Where Is All The Good New Music?

The Paper Crowns - photo by Mike Ingram

This question is always at the forefront of an A&R guy's mind, what few of those we have left. Also, big labels are still looking to produce talent, but they are not prone to risk taking anymore so we must use our own devices

Billboard 100

 For comparison, I looked at Billboard's website who has long been considered the pulse of the mainstream and no surprise, its not fertile ground for anything that hasn't been proven to make millions. Do people really care about Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift anymore besides toddlers and teenage girls? Im not sure but so long as they measure talent by financial rewards, they will never bring you a band as awesome as Dead Sara. They are 11th on ReverbNation.com. Next!

Reverb Nation

 This is a great place to start,but truth be told I had to look past the top ten to find the good stuff, and im surprised by those at the top; They are mostly old and tired acts and tired formats; Hip Hop that doesn't break any new ground, Metal, and Rock acts I’ve seen for the past 20 years. 

How is Pantera still on that list? Yea, they were awesome, back in the 90’s when it was fresh. Dimebag’s scorching riffs were awesome, but that was a long time ago. Then there's Motley Crue. Seriously? They were tired in the 90‘s and no matter how fresh they try to be, they just aren't that exiting, an besides, I can get this stuff on the radio.

Anyways, once I dug past the first page, I found a treasure trove of unknown acts to explore. Artists like Hypnogaja , The Bastard Fairies, and fDelux are rewarding for music lovers who enjoy a diverse range and musical complexity not found in the mainstream. Keep in mind, the fact that anyone can create a Reverb Nation page means there is a lot of really bad music to go through, so its a hit and miss proposition.

Public Radio

One of the best places to find new and unsigned bands is KCRW , a radio station out of L.A. 

( 89.9 FM ) who has introduced acts such as Beck and Norah Jones. Right now im listening to Nick Waterhouse and The Peach Kings ( the former, I had the honor of sharing the Pasadena Music Festival with, albeit not on the same stage). This station has been shining a light on new, authentic, and original music for decades while respecting the greats like Nat King Cole. 

Internet Radio 

Another great place to look is the internet radio station Spotify; This is where i get my Skrillex and ambient music fix. What makes this perhaps one of the most exiting places to discover new music is that is is a social station. Spotify has a Facebook app that allows you to see what your friends are listening to. Unlike Pandora and Last.FM, you can make entire playlists of one artist and go through their entire catalog if you wish, or play songs direct from your iTunes. Also, if your an independent artist you can get your tunes on Spotify by uploading to CD Baby which makes it an excellent venue to get your own music out into the world. 

Live Venues Are A Must

The last place i will mention is your local venue. Yes, the local music scene is vibrant and exciting and bulging with artist eager to make their mark. One of my favorite places is The Vault in Redlands, who’s open mic nights on wednesdays is above par and their weekend acts are not to be missed if you are in the area. Its the first place I saw The Paper Crowns, who are a mix of folk, world and roots music and as a duo, they command the stage with their performance and witty banter. So lots of fun to be had poking around your local scene for music you will not find anywhere else.

To be fair, there are other places to look, but these are my personal picks and by now , you should be getting that traditional music outlets such as radio and industry charts are no longer viable means to discover the best talent. The digital age has brought us many new avenues of discovering and listening to new music that has the big label quaking in their boots and rightfully so. Now get out there and support your local music scene and online stations. Happy Hunting!

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What places do you look to for new music? Leave your suggestions and comments below!