Sunday, February 28, 2010
How Do I Discover and Acquire Music?
Over some brews a couple months ago, we were discussing how to find new music, and it started me to thinking.
I listen to a lot of stuff casually (Pandora, casual CD listening/borrowing, Grooveshark, Last.FM, Spotify), but when I really like something I end up purchasing or acquiring it for myself forever.
In 2009, there were pretty much three ways I discovered new music:
Just over 1/3 of my music purchases are bands I already know I like and want the new album
(new Neko Case, new Hold Steady, etc)
1/3 are Things I read about online or just hear somewhere and want to explore.
(Online streaming radio? A TV commercial? Actual radio?)
1/3 are things that I hear recommended from friends
either by them talking about it (facebook, blog posts) or them specifically saying "You should check this out."
The interesting thing about the third one (people mentioning or recommending music) is that I noticed it would multiply by how many times I heard it mentioned. I might read "So and So is checking out the new Blitzen Trapper album on Facebook." Then later that day I would read a review of the album (which would multiply my original idea by 2), then somebody else would mention them in a conversation (x3) then finally I would check them out.
You see a billion band names every week, but it is this rapid series of connections (especially coming from people I trust) that really sparks my interest and pushes me to seek the music out.
I look at my 2009 Purchases/Acquisitions:
STUFF BY ARTISTS I ALREADY LIKE:
Andrew Bird "Noble Beast"
(Already Like him)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique [Reissue]"
(Already Like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
The Hard Lessons - "Arms Forest"
(Already Like 'em)
[Free Download from their site]
The Hard Lessons "B and G sides"
(Already Like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Drive By Truckers "Fine Print"
(Already Like 'em)
[Steve had a copy I borrowed]
Beatles Box
(Already Like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
My Morning Jacket "It Still Moves"
(Recommended by Derek years ago, didn't get it then. Now I like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Dntel "Dumb Luck"
(Already like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Silversun Pickups "Swoon"
(Already Like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Great Lakes Myth Society "She's Come Home to Steal Her Rainbows" single
(Already Like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Jenny Lewis "Acid Tongue"
(Already like her. This album stinks in my opinion. If I had previewed it, I wouldn't have bought it)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Pearl Jam "Ten [Legacy Edition]"
(Already Like 'em. Read good things about this remaster)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Neko Case "Middle Cyclone"
(Already Like her)
[Bought it somewhere]
Johnny Hartman "Just You, Just me"
(Already like him)
[Bought at Amoeba Records]
Amy Winehouse "Frank"
(Already like her)
[Bought it somewhere]
STUFF I DISCOVERED SOMEHOW ON MY OWN:
Tinted Windows
(Already like the dudes involved. Heard the song online. Loved it. Bought the record)
[Bought it somewhere]
Henchmen "Three Times Infinity"
(Heard it on the god damned real life radio)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Jenny Lewis "Barking at the Moon" single
(Heard it on the movie "Bolt")
[Swiped from innernets]
Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson "Break Up"
(Already like Pete Yorn's music and already like Sco-Jo's everything else. Heard the song online. Loved it. Bought the record)
[Bought at B&N]
The XX "The XX"
(Heard about it online from Tim Sendra/AllMusic Blog)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Yim Yames (MMJ) "Tribute to (George Harrison)"
(already Like him.)
[Amazon had it for 99 cents]
Emitt Rhodes "The Emitt Rhodes Recordings 1969-1973"
(Heard about it online from Tim Sendra/AllMusic Blog)
[Borrowed]
Blitzen Trapper "Furr"
(Read things online, thought I would like them)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
STUFF RECOMMENDED DIRECTLY TO ME:
Bullion "Pet Sounds in the key of Dee"
(recommended by Dan Trenz)
[Swiped from innernets]
Monsters of Folk "Monsters of Folk"
(Knew I'd like it, Steve had a copy I borrowed)
[Borrowed]
M. Ward - "Hold Time"
(recommended by Derek)
[AmazonMP3]
Phoenix - "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"
(somebody I knew I'd like, it took my sister telling me I'd like it to make me buy it)
[AmazonMP3]
The Avett Brothers - "I and Love and You"
(recommended by Brian)
[AmazonMP3]
The Airborne Toxic Event "The Airborne Toxic Event"
(Recommended by my sister, saw them on Letterman, love the album)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
It is split sorta even, but with the stuff I have a strong sense I'll like (or at least want in my collection) coming out on top.
The interesting thing is that even with the massive chunk of change that was the Beatles boxed set, I still spent the majority of my money on things by bands that I already knew I liked.
This tells me that there would be a real value (to the record labels and music rights holders) in a good method of alerting me when something I already like is available for sale.
