Who still discovers new music on the radio? (And if so, share your finds now!)

Miriam Mon, Jul 28, 2008 at 05:34 PM EST

I find "new" music on Internet radio. It seems all I hear is the same 40 songs on the FM dial. I have been listeining to MartiniInTheMorning.com and hearing new songs or New artists playing old songs in a new way.

Sarah Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 12:48 PM EST

I also hear interesting new artists on NPR stations, and listen to 88.5 WXPN in Philadelphia, which is a great public station out of UPenn that plays alternative rock/folk/country. And there's also great new bluegrass on WNCW (88.7 I think?) in western North Carolina. So yes, there's still new stuff to discover on the radio, and the common thread seems to be, for me anyway, that's it's through NPR or other public avenues!

Ms Trice Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 09:38 AM EST

I stumbled upon this forum this morning. Thanks to everyone for sharing this information. I'm going to check out each of these. Check out PEAZY BABY'S new single ON FIYA - www.myspace.com/peazybaby

Ed Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 01:27 AM EST

I discover new music on internet "radio" exclusively. I have forsaken terrestrial radio, for it is far too repetitive and mind-numbingly dull. A lifetime of search has led me to a station one of you here mentioned, KGRL. I too love KGRL!

Bridey Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 05:20 PM EST

The Sound in L.A. just came on a couple of months ago, and it's pretty good about playing new and less familiar stuff. I've picked up some new songs for the iPod from it.

T-Rex Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 02:16 PM EST

I have a great station in Utah called X96, they're always playing stuff by new or obscure artists. The best song they've played by a band I'd never heard of was "always something" by I hate kate.

Mike Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 12:49 PM EST

Mix 98.5 in Boston has a podcast on their website of new music. Their music director Mike Mullaney often finds songs that I have not heard before and have to run and download!

tcrab Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 11:51 AM EST

Handlebars by the Flowbots.....annoying at first, but now I love it. Heard on 104.5 in Philly.

Will S Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 10:00 AM EST

A couple of people have mentioned Radio Paradise (www.radioparadise.com) -- by FAR the best station I've ever heard. They play a lot of new music, and aren't afraid to play something that's not in English, a rarity these days.

Occasionally I'll hear something interesting on one of the college or community FM stations, but in the car I've mostly given up on music stations & just listen to NPR talk shows.

J Lo Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 09:50 AM EST

XFM online - although it does get repetitive after a while (seriously, do not need to hear The Wombats or Scouting for Girls over and over again) is great for new British indie music, e.g. they just played the new Bloc Party single Mercury.

baybaby Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 09:16 AM EST

I'm in the SF bay area and, like Mel below, I listen to Live 105. It's great for newer "alt"rock. For more coffee house mixed with classic rock, I go with KFOG. Normally, though, I avoid the radio, especially in the mornings. But a few weeks back, I forgot my ipod and was flipping through the stations and heard what I thought was Tainted Love by Soft Cell. It was Rihanna's S.O.S. I let it play through, came into work, and downloaded it.

S Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 09:01 AM EST

I do find new songs on the radio all the time, but it's XM radio.

Gretchen Weiners Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 08:52 AM EST

I listen to BBC Radio 1 all day, so I discover new music on a daily basis. The American top 40/popular stations are pitiful! Same 10 songs over, and over, and over again. Radio 1 led me to discover MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Adele, Biffy Clyro... I could go on.

MD Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 07:57 AM EST

Cities 97 in Minneapolis - they have a great Sunday night program called Freedom Rock and they also spotlight local music during Minnesota Music on Sunday as well.
I listen all day at work.

MWC Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 07:18 AM EST

Commercial radio in America = song, song, commercial, commercial, commercial, commercial, commercial, song, song, commercial, commercial, commercial, commercial.

annie Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 06:19 AM EST

Actually, I did mean 92.9 in Boston. The definitely used to be better, but still play some good new stuff. Thanks for the heads up on The River, though, I'll definitely put it in my 6.

