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Remember the days of the gramophones and vinyl discs? Long play and short play records? At least for those of us who were born by then . . . that is how we listened to music. This, in addition to obviously the radio or wireless, would provide music entertainment.

Now technology has advanced immensely and we have many more options in terms of listening and obtaining music. Instead of walking into a music store and buying a CD or cassette, one can listen to or purchase music online.

Music streaming

What is music streaming? Typically, if you want to listen to music, or any other type of audio, you need to download an audio file in a format such as an MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, or Flac for example.

However, using a streaming delivery method, there isn’t the need to first download a complete file. The basic way that this process works is that the audio file is delivered in small “packets” in order for the data to be buffered on your computer and played virtually straight away. As long as there is a steady stream of these packets delivered to your computer, you’ll hear the sound without any interruptions. This method of listening to music is particularly useful for situations that need instantaneous delivery, such as live broadcasts or music services that typically provide 30-second music clips before you buy.

Streaming of music as audio

This is how people are now listening to music on the Internet. There are many radio stations and other music institutions that are now offering this. For us Zimbabweans, we have sites such as:

Zimaudio (www.zimaudio.com) – enables you to research, purchase or gain the knowledge of Zimbabwean music. ZimAudio’s initiative is to create a new digital legal alternative to the unsatisfactory number of licensing agreements with record companies and non-payment of royalties to Zimbabwean artists, so that these artists can be properly paid and make a living from their art form.

ZiFM Stereo (www.zifmstereo.co.zw) – a new local independent radio station, launched in August is currently the only radio station that streams its programmes.

AfroZimRadio (www.afrozimradio.com) – a Zimbabwean online radio station that features music, news and talk shows. They aim to promote and support new artists in any genre.

Apple Music (www.apple.com/music) – this is a good site or resource for all types of music, Zimbabwean, African or international genres. Users select music to stream to their device on demand.

The service includes the curated Internet radio station Beats 1 and the blog platform Connect for artists to share media with fans. Apple Music provides music recommendations based on user taste and is integrated with Siri voice commands. Apple Music is easily accessible from iPhone, iPad, and your Windows PC or Mac machine. Here you can buy albums, singles, stream or download on subscribing.

Other sites not restricted to Zimbabwe music that are very good and popular include the following:

Jango (www.jango.com) – Jango is all about making online music easy, fun and social. Just type in an artist – and your first station starts playing right away.

You’ll get the music you want, along with similar favourites of Jango users who share your taste. Customising your stations further is just as easy. Just add more artists and rate songs that you want to play more or less.

You can also tune in to other people’s stations – and they can tune in to yours! In your player, you’ll see who’s listening to the same music as you, who’s listening to your stations, and what your friends are playing.

Another cool streaming website is Grooveshark (www.grooveshark.com). It differentiates itself from everyone else by boasting a sleek interface and allowing you to upload your entire library. The result is that you’ll often get a variety of the same song – ideal for those looking for audio from that specific concert Grooveshark has both audio and video streaming for music.

Having a decent Internet connection, with speeds starting from 5Mbps, like the ZOL Fibroniks Home Packages, will ensure that you have an excellent experience with streaming music online. Just make sure your browsers and antiviruses are kept up-to-date.

Although some music fans still prefer the physical library of CDs, cassettes and vinyl records, more and more are beginning to enjoy the convenience of streaming for various radio stations and other websites online.

The world of music, whatever genre you prefer, has now been brought to your doorstep, for you to enjoy at anytime and anywhere as long as you have access to the net. ZOL ON! You deserve to live like this!