UNIT-E: To Never be Bored of Your Music

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Think about the last time you listened to music. Was it the same songs, playing over on a loop? Are you sticking closely to Billboard’s Top 100? Here’s a change for you; these online radio stations offer a wide range of music choices, from indie to metal, and are a great way to discover new music. No matter what your preferred genre is, these stations will find a fit for you.

8tracks

8tracks is an Internet radio station where all music is uploaded and put together into mixtapes by the users. All of the website’s mixes are personally put together by other music-lovers. The website is more than just an internet radio station, and also acts like a social network, where you can follow other users to keep up with their newest mixtapes, and upload your own to share music with others. If you simply just want to browse and stumble upon something you may like, simply select a few select key words that are offered on the home screen, which will direct you to mixtapes that are labeled with such tags. It’s likely that you will find a perfect mixtape for every occasion.

Thesixtyone (t61)

Thesixtyone works quite differently from 8tracks, as itscollection of music is organized into different genres. Once you enterT61’s homepage, music begins to stream in a random order, presented as excerpts. Music played usually offers a combination of different genres, as to provide a diverse range of musical styles, and enabling you to discover new gems. You can also choose to explore the hottest and top rated music that other users love and have previously played. Thesixtyone is not so much a social network, but rather, a place to discover fresh, different genres of music that may not be what you were initially looking for. This streaming website offers plenty of surprises and will not fail to introduce you to new music every time that you visit.

Spotify

Spotify has been around for several years now and operates in a similar way as 8tracks does. It is available as an app on both the computer and the phone, so you can bring your favorite music anywhere you go. To get started, you can simply type in key words of genres or moods that you are looking for, and the suitable results will pop up. Spotify is an organized and well-developed radio, especially when compared to the two aforementioned websites. The streaming service also has a large database and a friendly user interface. With just a couple of clicks, a free-flowing stream of music will start to play – perfect for a lazy afternoon or a road-trip with family and friends.

Last.fm

Last.fm is a music website that tailors a list of song recommendations and mixtapes based on what you are interested in. By simply typing in your favorite song, artist or album, Last.fm will generate a list of songs that are similar to the type of music that you inputted. This generated playlist is based on your personal likes and interests.If you are not satisfied with the randomized playlists that show up on the other radio stations, or are not in the mood to go on a search for completely random new music, then this website is for sure a destination.

With these music websites, searching for new music no longer has to be bland or a burden. Give each of these online streaming services a try; you may be surprised at what you find!

This article originally appeared in the August/September 2013 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Angel Yu, a student at the International School of Beijing.

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photo courtesy of UNIT-E

Spotify – Beijing Kids

UNIT-E: To Never be Bored of Your Music