Understanding Stations on Alexa
On Alexa-enabled devices, "stations" typically refer to two primary types of audio content: traditional live radio broadcasts streamed over the internet, and personalized or genre-based music streams offered by various music services.
Playing Live Radio Stations
Alexa primarily utilizes services like TuneIn to stream live radio stations. You can request stations by their name, call sign, frequency, or even by genre and location.
- "Alexa, play [Station Name]." (e.g., "Alexa, play BBC Radio 4.")
- "Alexa, play [Frequency] FM/AM." (e.g., "Alexa, play 98.5 FM.")
- "Alexa, play radio station [Call Sign]." (e.g., "Alexa, play radio station KEXP.")
- "Alexa, play [Genre] radio." (e.g., "Alexa, play classical radio.")
- "Alexa, play [Station Name] in [City]." (e.g., "Alexa, play Z100 in New York.")
Accessing Music Service Stations
Many music streaming services integrated with Alexa offer "station" features. These are often algorithmically generated playlists based on an artist, song, or genre, designed to provide a continuous listening experience. Ensure the relevant music service skill is enabled and your account is linked in the Alexa app.
- "Alexa, play [Artist] radio." (Uses your default music service or prompts if unset)
- "Alexa, play [Genre] station on [Music Service]." (e.g., "Alexa, play electronic music station on Spotify.")
- "Alexa, play my [Saved Station Name] on Pandora." (If you have personalized stations)
- "Alexa, play [Mood] music." (e.g., "Alexa, play focus music.")
You can set a default music service in the Alexa app to avoid specifying the service name in every command.
Essential Voice Commands for Stations
Beyond initiating playback, several voice commands help manage your listening experience with both live radio and music service stations:
- "Alexa, stop." or "Alexa, pause."
- "Alexa, resume."
- "Alexa, next song." (Primarily for music service stations)
- "Alexa, volume up." or "Alexa, set volume to 5."
- "Alexa, what station is this?" or "Alexa, what's playing?"
Tips for Optimal Listening
To ensure smooth playback and accurately find your desired stations:
- Be Specific: For radio stations with common names, add the city, frequency, or full call sign.
- Enable Skills: Confirm that necessary audio skills (e.g., TuneIn, your preferred music services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music) are enabled and linked in the Alexa app.
- Check Default Services: Set your preferred music and radio services in Alexa app settings (Music & Podcasts) for simpler voice commands.
- Clear Pronunciation: Enunciate clearly, especially for station names or call signs that might be easily misheard by Alexa.
- Update Alexa App and Device: Ensure your Alexa app and Echo device firmware are up to date for the latest features and bug fixes.
