Category: Mother Earth Radio

Welcome to the Mother Earth Radio category! Here you can keep up to date with everything that makes our station special. Discover the latest updates, exciting background information on our ideas about music and learn more about our projects and our philosophy of sound aesthetics and sustainability. We share news about hi-res audio initiatives and everything that makes Mother Earth Radio unique.

  • Frédéric Chopin: Complete Polonaises – Garrick Ohlsson. Latest addition to the Mother Earth Radio program.

    Your moment begins now.

    Some sounds immediately cast a spell over you. They challenge you to fully immerse yourself. This moment of deep immersion is exactly what you will experience when Frédéric Chopin’s ‘Complete Polonaises’, interpreted by a master like Garrick Ohlsson, is played on Mother Earth Radio. As the latest addition to our high-resolution program, we invite you to discover this monumental work in the quality it deserves.

    The soul of music: craftsmanship you can feel.

    Garrick Ohlsson, known for his immense technical brilliance and profound musicality, is the ideal interpreter for Chopin’s polonaises. Every note, every chord, every dynamic nuance breathes the history and emotion that Chopin put into these pieces. It is the result of years of dedication and a deep understanding of the composition. His artistry is a perfect example of the mastery we seek and celebrate at Mother Earth Radio. This recording, originally released on EMI Electrola in 1973 as an original vinyl record, is a timeless testament to the absolute art of sound.

    Frédéric Chopin: Complete Polonaises - Garrick Ohlsson.

    The journey of sound: From the original to your ear.

    As you would expect from Mother Earth Radio, we have treated this recording with the utmost care. It has been meticulously digitized from the original vinyl record into high-resolution audio. This means: no loss, no compression, a sound that can breathe and ground you. And of course, every note of these polonaises has been enhanced by our unique 429 Hz tuning to give you a listening experience of unparalleled depth.

    Composition with character: an invitation to discover.

    Chopin’s polonaises are far more than just piano music; they are epic dramas of sound that reflect Polish history and the deepest human emotions. They challenge the listener, but offer an infinitely rich reward. It is this kind of music – sophisticated, profound and borne of true mastery – that lies at the heart of Mother Earth Radio’s selection. With us, you’ll discover the diversity of sound beyond the quickly consumable, music that demands attention and rewards with deeper insight.

    Your moment. Mother Earth Radio. Welcome home.

    Mother Earth Radio is your portal to these unadulterated sound experiences. It’s the place where you not only hear music, but feel it – music that is grounding and centering. Here you will find a community that understands the value of real music and celebrates the moment of sound.

    Ready for your moment? Your wish is our command.

    Would you like to experience this extraordinary artist or track right now? On our web player page you can not only dive directly into the high-resolution stream, but also use our song request! Request the artist or track in question and we will play it for you within the next three tracks.

  • The Ear That Hears Souls: My Journey to Mother Earth Radio

    An Unlikely Revelation: My Childhood Ear

    As a child, I didn’t know I possessed a unique gift, only that melodies moved me differently. I remember my primary school report card, where my art teacher wrote: “In the musical domain, his sensitivity in the emotional sphere is striking.” This seemingly simple observation was, in hindsight, the first glimpse into a world where sound transcended mere auditory perception. It was the earliest sign of my ability to grasp the raw emotions embedded within music, to hear the unspoken stories woven into each note. This revelation paved the way for a lifelong journey, deeply connected to the profound human element within sound.

    The Soul in the Signal: A Unique Perception

    To truly “hear” the soul in an audio signal means perceiving the human truth within every vibration. Imagine listening to a speaker and instantly knowing if they’ve slept poorly or are preoccupied, simply from the subtle tremor in their voice. Or witnessing a drummer, utterly absorbed, pour their entire being into a single crash cymbal strike – a moment so intense it feels like their last act on Earth. This isn’t just about perfect pitch or technical analysis; it’s about discerning the passion, the vulnerability, and the complete human existence poured into each sound. This unique sensitivity transcends mere auditory reception, making music a gateway to understanding our shared humanity.