Who knows what I missed and would've plunked down money for if I had only been alerted in some way.
Comments: 4
I listen to a lot of stuff casually (Pandora, casual CD listening/borrowing, Grooveshark, Last.FM, Spotify), but when I really like something I end up purchasing or acquiring it for myself forever.
In 2009, there were pretty much three ways I discovered new music:
Just over 1/3 of my music purchases are bands I already know I like and want the new album
(new Neko Case, new Hold Steady, etc)
1/3 are Things I read about online or just hear somewhere and want to explore.
(Online streaming radio? A TV commercial? Actual radio?)
1/3 are things that I hear recommended from friends
either by them talking about it (facebook, blog posts) or them specifically saying "You should check this out."
The interesting thing about the third one (people mentioning or recommending music) is that I noticed it would multiply by how many times I heard it mentioned. I might read "So and So is checking out the new Blitzen Trapper album on Facebook." Then later that day I would read a review of the album (which would multiply my original idea by 2), then somebody else would mention them in a conversation (x3) then finally I would check them out.
You see a billion band names every week, but it is this rapid series of connections (especially coming from people I trust) that really sparks my interest and pushes me to seek the music out.
I look at my 2009 Purchases/Acquisitions:
STUFF BY ARTISTS I ALREADY LIKE:
Andrew Bird "Noble Beast"
(Already Like him)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique [Reissue]"
(Already Like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
The Hard Lessons - "Arms Forest"
(Already Like 'em)
[Free Download from their site]
The Hard Lessons "B and G sides"
(Already Like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Drive By Truckers "Fine Print"
(Already Like 'em)
[Steve had a copy I borrowed]
Beatles Box
(Already Like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
My Morning Jacket "It Still Moves"
(Recommended by Derek years ago, didn't get it then. Now I like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Dntel "Dumb Luck"
(Already like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Silversun Pickups "Swoon"
(Already Like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Great Lakes Myth Society "She's Come Home to Steal Her Rainbows" single
(Already Like 'em)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Jenny Lewis "Acid Tongue"
(Already like her. This album stinks in my opinion. If I had previewed it, I wouldn't have bought it)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Pearl Jam "Ten [Legacy Edition]"
(Already Like 'em. Read good things about this remaster)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Neko Case "Middle Cyclone"
(Already Like her)
[Bought it somewhere]
Johnny Hartman "Just You, Just me"
(Already like him)
[Bought at Amoeba Records]
Amy Winehouse "Frank"
(Already like her)
[Bought it somewhere]
STUFF I DISCOVERED SOMEHOW ON MY OWN:
Tinted Windows
(Already like the dudes involved. Heard the song online. Loved it. Bought the record)
[Bought it somewhere]
Henchmen "Three Times Infinity"
(Heard it on the god damned real life radio)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Jenny Lewis "Barking at the Moon" single
(Heard it on the movie "Bolt")
[Swiped from innernets]
Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson "Break Up"
(Already like Pete Yorn's music and already like Sco-Jo's everything else. Heard the song online. Loved it. Bought the record)
[Bought at B&N]
The XX "The XX"
(Heard about it online from Tim Sendra/AllMusic Blog)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
Yim Yames (MMJ) "Tribute to (George Harrison)"
(already Like him.)
[Amazon had it for 99 cents]
Emitt Rhodes "The Emitt Rhodes Recordings 1969-1973"
(Heard about it online from Tim Sendra/AllMusic Blog)
[Borrowed]
Blitzen Trapper "Furr"
(Read things online, thought I would like them)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
STUFF RECOMMENDED DIRECTLY TO ME:
Bullion "Pet Sounds in the key of Dee"
(recommended by Dan Trenz)
[Swiped from innernets]
Monsters of Folk "Monsters of Folk"
(Knew I'd like it, Steve had a copy I borrowed)
[Borrowed]
M. Ward - "Hold Time"
(recommended by Derek)
[AmazonMP3]
Phoenix - "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"
(somebody I knew I'd like, it took my sister telling me I'd like it to make me buy it)
[AmazonMP3]
The Avett Brothers - "I and Love and You"
(recommended by Brian)
[AmazonMP3]
The Airborne Toxic Event "The Airborne Toxic Event"
(Recommended by my sister, saw them on Letterman, love the album)
[Bought at Underground Sounds]
It is split sorta even, but with the stuff I have a strong sense I'll like (or at least want in my collection) coming out on top.
The interesting thing is that even with the massive chunk of change that was the Beatles boxed set, I still spent the majority of my money on things by bands that I already knew I liked.
This tells me that there would be a real value (to the record labels and music rights holders) in a good method of alerting me when something I already like is available for sale.
Who knows what I missed and would've plunked down money for if I had only been alerted in some way.
Comments: 4
