Ask HN: How do you discover music?

Movie soundtracks. I search for the best on Google/YouTube.

"Pretty in Pink, by the way, also has the best soundtrack of any movie I’ve ever seen, with many of the songs specifically written or re-recorded for the film. It is one of the most acclaimed musical compilations in modern cinema, and in 2013 was ranked #11 in Rolling Stone’s list of greatest soundtracks."

From: https://moviewise.substack.com/p/a-love-letter-to-pretty-in-...

In hopes of regaining a more pure, attentive listening experience, I've steered clear of using the well-known streaming services. As such, despite obvious discovery limitations, erring towards contemporary music: Bandcamp Daily and Bandcamp's New and Notable sections. Also, I find music by way of a respective album's footer suggestions, e.g., recently, I was listening to Floating Points's Promises album[1] and the footer pointed me to Nala Sinephro's Space 1.8 album[2] - a rather neat find.

1. https://floatingpoints.bandcamp.com/album/promises 2. https://nalasinephro.bandcamp.com/album/space-18

I listen to DJ sets on Soundcloud, then I'll try to Shazam any tracks I like (50% chance in my type of music, underground electronic) or ask in the comments for "ID Please?". Then I usually add it to my YouTube playlist [0] (Premium, of course), which gives recommendations, and I try to buy the record on Discogs if available on vinyl, which also has a recommendation engine.

[0] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLS9h1UWf2LH5VIR-lqJoM...

A lot of time it's from what my friends are talking/linking on social media. But I also use Bandcamp now and then as well as Wikipedia (seriously). The latter might not sound like a music discovery engine but if you look up a band/artist you like there are often references to their influences, bands members were in prior, and similar bands or bands in the same genre.

NPR Music and Pitchfork for mainstream stuff, Reddit and Facebook groups for metal and The Wire magazine for weirder things.

It's honestly amazing to read a review about an album of viola and cello free jazz and to be able to listen to it on Spotify and Bandcamp in 30 seconds.