    The Frustration of Unshared Worlds

    This deep perception, however, often came with a quiet frustration. How do you explain the profound emotional weight of perfectly captured music to someone who doesn’t hear the difference, or simply isn’t interested? In a world where music often becomes background noise, conveying the intricate nuances and raw emotions embedded in each high-resolution note felt like trying to describe color to someone who only sees in black and white. It was disheartening to witness the disconnect, highlighting the challenge of bridging the gap between those who merely hear and those who truly listen, seeking the soul within the sound. This yearning to share authentic sound and the deep human connection it fosters became a quiet quest.

    Mother Earth Radio: My Answer to the Unheard

    From this persistent yearning, Mother Earth Radio was born. It became my personal answer to the “unheard”—a sanctuary for those who crave music in its purest, most authentic form. This platform isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a dedicated space where every note and texture is cherished. Here, my deep passion for high-resolution audio and my decades of experience in audio engineering converge, creating a unique, independent radio experience. Mother Earth Radio is my testament to the human connection in music, bridging the gap for those who seek a deeper, more authentic sound.

    The Validation of a Global Audience

    Broadcasting the soulful melodies of Mother Earth Radio brought an unexpected, overwhelming joy. Messages poured in from listeners across continents, affirming that my pursuit wasn’t solitary. This global audience resonated deeply with the unique sound and emotional depth of the music, proving that there are indeed hearts that beat faster when they hear music as I do. Their gratitude for the high-resolution audio experiences and the emotional connection felt reaffirmed that music, in its purest form, transcends all barriers, uniting souls in a shared appreciation for authentic sound. This validation underscored the importance of creating spaces like Mother Earth Radio, where genuine music experiences are celebrated worldwide.

    Beyond the Noise: My Definition of Music

    In a world saturated with sound, my definition of music transcends mere noise. For me, music isn’t just a series of notes; it’s the very language of the soul, an unfiltered symphony of raw emotion, genuine storytelling, and resonant human experience. Much of what passes as “music” today simply doesn’t meet this profound standard. Mother Earth Radio stands as my answer to this reality—a beacon for those seeking true musical encounters where high-resolution audio meets deep sound sensitivity, and where the emotional connection to music is not a fleeting moment but a lasting imprint. This is where I’ve found my definition of music: beyond the noise, in its truest, most authentic soul.

  • VR & Hi-Res Audio: This is how you really hear

    The forgotten feeling: what VR glasses tell us about good sound

    Imagine you’re watching a video. Not on the TV, but as if you were in the middle of it. Everything around you is an image and it feels like you can walk through the scene. I’m talking about VR goggles, and to be honest, until recently this was more of a gimmick for me. The images were often blurred, pixelated – you could sense the potential, but it didn’t really blow you away. But then Meta Quest 3 came into play. And with it came a resolution that simply left me speechless. Suddenly the image was so incredibly sharp, so detailed, that I really felt like I was part of this other world.

    VR & Hi Res Audio
    Photo by Alessia Lorenzi

    But the real kicker came when I took my own videos from my hard drive and created them with a special program called Owl3D for these glasses. I put them on and the moment the video started, I thought: “This is amazing! I’ll never look at a normal screen again!” The image was so lifelike, so tangible. And although it was already breathtaking, I instinctively felt: “If only the resolution was just a little bit better!” It’s hard to imagine how incredible it would look if it were absolutely perfectly sharp – simply stunning. It’s already great, you can see everything, it looks great, but that last little bit more pixels, that would be it!

    Why we talk about VR when it comes to good sound

    It is precisely this feeling, this intuitive understanding of “resolution” and what would constitute an even sharper image, that is the key to a realization that many of us have unfortunately lost in the field of audio. Because it’s exactly the same in the world of sound! The only difference is that hardly anyone today knows what “good” sounds like.

