Between the internet and streaming services you wouldn’t think anyone would have to ask where to find new music in the 2020. You’re hear though, so clearly something isn’t working The truth is the internet is really big. Let’s say someone wanted to get through the 11.5 billion search results for “new music 2020”. Even at a generous 5 seconds per result it would take a determined, immortal musicophile over 1,800 years of nonstop searching to get through all of those!
Considering this overwhelming amount of data, I understand why we’ve turned to technology to help us. Why waste my time fighting an impossible battle when a computer program can consume the whole world’s catalogue and tell me what’s worth listening to in mere seconds? While these services are wildly convenient, I think they are mostly meaningless. Unfortunately, scientists don’t understand how humans experience things like quality and value yet, so what these apps really measure is engagement.
To understand this distinction imagine you’re a kid in the largest toy store in the galaxy. Around you are whirling, flashing mountains of fantastic toys, and you get the whole day to find one you want to buy. Would you rather explore the store yourself, tearing your way through as many awesome (and not so awesome) gizmos as you can, or wait at the entrance while a robot picks out the statistically ideal toy for you based on how your data history and play-time preferences compare to those of other kids? Finding things on your own takes more time and energy, but it’s also more fulfilling and meaningful!
Don’t get me wrong, the internet is a great tool for sorting through the world’s data. However, this tool is only useful if it elevates the thoughts and feelings of real people. The following ideas will show you where to find new music in 2020 by combining the quality of human-recommendation and the power of modern technology.
Phone a Friend
Even in the digital age, I believe your best resource for finding information is the people around you. A simple “Hey friend! I’m looking for new music. Have you been checking out anything cool lately?” call or text is a great way to stay connected with your peeps and find killer tunage at the same time. It’s also a fun way to make other people feel like their opinions are valued and sought after.
If you have any musician friends I would ask them first. Musicians tend to have high standards, and we’re always eager to share the special albums we find. We’re also informed about great new records from our friends in the music community, so you’ll get unique responses.
Fresh Picks
Fresh Picks is a daily music recommendation newsletter right here on The Happy Musicians website. Every morning I pick a fun theme and share three tracks: something new, something old, and something different. I put a lot of time and care into finding beautiful music from beautiful humans that’s worth sharing. I’m also committed to offering music from a diverse selection of artists, generations, genres, and cultures. It’s a great way to stay up to date on new music, find gems from the past, and encounter music outside of your comfort zone! My hope is to introduce you to a new artist you dig, and empower you to explore the rest of their catalogue on your own.
Independent Record Labels
Historically the record industry doesn’t have a great reputation, and for good reason! However, today there are thousands of small, hip labels offering meaningful music for every niche imaginable. If you’re not sure how to find these indie labels just let the music guide you!
Search for one of your favorite smaller artists and see who their label is. If you go to the label’s website you’ll find a list of all their current artists. Since labels tend to focus on a particular genre/vibe, and only accept a limited number of artists that fit a specific vision, you’ll likely find other artists on the label you enjoy. They will also have a newsletter and/or social media accounts you can follow to get notified of new releases. Some of my favorite labels right now are Nonesuch, Mack Avenue, and Brainfeeder.
College Radio Stations
Most colleges have a student-run radio station. These incredible organizations are run by dedicated, young people passionately promoting cool music. You will have the most delightfully strange listening experiences on these programs. You’ll also learn about cool upcoming shows as they’re intimately connected with both the student house show scene and university sponsored events. If you’re looking for local acts this is 100% the best way to find them.
Instagram Heroes
There’s a whole community of vinyl collectors on Instagram valiantly scouring the world’s sound archives and sharing their results. There are a bunch of these album review/recommendation accounts, and they all have their own style and taste. They’re also usually incredibly aesthetic and hip: this fun one pairs each record with a domestic beer. My current favorite is The Vinyl Post. He goes the extra mile with thoughtful reviews and ratings for each album, warning you if the record isn’t worth your time. There are two simple ways to find these accounts:
- These collectors all tend to follow each other, so if you click on any of their following lists you’ll find lots of similar accounts. They’re easy to spot since they usually have “vinyl”, “wax”, or “review” in their account name.
- You’ll also find a bunch by searching #musicreview.
Strength In Numbers
Obviously no one person can get through all of music history alone. On the flip side, a robot could analyze it all in a few moments, but would the results really mean anything? The good news is none of us are alone! By finding people whose judgement we value and working together, we can meaningfully chart the cluttered ocean of recorded sound. Happy listening!
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