How Do You Discover New Music?

October 17, 2024

From Crates to Clicks: The Wild World of Finding New Tunes

Remember the days when finding new music meant sitting by the radio with your finger hovering over the record button, hoping you’d catch the start of that elusive track? Well, things have moved on a bit! These days, discovering new music is like opening Pandora’s box. From streaming platform recommendations to social media posts, crate digging at your local record shop, or even asking an AI to suggest something fresh—there are endless ways to expand your music collection. But, like all things, some methods are gold, and others… well, let’s just say they can get a bit stale. So let’s dive into the world of music discovery and explore the pros and cons of each approach.

 

Streaming: The Infinite Jukebox


Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music have made finding new music easier than ever. Hit the “Track Radio” button once you've found a gem, follow your favourite artists, or dive into someone else’s playlist rabbit hole.

Be aware that with services like these, there is a hidden agenda from the big labels to push the songs they want you to hear, so you do have to spend time building your environment.... god forbid you let your kids use your account, the next time you use it you'll get all sorts of nonsense in your feed and it ain't that easy to clean it...

Pros:

○  Millions of tracks at your fingertips—literally, you could spend your whole life scrolling.

○  Easy to follow artists and get updates on their latest releases.

○  Discover new music through algorithm-powered recommendations.

Cons:

○  Recommendations can get repetitive—hello, stale playlists!

○  With so much out there, the majority of tracks remain hidden, buried deep in the algorithm’s labyrinth.

○  Sometimes, it feels like the magic of discovering that one song gets lost in the shuffle of endless suggestions.

 

Social Media

Ever fallen down a social media rabbit hole, watching clips of DJs in 'instagram headphone pose' or artists dropping bangers in random sets? It’s a solid way to stumble across new tracks. One minute you’re watching someone mash up two tracks on Instagram, and the next, you’re knee-deep in a playlist of tracks you didn’t even know you needed.

Pros:

○  Quick and easy way to discover new artists and tunes by following their posts.

○  Perfect for finding new music genres by diving into hashtags and live clips.

○  The rabbit hole never ends!

Cons:

○  Before you know it, everyone’s heard that track, and it’s not just your special find anymore.

○  It can be hard to find out what the tracks are called—unless the DJ has kindly listed it!

 

Live Gigs: Where the Magic Happens

There’s no better place to discover music than at a live gig or DJ set right? Thumping bass that makes your insides vibrate, out with your mates and in the zone, hearing a track played where it’s meant to be heard is unbeatable. Plus, there’s Shazam for those ‘What is this track?’ moments, or just try to remember the melody and Google it later (good luck with that).

Pros:

○  The music sounds 100x better live—fact.

○  You get to experience tracks in the way the artist intended.

○  Perfect opportunity to discover DJs or live bands you’ve never heard before.

Cons:

○  Remembering the song name might involve scribbling random lyrics on your hand or trying to hum it into Shazam later!

 

Crate Digging: Hands On Music Discovery


Whether you’re digging through dusty crates at a local record shop or scrolling through an online vinyl store, crate digging is like a treasure hunt. You can search by genre, release date, or label, and who knows what hidden gems you’ll find? If you’re a fan of holding music in your hands (hello, beardy vinyl lovers), this is for you.

Pros:

○  You’re literally touching music history, and that’s pretty cool.

○  Finding that obscure record no one else knows about = instant bragging rights.

○  You can stumble across forgotten records and artists, giving them new life.

Cons:

○  It can take a lot of time to find something good.

○  Sometimes, the genre tags are more of a suggestion than an actual description, so you might end up with a disco track when you were hoping for funk.

 

Algorithms Aren’t Everything

Fancy a more curated way of finding music? Try radiooooo.com, where you can literally browse the world’s music on a map and choose based on your mood. It’s a global music lover’s dream, and a great way to stumble across tracks you won’t hear on your typical streaming platforms.

Pros:

○  Music you won’t find anywhere else—perfect for the crate-diggers-at-heart who’ve gone digital.

○  Discover music based on where it’s from, which is pretty neat for a global music journey.

Cons:

○  Once you fall in love with a track, good luck finding the original record to buy!

 

Using AI: Because, Why Not?

If you fancy a wildcard, why not let AI take the reins? You can try using ChatGPT to recommend songs, though results can be a bit hit or miss. Or, if you’re up for something a little different, check out Cyanite. Upload a track or choose a streaming one and the AI will spit out a list of sonically similar songs—sometimes it’s spot on, sometimes… well, it’s an adventure!

Pros:

○  A completely unique way to discover music based on the sound of a track.

○  Great for exploring genres or artists you’d never normally find.

Cons:

○  AI is great, but sometimes it gets a bit too “creative” with its suggestions.

 

Curated Lists

If you’re after a more personal touch, music blogs are a great way to discover new tracks. Whether it’s Top Ten lists or genre deep dives, artists and insiders are often behind these recommendations. It’s like having a friend with really good taste in music giving you a playlist.

Pros:

○  Genre-specific blogs or Top Tens are great for diving deep into a style of music.

○  Curated by people who actually know the scene, so you’re getting expert recommendations.

Cons:

○  Once you’re hooked, you’ll end up going down another music rabbit hole! (ok, not much of a con is it)

 

Radio: The OG of Music Discovery

Before algorithms and playlists, radio was the go-to for music discovery. Tuning into an online community radio station (like ours!) brings you a curated selection of tunes without having to lift a finger. It’s still a fantastic way to discover new artists, hidden gems, and genres you might not normally explore.

Pros:

○  You get a human-curated experience—DJs with actual taste picking out tracks for you, not algorithms!

○  Discover new music by just tuning in—no scrolling or decision-making required.

○  Great for stumbling on genres and artists you might never have found on your own.

○  Often play local, underground, or independent artists that you won’t hear anywhere else.

Cons:

○  You can’t skip tracks you’re not into—it’s a ride, and you’re along for it! (not really a con again, but hey ho)

Find Music Your Way

Music discovery is a journey, and there’s no right or wrong way to go about it. Whether you’re a crate-digger, a streaming junkie, or an AI adventurer, the world of music is your oyster. Sure, there are pros and cons to every method, but the fun is in the exploration. So whether you’re scrolling social media for live clips or chatting with AI, keep your ears open—you never know when your next favourite track will hit.

Now, go forth and discover!

X
Support Us!