About
1. What is Radical.FM?
Radical.FM is a personalized streaming music player that provides listeners with the most user friendly and complete music delivery software in the world.
As a user, you are able to create your very own perfect personal radio station. Radical supplies all of the world's hits from Lady Gaga to Elvis and you decide exactly how you want to mix them.
Online jukeboxes can only build playlists like iTunes - then the music is over, or repeated, or you need to build another playlist.
Other Internet radio stations often fail to deliver the music you really want to hear because they rely on a computer to guess what you like based on a few song or artist choices. But Radical.FM gives you complete control over the music you hear.
2. How do I get Radical.FM?
Simply sign up for a free account! Radical plays directly from any web browser, there is no need to download our player.
Please note that even though Radical will play in any browser, we strongly recommend using Chrome.
Mobile apps for Smartphones will be available soon.
3. How does Radical differ from Pandora, etc?
Radical does not try to 'guess' what music you might like based on a few song choices and subjective computer parameters.
We offer a simplified way for anyone to access the skills of the entire broadcast radio industry, which has invested millions of man-hours to develop targeted music formats for their terrestrial stations. Similar to Satellite Radio, we have a massive library of songs divided into niche formats (like CLASSIC ROCK, JAZZ, and DISCO), called Genres.
But we go way beyond Satellite by allowing you to blend up to twelve genres at a time, and then assign each a value of 1 through 10 relative to the others.
The result is a precisely personalized song mix; an endless stream of just the kind of music you want to hear.
Radical Stations and Playlists
4. What is a Radical Station?
Stations created on the MY STATIONS tab are the complete mix of genres designed by you.
You are able to assign each genre a value from 1 ("I like it") to 10 ("I love it").
Once your personalized mix of genres is created, an endless stream of the music you want to hear begins.
Radical Stations also allow you to rate songs higher or lower, and to block unwanted songs or artists entirely.
Of course you can create as many Radical stations as you like.
5. How do I create a new station?
From the player, to create a new station, click the NEW button within the My Stations tab.
6. How do I Edit a Station?
There are several ways to edit a station:
1) Adjust the slider knobs left or right to decrease or increase the percentage of music drawn from that particular Genre. If the slider knob is set at extreme left you will no longer hear that genre. If a slider knob is set to the extreme right you will hear music from that genre at top priority.
2) Add another Genre (up to twelve) by clicking the ADD GENRE button in the bottom right hand corner of the player. Check the desired Genres from the list, assign it a value, and click SAVE.
3) Replace one genre in your station with another genre by clicking the EDIT button just right of the genre's slider. Choose the genre you wish to take the place of the current genre, and select a value; click to SAVE your setting.
4) Delete a genre entirely from your list by clicking the red minus sign next to the genre's slider. A pop up window will open asking you to confirm your delete.
5) To keep an existing station while using it as a base for making edits to a new station, click the SAVE AS NEW button.
6) To move your genres into different positions on your player's dashboard, click the green up or down arrow next to the genre's slider you would like to move. (this has no effect on songs played and is only for user convenience).
7) To rename a station, click the RENAME button within the My Stations tab. You will be prompted to enter a new name, click SUBMIT.
7. What is a Radical Playlist?
As a premium subscriber, you are granted full access to the MY PLAYLISTS function, which allows you to search and play songs on demand.
Subscribers have full access to our 13 million plus library of tracks.
8. How do I edit a playlist?
There are several ways to edit a playlist:
1) To add new songs to your playlist, use the search box to find your desired song. Once you have found a song you would like to add, click the green plus sign to add the song to your playlist.
2) To start a new playlist, click the NEW button.
3) To save a playlist as new before making edits, so you can save the original list and build a new list using your original list as a base, click the SAVE AS button.
4) To delete a song from your playlist, click the red minus arrow at the end of the song's row.
5) To rename your playlist, click the RENAME button under the My Playlists tab. You will be prompted to enter a new name, click SUBMIT and you're finished.
9. Can I purchase the music I'm listening to?
Yes! To purchase a song, click on the Buy button in the song player. Select whether you prefer to buy though Amazon or iTunes and you're on your way to owning some new music!
You can also purchase songs in your playlist by clicking the CD symbol in the ‘Buy’ column next to the song you wish to purchase.
