Want to find new tunes that don't reek of the past and remind you of your ex? Or that school trip with a bunch of people you don't talk to anymore?
Or that questionable pizza parlor you used to frequent with your college friends?
Well, fear not, because today I'll be sharing with you my top tips to discover new music so that your Spotify Wrapped won't be refried beans in 2026 (results may vary depending on your patience level).
Great ways to find new music in 2026
Listen to the radio
Listen, I know. Unless you're already a regular radio user, chances are you might not even have a radio. Guess what, there's an app for that too! TuneIn is my personal favorite because you can use it for podcasts, too, but some Android phones come with a built-in radio app. Or you could make it into a personal quest to ask around and see who has a radio, or peruse a couple of second-hand stores.
If you have a car and you prefer listening to your own playlist, give the radio a chance and see if you can survive a Bluetooth-free drive.
Now, I know what you might be asking. Why on God's green earth would you even listen to the radio? Well, I don't know about you, but I've grown pretty tired of bowing down to algorithms in some capacity for every single one of my leisure activities (and even for the necessary tasks like job searching or grocery shopping).
Shuffling songs doesn't really do the trick if you're going through the same, limited pool of songs. Even in an unlimited pool of songs, algorithms have a way of boxing you in and blinding you to the vastly different options available in the world of music.
I've found that listening to the radio is an effective (or at the very least novel) way to regain some of my agency. Sure, it's not like every song on the radio will be different from the usual streaming hits, but some programs are dedicated to specific genres, which can help broaden your spectrum or at least point you in a new direction.
I like trying local stations, and I usually end up pleasantly surprised. Bonus points if you listen to the radio when you're traveling. Which brings me to my second tip.
Keep an ear out while traveling
It's not every day that you get to experience a new city, so you might as well experience the music too. Ask a cabby what their favorite artist is. Listen to what they play at restaurants and bars.
A quick Google search will tell you if any gigs are happening while you're there. Who knows, you might even catch a local artist that you never would've found otherwise, or you might fall in love with the local folk music. The best way to find new things is just to pay attention.
Movie soundtracks
Music may not be the first thing you're looking at when watching a movie, but there's no denying that it matters.
I'm sure you can recall at least one movie scene with a soundtrack choice so iconic that you can no longer listen to the song on its own without picturing it. The fun thing about soundtracks is that they can be as diverse as the films themselves.
Sometimes, even original movie scores can earn a place in your heart (I never got over the Gone With the Wind score. There's even some movie scores I even enjoy more than I did the movies that inspired them. Such is the case with Avengers: Endgame or Kill Bill vol. 1).
So next time you find yourself really moved, or amused, or depressed, or elated by a film, ask yourself whether the director's musical choices played a part in causing that reaction. Chances are, they did.
Whether it's a credit roll song or an unforgettable scene, the movie theater is a treasure trove of music you wouldn't discover any other way.
Record stores
I know, I know. Vinyls are for the melancholy-hearted. But I'm not saying you need a collection. Just browsing through vinyls and CDs, especially vintage ones, will inevitably lead you to discover musicians (even genres) that no algorithm is likely to recommend.
Besides, record store workers tend to be music connoisseurs, so just asking them about the music you already like might help them point you in a new direction. It'll probably get you a better result than you could ever get from your Discover Weekly.
Concerts
As obvious as it may sound, I have a challenge I doubt you've tried.
You know that friend who invited you to the Feral Robots concert because they didn't have anyone to go with, but you said no because you didn't really listen to Feral Robots? Well, what if you had said yes?
I'm not saying you should buy tickets to every concert ever. It's not exactly affordable, and if you know your music taste enough to know there are certain genres you simply won't enjoy, there's no reason to waste your money.
However, if you can afford to do it and the chance comes up, it's a great way to fall in love with a new artist and make new memories with your friends.
Most big cities host music festivals that are open to the public. There are also tons of indie artists playing at very reasonable prices, or even for free. You may not know them now, but this is your chance to catch the next big star before they blow up (I once saw Lucy Dacus at a music festival years before she blew up on TikTok, before TikTok was even a thing).
And if they don't blow up, you're still funding human creativity, which certainly can't hurt the state of society.
Not to mention, openers may not be the reason you bought the ticket, but if your favorite artist gave them their seal of approval, why not give them a chance yourself?
Pulling the thread
Some artists are doomed to remain one-hit wonders, and you just have to resign yourself to bobbing your head to the sound of their one masterpiece during rush hour and then move on with your life.
I know thoroughly exploring someone's entire discography is a big commitment, and it's not always worth the effort. That said, the person you thought was a one-hit wonder could also be your next favorite artist. That's exactly what happened to me with Djo. After all, if you really enjoy one song, who's to say you couldn't like the rest?
Here's my go-to methodology to become a musical investigator.
Start by skimming through the rest of the album (if it's not a single, and if it is, check out their other singles). Play the first few seconds of each song, in order (yes, this is important. There tends to be intention behind the way tracks are organized in an album. At least there is when the artist cares).
If those first instants are enough to spark your interest, stay and listen to the entire thing. Otherwise, you're free to skip to the next song. If it feels like homework, it's probably not worth the effort. If you're having fun doing it, it earns a spot on your playlist.
Your very own oldies
Some songs will simply never get old because they're just that good. And some of those songs you've probably already found, and then forgotten.
Scouring through old mixtapes, playlists, files, or wherever you choose to listen to your music will probably show you that some of your old favorites have passed the test of time.
Perhaps you might still love some of the songs you loved as a kid. And perhaps you'll find new meaning in them and love them even more than you did before. Some treasures are hiding in plain sight, and that's okay, too. After all, you're the one who knows your music taste the most.
Good, old-fashioned recommendations
Most of my favorite music is my favorite because I found it through someone I know. A friend over coffee, the colleague you carpool with, your gym buddies: you never know where your next favorite song may be hiding.
If you want to find new music, the first thing you need to do is get uncomfortable. Otherwise, you'd just have to stick with what you already know.
You definitely won't like everything, and not everyone will want to show you their playlist (music taste can be pretty personal, after all). But in a world full of so many creative and massively different people, there's no way you won't find something you can enjoy.
And even if someone's music taste isn't for you, asking them about it is still a sublime conversation starter. Just trust me on that one.