How to Publish Your Internet Radio Station on Amazon Alexa (2026 Guide)

If you run an internet radio station, Amazon Alexa is one of the most powerful distribution channels you're probably ignoring. With over 100 million Alexa-enabled devices sold worldwide, getting your stream on Alexa means your listeners can say "Alexa, play [Your Station Name]" from their kitchen, bedroom, or office — with no phone, no screen, and no friction.

In this guide, we'll walk you through exactly how internet radio stations get published on Amazon Alexa, what requirements you need to meet, and how the process works from start to finish.

What Is an Alexa Skill for Internet Radio?

An Amazon Alexa Skill is essentially a voice app — similar to how a mobile app runs on your phone, an Alexa Skill runs on Echo devices. For internet radio stations, a dedicated Alexa Skill means your station has its own official presence on the Amazon platform.

Unlike generic aggregators like TuneIn (which lists thousands of stations), your own Alexa Skill is exclusive to you. Listeners enable it once, and from that point can play your station with a direct voice command.

• "Alexa, open [Station Name]" — launches your station immediately
• "Alexa, play [Station Name]" — plays your live stream
• Works on all Echo devices: Echo Dot, Echo, Echo Show, Echo Studio, Fire TV with Alexa
• Available in 25+ countries simultaneously

What You Need Before You Start

Before submitting your station to the Alexa platform, you'll need to have these four things ready:

1. A Secure (HTTPS) Stream URL

Amazon Alexa requires all audio streams to be delivered over HTTPS — an HTTP-only stream URL will be rejected during certification. Your stream URL should look like: https://yourstreamserver.com:8000/stream. If you're using a streaming host like Shoutcast, Icecast, Zeno.FM, Radio.co, or Live365, check that your stream URL starts with https://.

2. A High-Resolution Logo

Amazon requires a square logo image at a minimum of 512×512 pixels in PNG format. This appears in the Alexa app, on Echo Show screens, and in the Alexa Skills Store listing. Make sure your logo is clean, readable at small sizes, and on a non-transparent background.

3. Your Station Name (Invocation Name)

The invocation name is what listeners say to launch your skill. Amazon has specific rules about invocation names — they must be at least two words (single words are typically rejected unless they're a proper noun), must not infringe on existing trademarks, and should match your station name naturally. Example: "Caribbean Vibes Radio" or "Loaded Radio UK".

4. A Short Station Description

You'll need a 150–4,000 character description for the Alexa Skills Store listing. This should explain what your station plays, who it's for, and what makes it unique. Think of it like your station's pitch to potential new listeners.

How the Alexa Skill Submission Process Works

Building and submitting an Alexa Skill involves several technical steps that require access to the Amazon Developer Console. Here's the full process:

1. 1Create an Amazon Developer account at developer.amazon.com
2. 2Navigate to the Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) section
3. 3Create a new skill — select "Flash Briefing" or a custom skill type depending on your use case
4. 4Configure the interaction model with your station name and invocation phrase
5. 5Set up the audio streaming endpoint pointing to your HTTPS stream URL
6. 6Upload your 512×512 PNG logo and fill in the store listing details
7. 7Submit for Amazon certification review
8. 8Wait for approval (typically 3–5 business days)
9. 9Once approved, your skill is live in the Alexa Skills Store

Common Reasons Alexa Skills Get Rejected

Amazon's certification team checks all skills before they go live. Here are the most common rejection reasons for radio skills:

• Stream URL is HTTP instead of HTTPS
• Stream goes offline during testing — Amazon testers try your stream during review
• Invocation name is a single word or conflicts with a popular brand
• Logo dimensions are below 512×512 or has a transparent background
• Stream format is not supported (must be MP3, AAC, or HLS)
• Description contains prohibited claims or misleading information

Does Your Alexa Skill Cost Money to Run?

Once your Alexa Skill is approved and live, there are zero ongoing costs from Amazon's side. The skill is hosted by Amazon at no charge to you. The only cost is if you use a streaming host that charges for bandwidth — but that's separate from the Alexa Skill itself.

This is one of the biggest advantages of Alexa over building a mobile app: no monthly hosting fees, no app store subscription, and no maintenance servers to manage.

How Long Does It Take?

From submitting all your materials to having a live Alexa Skill typically takes 3–5 business days, assuming Amazon's certification team approves it on the first review. If revisions are requested, it can take up to 2 weeks.

DIY vs. Professional Setup

If you're technically comfortable with the Amazon Developer Console, you can set up an Alexa Skill yourself for free. However, many internet radio station owners find the process time-consuming and confusing, especially when dealing with Alexa's interaction model configuration and Lambda functions.

A professional service handles the entire setup — building the skill, configuring the stream, submitting to Amazon, and monitoring the approval process — so you can focus on running your station.