10 Sites to discover & listen to music you will love.

A Brief Introduction:

Welcome and thanks for checking this out!

Regardless of what sort of music you are into and your experience in finding it, if you are actually "into" music then finding new music that you can appreciate is always a rewarding experience worth pursuing. More of what you like is good thing here. So I put together a list of websites that mainstream listeners, unfound music enthusiasts, hi-fi to no-fi, fans of any genre can use to expand their musical horizons and discover, share and listen to music with out spending a dime. All these sites are friendly to any browser and operating system for your convenience! Now on to the list, in no particular order of relevance:

1. Tastekid^^

Tastekid since I have found it has always been my first recommendation to people for finding more of anything they like. They have built a very effective and accurate discovery search engine that not only makes great music recommendations based on taste, but also for film, books, games, and more. You can search by genre too (to find more genres), which is a huge plus. This method works great for finding indie/low key recommendations or more mainstream ones too. Though don't expect to find unfound, and completely off the radar material here. You can make an account to get improved recommendations, and to socialize with other users. This method is quick and easy, but lacks depth and proper streaming, this is a search engine not a streaming tool. They offer apps for both Android/iOS, so you can quickly find recommendations on the go for you, friends, cute strangers, and family on the go!

http://www.tastekid.com

2. Last.fm

Last.Fm is a music enthusiasts best friend. Last.Fm has made its mark by being the best music scrobbling (tracking of music you listen to) service for ages, and that is because of its accessibility, functionality, community, and awesomeness. There is a plug in for just about anywhere you listen to music, from your phone, browser, and to your desktop music players. Last.fm is the best way to keep up with the music you love by a landslide no matter the sort of music you are into and how off or on the radar your taste is. Last.fm will recommend music based on your taste, informs you about music events near you relevant to your music taste, makes finding others users with similar taste easy if you want to be social (and does it well). Tons of free music to listen to on site, or download. Get charts of your music habits, and keep in mind this site can connect to some other sites to improve your music experiences in other places. Find music based on smart recommendations from its generated ones, other users, genre, tag searching, charts, new releases and more. Also if you are willing to shell out a few bucks every month, they have an amazing radio/streaming service that are generated based on what you listen to, or let you make your own stations based on genres, artists, etc, and this service extends to your mobile device too. Not a streaming site though naturally, and if you are looking for that, there is plenty more in this list that will cater to that, so moving on.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/foxyscrobbler/
For my fellow Firefoxians, here is a plugin that scrobbles from YouTube, PANDORA! (this is rare), bandcamp/soundcloud and most any relevant browser based music listening service, updated regularly, and functional!

http://www.last.fm/

3. Every Noise At Once

This site is the best tool ever for general exploration of the absurd awesome amount of music genres that exist today. We live in an era where the cutting, splicing, and subdividing of music genres is growing exponentially, and fast. Here you can explore the cloud of all of it, and sample notable defining examples of each genre. This cloud is generated from a brilliant algorithm, here is a description from the sites creator Glenn McDonald:

"This is an algorithmically-generated non-analytical map of the musical genre-space. Genres and artists are positioned by code and data, adjusted for legibility, but the underlying vectors are less interesting than the juxtapositions and clusters that they produce, so the axes have been deliberately left unlabeled and uncalibrated. You are invited to imagine your own qualities and magnitudes that the geometry might be expressing."

If that was confusing, lets just say this site is a way to visually explore every music genre and sub genre ever in the most true to form way out there. This is a great tool, because most sites will make recommendations on what you already like, this lets you try out other sounds quickly and easily in an exploration format. You can also search by artist and see other very accurately picked similar artists and sample their music too! With roots in the Spotify network of music, it doesn't touch off the radar music if you are looking for that. An aesthetically pleasing site being grounded in minimalism. This site is very fun to explore.

http://everynoise.com/engenremap.html

4. 8tracks

8tracks host user created playlists created from uploads, YouTube, Soundcloud tracks, and more. The site takes on a more traditional modern design that is very easy to navigate and work with. Save your favorite playlists to your profile or make your own playlists to share. Playlists can be tagged for moods, activity, and genre for easy exploring. So feel free to search for tracks based on "surfing", for when you are surfing the tubes, party for ya know the partying you probably do not do, and what ever else you might want. This is an entirely html based site (like most/all of the sites in this list) for the love of all that is good, so easy right click interactions are here. As you browse the site, the music player stays consistent without interruption, so changing pages while browsing won't ruin your immersion and wont require opening new tabs. Has a NSFW/SFW option if you want to stream at work safely, with out offending your co workers delicate senses. They have apps for ALL of the modern phone OS s (yes that means the Windows Phone OS too...lol). The only thing I am not keen on here, is that you can't go back and listen to tracks that you have listened to in a playlist, the playlists play one track at a time, and you can pause, and skip, but can not skip back or jump around the track (so you can hear that sick beat drop/ breakdown/ bridge again ), so keep that in mind. Playlists are a great way to find similar music to what you dig already. With the work already done for you, this in a easy hands off format for when you work, play, drive, eat, and surf imgur. Just remember to <3 and comment "Thanks and love" to the people who put these playlists together for you, don't be selfish!

