how do you hear about new music?

Question

if an artist isn't played on the radio or on the newsstands, how do you even know they exist (and besides hearing about them from friends)?

Answer 1

I find that many musicians promote other musicians. Sometimes, they're bands I've never heard of and I will check it out. Look on your favourite artists' websites and see if they list their influences or bands they currently dig. Sometimes, they're up-and-coming bands.

Find a bar (if you're old enough), a club, a coffee shop perhaps (especially if you're in Seattle), or anywhere they play live music. You can discover local talent that way. It's also nice because you can usually chat with them afterwards.

The radio station I listen to has a segment in which they play music for up-and-coming (or foreign) bands and I make it a habit to listen to that. It's my favourite station so I know they play music I like. If I hear something I really like, I jot down the name of the band and song if they say it. If they don't, I jot down some lyrics and try to search for it on the internet. I'm usually successful. And if not, I call the radio station and ask. They also have a website with a list of songs. I know you mentioned artists that AREN'T on the radio but I assumed you meant "mainstream."

Local music stores (at least the ones here) also have fliers advertising local bands but I tend to ignore those because I don't have a chance to preview their music before going to their shows.

I also ask people (not necessarily friends since they don't share my musical obsessions) for recommendations.

You can also try signing up at http://www.pandora.com or http://launch.yahoo.com (or something similar). You list the music you like and you get recommendations based on that.

Answer 2

This happens sometimes when people are having some emotional anomaly like depression, loneliness, extreme fatigue or happiness. This can also have something to do with mental health. People with an unstable mental health sometimes hear voices or music. Another simple explanation is that your mind is just creating noise in your head and you are hallucinating because of boredom or anxiety. You could also be hearing actual music.

Answer 3

I just randomly type in words on the song searches and listen to them. Also by looking up movie soundtracks which have alot of unknow artists on some of them. I also try to listen to music from different countries on their radio stations. They have singers which are just as good, but haven't made their way to the U.S. yet. Check out the local scenes too. Eventually some of them will make it mainstream.


They are out their if you have the time to look. Their were a few bands I knew about before they made their mainstream debut and their songs were on the radio.

Answer 4

To be honest, the best place to hear about up and coming bands is through the musicians magazines like Guitar World and Bass Player. These magazines do a great job of introducing and promoting up and coming bands with legitimate talent. I usually discover the bands in these magazines and then check yahoo launch or the artists website to gather more information.

Answer 5

I'll get them if they are local to an area, like Nashville or Memphis, particularly at Tower Records.

If it looks interesting, I will sample on-line somewhere, as well.

If they are somehow attached to a genre or a group, I'll listen. For example, because of listening to Enigma, I got into Delerium, and found out about a vocalist who appeared on there, who has her own album out, as well as having been a part of a band in the past.

Some of the stores have listening stations for these new and upcoming artists that you can listen to, as well.

Answer 6

I look at Billboard charts on the Billboard website. Also I look for new release web sites. Stores have new release racks. Amazon allows you to play 30 seconds of any song. My library carries nearly everything for free.

Answer 7

Internet. That's where I learn about new music usually and by the time I hear it on the radio I'm already sick of it.

Answer 8

Artists frequently send me promotional copies of their music. If I like it, then I use it at events and other venues. I also pass it on to agents if I think it's good enough.

Answer 9

MySpace.
Cassie, who sings "Me & U", said that much of her song's success was because of her MySpace. You can sign up as an artist and upload your songs so people can play them on their profile.

Answer 10

American Idol Underground has new music from unknown musicians. You can go to the website and listen to new music and then vote on your favorites.




http://www.idolunderground.com/Pages/Welcome.aspx