Photo Credit: Know your meme. Popular meme of woman wearing headphones while listening to music.
Platforms for discovering new music have never been more accessible, thanks to the explosion of streaming services over the past few years. Yet, eager music lovers find themselves constantly asking the same question: How do I find new music?
How streaming platforms have impacted music discovery
Spotify and Apple Music have made things it extremely easy for the average consumer to expand their musical library. The Spotify-curated “Discover Weekly” playlist is likely the most popular means of music discovery today.
The personalized playlist utilizes each user’s listening data to retrieve a collection of songs that align with the user’s listening behaviors.
While this idea is enticing, its execution leaves much to be desired and has even sparked controversy among Spotify users. The most recent controversy entails AI-created songs being placed into these personalized playlists, which has driven many listeners away from the platform altogether.
Concerns are also arising over playlists created by algorithms. Many users question whether discovering new music is truly “discovery” if the recommendations are generated through an algorithm.
These concerns leave the door open for alternative platforms of music discovery to come into the limelight.
Music catalogue sites
Sites such as RateYourMusic andAlbumOfTheYear have gained massive popularity in recent years. These webpages operate as a personally regulated library, allowing their users to document the music they’ve listened to on a rating scale.
While these platforms make music discovery easy, they can also be overwhelming at times. The sheer amount of music can deter users from browsing the sites’ charts, though advanced search functionality has made the process easier.
Exploring specific sub-genres seems to be the main appeal for a majority of users on these sites. Both RateYourMusic and AlbumOfTheYear automatically present the highest-rated albums when sorting, so the first songs listed are often the most popular in whatever genre is being explored.
After even a quick look at these sites, however, the drawbacks are obvious.
These sites — like every other part of the internet — have a designated demographic. People who frequent these two platforms have glaringly similar taste, so if your ideal music is anywhere outside of their hivemind, the most acclaimed songs may seem a bit jarring upon first listen.
Therefore, people who wish to avoid the direct influence of others may choose to find music from the source itself.
Surfing Through Bandcamp
Streaming service Bandcamp definitively stands out among every other platform when it comes to music discovery.
Unlike other streaming services, Bandcamp highlights local scenes and puts the spotlight on smaller artists who haven’t yet found a solid fan base.
There is no site better than Bandcamp for people interested in exploring their city’s thriving music scenes. From highly obscure subgenres of metal to underground collections of ambient music, exciting local projects continuously flow throughout the site’s homepage.
The sheer volume of content on the site is immeasurably massive, relying on uploads from millions of independent artists and bands.
Its greatest strength is allowing users to easily access its vast library of tracks through instant streaming without the inconvenience of a required subscription.
Inversely, this positive also serves as the platform’s greatest drawback. It is often a challenge to scour for any music worthwhile for a second listen.
Navigating Bandcamp’s near-infinite selection of every type of music is an incredibly time-consuming task. However, the satisfaction of finding a small artist is the reason why many dig through the site’s forums and pages in the first place.
Word of Mouth
While all of these streaming websites and platforms are exciting, the most widely available resource is also the most efficient. There is nothing simpler than having a light conversation with a friend or family member about music.
The greatest strength of this method is the relationship shared with your source. They most likely know every band and artist that you’re interested in, making recommendations personal and specifically tailored to you.
Taking the names of new artists after every conversation is an excellent way to build a diverse playlist.
Older adults usually have a wealth of knowledge, and they are often eager to pass it onto a curious bystander. Therefore, they are great sources for incredible music and artists recommendations that often fly under the radar today.
Intentionally searching for music — whether sifting through a website, shuffling through apps or chatting with friends — ensures that the art of music discovery is never abandoned. And today, music discovery is more accessible and efficient than ever before.
