If you are having trouble accessing the WFMT stream or premium content, it may be due to default settings or preferences, or plug-ins related to audio files, on your computer. Please visit these helpful websites for detailed installation, set-up and upgrade instructions for your media player. Please note that you must have WinAmp, Windows Media Player, iTunes, or RealPlayer installed on your computer in order to access the streams.

Windows Media Customer Support
WinAmp Customer Support
iTunes Customer Support
RealPlayer Customer Support

What does "live stream" mean?
The live stream is the online equivalent of the 98.7WFMT on-air broadcast. The online stream is typically identical to our on-air broadcast.

Do I have to pay for the 98.7WFMT Broadcast Stream?
The 98.7WFMT is free. The free stream is made possible by the support of 98.7WFMT members and sponsors.

Can I access the 98.7WFMT Broadcast Stream on other websites?
Yes, you can also find our stream through several radio station aggregators including:
- SHOUTcast
- live-radio.net
- iTunes Radio Tuner
- WindowsMedia Radio Tuner

I would like to access the "WFMT Premium" music area. How can I do that?
The library of music in the premium area is reserved for WFMT members at the $40 level or above. You can access this rich library, and listen on-demand whenever you like, if you are an active WFMT member at $40 level or by giving a gift of $40 to 98.7WFMT right now.

How do I know if I’m an active WFMT member at the $40 level or above?
Call WFMT Member Services at (773) 279-2020 (M-F, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm CT). They will happy to look up your membership status for you.

I don't know what my WFMT Member ID # is. What is it?
Your WFMT Member ID # is a numeric code with up to 10 digits. To figure out what your ID is:

1) Look for a long number above your name on the address box on the cover of your Guide.

2) Look above your name and address on a piece of mail you've received from 98.7WFMT.

3) Call WFMT Member Services at (773) 279-2020 (M-F, 9 am to 5 pm CT). They will happy to look up your ID Number for you.

When signing in to the WFMT Premium music area, I don’t have a password. What do I do?
If you are currently an active member and have made a contribution or ticketed event purchase in the past using the wfmt.com website, then you should use your existing wfmt.com member login to access WFMT Premium music. You do not need to register again for access to WFMT Premium music. If you forgot your password, you may retrieve it here.

However, if are an active member but you have never registered online with wfmt.com, please click this link to register. You will be asked to identify an e-mail address and a password which you can use the next time you visit the stream as a returning streamer.

Is my contribution tax deductible?
Yes! Contributions to WFMT are tax deductible to the full extent of the law, deducting the fair market value of any thank-you gifts received.
 
How do I listen online?
You can listen online to WFMT's live stream using WinAmp, Windows Media Player, iTunes, or RealPlayer. Please note that you may have a default player setting on your computer that will override your own selection of how you’d like to listen to the stream. These default settings can be changed by accessing your operating system preferences or options.

If you find that your browser or firewall prohibits the display of the streaming player links typically found on the main "free streaming" web page, please use the following links to launch the WFMT stream:
WinAmp
Windows Media Player
iTunes
RealPlayer

What kind of hardware do I need to listen online?
You need a computer with a sound card, and either speakers or headphones.

What kind of software do I need to listen online?
You'll need WinAmp, Windows Media Player, iTunes, or RealPlayer which are available for free and can be downloaded online from the links above.

At what rate does 98.7WFMT send the streaming signal?
98.7WFMT currently offers live streaming in two digital compression formats, AAC+ and MP3. AAC+ is the crispest audio compression format and is employed by satellite radio stations, such as XM. The WFMT AAC+ stream is broadcast at a rate of 128Kbps or "kilo bits per second." The MP3 format is the most widely adopted internet streaming format and plays in a variety of player types. The MP3 stream is broadcast a rate of 48Kbps. Bit rates represent the amount of information, or detail, being streamed each second. The higher the bit rate, the more detail being provided and the higher the fidelity. Consequently, a higher streaming bit rate requires more internet bandwidth for uninterrupted listening.

Do I need a high-speed Internet connection to listen to the streams?
Ideally, yes. Most dial-up modem Internet connections won’t be able to sustain a download speed necessary to provide uninterrupted playback of the streams. However, some Internet Service Providers are providing “enhanced” or higher-speed dial-up service.

After accessing the stream link, nothing happens. What should I do?
1) Make sure that a media player is installed on your computer. You can download one for FREE by clicking the links at the top of this page. Once your media player of choice is installed, restart your computer and try again.

2) If your media player opens when clicking on a live stream link but you still can't hear anything, confirm your speakers are on and the volume is turned up.

3) If clicking on the link doesn't automatically open a media player, then copy and paste the URL into the location bar of your player.

4) If you are listening at work, your company may have a "firewall" enabled to securely protect its internal data or there are settings on your browser or computer that won’t allow external data to be fed to you. If this is the case, please contact your IT department.

5) If you are using a computer that is not connected to a firewall, consult the support documentation related to “file type associations.” This documentation can be found on your operating system’s website or in “Help” on your computer.

I've changed my browser or have upgraded it. Why has the stream stopped working?
You may need to reconfigure your settings on your new browser so it recognizes plug-ins associated with your media player. Reinstalling the media player software using your new browser may solve the problem.

Why does the stream sometimes stop for a while or stutter?
This may be due to Internet congestion during certain periods of the day. Data that travels along the average telephone line is limited, and this limitation creates traffic in the audio signal. The data is not lost but is held up until the line is clear to receive the data.

Can I get the stream from my computer to my home stereo?
Aside from running wire from your computer to wherever your stereo is, there are some products that allow users to set up a wireless receiver component that receives the wireless stream from a computer in the home and then connects to the stereo receiver/amplifier like a normal audio component. Please check your local audio/video store for more information and to find the solution that works best for you.

How can I report a problem with the 98.7WFMT stream?
The reliability of our streams is extremely important to us. We monitor the streams throughout the day and have set up a system whereby we are notified when the stream is interrupted. However, sometimes we may miss an alert. If you notice something awry with any of our streams, please notify us by sending an e-mail to webmaster@wfmt.com and including the following information: time the problem occurred, which particular player was in use (WinAmp, Windows Media, iTunes, or RealPlayer), your computer operating system (Windows XP, OSX, etc.), and a detailed description of the problem.

How can I find out what programs are scheduled to air on 98.7WFMT and when?
View the WFMT Schedule or the WFMT Guide.