I’ve used both Apple Music and Spotify in recent years and while their discovery is okay, it always plays it safe. As if they’ve made a genre that is just for me and won’t play anything outside of that. How do I expand my music horizons?
Interestingly, I feel like I’ve found more “new” music using Spotify’s Release Radar playlist instead of their Discover Weekly playlist. I’ll typically (and aggressively) mark things as like/don’t like in those playlists and add what I like to my own “Testing” playlist to see what sticks to me. Release Radar tends to have more likes than Discover Weekly does, despite what the two are named, and it’s providing new artists on top of existing ones I’m already a fan of.
That’s usually good enough for me, though the occasional time I’m listening to the radio or a song comes on over the speakers when I’m out and about gets a quick Shazam from me to know what it was.
To add on to that. Their enhance playlists or similar songs found at the bottom of your playlist page can be really relevant and I’ve learned about a ton of new artists that way.
Yes, that has helped out a lot too. It may not work for OP since they’re feeling like these systems are creating a genre just for you, but this works if you’re not looking to jump to something too different from what you already enjoy.
music zines, friends, going to concerts (opening acts), watching Indy movies (soundtrack). am also interested in ideas from others as I’ve also seem to have reached the end of spotify’s suggestions
I’ve been using the 1001 Albums website. It’s definitely not foolproof since you won’t find anything extremely recent or niche but it forces you to listen to albums you wouldn’t normally choose and they are all generally pretty solid (or better). You can also use it in concert (so to speak) with friends so you can listen to the same album on the same day and discuss it together.
It’s not a huge number, but I’ve put 5 albums into rotation just because of this website.
https://Last.fm is another service that will track what you listen to and suggest tracks that other people enjoying the same music you do.
It’s basically the same, but it’s 3rd party. I’ve been using that for several years, and it’s given me many great suggestions.Man, that’s a site I haven’t thought of for ages, but I think I actually did find myself there (or somewhere similar) a couple of years ago for something very specific.
I remember like over a decade ago when iTunes was “just” a media player and later an album/track store. Really, it was there for transferring shit to your iPod, if we’re being honest.
Anyway, I remember that it was one of the media players that you could hook into Last.fm and you’d use the “scrobbler” (is it still called that?) to find new tracks and artists, with a nice interface which showed the stuff you listen to most. Didn’t (doesn’t) it also sync with your media player and display what you’re currently listening to as well?
I remember people also made custom lists to share. Not necessarily playlists, but lists of artists who fit a certain theme or genre, all that stuff.
Then I ditched music for a few years and forgot about it. I should take a look again. Might be helpful.
Radio Paradise They have Main, Rock, Mellow and Global streams. Been listening since they started and Global is currently my favourite.
I stalk strangers mostly. I search on rateyourmusic or bandcamp for albums I enjoy, then I check the people that like that album too and what else they like, and I give that a listen.
Why didn’t I think of this
I like to explore the “Selling Right Now” feed and “Discover” tool on Bandcamp, or browse through the “you may also like” on albums I already own. Since I buy almost all of my music there these days anyway it’s pretty convenient.
I’ve never bothered with the “For You” playlists on Spotify. Always seemed too restrictive.
I just make my own playlists, add a bunch of tracks (at least ~75, but more is ideal), then just start adding the recommended stuff (or using the “Enhance” feature which does that automatically, but apparently that’s not an option anymore for some people, though I can still use it for some odd reason).
Also, artists’ radio playlists can lead to fun new discoveries.
Although, if I’m being really honest, I’ve kind of reached a point where I know what I like and don’t really feel the need to expand in terms of new genres. It’s just about finding new artists, which seem to actually pop up fairly often in my playlists, so I don’t have much trouble with that.
Edit: Lol, I feel like this is actually unhelpful because you’re talking about expanding your horizons, which I assume means discovering different sounds and genres, whereas I’m just like, “give me more powerful heavy metal lady vocalists, please”.
As basic as I sound saying this, it still works: TikTok, local music enthusiastic radio and Anthony Fantano.
I also keep a playlist of albums to check out, so I don’t forget.
Mostly just fumbling around with any online service where music is available. Sometimes I’ll go to find a piece of music I already like, and see where the suggestions lead me. Othertimes I might read about an artist am into, then try to listen to work by those they list as influences, and who has listed them as influences.
Sometimes I just hear stuff out in the world and come home and try to find it - usually successfully.
Radio free fedi is the best for discovery. All kinds of stuff from all over the fediverse
Spotify’s song/artist radio feature as well as looking at recent releases/charts for genres i like or albums i think look interesting on https://rateyourmusic.com/
Radio DJ like Mixcloud and apps, things like Nightwave Plaza for vaporwave/electronica.
last.fm, word of mouth, /r/popheads, and !popheads@poptalk.scrubbles.tech
