Best & Easiest Ways to Discover New Music

I think everyone will agree that finding new music should be both exciting and straightforward. Exciting because it’s always a pleasure to discover a song that makes you feel real emotions and strong feelings. And straightforward because no one really wants to waste time searching for hours and then end up with nothing.

But with so much music services, platforms and channels online, it becomes not easier but actually trickier to find new good music. You might end up with songs that are not your style or with the one you’ve already heard. Why so? Because algorithms used by these platforms are not perfect. They don’t really understand your taste, the metrics they used are often misleading or not applicable to you personally. So what’s the best way to find new music then?

The best and easiest way to discover new music is to check the “best-of-lists”. It can be lists categorized by genre, mood or artists. The only decision you must make is whether to choose a list created by a real person, or by AI (algorithms).

I have been a music fan for pretty much my whole life. Its started with vinyl records since I was just a child. When I grew older I often began actively searching for new stuff. At first the place to go were physical stores where I would buy audio cassettes, and later CDs. Radio stations were also popular as they played different music. After the Internet became widely available we got a myriad of new options. The music industry has changed. So did the ways we interact with music.

I’m happy to share the optimal ways for you to effectively and easily find new music today. As it happens I have tried all of them, and am speaking out of personal experience. These methods work for me, and they will help you as well.

The Best Way to Discover New Music

Discovering new bands, awesome songs, musicians or even new genres is a great method to keep your playlists fresh and lively. By finding new music you won’t get tired of the same tracks that you’ve already listened to. Plus, you will keep expanding your musical horizon and will have so much more hits to choose from. The more the better.

So what is the best method to find new music? The answer is – Curated Lists. Or as they are also called “Best-of-lists”.

Discovering new songs with Best-of-lists Lists: Such playlists are available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, as well as on music blogs and websites. They can be a perfect personal music guide. These lists give a great selection of songs based on specific genres, moods, or artists.

For example, you might have seen charts and lists like: Best indie songs of 2023. Or Greatest Metallica hits. Or Best Pop hits of the week. Such lists are very popular, especially on platforms like Spotify (with their “Best of artists”, “Recommended radio” categories), Soundcloud (they have lists like “Mixed for you”, “Trending Music on SoundCloud”). YouTube also has similar lists in their music section.

Best-of-lists Created by Algorithms

These playlists are made of selected tracks that represent the best of the best. At least in theory. In reality these lists select new tracks based on your past listens. They check the tags and genres assigned to the songs you listened before and pull new ones from the songs marked with the same tags. But that alone doesn’t guarantee that they will suggest you something that you really like.

While it does simplify your search for new tunes, the individual songs suggested can be far from what you might enjoy. AI and algorithm is not perfect. It lacks nuances and real human understanding of the music. That’s why you might have realized that these “Recommended for you” lists don’t do much for you personally. That usually happens when you’ve already listened to a bunch of music and are not so easily surprised anymore.

But these lists are still one of the best ways to explore new stuff. Simply look at the the track that you enjoyed, and check the artist/band who performs it. Then read about the band or the singer and check their other popular compositions.

Best-of-lists Created by Humans

There are also “Best-of-lists” created by real people. Unlike AI and algorithms people spend time and put effort to gather the songs that they like into playlists for themselves and others to enjoy. If done with care and passion by a person with a good musical taste these lists are the best source of new music. By far.

All you have to do is to check such a list, listen to the songs in there and when you hear something impressive, pause to explore the artist you loved. Easy as it gets. When you find the group or the singer you enjoy a lot, you can then check “Best-of-ARTIST-YOU-LIKE-list”.

The only trick here is to actually find a good website or a person who creates such playlists. Unfortunately, nowadays many use AI to create lists for them, or just add random songs and then pose them as carefully curated lists. Or they copy other lists without adding anything new. Obviously I am not talking about those.

I’ve personally seen a lot of low-quality playlists and was pretty disappointed with them. To the point that I started this website to share my own playlists as a counter. My goal is to share the very best of different music that I have been listening for a long time. Here’s a quick example of such playlist featuring various genres and artists:

Don’t take it as bragging, but I guess I do listen to substantially more music compared to an average person. My friends know it, and always asked me when they were looking for new music. So now I simply put my playlists online for others to enjoy and discover new stuff.

Alternatives Methods To Find Great Music

Curated Lists are not the only source new music of course. There are other ways to find something interesting, fresh and discover great songs. From songs you hear in the films, TV shows or movie trailers to melodies you stumble upon while driving in a taxi and listening to the radio. From random songs you hear in the mall to occasional live concerts you visit. There’s plenty of places where new music awaits. Let’s see these alternatives methods.

Movie Soundtracks

Movie and TV show soundtracks can feature wonderful selections of songs that complement their storyline. Soundtracks main goal is to enhance the viewing experience. Exploring these soundtracks can introduce you to a whole new world of music though.

