Rock Radio Stations

Introduction to Rock

Rock is one of the most popular genres of music blending elements of blues, R&B, country, and other genres. Today it is characterized by electric guitars, bass guitars, drums, and sometimes keyboards and other instruments. Its origin traces back to the 1940s in the United States with heavy inspirations from African American music styles like blues.  

A lot of genres today like punk, metal, and grunge trace their roots back to rock. They all focus on strong instrumental play backed by powerful vocals and lyrics. Artists like The Beatles and Rolling Stones showcased the groundwork of rock to the world. Rock continued to develop through bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen, AC/DC, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and many more to the subgenres we know today.

This evolution spawned many variations like hard rock, psychedelic rock, alternative, folk, glam, grunge, punk, metal, and so on. From the distorted guitar riffs of the 70s to the aesthetically rich rock of the 80s, this world-renowned genre has many iterations. Today, it is one of the most listened-to genre on radio stations having many shapes and forms.

Top 5 Radio Stations Playing Rock

Providing you with all the top radio stations playing rock around the world is an impossible task. However, we can list some popular options across the continents. You can find all forms of rock on these stations as they specifically focus on this genre. Furthermore, note that the frequencies may vary depending on the location they broadcast from.

1. WAAF 107.3 FM - Boston, United States – The WAAF is a classic known for playing both old-school and modern rock music and featuring many different artists.
2. Planet Rock - London, United Kingdom – If rock 24/7 is what you are looking for then Planet Rock is for you. You can find an extensive list of songs and artists on this station.
3. Rock Antenne - Munich, Germany - This German radio station is dedicated entirely to rock music as well and has a broad range of classic, hard, and alternative rock.
4. TOKYO FM - Japan (national station), 80.0 MHz in Tokyo – A popular rock radio station across Japan that plays broadcasts both international and local rock bands.
5. Triple M - Sydney, Australia – Triple M is mostly known for hosting various exciting concerts and rock events featuring some of the biggest names in the genre. 

These are just a few popular rock’n’roll radio stations you can listen to featuring broadcasts from across the world. You can listen to all of them on our website for free. Note that some of the frequencies are different based on the location from which they are broadcasted.

Featured Artists in Rock
Probably the most controversial topic for any genre is which artist to feature. We cannot possibly list the top artists in rock music as one, there are so many great ones, and two, it is up to subjective taste. What we can do is give you just a few of them who have had an impact on the genre and its popularity.

1. The Beatles – The Beatles are widely recognized as one of the most influential bands in the history of rock. The band formed in Liverpool, England in 1960 and over the course of their career they produced globally beloved singles and albums. Some hits include  "Hey Jude," "Let It Be," and "Yesterday," among many others.
2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Led by the immensely talented and charismatic Jimi Hendrix, the Experience is known for their pioneering in psychedelic rock music. They formed in 1966 and are widely recognized for their innovative guitar style and a new sound heavily influenced by blues and jazz. Some popular songs include "Are You Experienced" and "Axis: Bold as Love."
3. Led Zeppelin – Combining heavy blues and elements of folk and psychedelic music, Led Zeppelin grew to fame during the 70s. They are known for their complex songs which have multiple segments and parts like "Stairway to Heaven" and "Kashmir."
4. Pink Floyd – When it comes to incorporating technology and synth into the rock experience, Pink Floyd was one of the pioneers. They grew to fame creating unique sounds that combined rock and progressive elements with psychedelic music. Their iconic songs include "Comfortably Numb," "Wish You Were Here," and "Another Brick in the Wall."
5. Queen – Like the Beatles, Queen is perhaps one of the most widely recognized bands of all time. Led by the flamboyant and charismatic Freddie Mercury, the band combined numerous genres and techniques to create a unique sound. In their songs, you can hear elements of pop, opera, electronic, and many more experimental sounds. Their music was both powerful and theatrical and their hits include "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Will Rock You," and "Don't Stop Me Now."

We are quite sad that we could not include more entries for such a beautiful and diverse genre. Feel free to send us your favourite songs and bands that we should feature.

Iconic Songs in Rock

What are artists without their songs, here are some of the most popular hits in rock music from around the world.

1. "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin - Released in 1971, this epic rock ballad is considered one of the greatest songs of all time. It features a haunting melody, intricate guitar work, and poetic lyrics that have been interpreted in various ways.
2. "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen - This groundbreaking song was released in 1975 and is known for its unique structure, incorporating elements of rock, opera, and ballad. Its iconic music video and Freddie Mercury's powerful vocals make it one of the most recognizable and beloved songs in rock history.
3. "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones - This 1965 hit features one of the most famous guitar riffs in rock history and captures the rebellious spirit of the era. Its catchy melody and infectious energy have made it a timeless classic.
4. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana – This grunge hit by Nirvana was one of the top hits on countless rock lists around the world. To this day you can find people wearing Nirvana shirts and knowing only this song. Posing as a fan aside, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is a popular sombre and emotional hit for a reason.
5. "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses - This 1987 hit features a memorable guitar riff and Axl Rose's distinctive vocals. Its soaring chorus and emotional lyrics make it one of the most beloved rock ballads of all time.

You know how we said it is difficult to choose which rock bands to feature, well songs are on another level. We hope we included some of your favorite ones and as always take them with a grain of salt. There are countless other musical masterpieces we wish we could have included.

Additional Information for Rock Fans

If you like rock music chances, are you are adventurous and like travelling as well. Here are some additional exciting rock music events happening annually around the world. Some are festivals you can visit and some are broadcasted.

• Glastonbury Festival (UK) - A five-day rock event held in June that features a wide variety of music genres, including rock. It takes place at Worthy Farm in Somerset, England.
• Rock in Rio (Brazil) - This massive festival started in Rio de Janeiro in 1985 and has since expanded to other cities around the world. It features top rock and pop acts from Brazil and around the world.
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - An annual broadcasted event that celebrates the induction of new artists and bands into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You can also see some exciting live performances.
• Download Festival (UK) - This UK music festival is dedicated to heavy metal and rock music and it takes place at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England. 
• Rock am Ring/Rock im Park (Germany) - If you are a rock fan visiting Nürburg and Nuremberg in Germany we recommend you plan your trip when these twin rock festivals happen on the same weekend.

We hope this rock radio stations page has been helpful in allowing you to find new radio station options to listen to. Remember that you can listen to all of the rock radio stations on our site for free.