Alex Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 03:22 AM EST

I actually discovered MGMT’s mellifluous “Time to Pretend” on the radio. It prompted me to go out and get their super-duper album Oracular Spectacular which I cannot stop listening to now.
But these instances have been very few and far between, I can tell you.

Kath Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 02:06 AM EST

Internet radio all the way. Pandora, Radio Paradise. I also love KGRL.

debb17055 Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 01:22 AM EST

I am so disappointed with the programming directors in my local area. I begged them 5 years ago to explore some of the new artists out at that time; Howie Day, Gavin Degraw, Jamie Cullum, just way to many to include in this post. They catch on to a hook song and play it TO DEATH.
I was listening one day and heard them play 2 songs that I was familiar with and liked, so I thought I would give it one more chance to voice my opinion.
I called the station to let talk to the D.J. When he answered I said "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I actually thought you played some new songs today! He roared with laughter, because he knew exactly how frustrated the listeners are. They play a song to death and then it suddenly drops off the radar like an air traffic controller, losing track of a plane. They could not give a rats ass about what we think. That needs to change!!! Any suggestions would be helpful, thanks for listening to my rant.

Raven_Moon Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 12:24 AM EST

I've discovered a lot of music from the radio. One of my favorites is the Two Gallants. I was completely swept up by their fantastic "Las Cruces Jail." More recently, I discovered the song "Lazy Butterfly" by Devendra Banhart.

Mel Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 10:45 PM EST

There are two radio stations that I listen to for new music, Live 105 in San Francisco, and BBC6. I end up discovering a lot of new music on BBC6 in particular. Recently, I heard a band called The Last Shadow Puppets. Pretty neat stuff, I must say. Check out their single, "Standing Next to Me".

Kirby Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 09:43 PM EST

Radio Paradise is the best for an eclectic mix of new and "previously heard" music. It is most amazing!
http://www.radioparadise.com/

anne Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 09:19 PM EST

I don't listen to music on the radio. It is all so overproduced and sounds the same. I listen to talk radio now.

Coach's Mistress Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 09:01 PM EST

Radio stations here in Columbus Ohio are horrible. I splurged for XM radio but even that can be hard to find a station that doesn't start to repeat their songs over and over and over and over and....

monica Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 08:36 PM EST

I don't really discover songs on the radio, but I do like them more after hearing them on the radio. For example, The Jonas Brothers' "Burning Up" and Rihanna's "Disturbia."

superhonky Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 08:27 PM EST

i wish i could say that i knew of a station that played great undiscovered stuff but here in the PHX the closest we get is The Edge and it sucks. that being said, however, this song is something i would expect to hear on the edge...cuz it ALSO sucks. (not in a good way.) the best way i find new music is go to napster, look up a band i like and look at the "other members also like..." list, find a band i've never heard of and look them up. it's never steered me wrong!

David B. Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 08:00 PM EST

I pretty much only get my music finds from community public radio. While I listen to to NPR and XM, and no commercial stations whatsoever, it is the local community stations that still deliver the musical goods. On-line? Forget about it. Of course my musical tastes run divergent from what is considered popular. Old-time, klezmer, bluegrass, early blues, etc...

Pam Beesly Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 07:51 PM EST

The Peak (107.1 FM) out of White Plains, NY has a really great collection of indie music mixed with well-known artists like REM and the Beatles. They even play lesser-known tracks from bands you might only know a couple songs from (Oasis comes to mind here). Plus, it's how I discovered Arcade Fire, Keane, Wilco, Kaiser Chiefs, Spoon and The 88. I love that it's online, too, so I can listen at work (http://www.1071thepeak.com/).

Cranky Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 07:34 PM EST

I discovered Eli "Paperboy" Reed thru NPR the other day. he's fantastic!!

jcarla Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 07:12 PM EST

Nothing like NPR to hear new music. Even the interludes are great. I remember hearing a string piece that sounded good but familiar. Took a minute to realize it was 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. And it rocked!

