I actively seek new music (and discover older music that I previously didn’t listen to, just like you described) but also have bands that I’ve been a fan of since I was a kid that I still listen to. I exclusively listened to 60s and 70s rock when I was growing up, Zeppelin and The Beatles are still two of my favorite bands, but I have definitely expanded my palette since then. I agree that the “music these days” take is a tired one; if your only source of new music is the hits radio, of course, it will all sound the same.

I have this beef with people who say new country music sucks (or any genre for that matter) - sure there are bro-country singers that only sing about trucks and beer, but there are also insanely talented country musicians and songwriters out there right now.

I am super into consuming new and contemporary music (mainly pop and R&B). I traditionally used a subreddit to follow all of the new releases, so I’ll have to see how to stay as current all things considered.

My listening habits usually revolve around rotating the new stuff ad nauseam until all meaning and emotion is gone, then accepting more new music as it releases.

I love looking at my yearly top 100 song playlists and shuffling them for some spice.

I mostly still listen to the same stuff I used to. Most of my favorite bands are still coming out with albums, so every time something new drops I get to add that into the mix. Occasionally I’ll add in a new song, whether I hear it in a videogame (my husband loves videogame music, so I’ve added some great tracks as a result) or the radio or with a friend, but I haven’t had a new artist grab me the way my favorites did once upon a time. In that way, I might just be resistant to change.

I definitely don’t necessarily have the time to look for new stuff, so I usually stumble upon it. I don’t agree that all music today sounds the same - at least, not anymore “the same” than what was coming out ten years ago. Sure, some things within a genre might be similar, but I don’t think it’s any more “same-y” now than it used to be. If you’re finding new stuff you enjoy, past or present, I think that’s awesome.

I actively seek out new bands or releases in my favorite genres, but I still absolutely listen to the same things as I did 10, or even 20, years ago.

Not new bands but new to me. I managed to be a mild metalhead my whole life yet never listened to Iron Maiden. I started on their music a few months ago. I can’t believe I waited until I was in my forties to pick them up. Amazing guitar work and great vocals.

I still listen to everything I did 10 years ago, but I’ve added a lot of new music too since then. The rate I’ve been finding new music at has skyrocketed since I discovered bandcamp a few years ago.

Yes I definitely try and seek out new bands and sub-genres. Just the act of searching is fun.

Also, Reign in Blood on repeat for 35 years

This is actually scientifically proven. https://neurosciencenews.com/music-youth-17765/ You love the music that you “grew up with as you were forming an identity” You can always change but it is more work to create new memories and nostalgia based on different or “new” songs.

I try to always listen to new stuff. 1001albumsgenerator.com is a great project for getting out of your comfort zone and discovering some missed gems. It can be a slog at times though.

I’ve always listened to new music. I still keep up with bands I’ve always liked and occasionally listen to my old favorites, but there’s SO MUCH GREAT MUSIC coming out all the time I suffer from major FOMO. So I’m always trying to check out new stuff.

Ive struggled a lot with getting into new music. Its just too easy to be in a comfortable loop of what you know and are used to, I guess.

This year I’ve started a personal project where i listen to at least one unique album a day, normally 2 or 3. I’ve discovered so much music, both old stuff thats ‘new to me’, and recent releases. Its got me into a few genres that i never listened too, as well.

Plus, theres so many bands that I ‘liked’ but had actually really only known the hits, like AC/DC for example, and its fun to actually listen through an album for once and get to know them better!

So yeah thats for sure something I’d recommend if you have the time for it

I’d say my music listening hasn’t changed in the past ~5 years, but that’s mostly due to changes in my life. In college, I’d listen to music walking between classes and while working in the library; college friends also exposed me to new stuff (largely prog / metal). In my early twenties, I worked in a small retail store where I often chose what music played, so I’d put on a local indie radio station and learn about new music that way. Since music played all day in the store, I’d seek out new stuff to play fairly often too.

Now that I’m in an office job where I’m doing stuff that requires more focus, I basically just listen to lo-fi and soundtracks. I also only listen to music I’ve loaded to my phone, which I haven’t bothered to add new stuff to in… over a year. I think adding more diversity to my listening will improve when I get around to tackling self-hosting my whole music library, haha.

I’m a mix. I really enjoy finding new bands, even if they’re not new bands. Recently I’ve gotten EXTREMELY into Lorna Shore (Deathcore/extreme metal band). I’d never heard them, they’ve been around about a decade, but they’re new to me! Last year was the year of Bad Omens (Heavy Rock with some metal core tendencies). I’ve also been liking this synthy band The Midnight lately (like 80s electro pop complete with saxophone solos).

The way I find most of new bands is usually by either listening to bands I already like or have been into forever and using like “radio” feature on Spotify (Lorna) OR by searching out the openers for bands I like and checking out their music Bad Omens/The Midnight). It’s so fun to come across an artist you’ve never heard and dog into their catalogue and realize they’ve got multiple albums filled with bangers.

Actively searching for new music is fun to me. I ask for recommendations from close friends, family members, people I know online, and just the internet in general. Typing ‘artist that sounds like _______’ into a search engine has been surprisingly successful, almost on par with the other methods, lol.

I also just recently discovered Bandsintown, which suggests artists playing live in my area that are similar to the ones I am already following (i.e., willing to pay money to see). I listen to a few of their songs and if I like them enough, now I have a new performance to go to!

For every song I listen to from my teens/20s, I listen to at least 2-3 songs from artists I discovered much more recently. The amount of good music is never the problem - there’s just not enough time in the day!

@randomnick@beehaw.org @music@beehaw.org Why can’t it be both? Classic albums are classic for a reason, and there is a ton of new music to get into. I hope I don’t get into the rut of a fixed playlist, though most of my new music comes from online discovery, whereas it used to mates / social.

Also nothing wrong with exploring the long tail of music history.