Best free internet radio?
 

I already have a Pandora One account along with SiriusXM, but looking to see what others are using to stream music. I am using this at my work place (Dental Office) and it needs to be relatively commercial free and better quality. Pandora is working out fine 75% of the time, but comes up with some really odd ball choices, at least at my office. The quality if fine and no commercials with the One account. I have heard that Slacker is better, but I really don't want to buy another account when I already have 2. Thanks!

I heart radio?

I'm pretty happy with pandora... I even endure the commercials with my free account.

On the other hand I have a paid XM account in my car and also pretty happy with it, although for a paid subscription I wish the have more variety, I understand they have limited bandwidth and they have to have everything for everybody.

I have slacker on my phone but also don't want to take on another account.

Streaming XM from a player compared to Pandora One, there is no comparison. Like comparing AM radio to CD. I can play the Pandora at lower volume and it has much better stereo separation. I have to tinker with the artist I pick for the station. Put in Johnny Cash and was hit with an onslaught of Waylon Jennings, Roy Orbinson, etc. Not that I mind them, but they sometimes play similar artist like these in a row. Someone coming in will think they are in a Quentin Tarantino movie.;)

The key to Pandora is to "thumbs down" selections you don't like. If you let them go, then it assumes you're o.k. with songs of that type and seems to add more. Once you knock off the ones you dislike the songs it does play will align better with your tastes.

iHeart Radio works for me.

Free - I Heart Radio

I like Jango better than pandora its free,
and commercial free and will play all day till you stop it

I have been doing this. It seems like it runs well and then throws some songs on to see if your listening.

Yep... sometimes I get the feeling they're testing me.

My 12 year old has the habit of starting her Pandora station via the Roku hooked up in the family room, then disappearing off to her room. It will play some really crazy stuff, but then she's not around to kill it off.

+1.

I cannot stand the mainstream pop music, and especially rap influenced music. These days I am really into the trance/groove/electronica/dance music. While thumbs down is the key to eliminate the undesireable stuff, the thumbs up is also key in fine tuning what you really want to hear. If you are actively selecting your music (if you have access to the device you are streaming the music from) it can really fine tune your stations.

I particularly like the "why was this song chosen?" feature of Pandora -- gives you insight into what type of music you enjoy.

I use Pandora at work, at home and during my commute home (iPhone tethered to my car stereo via mini stereo jack). Pandora has introduced me to some of my favorite songs and groups, such as Kaskade, Morgan Page, and Deadmau5. (Check out Kaskade's Fire in your New Shoes, or Mogran Page's Fight for You, or Deadmau5's Moar Ghosts 'n' Stuff for the type of music I'm into these days...)

Sorry for the tangent...
-Z-man.

Sort of been on / off with the freebie version of Slacker. The choice of DJ programing is good and lots of rarity's come up in the Blues catagory. Pandora seem's to repeat more but probably my fault for not selecting like or dislike.

Pandora works for me.
 

I have a new age piano solo station set up. I don't ever get commercials. You get commercials on Pandora?

Find a streaming station that has your kind of music on it.... for blues (I play it in class while students are doing lab work, etc) I like KOQX Internet Blues Radio - Home

No commercials for Pandora one (paid). The free version usually does one or two an hour if your lucky. They are short, but still annoying.

Interesting Z-man, because I have a channel just like this. My kids can't understand why I like it but I always have since Kraftwerk. Daft Punk, Deadmau5. This music if good but there is a lot of crap they put on. Same formula for many songs (drum beat, girls vocal comes in, and then they raise the pitch:)) My work place is more difficult because I am trying to make a station that is modern, good, but not offensive. I think it is more Dependant on the seed artist then thumbs up or down. I have the feed to my server on all my workstations so I can open the screen an give a quick thumbs up or down. Then I will review the list when I have more opportunity, but I generally review every track. It is working out, far better then any XM stations avoiding repetition.

Streaming jazz Listen Live | KPLU News for Seattle and the Northwest
Not the "cool jazz" crap with Kenny Guh, not too frantic, just great music.

Wwoz

Z is right about the key to pandora being the thumbs up and down, as well as a good seed artist. Another trick is merging several stations to get a wider variety, and then fine tune the up and down.

I really like pandora. :)

Z-man tapping along with Morgan Page..
got to be a sight..
found him a few weeks back..
now on my Pandora as well..

Rika