https://8tracks.com/

5. This Is My Jam

A site based on a concept that most of us love and can relate to, sharing your favorite songs. Users share their current "jam" (there is customization too for the sharing portion for you creative types), and other users browse, like, socialize, etc over these shared songs. You share one track at a time, then when you tire of it, you change it out.These tracks can be shared from a variety of sources like Vimeo, YouTube, mp3, and Hype Machine. This site leans more towards the community aspect, of following users and what not. Not about that? Don't worry it does not hedge on you being "social" either, sort of like Twitter. Song recommendations and automated playlist building is based on what you have liked and shared on the site, who you follow, and on your likes/favorites from facebook and last.fm if you allow it. You can browse the site without interruption as well here with a music player that seamlessly follows you around the site. Built on user based sharing, this site has all sorts of music from any part of the radar, on or off. The site is aesthicially pleasing and creative in its design and user experience. Requires a sign up but it is free (like every method here) and easy to use, get into, and have fun with.

https://www.thisismyjam.com/

6. Official.fm

Just want to jump into new music and stream with out any searching, filling out anything, or making any sort of effort other then going to the site and clicking about? Then this is a good pit stop for you. The site runs in a curated showcased format chosen by the folks running the site. Click what you think will appeal to you and you get a high resolution brilliant picture with no clutter, ads or anything bothersome and its associated track to accompany it . When the track is done it provides relevant buttons to share the track to social media, save to your profile(if you have an account), or buy/download for free the song if available (usually is). After that it moves on to something else for ya, or you can visit the front page and select another one. Every play of a track directly supports the artist via paying them per play. They make money from selling the pretty imagery seen throughout the site. So by being here and listening you are directly supporting the music you check out. They have a good variety of music that is from up and coming artists and also more established ones, but don't expect anything off the radar here. This site will definitely appeal to those with a modern taste in music and the younger crowd. Every aspect of the design of this site is gorgeous and a breeze to navigate, worth checking out even just for that.

http://www.official.fm/

7. Hype Machine

Old news to most who are into music blogging for sure, but to those are not this the definitive tool to exploring the world of music blogs from an overhead view. Hype machine is a music aggregate (automatic collector/tracker) of music posted from all over the wonderful network of music blogs and reviews sites connected to it. It picks up tracks in a variety of formats from soundcloud to good ol' fashioned mp3s (contradiction?), so it is pretty thorough. They frequently premiere and host music from a variety of up and coming indie artists. They feature one of the most notable yearly zeitgeist (best of the time) lists on the internet, which is a quick way to see the most hyped music from the indie music collective. Browse in a variety of ways, via searching, trending music, staff picked weekly playlist, genre, and more. All music links back to their respective artists and blogs, so you can follow them on their host sites, or follow them via a (free) account with hype machine. From the top of the site, you can start streaming music immediately from their front page. Streaming on here is silly easy, and is consistent while browsing. You can search an artist, and instantly start a playlist just from the search results and stream ad free. Everything is intuitive, and the site is arranged in a more formal set up that is efficient to browse and move through. Being that all the music is compiled from all over its deep network, there is something here for everybody and the scope of sound to be found here is vast. If you are serious about music discovery this site will quickly become a favorite, and if you really want to take up music discovery as a hobby getting into and following blog culture is very effective and fun way about it, there is countless great writers and blogs out there.This is a must visit site if you want to get into more independent/unfound music, remix culture, the blogosphere, and the newest and most hyped music on the tubes.

http://hypem.com/

8. whyd

A social playlist site that lets you easily gather your favorite music from all over YouTube, Vimeo, and Soundcloud into one place. Requires a signup (email and/or Facebook), but its quick and easy, with no confirmation required. Their site recommends other users to follow, or just puts together a stream/playlist of music based on your taste. You can send music directly to your profile from anywhere via a bookmark button on your bookmarks bar, or by adding 2 words to a respective url. The interface is straightforward and well put together, within a few steps you can have a hands off streaming experience. The site has plenty of room for social interaction if you want it and sharing to other social media sites is a breeze. You can also easily browse the about their site and listen to your playlist/stream without any interruptions. All music is user based so in regards to what you can find, it is definitely all over the radar, on and off, and of all varieties, mainstream too for those of you who still dig the radio world. They have an iOS app, but no android app. Great site with a very intuitive design that is easy to use.