    We are surrounded by music. It’s playing on the radio, streaming on our smartphones, coming out of small Bluetooth speakers. And yes, it all sounds okay somehow. It’s as if we’ve been looking at the world through these slightly pixelated VR glasses for years. We no longer know what we’re missing. We have become accustomed to a lower sound resolution, to highly compressed formats in which countless nuances, tiny details and the natural spatiality are simply no longer there.

    Streaming with low resolution
    Photo by cottonbro studio

    As with VR glasses, where you lack a little resolution to really feel the fine texture of a tree bark in the virtual forest or see the sparkle in the eyes of an avatar, we lack the sound pixels in the sound. We hear the song, yes. But do we also hear the subtle vibration of a guitar string, the delicate reverberation of a voice in the recording room, the exact position of each individual instrument on the virtual stage? Can we hear the “air” in the room where the drums were recorded? Quite often, unfortunately not.

    Rediscovering the lost dimension of music

    Hi-Res Audio or excellent vinyl playback are like those razor-sharp VR glasses that suddenly show you what is visually possible. They add the lost pixels of sound. Suddenly, a whole new dimension of music is revealed:

    • Spatiality: The band is no longer a flat carpet of sound in front of you, but spreads out in the room. You can clearly locate individual instruments, feel their exact position and their reverberation, as if you were sitting in the middle of a concert hall.
    • Subtlety and detail: You suddenly hear the sound of the singer’s breathing, the soft creaking of a chair in the studio, the plucking of the strings of an acoustic guitar – all these tiny details that make the listening experience incredibly vivid and real.
    • Dynamics: The music really “breathes”. Quiet passages are really whisper-quiet, loud explosions are powerful and clear without being unpleasant or overdriven. The entire emotional range of the recording is palpable.
    • Emotion: With all these additional sound pixels and details, the music becomes more emotional, more gripping, more real. You are no longer just a listener consuming a recording, but immersed in the experience and almost become part of it.

    Many of us listen to music today as if we were looking at a world-famous painting through a tiny, blurry cell phone camera. You get the idea that you recognize it. But then you suddenly find yourself standing in front of the original in the museum. The colors, the texture of the brushstrokes, the sheer size – it’s a completely different emotional experience, isn’t it? You didn’t know what you were missing until you saw the real thing.

    It’s the same with the sound. For a generation that grew up with compressed MP3 files and streaming in average quality, the full, unadulterated sound – as it was recorded back then, with a stable power supply and via analog mixing consoles directly to tape – may be a completely new sensation. It’s not just “better”, it’s fundamentally more. It is a deep immersion, a rediscovery of the music we love and the experience of emotions that were previously hidden.

    Take the plunge: recalibrate your ears

    Maybe it’s time to put on the “VR glasses” for your ears. Find a really good hi-res source, be it a streaming service that offers lossless playback, a well-recorded vinyl or a high-quality FLAC file. Listen to your favorite music – and let yourself be surprised. You might very well realize afterwards: “I never want to listen with less sound resolution again!”

  • Radio Paradise as inspiration: How Mother Earth Radio became a pioneer of high-resolution audio

    Radio Paradise as inspiration: How Mother Earth Radio became a pioneer of high-resolution audio

    Radio Paradise: The inspiration behind Mother Earth Radio’s high-resolution audio revolution

    Radio Paradise is a name that stands out in the world of online radio – and for good reason. For us at Mother Earth Radio, Radio Paradise is not a competitor, but a real source of inspiration. The station has set standards that motivate us and show us how to present music with passion and integrity. In this article, we take a look at what makes Radio Paradise so special and how it has influenced us at Mother Earth Radio.

    The first free web radio without adverts

    Radio Paradise was a pioneer in the world of Internet radio: it was one of the first web radio stations to operate completely without adverts. This decision was revolutionary at the time and gave listeners an undisturbed music experience. No annoying adverts, no sales pressure – just pure music. This is a concept that also impressed us at Mother Earth Radio and inspired us to go our own way and put the music at the centre.

