A personalized audio system and method that overcomes many of the broadcast-type
disadvantages associated with conventional radio stations. According to one embodiment,
the personalized audio system includes the following: (1) a user interface that
enables a user of the personalized audio system to specify a profile for a personalized
audio channel, (2) a sound recording library comprising a plurality of sound recordings,
(3) a playlist generator that (a) selects a plurality of sound recording identifiers
from a set of sound recording identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of sound
recording identifiers identifies a sound recording that matches the profile and
that is stored in the library, and that (b) creates a playlist that lists the plurality
of sound recording identifiers in a particular order, and (4) a sound recording
reproducing device for reproducing the plurality of identified sound recordings
according to the particular order in which the sound recording identifiers are
listed in the playlist so that the user can listen to the sound recordings. Advantageously,
the personalized audio system does not provide the user with a way to determine
the plurality of sound recording identifiers prior to the reproducing means reproducing
the plurality of sound recordings, and the personalized audio system does not provide
the user with a way to directly control which sound recording identifiers in the
set are selected by the playlist generator to be included in the plurality of sound
recording identifiers.