Homepod mini won't play radio stations anymore

Greetings MattL1974,

To be clear, you mentioned that the station used to play through the TuneIn app. Check to make sure that the TuneIn app (and all other apps) are up-to-date.

Also, are you following these steps when you attempt to play the Radio through the HomePod: Play audio using Siri on HomePod - Apple Support? If not, start there and check to see if this helps correct the problem.

Please note that not all music services are supported on HomePod.

If the issue remains, you may want to reach out to Apple for support with this issue: Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support.

Kind regards!

I appreciate the extra information.

When I speak with the Apple "HomePod expert" later today, I shall try to get some action on this.

Hello,

I just replaced my Amazon Echos with 2 HomePod minis (because I am going totally HomeKit automation). To my amazement, nether HomePod (running software 16.0) will play any radio station from either iHeartRadio or TuneIn.

the message that Siri spits back is “the app hasn’t added support for that with Siri”.

I have created “Personal Requests” (ie. Shortcuts), such that I can say “Hey Siri, play ABC Jazz” (I am in Australia). When I issue such a request, Siri then responds with “sorry, I’m still setting up personal requests on this device, please try again later”. Of course, “later” never happens.

Please note that all of the above works flawlessly with Siri on iOS and iPadOS.

I put in a call to Apple Support today, documenting the above. Of course they haven’t a clue. I am awaiting a callback from a “HomePod Specialist” at Apple tomorrow.

I note that, worldwide, forums are populated with posts describing both the above (obviously related) issues, both of which started around March 2022 with whatever firmware update for the HomePod mini.

I also wrote to iHeartRadio. They just got back, noting that not all stations work with the HomePod (!) and asking me for a list. I have responded, but the issue is with all radio stations worldwide on both iHeart and TuneIn.

I am 100% sure that Apple have screwed up mightily, again.

Can anyone out there please report any success with the latest HomePod mini firmware and either non-Apple radio or personal request shortcuts?

Well, I can tell you playing iHeart and/or Tunein stations has been a crap shoot for at least a couple of years. Some days everything is fine - the next, no go. I have one FM iHeart station I play that is based in LA. For over 1.5 years I could just say the stations call letters and it usually played just fine. Now, in the last month or so I need to say the individual call letters followed by the MHZ number. Very disappointing.

Hey there MattL1974,

If the issue is still occurring, you’ll want to reach out to Apple Support at the following link so they can look further into this with you.

Contact Apple Support

Regards.

I also see very unreliable behavior in Siri on HomePod accessing radio stations. In the last few months requests to "Play Radio Station BBC World Service" or "Play Radio Station NPR" won't work. Siri responds "I couldn't find xxxxxx in your apple music library".

The same request to Mac Siri works just fine.

Apple HomePod software development seems to be very poorly managed. The user experience can be so frustrating. Apple please fix this part of your eco-system.