The Internet Isn’t Killing Music Discovery — You’re Just Not Looking in the Right Places

Because Spotify’s not the only way to find good music

🧠 TL;DR

Music discovery isn’t dead—it’s just changed. The internet gives us more access than ever, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed or stuck in algorithm loops. This post breaks down my favorite platforms for finding new music—SoundCloud, TikTok, YouTube, Bandcamp, and Musicboard—and how to get the most out of each one. Whether you're after local gems, experimental flips, or global deep cuts, there’s a community out there waiting for you.

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The music industry today is driven by one core goal: making as much money as possible. It rarely connects with the cultural essence of music. At its heart, music is a cultural experience—shaped by the people around us and the communities we choose to be part of.

This would’ve been absolutely true—if the internet didn’t exist.

We live in a time where thousands of new songs are released every single day. And that music isn’t just floating around randomly—it’s being marketed to us with terrifying precision. If you've ever seen what stan culture can do to someone’s online habits, you'd understand what I mean. The scale and intensity of music marketing online can feel overwhelming.

Which brings me to why I’m writing this post.

Discovering music online doesn’t have to be a stressful, algorithm-driven experience. In fact, it can be as organic and fulfilling as it used to be. The key? Tapping into real communities. The internet is full of spaces—music blogs, YouTube channels, Reddit threads, Discord servers—where people who genuinely care about music share what they love.

This post is a curated list of my favorite places to discover music online, along with a few thoughts on what I love (or sometimes hate) about each one.

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🎧 SoundCloud

SoundCloud is hands-down one of my favorite places on the internet. It offers one of the most underrated music discovery experiences—mainly because it treats music like a social activity. Unlike many platforms where discovery is driven purely by algorithms, SoundCloud builds discovery into the fabric of its design through reposts, likes, and artist interaction. It’s like social media where sharing actually matters.

You might start by finding an artist through SoundCloud’s auto-generated playlists (which can be hit or miss), but the real magic happens when you explore an artist’s reposts and likes. You get to hear your favorite artist’s favorite music—and that changes everything.

This recursive discovery process is how I’ve found so many incredible local Joburg artists. Maybe you hear someone’s flip on Instagram or TikTok, search for them on SoundCloud, check out their reposts, and suddenly you’re listening to Brazilian funk. Scroll a little more and you stumble upon a local collab or a hidden gem. Before you know it, you’ve liked 10+ new tracks and found several artists who feel like they’ve been part of your library forever.

I’ve done this so many times that I now have 119 liked songs on SoundCloud—and not a single one is a skip.

Artists I recommend:

• Girlthewoman – An R&B darling. Her songwriting is beautiful, and the way she embraces flips makes every track feel fresh.

• Yolophonik – The undisputed flip king. Play any one of his tracks and you’ve basically started a party.

• LUNGĒLWA. – A phenomenal singer and producer. A rising star who truly represents the future of South African music.

• [kimetsu.] – I’ve written a whole article about this guy. Go read it—you’ll get why I rate him so highly.

• UnderPressure Sundays & Forth Studio – Two of the most consistent and underrated curation pages on SoundCloud. Through them, I’ve found incredible artists like Prof Panda, Ocean, Jedious Calvazaar, and more. Massive shoutout to the curators—you’re doing the Lord’s work.

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📱 TikTok

Despite all its flaws—and there are many—TikTok remains one of the most powerful tools for discovering music today. The algorithm might flood your feed with junk content hoping you’ll take the bait, but when it gets it right, it really gets it right—especially when it comes to surfacing local artists that people in your city already love.

The key is learning how to train the algorithm, which can be a tedious but rewarding process. Follow artists you genuinely enjoy, follow curators who align with your taste, and don’t hesitate to hit the “Not Interested” button when irrelevant content appears. The more you engage, the better it gets.

Profiles worth following:

1. Music Always ZA – DJ sets that go hard. Also has a great YouTube channel.

2. Wav Garden – A masterclass in behind-the-scenes content. I’m genuinely excited for their first full-length project—it’s going to be something special.

3. On the Radar Radio – A go-to spot for discovering U.S. hip hop talent. Their unpredictability is part of the charm.

4. Playlists by Molly – A faceless account with a music taste eerily in sync with mine.

5. Lazy John – For those moments when you want to see musicians absolutely master their instruments.

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📺 YouTube

If you enjoy stepping outside your comfort zone, YouTube is an incredible tool for music discovery. From concert recordings to obscure producer interviews, it’s a playground for the curious.

My journey into Japanese music started here—Jiro Inagaki led me to Shigeo Sekito, Casiopea, Masayoshi Takanaka, and Matsubara Miki. The algorithm was doing what it used to do best: taking me somewhere I never expected.

Through YouTube, I’ve discovered genres like Nigerian Rock, Brazilian Funk, German Jazz, and more. All it takes is a bit of patience and a willingness to click on that strange-looking thumbnail.

Recommended channels:

• NPR Music – Required viewing. Enough said.

• Colors – I found JPEGMAFIA here, so they’ll always have my loyalty.

• Hard to Find Vinyls – Feels like flipping through vinyl at your favorite local shop.

• Frank Apollo – A goldmine for discovering South African R&B.

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💿 Bandcamp

Bandcamp is, in many ways, picking up where SoundCloud left off. With SoundCloud increasingly removing tracks over copyright issues, Bandcamp has become the go-to for producers and artists who want to release music freely and directly.

Here’s a controversial opinion: clearing a sample shouldn’t be required if your music isn’t going to Spotify or Apple Music. Sampling is an art form—deeply rooted in hip hop—and when you limit it, you’re limiting creativity. Bandcamp gives artists that creative freedom.

Another reason I love Bandcamp? You own the music. When you buy a track, you’re supporting the artist directly, and you get high-quality files you can keep forever—no subscriptions, no takedowns, no BS.

Artists you should check out:

• Tee-Illa – Flip god. Drops new music weekly and rarely misses.

• Jinji – One of my favorite local DJs and producers. Don’t skip Marabi Woman.

• Willing Listeners Forum – Possibly the best rapper in the country. Releases are Bandcamp-exclusive, which makes each drop feel intentional.

• Uncle Kizzy – Discovered him on TikTok. His Bandcamp discography is massive, and there's something for everyone in there.

If you can afford to buy your music—and own it forever—Bandcamp is where you should be doing it.

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📝 Musicboard

I have a love-hate relationship with this app—and it all comes down to one thing: too many people don’t actually listen to music.

A lot of reviews on Musicboard are written after a single listen. A project drops, and suddenly everyone’s a critic. But one listen isn’t enough to understand an album—sometimes not even a week is enough.

When I first heard ABRA’s Fruit, I didn’t connect with it. Years later, it’s one of my top five albums ever. That’s the kind of slow-burn appreciation that should be at the heart of platforms like Musicboard.

The best reviews come from people who love an album,sat with it, replayed it, and wrapped it into the fabric of their lives. That context, that emotion, is what makes a review meaningful.

I’ll always prefer reading someone’s love letter to an album over a rushed takedown of a new release they barely listened to.

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If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading. I hope this guide helps you rediscover the joy of finding new music—not through algorithms alone, but through communities, curiosity, and connection.

Let music be more than background noise. Let it be a culture you actively participate in.

Feel free to share your own favorite discovery spaces, artists, or niche corners of the internet—I’m always down to check out something new.

Peace ✌🏾