How to find music you will love without the algorithm

"While there is plenty of criticism to be hurled at what music the algorithm serves to us, and how, the real problem with music discovery in the age of algorithmic recommendations is that listening has become a passive activity. It's too easy to press play and let a pile of code take the wheel. Whether that's creating a "station" based on a particular song or artist, firing up Discover Weekly, or just letting Apple Music autoplay into infinity after a particular album or song ends."

"With less involvement from the listener, less intentionality, it's easy for music to simply become background noise. Research suggests that younger generations are discovering new artists at a lower rate than previous ones, and there's a direct correlation between lower levels of music discovery and reliance on the algorithm. So, how do you find new music with intention? The simplest and most traditional is through music media."

"There are countless sources of excellent music journalism and criticism, it's just a matter of finding one that speaks to you. Pitchfork may not be the hip young upstart anymore, but it's still a relatively reliable source for discovering new music. It threads the line between mainstream and independent music pretty well, covering everything from pop stars like Taylor Swift, to experimental electronic artists like Feeo."

Algorithmic recommendations and autoplay features have shifted music listening toward a passive experience where listeners rely on code to select tracks. Reduced listener intentionality can cause music to fade into background noise and correlates with lower rates of discovering new artists among younger generations. Intentional discovery requires active effort and deliberate sources. Music journalism and criticism provide curated paths to new artists and genres. Established outlets like Pitchfork, independent projects from former staffers, Stereogum, and Bandcamp Daily offer reviews, features, and curated lists that encourage active exploration beyond algorithm-driven feeds.

Read at The Verge