I can’t even count how many new artists I have discovered though hearing a cool tune in the movie and researching the artist behind it later on. You can check the after-credits to see the name of the songs used in the movie, or simply google the movie and it’s soundtrack. You never know what you gonna hear when watching something. It’s an exciting way of finding new favorites.

I have a separate article on Soundtracks As a Way to Discover New Music. Check it out for details.

Streaming Services

Streaming services have truly changed how we can find and enjoy music. They developed and offer a nice range of tools and features that help us explore new things. Here’s a quick overview of the most popular services and how you can use them:

• Spotify’s AI DJ. This AI can suggest your next favorite song. Spotify’s AI technology acts like a personal DJ, analyzing your listening habits to suggest songs that you’re likely to enjoy. Use it to keeps your playlist fresh.
• Apple Music. Apple Music is great for keeping up with the latest releases. Their “New Music Daily” feature highlights newest tracks from both popular artists and rising stars.
• YouTube. With how popular YT is, it’s no surprise that millions of people browse YouTube for the latest music videos. YouTube is one of the prime destination for music discovery. Unlike other platforms it’s an excellent way to experience new music both visually and audibly. If you are lucky enough browsing YouTube can lead to unexpected musical gems.
• Amazon Music. You can also explore diverse albums on Amazon Music Unlimited. They offer an extensive library of albums across various genres.
• Bandcamp. You can find unique independent music on Bandcamp. It’s especially good platform for discovering music that may not be on mainstream radar yet.

Social Media & Online Communities

Social media also plays a big role in how people discover music today. The influence of socials grew significantly in the last couple of years especially. A song can blow up on social media when everybody starts using it in their reels and videos. And artists become stars overnight.

Check trending music hashtags. On platforms like Twitter and Instagram, music-related hashtags can lead you to trending songs and artists. You can follow hashtags like #NewMusicFriday or #NowPlaying to stay in touch with current hits. But I have to say that popular is not always great. And you are less likely to uncover older songs this way. And there are thousands of hidden gems among them.

Online forums. If you have some time on your hands you can join music forums and online communities, such as Reddit’s r/Music for example. People give their recommendations, reviews there all the time. This method does take more time though.

Music Articles and Blogs

This method is all about reading and researching. I would advise this one mostly for those who already have a lot to listen to anyways and have plenty of playlists. It’s great if you have an extensive music library, and you are just looking for some musical nuances or feeling adventures.

There’s plenty of music blogs out there. Some focus of emerging artists and niche genres. Others offer in-depth coverage and reviews. Some concentrate on creating playlists. So if you are not in a hurry, dive into those websites and see what they have to offer.

Music Identification Apps

Have you heard of music identification apps? These are handy tools for identifying songs you hear in various places where it’s unclear what song is playing or by whom. For example you can hear something nice in a cafe or at a party. These apps use audio recognition technology to quickly identify tracks and provide you with information about the song and artist.

Try apps like Shazam and SoundHound to discover songs on-the-go by simply holding your phone up to the music. They’re perfect for those moments when you hear a catchy tune but don’t know the name or artist. But of course these are quite situational, so it’s more of a fun convenience than a reliable way to discover new stuff.

Live Events

Yes, yes I know we all live in a digital era. But no one canceled live events as far as I know, right? It’s always a good idea to socialize with friends and go to a concert. Maybe it’s you friend’s favorite band that you are not familiar with. Or someone invited you to a see a local group that you have no idea of. Going and seeing live performances is often a great experience.

What is less obvious is that big festivals are even a better source for new musical discoveries. Festivals that last a couple of days have multiple bands perform during the day and before the main event. Such groups are often less known and come from various places. It’s a perfect opportunity to discover hidden talents when they are just on the rise. I have met a couple of awesome bands this way and it’s super fun experience.

I have covered in detail Discovering New Bands & Music via Live Events, check this post if you’re interested.

One Rule To Follow When Looking for Music

One thing that is really important to remember when looking for new music is to have the right mindset. I call it having “an open mind”. It’s rather simple really. An open attitude towards different styles and artists is key to a full and rich musical experience.

Trust me, embracing a wide range of musical genres and artists can lead to some of the most rewarding musical discoveries in your life. When you come without expectations such discoveries can bring truly unexpected joy. Whether it’s a genre you’ve never considered before or an artist outside of your usual preferences, take a chance. You got nothing to loose and you have everything to win.

With time you will find genres you never expected to like, you will enjoy bands you didn’t realize even exist, and you will have tons of new favorites songs.

To Sum It Up

Finding new music can really boost your playlists and make listening more fun. There’s a bunch of easy and effective ways how to discover new songs and artists today. Definitely more options than ever before. From using popular streaming services and apps to reading specialized blogs and watching movies. The options are plentiful.

Remember that if you are looking for it, music will find you. Just stay open-minded and have fun. As a good starting point you can always check my Music Discoveries and Best Songs Lists. I add new playlists there regularly and offer convenient ways to listen and explore new songs via YT and Spotify so you can try ’em on the spot.