Listen to iTunes Radio

With iTunes Radio, you can enjoy free streaming radio that’s tailored for you from the most popular music in the iTunes Store. You can tune in to featured stations included with iTunes, or create your own stations based on your musical tastes. You can also buy any song you hear and download it instantly to your iTunes library. If you subscribe to iTunes Match, you can enjoy iTunes Radio ad-free.

To view iTunes Radio, choose Music from the Library pop-up menu and click Radio.

Library menu, with arrow pointing to Music

Radio Button

iTunes Radio is currently available in selected countries only.

Play a station

  • To play a station, move the pointer over the station and click Play button inside a circle.

  • To skip to the next song, click Forward button near the top-left of the iTunes window.

    Note:  You can skip a limited number of songs in an hour. The limit can vary based on a number of factors.

As with any radio station, you can’t replay or go back to the beginning of a song.

Create a station

You can create stations anywhere in iTunes you can play a song. You create a station by choosing an artist, song, or genre; you can customize the station over time.

To create a station:

  • In iTunes Radio: Click Plus sign next to My Stations, and do one of the following:

    • Type an artist, song, or genre, press Return, then double-click a search result.

    • Click a genre, then move the pointer over one of the options and click Add.

  • Elsewhere in iTunes: Click Action menu button next to a song, and choose “New Station from Song” or “New Station from Artist” from the pop-up menu.

iTunes names the station after the artist, song, or genre you chose, but you can rename a station by clicking its title.

Customize a station

iTunes Radio might not play the specific song or artist you use to create a station, but you can provide examples of songs and artists you’d like to hear. You can also request that certain songs or artists never be played.

Here are ways to customize your stations:

  • Request or reject specific artists, songs, or genres (on the selected station only):

    • While a song is playing, click Star button near the top-left of the iTunes window, and choose Play More Like This or Never Play This Song from the pop-up menu.

    • Click a station to display its contents, and click Plus sign below “Play more like this” or “Never play this.” Type an artist, song, or genre, press Return, then double-click a search result.

  • Adjust the balance between new and familiar songs (on the selected station only): Click a station to display its contents, and click Hits (familiar), Variety (mixed), or Discovery (new).

  • Allow or disallow explicit content (on all stations): Click On or Off next to Allow Explicit (above My Stations).

Buy songs

While a song is playing, you can buy it or add it to your Wish List. You can also buy previously played songs, including songs played in iTunes Radio on any of your computers or iOS devices.

Do any of the following:

  • Buy the current song: Click the price near the top-center of the iTunes window.

  • Add the current song to your Wish List: Click Star button near the top-left of the iTunes window, and choose Add to iTunes Wish List from the pop-up menu.

  • Buy a previously played song: Do one of the following:

    • Click the station that played the song to display the station’s contents, move the pointer over the song (below History), and click the price.

    • Click Up Next button near the top-center of the iTunes window, move the pointer over the song, and click the price.

    To preview a song before buying it, click Play button inside a circle.

Note:  By default, ads that appear on iTunes Radio are based on your personal preferences, using data gathered from your iTunes library and other sources. To prevent such data from being gathered, choose iTunes > Preferences, click Store, and select Limit Ad Tracking.