I know the question is rather awkward at first and I am possibly overlooking something, but I would like to know something I really don’t understand.
In the past I have used modified versions of Spotify and they are fine but obviously no modified version allows you to download songs because it is a premium function at server level and honestly I would like to have my songs on my device, so if I don’t have internet I can still listen to them.
After those modified versions of Spotify, I have used apps like ViMusic, Spotube and SimpMusic which are basically Youtube Music apps but without ads and with more features, including downloading music, the problem is that they do that at the level of the app itself, not in a separate file. And I love these apps and I can not recommend them enough but my phone is a little old and I see 0 need to change it since I use it for basics usage and although this can sound dumb the interface of these apps are full of blur and unnecessary effects that make my device slow, including Spotify, and I don’t like Spotify Lite because I feel it is a very trimmed version of Spotify.
So this is where my question comes in, for those who exclusively download music, how do you discover new songs? Spotify’s recommendation system is great and Youtube’s radio mode is very good but obviously I need to use Spotify or Youtube Music to use it and I prefer to use light apps for local playback because of what I already mentioned.
Edit: Thanks for all the recommendations! I never thought this post would get so many answers and there are too many comments to answer one by one, but I admit that the old-school method of reading blogs or magazines works well, and I also like the idea of sites like Last.fm or discogs.
This is pretty interesting. I’ve read that page but I’m not sure I get the value. Is the idea that I rate the music in my library and the ratings go to this website and I get some analysis or recommendations back?
I came here just to say this. I usually now just download shit on my ipod so its godtier to get away from the soon to be overpriced streaming services
This is the correct answer :)
sputnikmusic.com is also good for metal, punk and indie music
This is what honestly sold me on streaming. The access to music is unprecedented and so is the discovery.
To put it in perspective, I have added more 5-star songs to my library in the past 4 years than the previous 20. About 30% of most of my favorite songs were recommended by the system.
I love music. Unless I go deaf, I can’t see my life without it. And I’m glad on some level that it’s not as lucrative as movies so I’m not upset shelling out the monthly fee. Likely the only service that that’s good piracy can’t even come close for me on this one.
This is why Spotify is the only streaming service I have. Is there a server with >1TB of lossless audio in my basement? Sure, allegedly. Do I want to organize it and build playlists in Plexamp until my fingers bleed? Fuck no, I’d much rather pay $5/mo for a student subscription and tap a few buttons on my phone. Even though as a musician myself it’s nice to know the artists are getting a little kickback, it’s not so much that I’m paying for the music as I am paying for the software.
Are you me? I’ve been going wild the last 4 years. Mind sharing a top 5 or something? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.
Yeah, the music people were dying to piracy for a good while there.
Spotify is streaming done right. It’s all there, no need to search for which service has it, or pay 99p a track for it.
The TV and movie people should take note, because their streaming services are fucking dire in comparison. For all the stuff Disney owns, there’s a surprising amount of fuck all new on Disney+. It mostly seems to be milking old shite into TV shows nobody asked for.
Literally a Spotify shilling thread
Never mentioned what service I use 🤷♂️
I like their “neighbours” tab of people with similar listening habits. I’ll choose a few accounts and look at the tracks they listened to most frequently in the last 365 days. You can find some real gems that way
This is the way. I stopped for many years after I stopped using Winamp. But it is back on after setting up Plex to last FM scrobbing.
You could look at everynoise.com to find artists close on the map to ones you like, and to discover related genres. It’s based on Spotify’s database.
Thank you for this. Usually I go to my universities’ underground radio station but this works just as well :)
I go to concerts/look up who’s touring with the band. It ends up being more than the subscription cost, but it goes to the venue and band rather than Spotify and Joe Rogan.
I use last.fm to track the songs i am listening to and ot gives spotify like recommendations and monthly statistics on what kind of music you listen to,top artist etc.
I don’t I am stuck ekth the same albums send help
I use Rate Your Music but I use it in a very peculiar way. Most of my listening is from scrolling through Latest Reviews for something that stands out and listening to it.
The second most common way I use RYM is to go to the page of an album I think is really special and click on user made lists that album is a part of and scroll through for things that look interesting.
The third way is when I notice I’ve liked a few things from a specific scene I like to go to the page for the record label that often represents artists from that scene. Currently I’m exploring Dischord Records.
Fourth, is if a genre is obscure or specific enough I will look at the charts for that genre. This is most common with electronic music, because it’s so heavily taxonomized. Take for example Purple Sound which only has a couple hundred releases associated with it.
This definitely isn’t how I recommend everyone find new music. But I do recommend freeing yourself from an algorithm and forging your own path. I find that algorithms often funnel a person into some kind of local maximum where most music presented is palatable but the chance to discover something revolutionary to their tastes decreases immensely, and to me that’s just a bummer.
Not scrolling through all the comments to see if someone mentioned this yet or not but every December I check what is on the best albums of the year lists… Generally I check per-genre that I’m into. Like best black metal of 2023, best jazz of 2023, etc etc…
Other than that, bandcamp and YouTube are the biggest. I honestly buy more on bandcamp these days than I torrent though. It’s such a great site.
i don’t. i’m stuck with the music i listened to 20 years ago. 😐
Please do something about it!
Personally, I mostly listen to Instrumental/Vocal music since it has less psychological and informational warfare associated with it.
Chatgpt-3.5 prompt
Q: How can music stimulate the brain?
A:Music can stimulate your brain in several ways:
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Emotional Response: Music can evoke strong emotions and feelings. Listening to music you enjoy can release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.
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Memory: Music can trigger memories and associations. Certain songs or melodies may remind you of specific moments or experiences, which can activate your memory.
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Improved Focus: Some people find that listening to music, particularly instrumental or ambient music, can enhance concentration and focus. This can be helpful for tasks that require sustained attention.
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Stress Reduction: Calming music can reduce stress and anxiety. It can lower cortisol levels, a stress hormone, and promote relaxation.
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Motor Skills: Playing a musical instrument involves coordination and motor skills, which can stimulate brain regions responsible for fine motor control.
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Brain Plasticity: Learning to play an instrument or engaging with complex music can enhance brain plasticity, which refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize itself.
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Enhanced Creativity: Music can inspire creative thinking. Composing, improvising, or simply listening to music can stimulate creative processes in the brain.
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Social Connection: Making music with others, such as in a choir or band, can enhance social bonding and cooperation, which has cognitive benefits.
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Language Development: Exposure to music in early childhood can support language development and literacy skills.
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Cognitive Training: Some studies suggest that music-based cognitive training programs may improve cognitive functions, such as memory and problem-solving.
The effects of music on the brain can vary from person to person, but it’s clear that music can have a powerful influence on your mental and emotional state.
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