Thanks to PAC, this is what I found on their Polka America Corporation website: “This new dedicated stream is at the request of AOL Music Director, Mary McCann, who runs world music streams.  It is both hers, and the AOL Leadership’s point of view, that AOL Radio is in need of polka music.  Polka America Corporation is coordinating this effort. ” — Great work PAC.

(Note: If you are a recording artist, go to the PAC website at http://www.polkaamericacorporation.org/AOLPolkaStream.htm to see how you can request addition to the AOL Polka Radio station.

AOL Users:  If you have AOL:  To get the stream you will need to > open up AOL Radio > Scroll down to “World/International > Click on “Polka”.  

Non-AOL Users:  Or … through Internet Explorer:  Here is the (current) direct streaming link: http://music.aol.com/radioguide/world-radio then scroll down to “Polka”

I typed in “Polka” and clicked on the “Polka Tag Radio” button.   Here’s the direct link:  http://www.last.fm/listen/globaltags/polka#pane=webRadioPlayer&station=%252Flisten%252Fglobaltags%252Fpolka

This is what I found:

1. They have a neat feature where you can skip a song if it’s not what you like.
2. Most of the songs I listened to were either from the 50′s, Mexican-Polka flavor, or had a heavy Eastern European sound to it.  There was also one “punk” song that played.  I didn’t hear any current “US” version Polkas.  I did only listen through 12 songs, however.
3. The only Polkas that I recognized were “The Polka Kiss” by Glenn Miller and the “Helena Polka” by Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra.
4. An account is free, and you can create your own radio station.
5. You can only listen to a song 5 times before it prompts you to pay to download the song.

Overall … the website wasn’t my cup of tea … but, again, I only listened to a handful of songs, and the songs are tagged by fellow listeners who have their own style of Polka they like.  For now, I’ll stick to my “real” radio and pop in a nice polka cassette when I’m in the car.

Here’s a sampling of what was on the Last.FM Polka Radio station:

  Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra

George Baker Selection

Vermillion Lies

Viljo Vesterinen

Gilbert Bécaud

If you have tried Last.FM, I’d love to hear your comments.  Please use the comment form below

Polka Rascals Polka Show (-(WVKR 91.3 FM) Saturdays 9-11 AM EST with Mike Skok and Terri Jo Arensman-WVKR.ORG

“The Natalie Gubala Polka Fun Show” with “Nat the Cat” WTBQ 1110 AM Sundays 10-11am (WTBQ is also on 99.1 FM) – WTBQ.com
“Polka Session” with Jimmy Sturr WTBQ AM Sundays 11-12 Noon

Polka Rascals Monday Night Edition-(WVKR 91.3FM) 7-9pm with Tom & Cindy Zak – WVKR.ORG