Method and apparatus for providing a customized selection of audio content over the internet

An online system for providing selected media files from among a plurality of media files to a user over a packet-switched network, said apparatus comprising:

• a database that includes a user profile associated with said user and reflecting user preferences in media content to be received over the packet-switched network;
• a processor for ranking the plurality of media files based at least in part on the user profile and selecting at least one highly ranked media file from among the ranked plurality of media files;
• and
• a server in communication with the packet-switched network for receiving a request from the user to receive media content and for forwarding said at least one highly ranked media file to the user over the packet-switched network.

A method for providing selected media files from among a plurality of media files to a user establishing communication with a host server over a packet-switched network, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving over the packet-switched network a request from the user to establish communication with the host server;
• retrieving from a database a user profile associated with said user, said user profile reflecting user preferences in media content to be received over the packet-switched network;
• ranking the plurality of media files based at least in part on the user profile;
• selecting at least one highly ranked media file from among the ranked plurality of media files;
• and
• forwarding said at least one highly ranked media file to the user over the packet-switched network.