Wisconsin Public Radio's news, music and entertainment are as close as your smart speaker. If you have an Alexa-enabled device, you can listen to WPR using our new, easy-to-install Alexa skill.
What's an Alexa skill? A skill is like an app on your smartphone, but for your smart speaker. The WPR skill is designed to help you enjoy and explore your favorite Wisconsin audio content in a new, interactive way. It takes just a few minutes to set up using the simple instructions below.
For other voice assistants and devices, see:
Safety Note: Emergency broadcast alerts do not play over internet streams. Having multiple ways to receive emergency broadcasts, such as a weather radio and outdoor sirens, is highly recommended. For more information, see NOAA's page on weather warnings.
Alexa
Alexa is Amazon's voice assistant. Smart speakers with Alexa include the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and a wide range of smart speakers and soundbars made by Bose, Sonos, and JBL.
Option 1: Set Up Alexa Skill By Voice Command
There are several ways to install the WPR Skill, but the easiest is to simply say, "Alexa, enable WPR." Alexa should respond and confirm the installation by asking, "What do you want to hear?" Answer by saying: "Play The Ideas Network," "Play News and Music" or "Play All Classical" and the livestream of that service will begin. (For a complete list of available audio content from WPR, see below.)
If that doesn't work, we recommend enabling the skill through the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone.
Option 2: Set Up Alexa Skill With Your Smartphone
In the Alexa app, tap on the "More" button along the bottom of the App navigation screen on your smartphone. From there, select “Skills & Games.”
Tap the magnifying glass search icon and type in “WPR.” Look for the skill named “WPR” in the search results.
Select "Enable" for the skill and you will be directed to a Launch page. When you tap the “Launch” button, the app will ask you to select a device to play WPR.
The Alexa speaker you selected will ask you, "What do you want to hear?" Answer "Play The Ideas Network," "All Classical," or "Play News and Music" and the livestream of that service will begin.
Now that your WPR Skill is enabled, you can put your smartphone away and try out all the commands available in the box below!
And, if you'd like to tell us about your experience installing the skill, take our survey here.
Amazon Alexa Voice Commands
Alexa Voice Commands (Phrases tested 12/10/2020)
1st Generation
3rd Generation
4th Generation
Dot 4th Generation
Sonos One
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Anytime you want to hear WPR programs or live streams, simply say "Alexa, Open WPR" to hear a full menu of choices. Or you can use these Alexa Commands for quick access to your favorite WPR services from inside or outside the skill.
Select the live WPR stream you want to hear:
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play The Ideas Network."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play News and Music."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play All Classical."
Select the WPR program or feature you want to hear:
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play To The Best Of Our Knowledge."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play Zorba Paster On Your Health."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play The Larry Meiller Show."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play WPR Politics."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play Central Time."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play University Of The Air."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play Wisconsin Life."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play Garden Talk."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play The Morning Show."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play BETA."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play Bookmarks."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play Route 51."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play Spectrum West."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play The West Side."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play Newsmakers."
- "Alexa, ask WPR to play Simply Superior."
- "Alexa, ask WPR for help."
Toggle Additional Command List On and Off
These commands are also available once the WPR Skill is enabled.
- To browse WPR programs, say "Alexa, ask WPR to Browse programs."
- To play a WPR program, say "Alexa, ask WPR to play (Program Name)."
- To pause the audio playback, say "Alexa, Pause."
- To resume the audio playback, say "Alexa, Resume."
- To browse program episodes, say "Alexa, Next." or "Alexa, Go Back."
- To play recent state headlines, say "Alexa, ask WPR to play Headlines."
- To play recent national headlines, say "Alexa, ask NPR to play Headlines."
- To exit out of any skill or program, say "Alexa, Stop."
Using Alexa without the WPR Skill enabled:
(If you don't have the WPR Skill enabled, your commands are very limited.)
Select the live WPR stream you want to hear:
- "Alexa, listen to WHA." - Listen to The Ideas Network
- "Alexa, listen to W.E.R.N." - Listen to the News & Music Network
- "Alexa, listen to WPR All Classical." - Listen to the All Classical service
Select the latest nationally-distributed WPR program you want to hear:
- "Alexa, Play To The Best Of Our Knowledge."
- "Alexa, Play Zorba Paster On Your Health."
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Google Assistant
Google Assistant is Google's voice assistant. Smart speakers with Google Assistant include Google Home, Google Nest, and a wide range of smart speakers and soundbars made by Bose, Sonos, and JBL.
Our live streams can be played on Google Assistant-enabled devices with the TuneIn app. Note: TuneIn's premium subscription service is not required.
Google Assistant Voice Commands (Phrases tested 02/01/2020)
Google Home
Google Nest Mini
Google Home Max
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- "Hey Google, Listen to WPR Ideas Network from Tune-In."
- "Hey Google, Listen to WPR News & Music."
- "Hey Google, Listen to W.E.R.N."
- "Hey Google, Listen to WPR All Classical from Tune-In."
- "Hey Google, Listen to W.E.R.N. H.D.2."
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Siri
Siri is Apple's voice assistant. Smart speakers with Siri include the HomePod and HomePod Mini, as well as some Bose and Altec Lansing speakers.
Our live streams can be played on Siri-enabled devices with the TuneIn app. Note: TuneIn's premium subscription service is not required. If TuneIn is not installed on your speaker by default, please see instructions for adding it on Apple's support site.
Siri Voice Commands
Apple HomePod
Apple HomePod Mini
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- "Hey Siri, Play radio station WPR Ideas Network"
- "Hey Siri, Play radio station WPR News and Classical"
- "Hey Siri, Play radio station WPR All Classical"
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Other Devices and Voice Assistants
For devices and assistants not listed above, the TuneIn app is widely available and comes pre-installed on many devices. Please see TuneIn's support site for home devices for more information.