How To Find New Music

Ironically, the age of the iPod has made finding new music harder than ever. The Atlantic begins a three part series on going beyond the radio to discover what’s new in music town. “My guess is that most people find new pop the same way I do: you hear about things from friends, you find a few critics you trust, and you keep your ears open. But each of these approaches puts you in a room of a certain size. Your friends might have great taste, but they can only, in the end, recommend what they like. Noel Murray, one of the sharpest critics around, can only recommend what he likes. … Radio DJs only represent a tiny fraction of the world’s music lovers. They’re the tip, but what if you want to hear from the rest of the iceberg?”