Can Alexa Play The Radio? 9 Best Radio Stations In 2023

From setting your whole month of schedule…

To automatically playing some of your favorite tracks and playlists.

Alexa is excellent at making people’s lives more convenient.

And now, if you’re wondering…

“Can I make Alexa play the radio too?”

Then you’ve found the right person to ask.

Continue reading to find out:

5 easy steps to make Alexa play the radio.
How to set your favorite radio station as your alarm.
The 9 best radio stations you can listen to using Alexa.
And a lot more…

Can Alexa play the radio?

Alexa can play the radio. All you need is a working Internet connection and a compatible radio skill. There are several skills available on Alexa. So simply pick 1 that suits your preferences. And once you’ve enabled the radio, you can command Alexa to play it anytime.

How to listen to the radio on Alexa?

To listen to the radio on Alexa, you must set a specific skill under the Alexa app’s Music & Audio section. And once the radio skill is enabled, you can ask your AI to play your favorite stations anytime. As long as you have a stable Internet connection.

Now, that’s just a simple overview of how you can listen to the radio using Alexa.

Want a more detailed guide on how you can set it up? If so, here are…

5 easy steps to listen to the radio on Alexa

#1: Launch the Alexa app on your phone

Regardless of whether you’re using an iOS or an Android device…

The steps you need to follow will be the same.

So simply turn ON your gadget and open the Alexa app.

Then…

#2: Go to the Skills & Games section

On the upper-left corner of your screen, tap the icon with multiple lines.

That’ll open up the left bar window of the app.

Now, select the Skills & Games in the middle of the options.

Once you do…

#3: Head to the Music & Audio category

To do so, just follow these steps:

Click the Categories under the Skills & Games heading.
Head to the Featured Categories.
Scroll sideways until you find Music & Audio.

Once you find it…

#4: Search for the radio skill you want to use

Tap the search icon and type in the name of the radio you want Alexa to activate.

For this step, you’re free to choose whatever radio station you want to use.

Note: If you don’t have 1 in mind yet, check the latter part of this article. You’ll find the 9 best radio stations currently available on Alexa.

Once you’ve searched the name of the station you want to use, simply tap its name and…

#5: Enable the radio skill

After tapping the name of your chosen radio…

Click the option saying ENABLE TO USE.

And just like that…

Alexa will now play the skill you enabled whenever you ask her to play the radio.

“What command do I need to use?”

It varies depending on the radio skill you’re using.

But the easiest way to ask your Alexa echo device to play the radio is by saying…

“Alexa, ask (radio app name) to play (name of the station).”

However, sometimes minor issues get in the way of this process.

And Alexa won’t play the station as it’s supposed to.

But don’t worry. I have a solution for that as well.

If Alexa won’t play your radio skill…

Check out: 8 Things To Do if Alexa Won’t Play Your Radio Station

Bonus: Set your favorite station as your alarm

If you want to take listening to the radio a step further…

You can also try setting your radio as your alarm.

This means that instead of waking you up with the same music every day…

Alexa will play your favorite radio station instead.

This is a perfect alarm function if you:

Like starting each day differently.
Hate waking up to the same music every day.
Want to listen to the radio 1st thing in the morning.

To activate the radio alarm function, simply use this command template:

“Alexa, wake me up with (radio name) at (time of the day).”

But if you want to set up your radio alarm manually, you can also watch this video:

What radio stations can Alexa play? 9 best radio stations on Alexa

#1: MyTuner

This radio station is perfect for you if you’re looking for simplicity and usability.

Now, unlike most stations on this list, MyTuner doesn’t just play a single radio station.

In fact, it allows you to tune in to over 50,000 stations from all over the world.

You can think of it as a virtual radio device.

Where you can tune in to your favorite radio stations with just a simple turn of a knob.

But in this case, instead of turning a radio dial…

All you need to do is verbally ask Alexa to switch the station.

And your echo will automatically play 1 of the 50,000 radio stations worldwide.

Not into international radios?

No worries. If you want to stick with the locals, you can still tune in to stations such as:

Now, as you can see, MyTuner can cater to most individuals no matter their preferences.

Hence, I’ve listed it as the 1st radio on the list.

You might also want to know: How Much Data Do Radio Apps Use?

#2: Radio Paradise

Are you someone who loves getting a little bit of every genre?

If so, consider activating the Radio Paradise station on your Alexa.

Curated by 2 professional DJs, you’ll never get tired of the song variations you’ll find here.

From Jazz, pop, oldies, or country…

Just name it, and they’ll have a song for that particular genre of music.

“But what if I don’t like the song they’re playing?”

Then you’ll be glad to know that Radio Paradise lets you skip the songs you don’t like.

So don’t worry. You won’t be stuck with genres that you don’t really appreciate.

Moreover, this radio station also plays mainstream music on top of underground tracks.

