Radio… or iTunes “free download of the week”, sadly.
I don’t tend to seek out new artists, but stay either more mainstream, classical songs I already know & like (i.e. Vaughan Williams), or oddball stuff– Gipsy Kings, etc.
Oh, occasionally I’ll use imeem.com or lastfm, but very rarely.
My little brother keeps me up to date on the latest and greatest. And since I’m too poor to buy it, and I won’t illegally download it, it sits in my iTunes shopping cart, taunting me, beckoning me, urging me to scrape a few dollars together to satiate my auditory cravings…
I used to feel very in touch with the music scene and artists that I liked. I “discovered” many artists prior to radio-play when most people seem to learn about up and coming acts. I don’t know how I kept up. Mostly through internet sites (I can’t remember them all). One site I really enjoyed was http://musicplasma.com/. Just type an artist that you enjoy and a mind map of sorts is displayed showing the artists and others who might have influenced or draw influence from the artist.
Another “old school” way to get hip to the music scene is to frequent the trendy record stores (are they still called record stores?). I also had a music network of sorts. A friend and I used to exchange a lot of stuff. He had contacts, as did I. I often used music conversations as a way to break the ice with new co-workers and contacts.
But these days, I’m very out of touch–at least musically speaking.
I don’t listen to too much music, but there are three ways that I find something new to listen to:
1) NPR. Ok, yeah, technically “the radio”. The music used as enders between news bits is often very good. I’ll look up the artist on their website and check out the full track, if available. *Sometimes* I do this same thing with podcasts, but it’s rare.
2) MTV/VH1. When I joined a gym I discovered (to my great surprise) that these two channels do still play music, if you get up early enough. My gym has one of those “CardioTheatre” arrangements where you plug in your headphones on the treadmill and watch whichever TV appeals the most. Every couple of weeks, I leave my nPod in the car and see what’s new on MTV.
3) YouTube. My favorite. Wacky, indie madness. Often free MP3s on their promo sites. This is how I discovered that there is, indeed, a school of HipHop for geeks, and that the ballad of John McClane is much better when set to 80’s-style hair guitar.
I, like Jon, feel out of touch with the up to date music these days. A couple of years ago when I had more time and my priorities were different I knew all of the hip and upcoming artists and bands. Now I honestly could care less. I love music and especially classic stuff. My tastes are differing now too.
As far as finding new music, sometimes radio, or word of mouth, and internet if I have time to look.
One thing to note for me is that my musical taste usually seems to not be in line with what is ‘popular’ and ‘trendy’ I like going against the grain and listening to something ‘different’.
My little brother keeps me in the loop. That and other informed friends. But I don’t search out much music on my own. I don’t have i anything…pod, tunes, etc. I don’t have a car, so I don’t listen to the radio much. Just my brother’s stuff when I get ahold of it.
August 6, 2007 at 10:08
Radio… or iTunes “free download of the week”, sadly.
I don’t tend to seek out new artists, but stay either more mainstream, classical songs I already know & like (i.e. Vaughan Williams), or oddball stuff– Gipsy Kings, etc.
Oh, occasionally I’ll use imeem.com or lastfm, but very rarely.
August 6, 2007 at 10:16
My little brother keeps me up to date on the latest and greatest. And since I’m too poor to buy it, and I won’t illegally download it, it sits in my iTunes shopping cart, taunting me, beckoning me, urging me to scrape a few dollars together to satiate my auditory cravings…
August 6, 2007 at 11:16
not *me*, per se, but some people listen to the radio, jot down the title and then jump over to limewire for the mp3. such unethical people!
August 6, 2007 at 11:49
I used to feel very in touch with the music scene and artists that I liked. I “discovered” many artists prior to radio-play when most people seem to learn about up and coming acts. I don’t know how I kept up. Mostly through internet sites (I can’t remember them all). One site I really enjoyed was http://musicplasma.com/. Just type an artist that you enjoy and a mind map of sorts is displayed showing the artists and others who might have influenced or draw influence from the artist.
Another “old school” way to get hip to the music scene is to frequent the trendy record stores (are they still called record stores?). I also had a music network of sorts. A friend and I used to exchange a lot of stuff. He had contacts, as did I. I often used music conversations as a way to break the ice with new co-workers and contacts.
But these days, I’m very out of touch–at least musically speaking.
August 6, 2007 at 12:12
It used to be on the radio. Now, either by hearing it while working out in the gym or by using the “Play this and similar artists” button on lala.com.
August 6, 2007 at 13:21
I don’t listen to too much music, but there are three ways that I find something new to listen to:
1) NPR. Ok, yeah, technically “the radio”. The music used as enders between news bits is often very good. I’ll look up the artist on their website and check out the full track, if available. *Sometimes* I do this same thing with podcasts, but it’s rare.
2) MTV/VH1. When I joined a gym I discovered (to my great surprise) that these two channels do still play music, if you get up early enough. My gym has one of those “CardioTheatre” arrangements where you plug in your headphones on the treadmill and watch whichever TV appeals the most. Every couple of weeks, I leave my nPod in the car and see what’s new on MTV.
3) YouTube. My favorite. Wacky, indie madness. Often free MP3s on their promo sites. This is how I discovered that there is, indeed, a school of HipHop for geeks, and that the ballad of John McClane is much better when set to 80’s-style hair guitar.
August 6, 2007 at 22:52
I, like Jon, feel out of touch with the up to date music these days. A couple of years ago when I had more time and my priorities were different I knew all of the hip and upcoming artists and bands. Now I honestly could care less. I love music and especially classic stuff. My tastes are differing now too.
As far as finding new music, sometimes radio, or word of mouth, and internet if I have time to look.
One thing to note for me is that my musical taste usually seems to not be in line with what is ‘popular’ and ‘trendy’ I like going against the grain and listening to something ‘different’.
August 7, 2007 at 02:25
My little brother keeps me in the loop. That and other informed friends. But I don’t search out much music on my own. I don’t have i anything…pod, tunes, etc. I don’t have a car, so I don’t listen to the radio much. Just my brother’s stuff when I get ahold of it.