10. How do I block an artist or song?
To block an artist or song, click the red trash can button in the streaming song window.
After you click the red trash can, you will have the option to block either the song or the artist's entire catalog. Click on the button for either and your song or artist will be added to your block list.
To view your entire list of blocked artists and songs, click on the Blocked Songs/Artists tab.
To remove a song or artist from your blocked list, and to return it to the streaming library, click the green return arrow.
11. Why are my song "skips" limited?
In order to stay in compliance with our music licenses, we must limit the total number of skips to 6 per hour, per station.
12. Why do I have to listen to ads?
In order for Radical to continue to provide a free service, we must be supported through advertisers. Someone has to pay for the music royalties associated with every song!
Radical RadCast
13. What is Radical RadCast?
While the competition is satisfied with allowing users to share Station parameters with other users, we go further.
Our unique, patent pending feature, RadCast, allows Radical users to have their friends listen to their actual music stream in real time.
A group of friends jogging together normally listen to different music on each of their Smartphones. With RadCast, they can now 'tune-in' to a single personalized stream in perfect sync.
Kobe Bryant can share his pre-game mix for all to hear, or Lady Gaga can share her new album with millions of fans live!
14. How do I activate my RadCast stream for others to hear?
Once logged into Radical.FM, you are automatically logged in under RadCast as well.
Any and all friends you have in RadCast (or those that are not filtered through your Security Settings) will see you online, and can join whatever stream you are currently listening to.
15. How do I message a friend in RadCast?
Go to the page of the user you wish to send a message to, and click on the envelope near their profile picture.
OR, go into your Message Center (just click your own profile picture), look at the top right of the message center portion of the window, and click the ‘+ New Message’ button.
To respond to a message in your inbox, click the Reply button within the message.
Friend Requests
16. How do I find a list of the friends I already have?
When you go to your RadCast tab, you'll see a list of friends who are online (yellow) and offline (grey) within the tab; online first in alphabetical order.
17. How do I search for friends to add to my RadCast friends list?
Go to the bottom right corner of the RadCast tab to the Search box, click the Radical bubble underneath the box, and type the name of the friend you wish to find.
If you want to see all of your friends, just click the My Friends bubble, leave the text field empty, and click the Search button. A drawer will open showing all your friends in alphabetical order.
18. How do I accept a friend request?
Friend requests will all appear as mail in your personal Inbox, which you access by clicking on your profile picture. If you have a friend request, you will get the same notification as you would with a new message (an envelope appears over you profile picture, which also ‘breathes’ blue light).
Radical Accounts
19. Is Radical free?
Yes, Radical offers free accounts to everyone including unlimited Stations and full RadCast functionality! Soon we will also offer an ad-free listening experience for a small fee, as well as full on demand memberships, to which you may chose to subscribe voluntarily; but Radical will always be free.
20. Why does Radical need to know my email address?
Radical asks for your email address so we can verify you are a real person, and in case you forget your password. We will never sell your email address to a third party, and we will only email you when necessary.
21. Why does Radical need to know my age?
In order to create an account with Radical, you must be at least 13 years of age. We also use this information to avoid sending you irrelevant ads.
22. What if my registration confirmation email doesn't arrive?
If your registration confirmation does not arrive, please check you Spam and/or Junk Mail box. If you still can’t find it try to register again.
23. Where do I update my profile information?
To edit your profile information, click on your profile picture on the player's fixed control panel.
24. What if I forget my password?
If you forgot your password, click the link on the login/create a station form to resend this information to the email address associated with your account in our system.
25. How do I change my nickname?
Just go into the 'Edit Profile/Message Center' window (click your profile picture), and enter the Nickname you desire in the 'Nickname' text entry box, and then Click the green' Save' button.
26. Can I block other users?
Yes. Go to your 'Edit Profile/Message Center' window, and see the 'Security Settings' portion of the tab.
27. How do I set my privacy settings?
Go into your 'Edit Profile/Message Center' window, and see the 'Security Settings' portion of the tab.
Radical Indie
28. What is the difference between a Band or Artist Account and a Listener Account (user)?
A Band or Artist Account is strictly for musicians (or their representatives) who intend to upload their songs, images, etc. to Radical Indie.
