Discover New Music in 2021: 5+ Excellent Ways

rj frometa Saturday, August 28, 2021 Content Leave a comment

Now there is so much music that you can get lost in such a variety. According to some estimates, one track is uploaded to streaming services every second. Knowing what is right for you and what to listen to might be challenging. We’ve compiled the top 5 great methods of finding new music that will help you discover awesome stuff in this stream.

1. Streaming Platforms

Chances are, you already have artists and bands that you like. You can make them your guide when looking for new tracks. It is how music streaming services work. When registering and setting up an account, you indicate your interests, and artificial intelligence offers you new options based on them.

Although it seems that the content of such platforms is similar at first glance, the engines responsible for the music selection are different. So you can test several apps in trial mode and choose the one that suits you best. Among modern services, the following stand out:

Spotify;
Apple Music;
Google Play Music;
YouTube Music;
Deezer;
SoundCloud;
Tidal.

Many of these platforms have desktop versions, but most are focused on use on mobile devices. Therefore, the library of new tracks will always be at your fingertips.

2. Online Concerts and Live Performances

During the pandemic, all users have been advised to reduce contact with other people. Online concerts have become an excellent way out of this situation for both musicians and music lovers. They bring together bands and solo artists from all over the world. With their help, you can get acquainted with famous musicians’ work and learn about new independent singers.

Live performances, like online gigs, often open up new perspectives for artists. Musicians make covers of their own songs or compositions of other performers, choose new musical instruments, decorate the room where the concert takes place in an unusual way, and invite other artists for collaborations. If we talk about major shows, almost all of them begin with performances by support groups, in the music of which you can also find something interesting.

Although many live music festivals are canceled now, some are still being held. They are designed for a wide range of audiences and bring together lots of performers. If you can’t attend such an event, check out the list of bands and listen to their main songs. Perhaps, something will interest you.

3. Top Lists and Critics Review

You can learn more about the music of recent years from the various ratings, and top lists music magazines make up. As a rule, professional critics are engaged in it, but sometimes well-known musicians publish their lists. If you are interested in such a method of discovering new music, check out selections from the following sources:

Rolling Stone;
Pitchfork;
Stereogum;
The Quietus;
Consequence of Sound;
AllMusic, and so on.

Many major newspapers and magazines have a section dedicated to culture and, accordingly, music. So you can even find information about new artists and albums in The Guardian or The NYT.

4. Blogs and Communities

The surest way to always stay up to date with the latest events is to subscribe to thematic blogs, vlogs, groups, and channels in social networks. Some professional critics, musicians, and just music lovers create their own services where they share news from the music industry. You can find a source that matches your interests and subscribe to it. It could be a group of enthusiasts who carefully collects information about any new albums or a music journalist whose opinion is authoritative for you, who selects fresh releases to their liking and gives a detailed review on each.

5. Apps for Music Identification

Probably, the situation when you walk down the street, hear a fantastic track and do not know who plays it happens to everyone. Thanks to modern tools, finding music heard on the radio, on the road, or during a DJ set has never been easier. Many users know the Shazam app, but it has many analogs, which, in some cases, cope with the task even better and give an accurate result faster. In addition to Shazam, you can also install these applications:

SoundHound;
BeatFind;
MusicID;
Bing Audio, etc.

You can use such services to recognize music playing right now or a tune you hum. Errors do happen, of course, but in most cases, apps accurately determine the composition. Many of them offer to transfer you to some streaming service to listen to the music they find.

Additional Options

Above, there are the most convenient options to help you find fresh music. However, this list is not exhaustive, and you can also find out about new artists and albums in the following ways:

Genres. If you are a fan of any musical genre, you can search for new bands by this parameter. For example, Rate Your Music, or Metacritic has a large database that can be filtered in any way you need.
Labels. Record companies act as filters: they select artists who play in the same genre, convey a similar vibe, or are united by some concept. It is simply a unique set of music tailored to the label’s taste. If you trust them, you will surely enjoy a lot of what they put out.
Radio. People still listen to the radio, and many stations have switched to online. They usually have shows that are available on record. One of the most famous internet radio stations is NTS. If you want to push the boundaries of your favorite genre, listen to the radio.
Films and TV series. Few viewers really pay attention to the soundtracks. Sometimes creators use not only the author’s music of some composer (which can be interesting to listen to as well) but also tracks by popular performers.
Music awards. They also play the role of filters. They pick the most iconic from many musicians and award the best (according to a jury). However, it is worth listening not only to the winners but also to the nominees.

Find What You’ll Really Like

It is difficult not to drown in a huge stream of modern artists. However, certain key points can serve as a navigator for you. We hope that the methods and strategies described in this article will help you stay up to date with new music and always find something that you will definitely like.