http://whyd.com/

9. Soundcloud/ Bandcamp

Both sites act as hosts that cater to musicians,artists, and producers. These two site are the most raw and effective ways to find new and unfound music. All the music you'll find here is user uploaded, and you can find anything from garage/bedroom artists, small time acts, major independent artists, and every sort of sound you can imagine.

Soundcloud has a lot more to offer in regards to a community and on site social interactions, like seriously it has an amazing, friendly, and HUGE community. On soundcloud, you can comment on tracks directly and at any point on their time frame, so you can share your thoughts on that dope bass line, amazing chorus, or brilliant use of that laser sound clip no problem and with greater effect. Another great feature of soundcloud is that you can join/follow groups where music is shared and moderators who run those groups, and their is a group for just about anything you can think of, from region/school based ones to sound and genre specific ones.

Bandcamp is more built on a more minimal interface that is build to help artists sell their music via direct sales from artist to listener, but don't let that run you off, all music on here can be streamed for free, and many, if not most, artists have their music available for free, or pay what you want. With either you get a hands on experience with creators of music, which is a beautiful concept for both listeners and artists alike.

Both feature great easy and intuitive ways to browse, search, and discover music. On either site there is great ways share music to other social media sites and ways to purchase and.or download music on site, without leaving. Steaming on both sites is free, and registering (also for free) unlocks a countless other ways to interact with the sites (particularly with soundcloud). With these two sites, you can easily get lost in near endless music you have never heard, and I can not ever properly justify how much of the content is amazing and worth checking out.

https://soundcloud.com/
https://bandcamp.com/

10. Pandora

Pandora more so out of anything else here will be a service most anyone will be familiar with. Regardless it has been included just in case you have somehow missed out on this amazing peice of music phenomena. Pandora acts as a streaming radio service, which builds stations based of whatever you like. You create a station from a seed which can be an artist, band, particular song, or genre, you can even add more of these after you intially create it to customize the station more. From there Pandora will grow you a station from that seed based on the qualities of what you chose, literally, like the musical structure of what you gave it, not based on "well x listeners who listened to this also, also listened to y artists" , it takes the traits and qualites of music from their analyzed database of music and adds tracks to your station based on their simularity. After that the station grows more to your liking via giving tracks a thumbs up or down. When you dislike a track, it wont ever play it on that station again, if you thumbs down enough from the same artist, you wont hear them anymore, though after giving not too many thumbs up, it won't take long for pandora to figure out what you like. Pandora is incredibly good at this. There isn't enough to be said about how nice it is to have a station built on the qualites that define your music taste. The trade offs here are that like a radio station you don't choose music on a per track basis, it is fed to you. You can skip tracks (though only a few per hour on a free account), but cant skip back. You can listen to an unlimited amount of music too, even with a free account, with the occasional ads of course (which are removed if you get the awesome yearly subscription). Pandora has great connectivity to social sites, and features some social aspects in site but not much. Tracks always have links back to where you can buy them, usually on Amazon, iTunes, and sometimes Bandcamp. There is also great connectivity to other tech too, like phone apps, Chromecast, and direct Bluetooth connectivity for many modern car radios. Pandora is a great approach if you want to listen with out having to interact with it much. You won't find much in regards to completely off the radar here, but you will find music from all over the radar here, mainstream to much smaller acts. Pandora does actually take submissions from independent artists to share their music on here, and its database is constantly growing. There is a great variety for anyone here, even fans of more vague genres. Pandora takes the streaming radio service to a whole other level and does it brilliantly.

http://www.pandora.com/

If you made it this far:

A bit about me and why I put this together:

I am in love with music and a long time enthusiast. One thing I love as much as music is sharing it, so I thought it would be great to put this list together and share 10 easy ways to find new music for you to appreciate and love. As an artist, formal music blogger, novice audiophile, and a passionate individual, I understand very well that there is a whole sea of great sounds out there waiting to be discovered, shared and appreciated, so here I hope to provide you with some tools to fish out something you will love. I wish you the best of luck in getting that catch!

Thanks for reading!

Source of img from intro:
http://imgur.com/gallery/Y8hwiSQ