The internet is the most revolutionary mode of communication since language was invented. In no other medium before it could one person reach people all over the world at once with limited cost and limited talent. Many people turn to the internet for alternatives to things they see in their daily lives and that is why many people are turning to internet radio. To listen to internet radio all you need is a computer hooked up to the internet and some speakers and a sound card that work. Once you have all of that in place you are ready to listen to internet radio. But that is not what makes so many people turn to internet radio. Anyone can buy a regular radio and listen to the stations available in your area with no problem. But to broadcast over the airwaves on regular radio you need expensive broadcasting equipment and a license from the government. Even if you could get your own broadcast equipment you would eventually be shut down by the government for illegally broadcasting over the public airwaves. You could always use shortwave radio but your audience would be very limited. In order to tap get out to internet radio all you need is a website, a microphone, and a way to play music if that is what you want to do. If you plan on playing music that has a copyright on it on your internet radio station then you will need to get permission, but if you plan on playing anything that is not copyrighted then you are free to put out whatever you want to internet radio.

As long as you are not breaking and copyright laws you can have your own internet radio station and many people do have one of their own and they use it as a platform for their ideas and to expose people to music they may have never heard before. Internet radio is an inexpensive way to broadcast your thoughts, ideas, and music to millions of people all over the world. In theory internet radio should be the inexpensive way to help any unknown band break into the international scene. But the reality is much different. The internet is a virtual world that anyone can use and that can connect people from all over the world for almost no cost. However the internet also works a lot like the real world in that if people do not know your address then they cannot visit your site. Just like the real world you have to advertise to get noticed on the internet.

Internet radio can be a very homegrown, grass roots kind of thing that can spread by word of mouth. But in order for something like an internet radio station to spread quickly by word of mouth it first has to spend time offering something that will interest a large group of people. Whether it be a novelty on the radio or exposure to some excellent unknown music, internet radio is useless without listeners and listeners have to know your address on the internet before they can visit you. This is the biggest misconception that most people have about the internet. Many people think that they can start an internet radio station, or any other kind of internet business, and instantly they will have millions of listeners and be making millions of dollars. It does not work that way. The internet is merely a vehicle set up to allow you access to people all over the world but the internet does not care if people ever find your site and it won’t automatically just bring people to your internet radio site. Be prepared to do some marketing and if you are clever enough you should be able to get people to listen.