I’m one of those hipsters who doesn’t use streaming services.
I did, a while ago, but I quit using them because the experience is kind of awful, and I’m happier now for it. I collect physical media and watch it using Jellyfin on my Linux-based home theater PC, and I’m completely satisfied with how it works.
I’m making this video because I am really troubled by algorithmic helplessness, and I feel like corporate-centralized streaming media makes that worse. Maybe this video will encourage someone else to cut the cord and rediscover an appreciation for owning your media and being choosy about what to “watch next”. Or maybe I’m just wasting time. Who knows? I suppose, you know, you’re reading this description, right?
If you read the description, say “algorithmic helplessness sucks” in the comments. That’ll make me feel better.
How would I find new music?
NPR’s tiny desk
asking your friends and aquantances
listening to dj sets
rutracker
I ❤️ Tiny Desk.
Theses are great suggestions. Thank you.
KEXP (a radio station and also online+YouTube) has opened my eyes to so many new artists. And also bandcamp has a very interesting related artists kinda feature
Used to be we would share mixtapes… I really miss that. It was an intimate social interaction that we’ve entirely lost with modern streaming.
Yeah I share the sentiment, but I remember finding the songs for mixtapes on… the radio, where I didn’t really have a say on what’s playing. Algorithms can be a force for good sometimes.
Back in the day, disk jockies would announce 'Alright, get your cassettes out, we’re going to play the entire Led Zep - Kashmir LP, usually late at night.
Used to be that disk jockeys also got to pick what they played to an extent. Now it’s all just predetermined lists nationwide brought to you by iHeartRadio. But yeah. Crazy to think how quickly things changed.
True. Most radio stations now get their playlists from corporate, like Clear Channel. So, both the radio station and the music industry are in cahoots. A pay to play scenario. Gone are the days of submitting an LP to a radio station for play consideration.
Just a general reminder to people that college stations still exist, blow most other stations out of the water if you want a better variety of music, and the one closest to you would love your support. And lots of them would also love volunteers from the community!
Excellent point! There are several in my locale, and they will play a ton of stuff that I am unfamiliar with, a lot of indie bands too which I have always had an affinity for. If I hear something that really resonates with me, I’ll go search it. Plus a lot of students that are in the broadcasting field of study, have their own shows which opens up so many avenues of exploration. I gave up on the commercial stations long ago. I just get tired of hearing the same repeat playlist every hour and they turn favorite songs into despised songs. Stairway To Heaven is a great Led Zep tune, but not every hour on the hour.
True. I remember the days of mixtapes, and then the advent of cd collections in your car of all the bootleg ‘mix tapes’. However, I still hold that if it weren’t for Shawn Fanning, among others, pushing the envelope, the music scene online would be quite different than it is now. Technology is like that…double edged sword and all that.
Aside from similar artists, I scrobble to Listenbrainz, which gives recommendations from similar artists and similar listeners.
I like this tool too: https://www.music-map.com/
Indeed! I lean heavily on similar users to me, finding unknown gems frequently!
Bandcamp? Listenbrainz?
Not by reading pitchfork or rolling stone. Those are only for people who hate music.
Back in the aughts I would find bands because they were an opener for another band I was seeing.
I saw Charley Crockett last summer and a guy named Drayton Farley opened for him. I’m not a huge Drayton Farley fan.
I saw Joshua Ray Walker open for Marcus King and didn’t even like his show but looked him up and found his recorded work to be incredible, THEN he found out he had cancer and that was part of why the live show was weak, nothing to do with his music, and says he is recovering now, but I felt so uncharitable thinking the show sucked when he was dealing with something so awful.
But anyway - I do use streaming but like you find bands other ways, opening acts, radio, sometimes Brooklyn Vegan, that site posts about bands I’ve never heard of, I listen and find stuff I like (and a lot I don’t).
I mean, it’s not like you would have known, but good on you for giving the guy a chance.
Oh, and speaking of Charley we were lucky enough to have the Charley Crockett/Leon Bridges show come through, holy crap, I’d seen both of them live before but getting TWO great performers in one night, wow. And that intersection between county and R&B is such pleasant music.
I wanted to go to that one too, but it didn’t work out.
I’ve been meeting my music discovery needs with a combination of community radio and bandcamp - plus just talking to friends, though your mileage may vary depending on your friends’ taste.