Discovering and Listening to Music

• Bit Depth: The number of bits used to represent each sample of a sound wave. A higher bit depth provides a greater dynamic range (the difference between the quietest and loudest sounds) and lowers the noise floor, leading to a more accurate representation of the original sound.
• Discography: A detailed catalog of musical recordings, specifically those of a particular performer or composer.
• Hi-Fi Listening Bar: A specialized venue designed for audiophiles and music enthusiasts where high-fidelity sound systems are utilized to create an immersive listening experience.
• High-Fidelity Audio: Commonly referred to as Hi-Fi or HiFi, this term describes high-quality sound reproduction that aims to accurately replicate the original audio recording. This concept is particularly valued by audiophiles and home audio enthusiasts who seek minimal distortion and a full, precise range of audible frequencies.
• High-Resolution Audio: Also known as high-definition audio or HD audio, this is a digital audio format that offers superior quality. It is characterized by sample rates above 44.1 kHz (typically 96 kHz or 192 kHz) and a bit depth greater than 16-bit (usually 24-bit). However, many studies have found no statistically significant difference in preference or perceived quality between high-resolution audio and CD-quality audio for the average listener.
• Sample Rate: The frequency with which a sound wave is measured (or “sampled”) during the digital recording process. Measured in Hertz (Hz) or kilohertz (kHz), a higher sample rate captures more nuances of the original sound, resulting in potentially higher quality recordings.

• Set aside time to just listen.
• Open your music streaming service and spend some quality time exploring its evolving discovery features.

How to Discover Music

• 5 Ways to Find New Music – wikiHow Fun
• How to Find More Music You’ll Love on Spotify: 7 Methods to Try | MUO
• How to Find New Music Online | Lifehacker
• How to Find New Music: 8 Best Ways | Kill the DJ

How to Listen to Music

• Listening to Music Mindfully | Greater Good In Education
• Music and Mindfulness: Listen to Music, Mindfully – Minnesota Orchestra

Benefits of Listening to Music

• Music improves wellbeing and quality of life, research suggests | Health | The Guardian
• Why is music good for the brain? – Harvard Health

Music Lists

• Music Lists: Best Albums, Songs, Videos, Year End | Pitchfork
• The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time | Rolling Stone

Music News and Reviews

• AllMusic | Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands
• Music – Rolling Stone
• NPR Music: Tiny Desk, New Music and Music News : NPR
• Pitchfork | The Most Trusted Voice in Music. | Pitchfork

Music Databases

• Bandcamp
• Discogs – Music Database and Marketplace
• Discover New Music – Chosic
• Gnoosic – Discover new Music
• Music-Map – Find Similar Music
• Roon
• TasteDive | Music recommendations

Live Music

• Find the Best Concerts Near You, Tour Dates & Tickets Worldwide | Songkick
• Live Music, Concerts & Music Events | Sofar Sounds

Audio Equipment

• The Absolute Sound – High-performance Audio and Music Reviews

More FAQs

• High-resolution audio: everything you need to know | What Hi-Fi?

Concerts and Live Music

Music Library Management and Integration

Music Streaming

Music Discovery and Purchase

Places

• Hi-Fi Listening Bars Near You
• Record Shops Near You
• The world’s greatest record stores | Financial Times

Events

• Bandsintown | Live Music, Concert Tickets, Tour Dates & Live Streams
• Concerts Near You
• Find the Best Concerts Near You, Tour Dates & Tickets Worldwide | Songkick
• Music Events Near You | Eventbrite

Groups

• Audiophile | Reddit
• Music Recommendations | Reddit
• Music Suggestions | Reddit
• Music | Meetup

• Don’t let Spotify typecast you: Be mindful and broaden your musical horizons. Use the features and tools provided by your music platform to keep diversifying your listening. Remember, discovering music is an active exercise.
• Listen to albums and artists, not just playlists. This will help you appreciate the artistic vision and coherence of the music, as well as discover new songs and genres that you might not find on curated playlists.
• Bring music to the foreground. Pay attention to what you are listening to. Set aside time for solely listening. This will allow you to immerse yourself in the music and pay attention to the lyrics, melodies, rhythms, and emotions that it conveys. You can also try listening to music in different settings, such as outdoors, in a dark room, or with headphones.
• Research and explore. This will enrich your musical knowledge and appreciation, as well as expose you to different perspectives and cultures. You can read reviews, interviews, biographies, histories, and analyses of the music you like or want to learn more about. You can also watch documentaries, concerts, and performances online or on TV.
• Utilize your music app features such as recommendations, new releases and nearby concerts. This will help you stay updated on the latest trends and discoveries in the music world, as well as find opportunities to see live music and support your favorite artists. You can also follow playlists, radio stations, podcasts, and blogs that cater to your musical tastes and interests.
• Go to see your favorite artists live. Either by using the native nearby concerts feature of your music app or by using dedicated apps such as Bandsintown and Songkick. This will give you a memorable and exhilarating experience of seeing and hearing your favorite music live, as well as connect you with other fans and musicians. You can also discover new artists and genres by attending festivals, open mic nights, and local shows.
• Maybe invest in quality headphones. This will enhance your listening experience by providing better sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort. You can also choose headphones that suit your style, personality, and budget.
• Listen to music with others. This will make your music listening more social and enjoyable, as well as spark conversations and debates about the music you love or hate. You can listen to music with your friends, family, colleagues, or strangers online or offline. You can also join clubs, groups, or communities that share your musical passion and preferences.
• Follow music podcasts. This will keep you informed and entertained by listening to experts, critics, artists, and fans talk about music. You can find podcasts that cover specific genres, topics, eras, or regions of music, or that feature interviews, reviews, stories, and debates. You can also interact with the podcast hosts and guests by sending them questions, comments, or suggestions.
• Subscribe to music newsletters. This will deliver curated and personalized content to your inbox on a regular basis. You can find newsletters that offer news, insights, recommendations, playlists, and more on the music you love or want to discover. You can also share your feedback and opinions with the newsletter writers and readers.
• Explore the soundtracks of your favorite movies. The music might be a key reason why those films resonate with you, and discovering these soundtracks can lead to new musical favorites and deepen your appreciation for cinema.