Crystal Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 06:57 PM EST

Indie 103.1 in Los Angeles - where would I be without it? I have discovered tons of new/old music thanks to Jonesy's Jukebox.

Martha Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 06:54 PM EST

Sorry, should read "streaming online." Dang typos...

Martha Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 06:53 PM EST

"Morning Becomes Eclectic" streaming onling from KCRW has pretty much become my new music source (with minimal help from actual radio WFNX 101.7 in Boston). Recent music purchases inspired by Mr. Harcourt include Mates of State, Bitter:Sweet, Thao, and the new MMJ.

Allison Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 06:46 PM EST

In Boston 92.9 is terrible--it used to be WBOS, which played great music, but they recently changed it to adult contemporary. You must be thinking of 92.5, The River. I suggest that everyone out there stream them online: http://www.wxrv.com/--they play TONS of new, independent music and I always discover great new songs and artists listening to that station.

annie Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 06:37 PM EST

In Boston we have 92.9, which actually has a lot of great new indie stuff (at least to me). There was a Beck song on today that was really good, I forget the name of it, though.

Jen Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 06:15 PM EST

I live in Pittsburgh and we have a public radio station WYEP and I regularly hear new bands on there. I wouldn't have known about Sea Wolf or MGMT without it! You can also stream this station over the internet.

Mary Beth Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 06:05 PM EST

Hmmm, internet radio count? Probably not because its actually good. iTunes has a great list of internet radio stations to choose from, expecially under "Alternative". I reccommend WOXY.com! I listen to it at work. I discover new artists (or at least new to me) all the time listening to them. MGMT, Santogold, M83, Peter Adams, Black Ghosts, etc etc, the list goes on. I just wish I could listen to internet radio stations in my car.

Evan Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 05:45 PM EST

I live in Omaha, Ne the radio here is all the commercial generic stuff which is mostly marketing crap (ie the jonas brothers)! I find new bands thru luck.

Melinda65 Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 05:42 PM EST

I listen to the radio occasionally, but don't generally hear a lot of new music on it. I tend to listen to country or oldies. Lately, I've been hearing the most new music when I watch The Middleman.

Snarf Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 05:17 PM EST

Radio? What's that? lol

Emoney Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 04:58 PM EST

In MN we have a public radio station called The Current that actually plays things I've never heard all day long. Sometimes they get a little over-hooked on a particular song, but in general, that's where I hear most new music.

RedAngel Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 04:58 PM EST

Only if I listen to satellite radio or CBC up here in Canada. Otherwise, I come close to avoiding radio altogether...most stations around here are nothing but Top 40 crap that you'll hear everywhere.

Elizabeth Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 04:38 PM EST

I discovered Electric Feel by MGMT on a local college radio station. It's a great song.

Ashley Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 04:37 PM EST

I love All Songs Considered on NPR. Their Spring Music Preview a few months back hooked me on Cloud Cult.

QueenC Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 04:23 PM EST

Like Samantha, I find new music on NPR programs or KCRW (one of the NPR stations in LA). The last song I loved that I heard on such a station was "Black and Gold" by Sam Sparro, and I think it was on Morning Becomes Eclectic as well.

Green Gummi Bear Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 04:14 PM EST

I haven't listened to a "music" station in years, radio has sucked SO badly, especially here in the Dallas area. The one good station just went to crap starting ten years or so ago, and I just couldn't take it anymore. But I do listen to the sports talk radio station (I know, but it's not like you'd think). Anyway, they do a lot of differnt music breaks going in and out of comercials, and have an "entertainment" guy who brings in new music every so often to listen and they all talk about, sometimes bringing in local bands, critics, etc. Plus most of them on the station have bands or can pick up an insturment, so they have side projects or craft "joke" songs, usually putting on a big concert every four to six months. So in a sense, I do get new music from time to time on the radio...but not how it's supposed to be.