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With so much music constantly at our fingertips, it can seem impossible to stay on top of it all. But it’s music—it’s what we love—and there’s no way we’re going to get left behind. We all have our own favorite streaming apps, but any true music lover is always looking to get onto some new shit. Where do you turn for that?
In the old days, a YouTube black hole could help you find everything you could possibly need. But that required a lot of effort, and who has the time these days? When you listen to music, most of the time it's probably on your mobile device, so what better way to discover new music than with apps?
The marriage of music and technology has made it easier than ever before to find and keep track of the most exciting sounds of yesterday and today. To help you get rolling, we’ve rounded up the best apps for discovering new music. Some are available on iOS, some on Android, some on both. This way, you won’t miss a beat.
Hillydilly
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Hillydilly began as a music blog dedicated to unearthing new sounds and emerging artists, and now has its own app so you that you can continue your music discovery on the go. Browse newly added tracks, what’s currently trending in the app, or by genre and mood. Save your favorites, create playlists, and follow other users to see what they’re listening to. The dedicated staff also updates Hillydilly’s own playlists on the reg, so there’s always something new to stumble upon.
Indie Shuffle
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Don’t let the name fool you: Indie Shuffle has much more to offer than its namesake denotes. From rock and pop, hip-hop, and R&B, to Detroit swindle and grime, this app will keep you at the top of your game when it comes to the newest releases. Their team of writers and curators are scattered around the world, tapping into the latest sounds on their local beats. Their playlists are also always on point, offering hand-picked selections to fit any frame of mind or musical mood.
Bandcamp
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
A longtime favorite of independent artists, Bandcamp is an amazing resource for finding bands just before they break. The “New and Notable” section highlights the latest releases that have caught Bandcamp’s ear, and the featured Album of the Day is a great way to discover a brand new sound. You can also follow other music fans, genres, or artists to see what tracks are currently in their rotation.
SoundCloud
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
SoundCloud has been through many ups and downs as a business over the last couple years, but the app remains one of the best places on the internet to discover music in its most raw, underground form. The process to upload music on SoundCloud is easier than anywhere else, so the barriers to entry are low. In turn, you'll have a better chance of finding hidden gems years before they blow up on SoundCloud than you will via any other music app.
Mixcloud
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Some of our greatest music discoveries come from DJ sets, and with Mixcloud you can get dance floor-ready mixes delivered straight to your phone. Follow your DJs and independent radio stations and stay up to date on their sets from around the world, complete with track IDs. You can also search for mixes by genre, and might just discover your new favorite DJ on the decks.
Spotify
Platforms: iOs, Android
Price: Free
The streaming pioneer is holding strong, and continuing to focus on music discovery as one of their most important features. Going above and beyond their basic streaming services and Discover Weekly playlists, they’ve also added a personalized Release Radar that keeps you up to date on new singles from bands you follow, as well as the New Music Friday playlist that offers up hot takes from artists you might be familiar with.
8Tracks
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Taking its name from the old-school 8-track tapes used to make mixes in the ‘60s and ‘70s, 8Tracks is an app that boasts thousands of playlists curated to match any mood, climate, activity, or event. Feeling some type a way? There’s a mix for that. You can look for mixes created by other users, or make your own by uploading songs or adding tracks via SoundCloud. You can also add your own custom artwork, giving it that truly personal touch.
Apple Music
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: $9.99/month
With so many free options, it may seem silly to pony up for a premium service, but in the case of Apple Music, trust us: it’s worth it. You’ll have access to everything in their extensive library and personalized playlists, anytime, anywhere, but what truly sets this service apart is the access to all of the Beats1 radio stations. From resident DJs Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, and Julie Adenuga, to programs hosted by your favorite artists, from Frank Ocean and Drake to Pharrell, you’re bound to hear some deep cuts and fresh sounds every time you open the app.
SoundHound
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
There’s no situation more frustrating than being instantly captivated by a song, but unable to find the tune after the fact. Gone are the days of having to decipher the lyrics to be Googled later, just pull up the SoundHound app and you’re good to go. After listening for just a few seconds, the app while immediately tell you the name, artist, album, and more. You can also see what artists are popular in your hometown, or all over the globe with their world map feature. The app can also be linked to your Spotify or Apple Music account, automatically generating a playlist with all of your ID’d tracks.
Pandora
Platforms: iOS
Price: Free (Pandora Plus is $4.99/month and Pandora Premium is $9.99/month)
As much fun as it is to go on deep dives through apps like Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music, sometimes a hands-off radio approach is preferred. Founded in 2000, Pandora has been around for nearly two decades, but it remains one of the best services for music discovery. Pick from one of their pre-selected stations or choose your own adventure based on music you already like. Either way, you'll discover great new music with minimal effort.
Slacker Radio
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Think of Slacker Radio as Sirius XM for your mobile, but without the monthly fee. This free app has dozens of carefully curated stations spanning every genre, and also allows you to customize stations to better suit your musical preferences. The weekly specials offer a deeper look into your favorite artists, albums, and musical eras, and make it easy to share your favorite stations and specials with friends. If you’ve ever fancied yourself an aspiring radio host, this is the app for you.
Shazam
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
For years, Shazam has been dependably answering the question, “Wait, what's that song?” Using mysterious technology that we'll never understand, the app listens to music playing in the background of noisy bars, restaurants, and wherever else you happen to be, and near-flawlessly identifies the song (with links to purchase or stream on other services). With Shazam in your pocket, you'll never again have to aimlessly Google lyrics with the hopes of identifying a song.
YouTube Music
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
More people listen to music on YouTube than on Spotify, Apple Music, and every other music streaming service combined. Taking advantage of their massive musical library and access to music videos, YouTube's premium music app is their way of letting users “easily explore the world of music ad-free, offline, and with the screen locked.” With a focus on discovery and identifying what's trending, the YouTube music app makes finding new artists easy.
TIDAL
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: $9.99 or $19.99 (premium)
If you want to discover new music in the highest quality possible, TIDAL is here for you. Splurge for the $19.99 premium option, and you'll be able to listen to CD quality music with the high fidelity Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC). And if you click the “Explore” tab, the app will display a “TIDAL Rising” section, which introduces users to emerging artists with accompanying videos and hand-picked playlists.
