I know the question is rather awkward at first and I am possibly overlooking something, but I would like to know something I really don’t understand.

In the past I have used modified versions of Spotify and they are fine but obviously no modified version allows you to download songs because it is a premium function at server level and honestly I would like to have my songs on my device, so if I don’t have internet I can still listen to them.

After those modified versions of Spotify, I have used apps like ViMusic, Spotube and SimpMusic which are basically Youtube Music apps but without ads and with more features, including downloading music, the problem is that they do that at the level of the app itself, not in a separate file. And I love these apps and I can not recommend them enough but my phone is a little old and I see 0 need to change it since I use it for basics usage and although this can sound dumb the interface of these apps are full of blur and unnecessary effects that make my device slow, including Spotify, and I don’t like Spotify Lite because I feel it is a very trimmed version of Spotify.

So this is where my question comes in, for those who exclusively download music, how do you discover new songs? Spotify’s recommendation system is great and Youtube’s radio mode is very good but obviously I need to use Spotify or Youtube Music to use it and I prefer to use light apps for local playback because of what I already mentioned.

Edit: Thanks for all the recommendations! I never thought this post would get so many answers and there are too many comments to answer one by one, but I admit that the old-school method of reading blogs or magazines works well, and I also like the idea of sites like Last.fm or discogs.

  • meseek #2982@lemmy.caEnglish
    58·
    9 months ago

    This is what honestly sold me on streaming. The access to music is unprecedented and so is the discovery.

    To put it in perspective, I have added more 5-star songs to my library in the past 4 years than the previous 20. About 30% of most of my favorite songs were recommended by the system.

    I love music. Unless I go deaf, I can’t see my life without it. And I’m glad on some level that it’s not as lucrative as movies so I’m not upset shelling out the monthly fee. Likely the only service that that’s good piracy can’t even come close for me on this one.

    • PropaGandalf@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      9 months ago

      Also with tidal-dl I can download all of my songs in high res flac quality with lyrics and everything. So I make regular backup all few months.

    • SwampYankee@mander.xyzEnglish
      3·
      9 months ago

      Are you me? I’ve been going wild the last 4 years. Mind sharing a top 5 or something? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.

    • Blackmist@feddit.ukEnglish
      21·
      9 months ago

      Yeah, the music people were dying to piracy for a good while there.

      Spotify is streaming done right. It’s all there, no need to search for which service has it, or pay 99p a track for it.

      The TV and movie people should take note, because their streaming services are fucking dire in comparison. For all the stuff Disney owns, there’s a surprising amount of fuck all new on Disney+. It mostly seems to be milking old shite into TV shows nobody asked for.

  • floofloof@lemmy.caEnglish
    28·
    9 months ago

    You could look at everynoise.com to find artists close on the map to ones you like, and to discover related genres. It’s based on Spotify’s database.

  • small44@lemmy.worldEnglish
    283·
    9 months ago

    I don’t like using recommendation algorithms, I always discover music by human recommendations from blogs like bandcamp daily, warez websites and featuring artists

  • vector@lemm.eeEnglish
    20·
    9 months ago

    surprised nobody has posted soma.fm. they’re a listener-supported, commercial-free internet-only radio station. i love their “fluid” channel

    • nik0@lemm.eeEnglish
      2·
      9 months ago

      Thank you for this. Usually I go to my universities’ underground radio station but this works just as well :)

    • Gresham's Law@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      37·
      9 months ago

      Please do something about it!
      Personally, I mostly listen to Instrumental/Vocal music since it has less psychological and informational warfare associated with it.

      Chatgpt-3.5 prompt

      Q: How can music stimulate the brain?
      A:

      Music can stimulate your brain in several ways:

      1. Emotional Response: Music can evoke strong emotions and feelings. Listening to music you enjoy can release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward.

      2. Memory: Music can trigger memories and associations. Certain songs or melodies may remind you of specific moments or experiences, which can activate your memory.