So, fortunately, you won’t miss out on what the latest top hits are…

Even while you’re tuning in to unfamiliar and underrated music genres.

#3: iHeartRadio

If you love radio stations, podcasts, and music, iHeartRadio got your back.

Because with their Alexa skill, you’ll get to hear all of those audio formats for free.

You can even filter your music selections by:

The artist.
Your mood.
What activity you’re doing.

So, if you’re looking for a radio that you can use for various situations, I highly recommend iHeartRadio.

“Can I listen to the news too?”

Yes, you can.

Like the MyTuner radio mentioned 1st on this list…

iHeartRadio also lets you listen to thousands of local and international radio stations.

They cater to genres:

Pop.
Country.
News and talk.

And don’t worry. It’s only not limited to the ones I listed.

So if you’re interested in trying iHeartRadio on your echo device now…

Simply open the Alexa app and search for this skill.

#4: Radio Fun Time

Radio Fun Time will be your go-to station if you love going on nostalgia trips.

They play old-school radio programs like:

Of course, as this station replays talk shows and programs that date back decades ago…

You won’t hear any live-stream broadcasts on Radio Fun Time.

So if you want a station that’ll keep you updated on the latest news…

This station won’t be the best candidate for that.

But if you love watching old-fashioned:

Comedy shows.
Mystery programs.
True crime documentaries.

And other replays from legendary radio stations from all over the world…

Radio Fun Time will indeed be a fun radio station for you.

#5: Radio D-Day

Have you ever wondered how people would’ve felt…

When the allied forces were destined to invade Normandy during WWII?

Then Radio D-Day will be perfect for your taste.

This station plays the actual radio broadcast from June 6, 1944…

And gives complete coverage of the Normandy invasion.

But…

Reminder: Radio D-Day isn’t for faint-hearted people.

The descriptions in this radio station are so vivid and detailed…

That you can almost see the battlefield when you close your eyes while listening.

Of course, depending on your preferences, you can see this as a good thing or a bad 1.

But just be aware that this station can be gruesome.

So it may not be best to listen to Radio D-Day during meal time.

#6: Radio Anchor

For News junkies, of course, I also got you covered.

Radio Anchor is perfect for you if you prefer hearing the news over entertainment shows.

They provide unbiased, excellent international news coverage.

From reliable sources like the New York Times (NYT).

However, there’s a bit of a catch.

Note: Radio Anchor doesn’t have live radio streams. Instead, Alexa will be the 1 to read the latest newspapers and events to you.

But if you don’t mind this type of downside…

Then tune in to Radio Anchor for the latest news in the United States and the rest of the world.

#7: The Wiz

For those who love sticking with the mainstream, check The Wiz out.

This station is based in Louisville and loves keeping its music selection “clean.”

Or in other words…

They keep it safe by playing only mainstream music.

So if you only want to hear songs you can most likely sing along with…

The Wiz is the Alexa radio station for you.

In that sense, this radio is also perfect for family-friendly businesses like:

Tea houses.
Restaurants.
Coffee shops.

Because most of your customers will be able to vibe with the station’s popular music selection.

#8: Hard Rock Hell Radio

As you can probably tell by its name…

This radio station plays intense rock songs, perfect for those who love rock and metal bands.

They feature both mainstream musicians and underrated artists worldwide.

And this balanced mix makes it 1 of the most popular Alexa-enabled rock stations in the world.

“How long do they broadcast for?”

Conveniently, Hard Rock Hell Radio broadcasts 24/7.

So if you want to play rock music anytime and any day of the week…

This station will always be ready to cater to you.

#9: Classic Mix Radio

Now, last but never the least, I present the Classic Mix Radio.

This is the perfect Alexa-enabled radio station…

If you’re someone who appreciates both the oldies and the current top hits.

They play a wide array of music selections. Ranging from songs released in the 60s to the current pop songs today.

And not to mention…

They also play special music shows for the deployed armed forces of the United States.

So if you’re curious about what a music show for soldiers would sound like…

Then you shouldn’t miss out on listening to the Classic Mix Radio.

Can Alexa be used as FM radio?

Alexa can be used as FM radio. Using her skills, you can select different radio stations you want to tune in to. And on top of FM stations, you can also choose AM and Internet-exclusive radios.

Now, to use Alexa as FM radio, here’s what you need to do:

Open your app.
Go to Skills & Games section.
Head to the Music & Audio category.
Search for the radio app you want to use.
Enable the skill.

Conveniently, on top of being able to tune in to local FM radios…

You have the choice to listen to international radio stations with Alexa.

Does Alexa play radio for free?

Alexa plays radio for free. Radio apps like MyTuner can be enabled as a skill without any additional charge. All you need to do is set them up as a skill on your Alexa app. And you can ask your AI assistant to play any stations you want anytime, for free.