Discover New Music With 8 Free Tools

These days, people listen less and less to the traditional AM/FM radio than they used to. With the internet widespread and vehicles embracing the latest technology, we can usually just plug our phones in or tune into streaming stations and we have all-new versions of radio. These days, most people like to use apps on their devices to listen to the music they already know and love.

However, this can sometimes make finding new music a chore. Actively searching for new music to listen to and enjoy can be problematic, but there are ways to find new things without turning on the old radio. Here are some free tools to help you find what you want to hear.

1. Shazam

Available on the App Store and Google Play, Shazam is one of the biggest apps out there, and not just in the music category. The unique charm comes from Shazam’s tools to identify music by listening in and giving you more information. The app also provides song lyrics, videos and related tracks. In addition, Shazam has a streaming service available.

2. Spotify

Spotify, available on the App Store and Google Play, is the No. 1 music app on the internet. While you can search for and listen to whatever song you like on tablets and computers, the joy of Spotify comes from its copious amounts of playlists.

No matter what mood you’re in, decade you like or gaming genre you love, there’s a playlist for it. You’re guaranteed to discover new music with this app.

3. SoundCloud

Available on the App Store and Google Play, SoundCloud is an oldie but a goodie. One of the best features of SoundCloud is the Upload feature, which isn’t what it sounds like. This feature brings you new music recently uploaded to the app.

You don’t have to let some algorithm tell you what it thinks you like. All you have to do is discover new music and let yourself decide.

4. Pandora

Pandora, available on the App Store and Google Play, has a lot of similarities to Spotify. The main difference is that you start one playlist, whether it be based on a genre or artist, and slowly expand on that.

Your music choices are decided based on your up and down votes of what music it sends your way. Pandora is certainly a great way to discover music and genres you didn’t know you liked and never knew existed.

5. iHeartRadio

Available on the App Store and Google Play, iHeartRadio shares a lot with Pandora. You still create your personalized playlist based on up and down votes, but there are hints of Spotify in there, since it has tons of playlists.

You can also listen to your favorite radio stations through the app whenever you want. iHeartRadio mixes all the great things we love about most of these apps.

6. Last.fm

Last.fm, only available on Google Play, is different from all the other apps on this list. Instead of having its own database of music, Last.fm combines all the other services you have to create the best playlists possible. So if you listen to different stuff on Pandora and Spotify, Last.fm can combine your interests into one awesome playlist with new music to find.

7. Apple Music

On the App Store and Google Play, this app isn’t to be confused with iTunes. However, unlike most of the other options on this list, Apple Music only has a three-month free-trial before you have to pay to listen, with the average rate being $10 a month. Regardless, you can find a whole host of new music and tons of old classics, ensuring it’ll work with your iTunes enabled devices.

8. YouTube

Also available on the App Store and Google Play, YouTube may not be your first guess for new music. It’s perhaps an unconventional method, but finding new music on YouTube is really easy.

People make playlists of their favorite songs all the time. There are also a lot of options out there to download music from YouTube and listen to new songs on the go. Youtube also has a strictly music app available on the App Store and Google Play.

New Ways to Hear Music

While going through online apps can be a lot of fun, the issue can be a little draining if you don’t have a lot of space to download something. Turning on the radio is probably the oldest trick in the book, but we’re in a new technological age.

You could always just ask Alexa to play music in any genre of your choice. If you have a smart home hub or voice recognition software of some kind, they’ll usually play music for you when asked if set up correctly.

The point is, you don’t have to go far to find new music. The first step is making the decision to search.