      3. Improved Focus: Some people find that listening to music, particularly instrumental or ambient music, can enhance concentration and focus. This can be helpful for tasks that require sustained attention.

      4. Stress Reduction: Calming music can reduce stress and anxiety. It can lower cortisol levels, a stress hormone, and promote relaxation.

      5. Motor Skills: Playing a musical instrument involves coordination and motor skills, which can stimulate brain regions responsible for fine motor control.

      6. Brain Plasticity: Learning to play an instrument or engaging with complex music can enhance brain plasticity, which refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize itself.

      7. Enhanced Creativity: Music can inspire creative thinking. Composing, improvising, or simply listening to music can stimulate creative processes in the brain.

      8. Social Connection: Making music with others, such as in a choir or band, can enhance social bonding and cooperation, which has cognitive benefits.

      9. Language Development: Exposure to music in early childhood can support language development and literacy skills.

      10. Cognitive Training: Some studies suggest that music-based cognitive training programs may improve cognitive functions, such as memory and problem-solving.

      The effects of music on the brain can vary from person to person, but it’s clear that music can have a powerful influence on your mental and emotional state.

      • Acters@lemmy.worldEnglish
        11·
        9 months ago

        Hmm I don’t listen to music much. Like almost never as they get stuck in a loop in my head that I can’t sleep at night or get headaches. I don’t know why and I just isolate myself. I never bothered trying to get help with it as it only seems to happen when I listen to music a lot vs once or twice every so often.

  • asbestos@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    9 months ago

    Follow all of your favorite artists via an app named “MusicHarbor” or “Music Butler” (web app, so you can track new releases on any device). It literally changed my life and every Friday is like a holiday since most artists release their tracks then.

  • Couldbealeotard@lemmy.worldEnglish
    111·
    9 months ago

    Gnod

    Type in 3 things you like, and you get suggestions that you yes/no as it tries to narrow down your vibe.

  • Voltage808s@kerala.partyEnglish
    10·
    9 months ago

    I use last.fm to track the songs i am listening to and ot gives spotify like recommendations and monthly statistics on what kind of music you listen to,top artist etc.

  • SwampYankee@mander.xyzEnglish
    10·
    9 months ago

    Great topic. A lot of my discovery was through /r/listentothis, but I’m 100% off reddit now, so these recommendations are helpful.

  • comradegreetingcard@lemmy.mlEnglish
    10·
    9 months ago

    Aside from what others have said, I look at what other bands the bands I already listen to tour or collaborate with.

  • MigratingtoLemmy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    9 months ago

    Recommendations are a must for me since I listen to genres which do not do well with western audiences in terms of organic recommendations.

    If you want an automatic way to discover new music before you actually stumble upon the music itself, listenbrainz might be a decent FOSS alternative to last.fm. I would also use libre.fm on a personal server to check my own habits.

    However, I also use YouTube music a lot, especially when I want to find something new. This does need one to be active on YT music with specific cookies set (in case you’d like to transfer listening history and habits across browsers/computers without signing in) to give you good recommendations. The good part is that it can likely show you good recommendations inside a few hours of you showing it what you like by playing your favourites.

    For example, it was on YouTube music that I found Today is a beautiful day by Supercell and Et si tu n'existais pas by Hélène Ségara & Joe Dassin.

    Cheers

  • just_another_person@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    9 months ago

    Listen to the internet stations that are local to you, and have actual programmers daily. Some of the bigger ones in the US are KCRW, KEXP, WFMU, and any college radio station. Places that have guest bands come through and play a bit so you can hear how it sounds outside of a studio are the best in my opinion.

  • calm.like.a.bomb@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    8·
    9 months ago

    I follow a few blogs/sites that review the music genres that I like. I also read and comment in the tracker’s forums, where people suggest new music or discuss about new and old music. And I found that it’s much better than getting suggestions on spotify/tidal.