Hey folks!
One of my life goals for 2025 was going back to single purpose devices and avoiding algorithm-based media consumption. No smartphones, no AIs, no Spotify.
I’m quite happy with my offline music library, even if it took a while to organize. I use MusicBee (it FINALLY runs perfectly via Wine, if you install some dependencies in your prefix) to listen, find artwork, find lyrics, create playlists and so on and I sync them to my Innioasis, a little iPod Classic clone that supports modern features like USB-C charging.
But here’s the thing… how are people finding new music nowadays? I’d assume TikTok and automatic suggestions from your music streaming services, but are there alternatives?
TikTok would probably work for me if I didn’t stop using social media, but I did. Apple Music’s algorithm sucked tremendously when I used it in the past - it always recommended me Ed Sheeran, an artist I strongly dislike and not anywhere near adjacent to my taste in music (and tapping ‘Not Interested’ a million times never worked) and Spotify’s worked well for a while, but then it started getting extremely repetitive and pushy, “Shuffle” became essentially “Your 10 most recently listened to songs, repeated often, and sometimes we sprinkle two suggestions you already didn’t like but we think you should like actually”
Go to raves in virtual reality, follow music curators on youtube, follow artists on Soundcloud who repost new music
Noobs, no one mentioned the most important website for audiophiles: albumoftheyear.org
Go to a record store. Talk to someone who loves to talk about music. Buy something. Listen to it. Go back next week.
www.metal-archives.com, search by genre, list by release date. Disclaimer; must love metal.
Radio is good, but don’t listen to the crappy top 40 local station. Find a station that has actual shows - ones where the DJs themselves pick the music - and where the DJs actually have an interest in music rather than trying to be an acoustic TikToker. Campus radio is good (I listen to KZSU and FuseFM) and PSB alt radio (BBC Radio 6 and ABC Triple-J) since, again, they have genre-savvy DJs that actually pick the music.
I search by genres or artists. This means, that I usually hop on YouTube, and start looking if any of the artists I like released new stuff and if I come across a new one I look what stuff they have that I like.
College radio. It can be a little more “work” because the format changes with the deejay. Their shows usually last a couple hours and come on once a week. You can’t just tune in and expect to hear a certain genre. It’s worth it though. If you have a station near you, they sometimes let anyone deejay even if they’re not a student. I live in NE Ohio, the stations I’ve grown up with are WCSB 89.3, WRUW 91.1, WOBC 91.5, WJCU 88.7, WBWC 88.3. Also they are noncommercial so that’s a bonus. You can listen through their websites and they sometimes archive shows. I’ve found them on the TuneIn app but the app plays commercials.
There’s also a decent amount of college and independent stations (not IHeartRadio, etc owned) that broadcast online, so location isn’t an issue.
I know OP is trying to go for single purpose devices, but RadioDroid on F-Droid is great for listening to internet radio and has a built in station list.
I’ve subbed Pitchfork’s album reviews RSS. They tend to namedrop influences and contemporaries and that’s what’s keeping this 46 year old picking up 2025 albums (bit proud of the fact) :D
I still find music the old school way, either through people I know recommending it or hearing it randomly in my travels.
I often do this too, sometimes I ask people for recommendations, hear a song on a show, or hear something in passing I like. Some of my coworkers have given me great recommendations especially.
Go back in time for new music. No matter what you’ve listened to so far it is just the tip of the iceberg. There is a shitload ton more out there for you to find. I know what you meant but the old stuff you haven’t heard is still new to you.
I find more good quality music on community radio stations compared to the algorithmic recommendations from Apple Music. I wonder if this is because the community radio host is just playing music that they genuinely like as opposed to whoever pays the most to be on a discovery playlist.
Community/College Radio is such an under utilised source IMO. No pay to play artists. Often a focus on local artists. Gigs and events focussed on the community. It’s the best. Do you have radio station recommendations?
I listen to Triple R: https://www.rrr.org.au/ There might be some good community stations in your area though
Surprised KEXP hasn’t been mentioned here, always good to trawl through their live shows on youtube to find new bands
Bandcamp
Bandcamp is great for finding new stuff!
Sometimes I’ll go to albums I like and check out other peoples collections to see what they’ve also bought. Some of my favorite tunes have been found this way.
Second this. I don’t really listen to a lot of mainstream stuff, so Bandcamp is really awesome for finding really great indie stuff.
Go see bands live, look up who is opening for bands you like and check out their music, talk to people who go to those shows and see what they like.
look up who is opening for bands you like and check out their music
This one is HUGE. I’ve been to two shows now where I ended up liking the openers more than the main act.
Never used the site myself as i’m still “plugged in” but i’ve kept this in my pocket for if i ever cut ties with music streaming. If you try it report back with your thoughts?
I’m not OP, I’ve tried this in the past and at least for my genres it didn’t provide anything new or that I would like. I saying that though, I’m not placing the site at fault.
That’s a shame, i was holding high hopes for it. Good to know i should adjust my expectations when the time comes.
