Build a CD Collection
Revision as of 09:56, 14 February 2017 by Kipkis (Kipkis | contribs) (importing article from wikihow)
Whether you are just getting into music or want to vary what you listen to, there's a wealth of great artists to discover. You just need to know where to look.
Steps
- Read about music in music magazines and on music websites.
- Listen to the radio, not just the commercial stations. Often, non-commercial stations and college stations start playing artists before the mainstream stations catch onto them.
- Find music online. Listen to online radio stations, like http://www.accuradio.com or http://www.shoutcast.com . http://www.last.fm is a radio-like service, offering recommendations if you're registered by keeping track of you music taste. If you have an MP3 player, subscribe to music podcasts using iTunes or iPodder.
- Subscribe to an online music community like last.fm or Pandora. These services will recommend new music based on your current tastes.
- Ask. Don't be afraid to ask someone what artist/song they are playing when you hear something you like.
- If there's a band you really like, research them. Read their biography (if they have one). Read about particular musical movements you are interested in. This will teach you basic music history, including bands/singers that were popular during certain periods.
- Take note of artists your favorite artists are influenced by or compared to. Try to find samples of their stuff online or take it out of the library.
- Listen to various genres. Don't stick to a single type of music.
- Go to stores with listening kiosks. Stores wouldn't put those kiosks out there to feature music that people wouldn't want to buy and bring home. Listen to the featured artists in genres you like. Some stores even let you scan the barcodes of the CDs you want so you can listen to 30-second samples of each song.
- Find out what local bands are popular in your area. If you have the time/money etc. go and see them.
- Attend free music events. Many towns have free concerts in the local park. Arts organizations will often hold free concerts. Check out your local college. Do they have a jazz ensemble or an orchestra? Many times, these students give free performances which act as their final exam. It's free, so you have nothing to lose, and you might even discover something you really love.
- Start building a personal collection. Start it gradually. Even getting one or two CDs per month is great.
- If you find you just don't like a CD and never even consider listening to it, get rid of it. Otherwise, it's just collecting dust. Give it to a thrift store, sell it back to a used record shop or hand it off to a friend who would like it. Perhaps you could trade it to a friend for a CD they have that you might like.
Tips
- Places like Half.com and eBay are great to buy CDs for cheap.
- If your friend is into music discuss your favorite artists and share your collection.
- Sign up for NEW RELEASE updates from music websites.
- Buy things because you like them, not just because they are popular. Music is subjective. Not everyone will like what you like and that's ok. Variety is the spice of life.
- Read Metacritic's music reviews. This will keep you up-to-date on what's in stores and upcoming. You will also learn the lingo of the music world, enabling you to converse intelligently with other music lovers.
- Become friendly with the DJ's at your favorite radio stations. The best way to get in good with them is to just call in and talk about music. They may turn you on to something you might never have heard otherwise. BTW: These folks have access to demo and promo CD's! Remember: don't be a pest! DJ's are often very busy, especially on the morning show or afternoon drive.
- Never bypass the record-store bargain bin. It might just contain an album by an artist you like.
- Go through some of the boxes in your attic or rummage through your parent's old stuff. They can have some good music hidden about so you don't buy copies.
- When shopping in a local music store, ask the clerks if there are any freebies. These can be promo discs from individual bands or compilations from record labels. Usually they just sit there gathering dust -- so don't be shy.
- Always look in the bargain bucket for artist's earlier work, you may find it is better than their recent stuff!
- Thrift stores and tag sales can provide great buys on secondhand CDs. If you come across used CDs that interest you in a thrift store, check if the discs are present and in acceptable condition before you buy them.
Warnings
- Never let anyone tell you the music you like is bad- especially if it makes you happy!
- Don't let the elitist CD store clerk scare you! They like what they like and you like something different- So? If they sneer, just laugh and have a good time. Music is about self expression!
- Be wary of selling back your cds. You never know what you might go back and find on them.
- Don't just buy something because it is a hit. The fad may wear off and soon you'll get sick of the song.
- Don't build your collection blindly.
Things You'll Need
- Time to listen to and enjoy music.
- A music TV Channel or Radio Channel, Music Magazines, etc.
- Money to buy music
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