    Excellently curated music without chart constraints

    Another highlight of Radio Paradise is the incredibly careful selection of music. There are no playlists here that are based on the charts or the specifications of large media companies. Instead, each song is carefully selected to create a unique and harmonious mix. From classics to hidden gems, Radio Paradise proves that music doesn’t have to follow the ratings to be great. This freedom and dedication to quality is something we at Mother Earth Radio value highly and see as a role model.

    Radio Paradise

    A great team: Bill and Linda

    Behind Radio Paradise is a fantastic duo: Bill and Linda Goldsmith. Bill, a former DJ, and Linda, an artist, have put their heart and soul and vision into creating a station that delights music lovers worldwide. Their commitment to commercial-free, listener-centred radio has created a loyal community that shares their love of music. Bill and Linda’s teamwork and passion are proof that great things happen when you believe in your idea – a motivation for us too.

    The challenge of licence fees

    One issue that concerns both Radio Paradise and us is the licence fees for music. Especially in the USA, the fees charged by organisations like ASCAP are ridiculously high (see Radio Paradise FAQ). For independent broadcasters like us, these costs are barely affordable – we simply can’t afford them. Nevertheless, we at Mother Earth Radio have a clear stance: we have licensed every country that is willing to charge reasonable fees and pass them on to the artists. Why? Because we firmly believe in the work of musicians and want to ensure that they are fairly remunerated for their art. This is a real grievance in the industry and we are determined to do our bit by making licence agreements transparent and fair.

    Inspired by pioneers: Radio Paradise and Mother Earth Radio

    Radio Paradise pioneered the way for independent, ad-free web radio – and we at Mother Earth Radio are proud to follow in their footsteps, but with our own ground-breaking approach. While Radio Paradise was a pioneer of free web radio, we’re going one step further: we’re the world’s first high-resolution audio station. Since our launch in February 2020, we have been streaming music in exceptional quality, such as FLAC 24-bit/192kHz, offering a sound experience that is second to none. Before us, only paid services like Tidal and Qobuz offered high-resolution audio. We have opened the door – for streamers, platforms and listeners – and made a new world of sound accessible, free of charge and without adverts.

    Why Radio Paradise inspires us

    For Mother Earth Radio, Radio Paradise is a shining example of how to present music without compromise. Even though we have our own style – such as our focus on high-resolution audio and the Faslaks sound at 429 Hz – we share the same basic philosophy: music should be experienced authentically and without distractions. Radio Paradise has shown us that an independent, advert-free approach is not only possible, but can also be successful.

    Support through advertising on the website

    Our channels are licensed and remain free, ad-free and subscription-free. However, we have recently started advertising on our website to cover server and operating costs. This decision allows us to maintain the quality and service of Mother Earth Radio without compromising the listener experience. I continue to be the sole funder of this project and use these adverts to ease the financial burden. Donations from our loyal listeners continue to be a great help, but advertising on the website is an additional way to ensure that we can continue to provide the best audio quality – without compromising the music.

    Join the High Resolution Radio Revolution and stream now on Mother Earth Radio

  • New Year’s Eve Special

    Join us for a magical journey into the night with a 4-Hour DJ Live Set by the legendary Cris’AE! Starting at 22:00 PM Munich Time, immerse yourself in the art of mixing where craftsmanship meets creativity.

    Cris’AE, once renowned for his unparalleled skill in blending tracks with two turntables, brings his unique touch to Mother Earth Radio. Experience the fusion of past and present, where every mix is a piece of artistry.

    Tune in for:

    • An unforgettable musical voyage
    • The essence of house music reimagined
    • The spirit of Mother Earth’s dedication to well-crafted, soul-stirring sounds

    Don’t miss this exclusive event as we celebrate the New Year with music that resonates with the universe.

    Happy New Year from Mother Earth Radio!

