Smart speakers like Amazon Echo, Google Nest, Sonos, and Apple HomePod all play internet radio, but none of them let listeners type in a stream URL. Instead, they pull stations from a small list of directories. Get listed in those directories and your station becomes playable by voice on every major speaker.
How smart speakers find stations
When someone says “Play [station name]” on a smart speaker, the device searches one or more partner directories. The exact partner depends on the platform:
| Platform | Primary directory | Secondary options |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Echo (Alexa) | TuneIn | iHeartRadio, myTuner Radio skill |
| Google Nest / Home | TuneIn | Radio Garden, custom Actions |
| Sonos | TuneIn | radio.net, custom stream URL |
| Apple HomePod (Siri) | Apple Music Radio | TuneIn (via Apple Music) |
| Roku speakers | TuneIn | iHeartRadio |
The pattern is clear: getting on TuneIn is the single highest-impact action. Adding radio.net gives you Sonos coverage, and submitting to Radio Browser improves coverage on third-party apps and skills.
Submit through CloudRadio’s directory integrations
Studio includes built-in submission to the major directories:
- Open your station’s Directories page in Studio.
-
Connect each directory you want to publish to:
- TuneIn AIR: pushes now-playing metadata to TuneIn so your station appears with live track info.
- radio.net: pushes metadata to radio.net (required for Sonos and many smart-display devices).
- Radio Browser: an open community directory used by many third-party apps and Alexa skills.
- Fill in the credentials or station details requested by each integration.
- Save and let the worker submit on your behalf.
For step-by-step instructions, see Directory Submission.
Platform-specific tips
Amazon Alexa
Once you’re on TuneIn, listeners can say:
“Alexa, play [station name] on TuneIn”
If you can’t get listed on TuneIn, the myTuner Radio Alexa skill is the most reliable alternative. Submit your station at mytuner-radio.com/broadcasters/new-broadcaster/ and ask listeners to enable the skill, then say:
“Alexa, ask myTuner to play [station name]”
For a fully branded experience, you can build a custom Alexa skill via Amazon’s Radio Skills Kit (no-code template).
Google Nest / Home
Once on TuneIn, listeners can say:
“Hey Google, play [station name]”
Google Assistant routes the request to its default radio provider, usually TuneIn.
Sonos
Sonos pulls from TuneIn by default and can also add radio.net as a music service. If neither directory accepts your station, listeners can add it manually as a custom stream:
- Open the Sonos desktop app.
- Click Manage → Add Radio Station.
- Enter your station’s HTTPS stream URL and name.
Document this on your website’s How to listen page so listeners can do it themselves.
Apple HomePod
HomePod prefers Apple Music’s curated radio catalog. Getting added is a manual editorial process via Apple, but if you’re on TuneIn, Apple Music’s “Internet Radio” section often surfaces TuneIn-listed stations to HomePod users.
What if you can’t get listed?
Some directories have limited intake. Three things help:
- Polish your station profile: real logo, current description, working stream URL, regularly updated metadata.
- Use HTTPS: see HTTPS Streaming. Several directories now reject HTTP-only streams.
- Submit to multiple directories: even niche directories add up to substantial reach.