How did you discover music?

[ThatM1key]

First off, I do not want this thread to get merged, Anyways. We all listen to music here and we all discover music via many ways. I would like to know from this community is how you discovered the music you love.

How I discovered music was mainly from Compilation CDs/Tapes, Pandora, Videogames, FM Radio, my fathers 90s CD Albums, Spotify Playlists, SiriusXM, MTV Music Videos, etc. After all these years, I'm mostly a "Playlist" person rather a "Album" person, although sometimes I do enjoy whole Albums.

 

[001]

A few ways: From here at ASR; 'Music Reviews and Discussions', from my friends recommendations now defunct blog 'aurgasm.us', bandcamp.com, loudersound.com/prog, sonicboom, 4 producers and listening to radio paradise 'global mix'. At times I've heard music when out socialising/shopping/eating and I've asked who that is; I've always had a positive reaction and usually a conversation about the music ensues.

 

[Digby]

For a long time now, through Youtube recommendations or channels that specialise in one particular type of music. The algorithm really seems quite polished in that it often throws up something good.

 

[ZööZ]

that online (sharing programs, etc) option is a bit too vague, don't you think?

 

[CleanSound]

So some preface. I can't help but notice that one's taste in music is mostly influenced in their youth. You have no idea how many folks I come across that thinks the music of their generation is best (along with everything in their generation) and how terrible the music of this generation is.

Many years ago I read an article that explains this phenomenon, one's taste in music works the same way as one's taste in food, it is a product of conditioning from your environment when you were younger. How many times have you meant an Italian that said that they hate Italian food? Your taste in music is conditioned during your youth, the variables are what music were available at time, the air time of which tracks are getting and the hype generated by the people around you.

Having said that, I try really hard to explore the world outside by looking for new-to-me music or genres of music that I typically don't listen to.

The most recent artists of this generation that I am digging are, Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran being the mainstream, then the lesser mainstream artists are Khruangbin, Chris Stapleton and only recently Zach Bryan and various Afro-Cuban music.

I'm in my mid 40's however, where I grew up rock music just wasn't part of my environment, so I only "discovered" Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler, Fleetwood Mac and Jimi Hendrix no more than 7-8 years ago.

My tool of choice to discover new-to-me music is Spotify, their AI and algorithm is the best in my opinion. Looking forward to Spotify to come out with Hi-Res as an option.

 

[Zgrado1970]

The last 3-4 years, all of the new music I have discovered has come from the algorithms of streaming services, or social media (usually tweets from bands, DJs, music journalists, or just people whose taste I trust).

 

[Anton D]

A few ways: From here at ASR; 'Music Reviews and Discussions', from my friends recommendations now defunct blog 'aurgasm.us', bandcamp.com, loudersound.com/prog, sonicboom, 4 producers and listening to radio paradise 'global mix'. At times I've heard music when out socialising/shopping/eating and I've asked who that is; I've always had a positive reaction and usually a conversation about the music ensues.

Radio Paradise is pretty great.

When I was a wee lad: AOR FM channels and simply milling about at the record store!

Sometimes, buying a record because the cover intrigued me. (There can be stinkers, too.)

Friends, of course.

Also, going to see bands I had never heard of, or even opening acts for acts I do know. (I've actually been turned into a fan of acts I thought I didn't like, but their live set was so good, it changed my tune!)

Hearing DJ sets, sometimes even what's on at a good bar or lounge.

Also, nerd, reading album credits and then seeking out what else the personnel have been on or even what the producer has done.

Recently, the "Other things you may like" listings from streaming services.

I've even found some at Hi Fi shows, which is weird...shows seem to favor Hell Freezes over, Diana Krall, Patricia Barber, and Norah Jones. But, sometimes, paydirt!

Fun topic!

Example: 14 years old, listening to KGLR in Reno, Nevada. They did a "play an entire album" thing at midnight on some nights, and on the night of May 2nd, I heard Rick Wakeman's "Journey to the Centre of the Earth." So, I popped down to the record store the next day, and it wasn't there! It was release day and the shipment wouldn't arrive until later that day. So, I waited. While I was waiting, the coolest clerk on the planet played "Bryter Lyter," and I was smitten...by both the album and the young woman. So, I bought the import (very exotic and pricey in those days...like, 6 bucks!) and the clerk then turned me on to "Pink Moon." When the shipment came in, there was only one copy of the Wakeman album....and it was mine! The next week, I ordered the import of "Five Leaves Left." 6 years later, I was in Fort Collins for grad school, and I played "Bryter Lyter" in my residence hall room, and a girl popped her head into my doorway and said, "Nick Drake!" So, we went to dinner and then dated. Life turns on a very small point with a big wheel spinning out from there...love, work, everything can happen based on small little events.

