Un-Real public stations: Apple's iTunes is a terrific instrument not only for ripping, organizing, playing, uploading and downloading MP3 files. But my favorite iTunes feature is its Radio Tuner. It organizes hundreds of stations streaming MP3 into a handy directory. KPIG, RadioParadise and SmoothJazz are listed in the "Americana," "Alt/Modern Rock" and "Jazz" subdirectories, respectively. Under "International" there's Radio FG ("French Radio straming the best in Lounge..."), Radio Free Klezmer and URGent ("De Gentse Studentenradio"). Under "Urban" there's Radiostorm Hip-Hop/R&B. "Electronica" features 63 streams, including BassDrive, Chemlab, KI EuroDance, DI EuroDance, Hard House and Hard Trance, EpighanyRadio, Factory188 and FlareSOUND Deepbeats, to name just a few. Nearly everything I've listed so far, by the way, streams at 128 kbps or better.
There is also a "Public" directory, but mostly it just lists college student stations like KFJC, WFMU, KUCI and KAOS. All of those are terrific stations (also all 128 kbps). But none run NPR programs. Why no NPR stations? I suspect it's because most of them still stream in Real Audio, which, as we all know, sucks. I suspect that whoever puts the list together is pulling hair out trying to find a single NPR station that streams MP3.
Well I have one, and I want to petition the Apple Radio Tuner guy (who I believe used to be with the late and much-missed Kerbango) to add WUNC, the premier public station out of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Joan Siefert Rose, my old pal and former cohort from WDBS and WQDR (we're talking 70s and 80s here), runs WUNC, and the station deserves our thanks for providing at least one outlet on Earth that streams NPR in MP3. Dig it any way you can. iTunes isn't the only client out there.
(I'll put in more links later. Right now I need to go back and watch The Game.)
6:04:00 PM 
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