  • 500.000 streams

    500.000 streams

    Half a million listeners in 2023/24

    On September 1, we renewed the music licenses with our provider ICE Services for the next year. The number of listeners in the last license period exceeded half a million – thank you! We are not alone!

    Mother Earth Radio, which has been free-to-air since 2020, is thus rising from a ‘micro-micro’ music streaming service to a ‘mini-micro’ station. I’m delighted and will stay tuned – we’re in it together. Music of quality, streamed in good quality – this obviously not only pleases die-hard vinyl and Hi Res nerds, in times of Spotify and musical uniformity in mp3 format, Mother Earth is not only a blessing for us.

    Next year, I’m planning to update our Google Play app, but I still need to familiarise myself with the Android programming language and will try to have a version ready by November.

    Many thanks as always to all supporters who have donated. A special thank you to the person who left us some wonderful classical records – I’m already busy recording!

    A music licence for the United States is still out of the question, unfortunately, American media law also requires us mini-providers to pay a fee of $1000 per stream plus song billing, so we’re probably talking about $5-600 per year.

    Of course, a Germany-wide DAB licence would be even more exciting for us – around €10,000 per year as far as I know.

    Chapeau to all listeners for your musical bravery and I wish you continued enjoyment of our programmes!

    -Florian Reiterer

  • Mother Earth on Alexa

    Mother Earth on Alexa

    Listen to Mother Earth Radio now with Alexa!

    To listen to Mother Earth Radio with an Alexa device you can now use our new Alexa Skill!

    Just say: “Alexa, enable Mother Earth Radio” (or “…Mother Earth Jazz”, “…Mother Earth Instrumental”) to install the skill!

    As always, I would like to point out that our high-resolution streams are best enjoyed with a network cable.

    Have fun listening, thanks to Voicerepo for the skill!

    -Florian Reiterer

  • Yes, the website is crashed.

    Surprise! If you don’t make backups, you could lose your data – an old lesson, learnt anew.

    Last Thursday our website unfortunately crashed and I had to redo everything. Unfortunately, all your wonderful comments have been lost in the process. I hope you like the new site, all content should be available again by next week.

    Thank you for your understanding,

    Florian Reiterer

  • Mother Earth Radio now on Google Play!

    Mother Earth Radio now on Google Play!

    Mother Earth Radio now on Google Play! Full support for metadata such as title and artist, as well as the cover artwork!

    We finally have an app for Android users! All Mother Earth Radio channels, jazz, instrumental, classical and the main channel in all available formats for your Android device. Listen to our streams in AAC 48kHz quality on the go or listen to High-Resolution Audio with a suitable setup at home! Chromecast via the Home app, full 192kHz USB DAC support with the UAAP app or enjoy high-end audio via headphones!

    We are a small web radio station with a very small team and are all the more pleased that we were able to do this great work with the help of our listeners (thanks to all testers!)!

    Get it on Google Play

    Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

    Mother Earth Radio jetzt bei Google Play!

  • Mother Earth Radio – The next level

    The good old Pro-Ject record player had to be replaced due to problems with the wiring – repair or buy a new one? I wouldn’t have actually bought a new one, but since it’s for Mother Earth, I made the investment. I’m very happy with it now, the new Rega player is just brilliant.
    New straightwire cables, a Pro-Ject Record Cleaner (gosh, I needed that) and the absolute killer: a DC filter.
    If that’s new to you, let me just say: you want one. trust me.
    I didn’t go for the Inakustik AC-4500, which is already working in Christian’s High End Audio Lab and which we all know from the amazing recordings on the show, but I’m very happy with the Supra MD-08 MkIII DC filter I got with the other new stuff.
    It needs a few weeks to warm up and settle in and be ready to provide Mother Earth with great music (yes, that’s necessary) – and then I’ll start recording classical records – the classical channel needs it the most.

    So that’s how we spend our time here on Mother Earth, it’s demanding!
    Thank you for joining us, if you like it and have a few marks to spare, please go to the donation page and support our work and time.
    Best regards from Munich,
    Florian