 

[RayDunzl]

Dad had stereo at home (1961 or so), Heathkit/Eico, and I played in the school band starting in third grade, and had an acoustic guitar to futz around with all about the same time.

And Radio, of course. Both kinds! FM and AM.

 

[JustJones]

Looks like 2 different questions. How DID you discover music? and How DO you discover music?
Did ; growing up with relatives that played instruments,

record player ( little plastic 45 player)

radio, TV variety shows, school concerts, playing in school band, church.

Edit: Forgot about breakfast cereal

Do; browsing streaming services and the internet.

 

[Mart68]

At school I had a pal who was youngest of nine. When we were 16 his eldest sibling turned 40

All except one had left home by the mid 1980s, but they had left their record albums - quite a big collecting dating from late 1960s to early 1980s.

Friday nights we'd go round to play pool and would work our way through them.

Discovered a lot of stuff that way.

At my home all we had was the radio in the kitchen, but it was always on. Lots of songs from the 1980s still remind me of sitting at the kitchen table doing my homework.

 

[Galliardist]

I was born early morning, and Radio Luxembourg was playing the newish number one, Apache by the Shadows, as I popped out. That's how it started for me - it's still music I return to often. Though, of course, I don't remember it first hand!

 

[Anton D]

At school I had a pal who was youngest of nine. When we were 16 his eldest sibling turned 40

All except one had left home by the mid 1980s, but they had left their record albums - quite a big collecting dating from late 1960s to early 1980s.

Friday nights we'd go round to play pool and would work our way through them.

Discovered a lot of stuff that way.

At my home all we had was the radio in the kitchen, but it was always on. Lots of songs from the 1980s still remind me of sitting at the kitchen table doing my homework.

Awesome.

You reminded me of a big one: when I was a kid, other kids' older siblings, for sure.

 

[concorde1]

My parents' stereo would be on almost every morning when I was a kid.

Often classical music or rock/folk.

I liked when "No Quarter" was played off the live Led Zeppelin album "The Song Remains The Same". That was a favourite when I was 5 years old. I still love it.

I discovered most of my music taste post-childhood by finding music online through reading/searching online or through random YT video recommendations.

I've found a huge amount of music that way and my CD collection is still growing.

 

[Middle Earth]

Back in the 60s
AM radio
45s and 33s

 

[Liya]

In the past FM radio plus friends recommendations.
Today - NTS Radio, Radio Paradise, Bandcamp, Bleep, Presto Music, plus friends recommendations and Apple Music continuous mix.

 

[Liya]

I was born early morning, and Radio Luxembourg was playing the newish number one, Apache by the Shadows, as I popped out. That's how it started for me - it's still music I return to often. Though, of course, I don't remember it first hand!

I remember the day when Radio Luxembourg stopped broadcasting. It was a sad day.

 

[Axo1989]

If you mean how "did" I discover music early on, that would be CD albums played by siblings, parents and school-friends, radio (FBI and JJJ in Sydney in the very late 90s and through the 00s) concerts, music rags on paper (I still have old copies of The Face) and artist pages on MySpace.

If you mean how "do" I discover music now, that would be friends/family still, music rags (you don't have an option for those) and reviews online (mostly Pitchfork these days) and 'related/similar' suggestions via Music.app algorithms (but not auto-play, playlists or compilations) plus DJ sets and artist pages on Bandcamp and Soundcloud.

 

[Ken1951]

For me it's totally dependent upon the time period:
1950s - 1970s = Radio and TV. The DC Metro area had some good stations. Particularly starting in the late 60s - WHFS, WGTB (which had a great Celtic show at times)
1980s - 2010ish = Radio, MTV, VH1, movies, TV
2010ish - Present = Movies, TV shows, Pandora, Spotify

There has been some terrific music in shows like Lucifer & Bones, excellent stuff in some movies as well as in some foreign TV series we've watched.

 

[Keith_W]

Given that I listen to 99% classical music, I already know the music that I want to listen to. What I discover are new performances. Sometimes it is through reading the classical press, sometimes classical forums (but those are surprisingly toxic places!), and sometimes through my friends. However, they have different priorities to me. One guy I know only listens to good recordings of classical music, and another is interested in less well known composers. I am interested in historic performances, which effectively renders my sound system irrelevant when I listen to those.

 

[Galliardist]

Given that I listen to 99% classical music, I already know the music that I want to listen to. What I discover are new performances. Sometimes it is through reading the classical press, sometimes classical forums (but those are surprisingly toxic places!), and sometimes through my friends. However, they have different priorities to me. One guy I know only listens to good recordings of classical music, and another is interested in less well known composers. I am interested in historic performances, which effectively renders my sound system irrelevant when I listen to those.

I'm also interested in historic recordings (currently mostly through headphones for various reasons) going right back to the 1900s. I actually find that good equipment makes it easier to get at the music through the noise.