I don't proclaim to be a particularly techy sort - if I was I'd be writing here instead - but one thing I am fascinated by is the number of ways you can find and listen to new music online. It seems like every month a number of decent new web applications pop up specifically to benefit people who want to discover and enjoy music they haven't heard before.

In a move that will quite possibly enrage anyone who uses sites that aren't listed below, here is my ridiculously reductive list of cool ways to discover new music online (I've excluded iTunes, MySpace, Pandora or Last.fm because they're pretty well-known by now):

1. The Hype Machine
As far as bloggers and their readers go, this is the daddy. It indexes hundreds of MP3 blogs, and, more importantly, the MP3 files they post. Which means you can search for your desired artist and you can be pretty confident that you'll find at least a few tracks worth checking out. It also has a splendid pop-up flash player which you can listen to as you surf other sites. In no way do we condone clicking on the individual blogs and then downloading the tracks they have posted.

Visit The Hype Machine

2. Elbo.ws
The main rival to The Hype Machine in the whole blog-indexing game. They don't have the pop-up player, but they do have a pretty whizzy design and useful widgets that you can post on your own blog, indicating most popular tracks, hottest artists, etc. They also have a nice way of indexing new music videos which are gaining a lot of buzz. In no way do we condone searching for an artist you want to check out and then downloading as many MP3s as your computer can handle.

Visit Elbo.ws

3. Deezer
No illegal downloading to be done here. Plenty of legally questionable streaming, though. Deezer has had all manner of legal problems, but it seems to have come through (or plain ignored) them, because it's up-and-running and pretty darn impressive. I found it most useful for checking out artists I'd read about but hadn't actually heard. Search for them, and it'll bring up a list of tracks which you can listen to online at will. Then you can create your own playlists, which you can also embed in your own blog.

Visit Deezer

4. MusicMesh / FIQL
These two sites take the streaming / playlist functionality and add video. FIQL was originally a playlist site similar to Deezer, but struggled due to copyright issues. They got round that by adding video - apparently video-playlists are not subject to the same restrictions as straight-ahead music playlists. Clever. It also features the usual social networking elements you'd expect in these community-obsessed days.

MusicMesh is a similar "mash-up" site, but suggests related artists to those your listening to. One of the peculiarities of the site is that, since it takes video from 3rd-party sites, you're never quite sure what you're going to get. If you click on one of your favourite band's recognised singles, for example, you can be pretty sure you're going to get the promo video. Choose one of the album tracks, however, and you'll get either a live version or - if you're (un)lucky - one of those bedroom performances by "real" people that are so prevalent on YouTube.

Visit FIQL
Visit MusicMesh

5. Contrastream / Fairtilizer
In another kind of mash-up, these two sites take the community aspect of Digg and add streaming music. So here you get music fans voting on what they like (and what they don't), and creating a community-approved table of what's hot. The cool thing is that you can listen to tracks right there on the site. Fairtilizer's been around a little longer, but is only open by invitation (anybody who can send me one guarantees their place in heaven). Contrastream, meanwhile, focuses on indie music and at the time of writing features artists such as Band Of Horses and Jack Penate.

Visit Fairtilizer
Visit Contrastream

OK, so this is the bit where you reply and tell me how many great sites / tools / applications I've missed. I'm only too happy to find more ways to find and listen to music, so do your worst in the comments.

If you're looking for more online music applications, check out this great article over at Tech Digest

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Comments

Hi Stuart,

Fairtilizer invite sent!

The site is still in development, but you're welcome for an early test ride.

enjoy,

Dsquare

Posted by: Dsquare | October 23, 2025 4:18 PM

Thanks!

Posted by: StuartW | October 23, 2025 4:53 PM

hiya
thanks nice post. why do you say deezer is in all sorts of legal problems ? seems like they are only streaming the songs they have cleared, from what i can see ?
cheers
fred

Posted by: fred destin | November 8, 2025 10:51 PM

Hi Fred

Yep, it seems to be legit, but it had a few tussles on the way: http://idolator.com/tunes/infringements/deezer-could-be-a-goner-if-labels-have-their-way-294120.php

Posted by: StuartW | November 9, 2025 10:28 AM

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