Smart speakers like Amazon Echo, Google Nest, Sonos, and Apple HomePod all play internet radio, mostly from a small list of directories rather than from a stream URL. Get listed in those directories and your station becomes playable by voice on the major speakers.
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 | Cast from a radio app on your phone |
| Sonos | TuneIn | Stream URL saved as a TuneIn favourite |
| Apple HomePod (Siri) | TuneIn | iHeartRadio |
| Roku (voice remote) | TuneIn | iHeartRadio |
Getting on TuneIn is the single highest-impact action. radio.net adds its own apps and website, strong in Europe, and Radio Browser improves coverage on third-party apps and skills.
Get listed from the Directories page
Your station's Directories page splits directories in two groups:
- Automatic: click Submit now on Radio Browser and CloudRadio submits your station. Radio Browser is an open community directory used by many third-party apps and Alexa skills. The SHOUTcast and Icecast directories sit in this group too.
- Manual: you submit to TuneIn, radio.net and the others yourself. CloudRadio does not send your station to them. Click Open submission form, submit, then click I submitted so the page tracks the review.
Once TuneIn or radio.net approves you, click They approved it, then Set up now-playing sync and enter the credentials they gave you (Partner ID, Partner Key and Station ID for TuneIn; API Key and Station ID for radio.net). CloudRadio then sends your current track to them as it changes.
TuneIn
Stations outside the US submit through TuneIn's broadcaster portal. For stations in the US, TuneIn now offers TuneIn On Air, a paid program you apply to for a yearly price.
radio.net
radio.net lists stations through its linking agreement form: station name, stream URL, description, genres, language and a square logo of 2200 by 2200 pixels.
For the full checklist, 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]"
Station owners in supported countries can also apply to Amazon's Radio Skills Kit, a free, no-code way to put a station on Alexa. Listeners then ask for it by name, alternate name, call sign or frequency.
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. Google shut down custom Conversational Actions on June 13, 2023, so a directory listing is the way onto Google devices.
Sonos
Sonos plays TuneIn stations once TuneIn is added as a service in the Sonos app. If your station isn't on TuneIn yet, Sonos support has listeners add the stream URL through TuneIn:
- Sign in to the TuneIn app for iOS or Android.
- Add your stream URL to TuneIn Favorites as a custom station, and check it appears under Library > Favorites.
- In the Sonos app, go to Your services > TuneIn, open Favorites and choose the station.
The stream must be MP3, AAC or WMA, so give listeners your ICY stream URL, not the HLS one. Put these steps on your website's How to listen page.
Apple HomePod
Siri on HomePod plays radio stations from providers including TuneIn and iHeartRadio, so a TuneIn listing makes your station playable. Listeners should include the words "radio station", otherwise Siri searches Apple Music instead:
"Hey Siri, play radio station [station name]"
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.