One of the most common questions a music writer (junkie) gets is, "How do you keep up with all the new music?" Well I tell you, it gets harder to beat you guys at this game every year. With blogs, bumping, and Perez Hilton, singles are leaked sometimes months in advance, sometimes forcing record labels to move up release dates just to stop the hemorrhaging. So in the faster paced cyber-world, a music writer has to focus not so much on finding the new track first, but on finding that new or has-been artist first who may not be on the radar.
So to help you out—just enough for me to keep my job—here are some good sleuthing hints to keep you on the cutting edge.
Blogs: They're really a given and have been for years, almost to the point of cliché. Just make sure you subscribe to them either by email, RSS feed, or a service like Bloglines.
Podcasts: Not only are there amazing music talk podcasts out there, like NPR's All Songs Considered and Sound Opinions, but also amazing mostly-music mixes out there for free, such as Kat Da Kid's eclectic beatcast, the camp and kitsch of Chicago's Eclectic Eccentrics or the legendary DJ Bynar's Indie Disco for the perfect mix of rock and electronic sounds from around the world. They're all free on iTunes, kids.
Facebook: Myspace be damned, Facebook is the first space to seek out when you hear rumblings of new artists. If you "like" or "friend" them (or, even better, their record labels), their progress is handed to you daily on your page. You're new and hip and not even trying!
And of course, finally, don't forget live shows. Concerts, especially by locals, are like browsing your local indie record store vs. buying music at Target: You never know what greatness you'll find unexpectedly, you're supporting the local economy and the hot hipster boys abound. Dig in!
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