Of the traditional forms of media, many see the radio as the dying channel. It hasn't had any great development or revolution over the last few years. Still, there are those who believe there's hope for the medium - and that is by broadcasting it via the Internet, or what is commonly known as Internet radio. Live365, billed as the world's largest network of independently-produced audio content, is a refuge for Internet radio stations. Launched in 1999, Live365 can be heard in over 150 countries and has thousands of stations and a myriad of genres to choose from.

The people behind Live365 see radio as being in the middle of a technological revolution, with Internet radio transforming the relationship between listeners, broadcasters, and artists. Listeners have at their disposal a wide range of tools that will help them navigate the abundant programming choices Live365 offers. All these can be done in the comforts of one's home, and in the future, with portable devices such as PDAs and mobile phones.

Currently, a traditional (or terrestrial) radio station is limited to two aspects: the station's transmitter power and its available broadcast spectrum. Conversely, Internet radio has no geographical restraints as it can travel as far as cyberspace can carry it. Moreover, Internet radio carries not only music but also photos, graphics, lyrics, and message boards. With this additional feature, radio as we know it, becomes a more interactive and interesting medium.

So how does Internet radio work? Audio is transmitted over the 'Net by sound entering through the soundcard of the broadcaster. From there the encoder translates the audio into a format that can be streamed and then compressed for distribution over the Web. Users who log onto the station then translate the data stream into sound by using a multimedia player. Contents of Internet radio can be delivered to listeners by either downloads or streaming media. The most popular format to be uploaded is MP3 but other compression formats such as WAV and WMA can also be used.

Live365 allows its members to do just this, either by setting up a personal or commercial account. The commercial service is perfect for business and organizations who want to broadcast from their own website. Live365 will create a playlist that pops up in the website of the organization. From here, users can make a selection and create their own playlist. Or, if it's just for personal use or fun, users can log on to their own setup station and listen to their own playlist from tracks they have uploaded.

Internet radio will allow the radio industry to take that much needed and long-awaited leap forward. Soon, we'll all be our own DJ.