In the pre-internet dark ages, finding a new band or singer to obsess over required time and effort. But as streaming and other technological gifts have disrupted everything in our culture, the way we discover new music and artists has become easier. Streaming For artists, playlists are paramount. Tei Shi recommends checking out playlists on Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal created by musicians you like, since, chances are, your tastes will align. That way your friend could potentially introduce you to a new song or artist on your own playlist. And when all else fails, falling down a YouTube or SoundCloud rabbit hole is still foolproof. Social Media Streaming platforms often source playlists from artists that originally broke on social media. Or you could be more proactive and find the buzzworthy songs yourself, like singer-songwriter Bibi Bourelly.

Sasha Frere-Jones


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As music listening habits become more specialized, it's easier than ever to miss a new song. Unless it gets put in constant rotation on the radio, earns a coveted spot on your favorite playlist , or pops up on the soundtrack to that hot new TV show, most tracks -- even from big artists -- fly under the radar for the casual music fan. Thankfully, we've got you covered. Below, you'll find five new songs of the moment that are worth taking time out of your busy day for. It doesn't matter what genre the song comes from or how popular the artist is. If it's good, we want you to hear it -- and then listen again. Lil Baby is not backing down. After taking to the streets with Atlanta city councilman Antonio Brown to protest the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the year-old rap sensation has released a mournful track that channels his pain, frustration, and anger into a song that attempts to capture the emotional complexity of the moment. Appropriately titled "The Bigger Picture," the song opens with a piano loop and snippets of newscasters describing the recent demonstrations before switching to a more personal, confessional mode. Sister duo Chloe x Halle are young phenoms.
Add these to your playlist now.
It's easy to get stuck in a music rut. That go-to iTunes playlist or Pandora station will probably do the trick, but with so much great music out there, why settle for the same old favorites? The infinite catalog of music, new and old, is a both a blessing and a curse. While music fans unfortunately have to accept that they will never be able to listen to every band, album or song, retreating to the comfort of your personal music library is no way to find your next favorite artist. Spotify 's latest curation features, Browse and Discover , are a push in the right direction, and Rdio integrates music discovery into its top-notch app with subtle recommendations from listeners in your network placed all over the player. These streaming services' social features aren't the only ways to discover new music, but they tap into what's key about successful music suggestions today: social curation. If you are on the lookout for new tunes, try these seven websites and apps that are perfect for social music discovery. Instead of finding individual songs and artists, on Mixcloud you'll find mixes and radio shows by DJs — both amateur and professional — that weave in and out of genres and styles.
The Internet has mutated the way we hear about new artists and songs. There are reviews, a plethora of apps, and algorithms upon algorithms—meaning that discovering your favorite new bop is as overwhelming as ever. So we asked the people who know best about their strategies: people who write about music for a living, music execs, and of course, high schoolers.