Learn about Pandora.

I was a Mobile DJ for 15 years. Started in college, and did it full time for a while after that, and then part time for years. I mostly played college and high school parties because they were a lot more fun than weddings and corporate gigs. So music is pretty important to me.

Strangely, I can't listen to music while I am working, even though I used to do it all the time when I was younger. But when I'm not working, I love to have good tunes on, and I can't listen to radio because of the commercials. (Tivo trained me that way.) We do a lot of entertaining at my house, so I have some pretty good music systems throughout, and now I've got my music sources down pat.

Pandora http://Pandora.com

Pandora is an amazing, free web site that streams music through your internet connection. I have a wire running from my computer into my stereo system so it plays throughout the house. What makes Pandora amazing is that you start by creating your own radio station based on a couple of songs you enter - or artists you like. Pandora takes it from there, and automatically creates a play list based on that music.

They actually have musicians who categorize every song that comes out, ranking them according to hundreds of attributes like vocal style, instruments, beat, melody, harmony, etc. Pandora looks at what you said you liked, and then they serve you up more songs with similar attributes. As each song comes up, you have the choice of giving it a thumbs up or thumbs down, and it learns from that.

It's a cool way to find new music you may never have heard before. You can set up different stations, too. Pandora also has apps for iPhone and Android, so you can take it with you wherever you go.

They do have an upgrade option. I purchased that because it offers a few advantages, but either type of account works great.