A Listener Account (user) allows you to create stations, initiate or join RadCasts, etc., on Radical.FM.
When Radical Indie is launched, all Listeners will be able to use that service from their account, without having to create a new one.
29. Who is listening to my music?
Anyone and everyone throughout the world! Radical Indie caters to musicians and we know you want your music heard everywhere you can. Because we don't have to strike deals with major labels and their counterparts across the world, anyone with Internet access and an account to Radical Indie can listen, comment, and even buy your music.
So don't be surprised if you take your band on tour to Serbia and find that you're their equivalent to Lady Gaga. It happens.
30. Does Radical Indie make money off of our music?
Nope. Radical Indie makes nothing from your music.
When you upload a song, you are able to post a link to where your music is being sold (iTunes, your personal website, CD Baby, etc.) and when a user enjoys your song, they can buy it from your preferred vendor, so you reap all the benefits!
Just remember to thank us when you win your first Grammy.
31. So how do I upload a song?
Note: We strongly recommend using Chrome as your browser.
It's easy! Just follow these steps:
- Go to Radical Indie and login.
- The player appears.
- If you uploaded a photo when you registered, it appears in the upper left corner. Otherwise, a generic placeholder graphic appears.
- Click the photo or the placeholder graphic and you will be in your Profile Manager/Message Center
- Click the Upload Song tab
Here you will be able to enter the title of your song, browse for the song on your computer to upload (mp3 or m4a formats only), upload the album artwork, insert links to watch your awesome music video on YouTube or your website, and, most importantly, provide a link for song purchase.
- Once you accept the Terms and Conditions, click "Save," and that's it! Your music is on Radical Indie.
32. Hey! We've recorded a better version of our song! How do we replace the old one?
Note: We strongly recommend using Chrome as your browser.
It's simple! All you have to do is:
- Go back into your message center and select the "Edit Song," tab.
- Click on the song you wish to have replaced, then simply click on the "Browse" button next to "Song (m4a, mp3)."
You can then select your song, change any artwork or links.
- Click "Save," and all is updated.
33. How can I check my music was uploaded successfully?
Note: We strongly recommend using Chrome as your browser..
- Go to Radical Indie and login
- The player appears
- If you uploaded a photo when you registered, it appears in the upper left corner. Otherwise, a generic placeholder graphic appears.
- Click the photo or the placeholder graphic and you will be in your Profile Manager/Message Center
- Click the Edit Song tab
Now, kick back and listen to your uploaded songs!
34. Okay, but what if I want to delete my song from Radical Indie?
Note: We strongly recommend using Chrome as your browser.
It's hard to see a brilliant song leave our nest at Radical Indie, but we understand.
If you wish to delete your song:
- Go back into your message center and select the "Edit Song" tab.
- Find the song you wish to delete and click the delete button.
In accordance with our Terms of Service, you must wait a total of 30 days before the song is completely removed from the player. This is so we at Radical Indie have ample time to warn your legion of loyal fans that the song in question will no longer be available through our awesome service.
However, if you change your mind and want to keep your song on Radical Indie, you can keep the song live by simply clicking' Cancel.'
35. I uploaded my music, when will people be able to listen?
Hold your horses, cowboy! In band terms, we're still rehearsing and doing shows in Mom and Pop's garage so a bit of patience is appreciated.
With your help, we need to populate Radical Indie with music so when your fans show up to listen, they aren't just listening to your music.
Right now, Radical Indie is allowing artists to upload their music and populate it into our system. When we've reached critical mass (don't worry, this isn't Die Hard it just means when we've got more music from various artists) we will launch the site to the public and then my friend, will your music be heard by hungry ears. 36. That's great...so what do I do in the meantime?
I'm sure we here at Radical Indie don't need to tell you about promotion.
Instead of harassing tourists at Hollywood and Highland, Times Square or Piccadilly Circus with a rough cut of your CD, let people know via whatever social media you use about Radical Indie.
You can request, ask, or force your friends, family, and fans to get regular accounts to prepare for the launch. Once we go live, we will let you know so you can tell others and yell it from the rooftops of whatever city you live in.
Then, you can start RadCasting using your music and any other artists you discover on Radical Indie with your fans.