Xfm

Now a series of stations, Xfm started out in London playing new alternative music. Over the years, to my ears the station has either played more mainstream music or that their style of music has become the mainstream. I'd sum up their music as alternative or indie. There's no pop, although you'll find plenty of their playlist in the charts. Looking at the playlist as I write this I see the likes of Biffy Clyro and Hard-Fi as well as some classic indie from the likes of REM.

Their online provision comes with its own player if your using your PC and a hi and low bandwidth version if you're using a wifi radio. This is a standard radio station with DJ's, news reports, the weather and most importantly ad breaks. This has a couple of effects, firstly it really eats into the music time and secondly as they are a commercial station they need to please their sponsors. To my mind this does lead them at times to a fairly repetitive playlist, often playing the latest popular alternative songs on a daily frequency. Having said that they do make a better effort than most with a number of features seeking out new music makers. They also sponsor a series of gigs showing their commitment to live music.

Strangely enough for a major station (compared to some of the internet only ones) I do have problems with connections to Xfm. Generally it's just a refusal to connect rather than the station dropping, but with all the choice out there I don't give a station a second chance in that sitting.

Their site is pretty detailed with a decent tracklisting showing what's been played, a schedule informing you about the next DJ and their features and a host of information about current music news.

Xfm have recently introduced mi-xfm a personalised radio station. Similar in essence to Last.fm, it allows you to pick an Xfm sub genre and then start to rate tracks allowing it to learn your taste. A great idea for the PC (although not as wide a choice as last.fm) the concept doesn't click at all with wifi radios.

Let down overall by it's unavoidably repetitive nature Xfm still scores a TURN-ON rating and is my favourite in-car station.