How to Discover New Music

Bored of the radio? Don't really trust your friends' taste in music? Not really sure how to discover new music? Not to fear - within the vast expanse of the internet, it's getting easier by the day. Sure there's a lot more music to sort through these days, but with a little patience and an open mind, you can find some real gems. Don't worry, though - this isn't going to be a list of cool new bands, or a dictatorial guide to taste. This will simply be a list of tools - a guide, if you will, on how to discover new music.

Blogs

Music magazines are dead. If you really want to read record reviews, and in many cases actually listen to the music they're writing about while you're reading, blogs are the way to go. Pitchfork Media (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com) is probably the most respected publication in the music-blog world. They review a surprisingly vast variety of genres, from country and indie-rock to hip-hop and techno. They also have a wonderful new feature: Forkcast, a section in which you can stream the music and video that they most highly recommend. For those of us who have forgotten how to discover new music, this section is a godsend. But Pitchfork isn't the only music-blog in the world (though it might be the best). A few other favorites of mine are Stereogum (http://www.stereogum.com), Tiny Mix Tapes (http://www.tinymixtapes.com), and PopMatters (http://www.popmatters.com).

Record Labels