Hey there, music nerds!
If you’re like us, nothing brings you more joy than discovering new music. Whether it’s stumbling upon an album from a local band you’ve never heard of or finding a new favorite single at the bottom of that Spotify playlist for “Punk Band You Probably Haven’t Heard Of” (don’t judge us!), we live for those little moments where we find a song that speaks to us.
And what better place to start looking than in the palm of your hand? Our phones are our constant companions, and with the right apps, they can be our perfect matchmaker. So, without further ado: here are our top picks for apps to help you find your next favorite song.
Best Apps For Finding New Music
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Hillydilly began as a music blog dedicated to unearthing new sounds and emerging artists, and now has its own app so you that you can continue your music discovery on the go. Browse newly added tracks, what’s currently trending in the app, or by genre and mood. Save your favorites, create playlists, and follow other users to see what they’re listening to. The dedicated staff also updates Hillydilly’s own playlists on the reg, so there’s always something new to stumble upon.
Indie Shuffle
indieshuffle
Image via Indie Shuffle
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Don’t let the name fool you: Indie Shuffle has much more to offer than its namesake denotes. From rock and pop, hip-hop, and R&B, to Detroit swindle and grime, this app will keep you at the top of your game when it comes to the newest releases. Their team of writers and curators are scattered around the world, tapping into the latest sounds on their local beats. Their playlists are also always on point, offering hand-picked selections to fit any frame of mind or musical mood.
Bandcamp
bandcamp
Image via Bandcamp
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
A longtime favorite of independent artists, Bandcamp is an amazing resource for finding bands just before they break. The “New and Notable” section highlights the latest releases that have caught Bandcamp’s ear, and the featured Album of the Day is a great way to discover a brand new sound. You can also follow other music fans, genres, or artists to see what tracks are currently in their rotation.
SoundCloud
soundcloud logo 2018
Image via SoundCloud
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
SoundCloud has been through many ups and downs as a business over the last couple years, but the app remains one of the best places on the internet to discover music in its most raw, underground form. The process to upload music on SoundCloud is easier than anywhere else, so the barriers to entry are low. In turn, you’ll have a better chance of finding hidden gems years before they blow up on SoundCloud than you will via any other music app.
Mixcloud
mixcloud
Image via Mixcloud
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Some of our greatest music discoveries come from DJ sets, and with Mixcloud you can get dance floor-ready mixes delivered straight to your phone. Follow your DJs and independent radio stations and stay up to date on their sets from around the world, complete with track IDs. You can also search for mixes by genre, and might just discover your new favorite DJ on the decks.
Spotify
Spotify Logo
Image via Spotify
Platforms: iOs, Android
Price: Free
The streaming pioneer is holding strong, and continuing to focus on music discovery as one of their most important features. Going above and beyond their basic streaming services and Discover Weekly playlists, they’ve also added a personalized Release Radar that keeps you up to date on new singles from bands you follow, as well as the New Music Friday playlist that offers up hot takes from artists you might be familiar with.
8Tracks
8tracks
Image via 8Tracks
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Taking its name from the old-school 8-track tapes used to make mixes in the ‘60s and ‘70s, 8Tracks is an app that boasts thousands of playlists curated to match any mood, climate, activity, or event. Feeling some type a way? There’s a mix for that. You can look for mixes created by other users, or make your own by uploading songs or adding tracks via SoundCloud. You can also add your own custom artwork, giving it that truly personal touch.
Apple Music
Apple Music
Image via Getty/studioEAST
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: $9.99/month
With so many free options, it may seem silly to pony up for a premium service, but in the case of Apple Music, trust us: it’s worth it. You’ll have access to everything in their extensive library and personalized playlists, anytime, anywhere, but what truly sets this service apart is the access to all of the Beats1 radio stations. From resident DJs Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, and Julie Adenuga, to programs hosted by your favorite artists, from Frank Ocean and Drake to Pharrell, you’re bound to hear some deep cuts and fresh sounds every time you open the app.
SoundHound
soundhound
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
There’s no situation more frustrating than being instantly captivated by a song, but unable to find the tune after the fact. Gone are the days of having to decipher the lyrics to be Googled later, just pull up the SoundHound app and you’re good to go. After listening for just a few seconds, the app while immediately tell you the name, artist, album, and more. You can also see what artists are popular in your hometown, or all over the globe with their world map feature. The app can also be linked to your Spotify or Apple Music account, automatically generating a playlist with all of your ID’d tracks.
Pandora
pandora app nurphoto
Image via Getty/NurPhoto
Platforms: iOS
Price: Free (Pandora Plus is $4.99/month and Pandora Premium is $9.99/month)
As much fun as it is to go on deep dives through apps like Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music, sometimes a hands-off radio approach is preferred. Founded in 2000, Pandora has been around for nearly two decades, but it remains one of the best services for music discovery. Pick from one of their pre-selected stations or choose your own adventure based on music you already like. Either way, you’ll discover great new music with minimal effort.
Slacker Radio
slackerradio
Image via Slacker Radio
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Think of Slacker Radio as Sirius XM for your mobile, but without the monthly fee. This free app has dozens of carefully curated stations spanning every genre, and also allows you to customize stations to better suit your musical preferences. The weekly specials offer a deeper look into your favorite artists, albums, and musical eras, and make it easy to share your favorite stations and specials with friends. If you’ve ever fancied yourself an aspiring radio host, this is the app for you
best app to find new music reddit
What’s the best way to discover new music and bands?
I’m a fan of rock music. I grew up in the 90’s/early 2000’s, so I spent a lot of time listening to bands like Green Day, Smash Mouth, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, and Blink-182 (just to name a few).
I’m finding it difficult to find other music that I can enjoy and really get into, especially with newer bands. I try to branch out by listening to new rock bands, but rarely do any of their songs catch my attention – They all sound the same to me. Therefore, I tend to go back to the same style of music and listen to bands I’m already familiar with.
Maybe I’m not doing it right. Perhaps I just have a strong attachment to the music I already like. How do you discover new music and bands?
Edit: Thank you all so much for your great suggestions!
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Clamper5978
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1 yr. ago
Don’t discount going back and exploring bands that influenced the bands you mentioned. Most artists will list their influences in interviews. I’m constantly exploring bands from all different eras. Also, look for side projects from the artists you like. You’d be surprised at how many artists do things under different names. I grew up at a time when the only way to find new bands was through trading cassette’s with people around the country. You’d find them in the back of magazines. Or, through local promoters. Those were fun times, but I really am glad the Internet connected the music trading world. I found Clutch in the mid 90’s on a cassette a buddy brought back from the Midwest. I use Spotify mostly now. Plus I’ll go down the rabbit hole on YouTube as well.
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helic0n3
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1 yr. ago
I found this, in a way you have to go back to go forward. I was massively into Green Day and Nirvana as a kid, if you work back through their influences you get the history of punk, post punk, alternative, post hardcore and more coming through and can discover new bands from there. If you just put those two bands in an algorithm to recommend more you’d just get another pop punk band and something like Staind.
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