, from all eras, rather than the pop/r&b/nu-metal combo that is so common on music radio nowadays...

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 1:45 pm

I don't listen to radio much anymore, usually only on Sunday nights for a coupld hours when they have a blues format. I really can't take most of what is played on the radio anymore.

That said, I tune into Launch.com while I am surfing and listen to my own personal station

You gotta love personalized playlists on the internet.

oki101 · Post by **oki101** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 1:45 pm

I listen to the local commercial channels all the time, but on Friday and Saturday evenings/nights (18.00-06.00) I usually tune in one of the stately channels called NRK MP3. At these times they broadcast mainly my kind of music, like techno, house and such.

All of these channels are on the FM band. I don`t think I`ve ever heard on the LW.

I don`t listen to the radio for news, those I get from the daily newsprograms on TV or I check out Text-TV.

Tybaltus · Post by **Tybaltus** » Sat Jul 20, 2002 2:47 pm

I actually listen to the radio A LOT. When I need relaxation, and I am studying/doing work I listen to the classical station. When I play on the computer and Im too lazy to get my CD's and put it in the CD player-I turn on the alternative radio station. And every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, there are certain stations that play 80's music, and I often tune-in to listen to their selection of the music that came out of that decade.

Ode to a Grasshopper · Sat Jul 20, 2002 11:50 pm

I listen to the radio to get the weather forecasts when I'm planning on going out sailing with my dad, but other than that I just listen to CDs.
There is a new age which is funny to listen to sometimes, and the (I think) Arab news station has novelty value sometimes, but in the end I'd sooner listen to music I like, so CDs it is for me.

frogus · Post by **frogus** » Sun Jul 21, 2002 7:55 am

What Robnark and Kam said is true for me too...I listen to Just A Minute and Sorry I Haven't A Clue whenever they're on, but that's about it...

EDIT- can anyone think of a good internet adaptation of Just A Minute?

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Sun Jul 21, 2002 8:00 am

Originally posted by frogus
EDIT- can anyone think of a good internet adaptation of Just A Minute?

Just a Paragraph? Nah, wouldn't work. It could be in the One Word Story format...eeergh

Vinin · Post by **Vinin** » Sun Jul 21, 2002 12:25 pm

Hmm...radio....in Midatlantic USA there arnt that many good stations around, many many stations but not many good ones. Well I prefer my mp3s to radio, my brother and I are constantly d/ling more so i keep up with new releases adn stuff rather well.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Mon Jul 22, 2002 3:52 am

I listen to BBC radio four which is at times excellent on current affairs and interviews with leading scientists etc.

I also listen to jazz fm which I think is very good - I think you might like it fable. http://www.jazzfm.com

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Jul 22, 2002 4:41 am

There's an excellent 24-hour-a-day station offering Celtic music on the Internet; and it's from Poland! Radio Celt can be found here. Just click the top left phrase, "Postuchaj radia."

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Mon Jul 22, 2002 11:20 pm

Originally posted by mental_nomad
I only listen to the radio when I'm driving.

I would fall in this group as well. And then I only listen to the Sport shows. Rick 'N' Bubba on the way to work....Jim Rome, on the way to lunch. Kiley & Booms on the way home.

Rob-hin · Post by **Rob-hin** » Tue Jul 23, 2002 12:37 am

I personally, don't like Dutch radio.
All the stations play the same songs. On a days work, I hear Shakira about 6 times.

Thats why I only listnen to c-dance, a Belgium trance and dance radio. It's online quality is ten times better then Dutch radio's, and they play more differred songs. Getting it in the car is a problem though...