Fenxy

I can honestly say the only musical influences I get nowadays are from YouTube videos. Either the background music showing in the video I am watching or in the related videos. I probably should use Last.fm more to see what other stuff I might like, but it's hard enough keeping track of the music I do like.

Oh movie soundtracks are also another source.

I've been watching a cable channel called "The Tube" that is like MTV when they played videos. Its all videos, and videos that span from the 70's to current.

Seems like I am getting to experience some new music I would not normally have heard from a variety of times.

I just stole a whole batch of sweet instrumental music from my brother this weekend when we were both home.

A lot of college kids he knows play and they're pretty good. I've also been digging Radiohead and Theatre of Tragedy. :) Been good music to code or repair to.

I get influenced from documentaries quite a bit. That's where I find a lot of music. Also listening to dj mixes that I download, that's probably where I get the most of my music.

A lot of word of mouth. Some from last.fm--actually I have had people on that community recommend a couple good bands randomly. That was a nice surprise, since I'm not on their forums at all.

Also, kind of random, but snowboarding videos. Haha.

Though the site could use some streamling, I've found that Allmusic's "Similar Artists," "Influended by," and "Followers" lists to be quite useful for exploring new (and old) music.

Start with say, Stereolab and quickly see that the band is contemporaries with Tortoise and Mouse on Mars (among others), influenced by Can, Neu! and Burt Bacharach (among others) and followed by The Incredible Moses Leroy and Saloon (among others).

With a quick glance, there's seven new artists to explore and I can start by reading a little about them and then head over to itunes or emusic to check out some audio.

First off... Holy crap... Skillet's still around?

I go to a certain unnamed it-bay orrent-tay site and search for my favorite bands, looking for entries that have "for fans of blah blah blah" in the title. My musical tastes are pretty varied, so this just gives me more of what I like.

Also, I try and find out what Zach Braff is listening to, and go listen to that.

XM Radio actually plays a lot of bands/songs a month (or more) before normal radio ever gets to them, so I enjoy being slightly "in the know" as far as that goes.

Other than that, I try to find out what Joenewbreed is listening to, so that I can avoid it at all costs. ZING!

LMAO you Joenewbreed and Bartoneus you are too funny!

I'm not sure if Skillet has done something new but wow, that Kill Me, Heal Me (appropriate for an MMORPG) is all over the place. Had to cop their other stuff. Still listening to it.

I'm a guitar girl! OMG - love em!

Oh right, you reminded me Tyme, Guitar Hero has also gotten me to enjoying a lot of older songs that I hadn't heard in years. Fantasizing about rocking out to them is just the icing on the cake!

I have a (bad?) habit of getting stuck on music. I find a few bands or artists that I like, get all of their stuff, and then listen to it for a long, long time. Rammstein is one bad that comes to mind. I started listening to their stuff 4 or 5 years ago, and I'm still listening to it. Blind Guardian and Evanescence are in the same boat, but BG has lasted a LOT longer... I've probably been listening to them for about 8 or 9 years.

When I do find new music that I like, it's typically through television shows or movies. I very, very rarely listen to music radio stations. When I'm driving, I'm usually listening to whatever's on NPR at the time.

Also, I try and find out what Zach Braff is listening to, and go listen to that.

I discovered Peter, Bjorn and John via Zach Braff's MySpace profile. Happy to have made the discovery, not so much to admit that I browsed the profile.

I listen to KEXP, Seattle's incredible, amazing radio station, via the web. Peep their playlist. Best radio station I've ever heard.

I also frequent several music blogs; to name a few, Stereogum, My Old Kentucky Blog, Gorilla vs. Bear...

I do something similar to Josh except i stick to music for months - not years - at a time. Most recently I've gone through Refused, Sonic Youth, and Radiohead periods.

As for where I find new music... I usually get it from talking to friends. The music may be decades old but it's new to me.

Believe it or not, I go to a shit load of concerts. And by shit load, I mean like, 5 a week.

I don't go to concerts like I used to (a couple of month plus the after parties). There isn't anyone I really want to see lately.

I haven't listened to the radio lately...been rockin' my ipod.

I get stuck on music too. I just got over being stuck on Marques Houston's Circle. Listened to that one song over and over for weeks. Haha, lemme look at the video real quick...

Haha, found another song in a WoW video. This is so much fun hahaha!

So turns out, Last.fm offers free downloads of select music weekly.

Check it out here

I love soundtracks on Indie movies. Esp the kind where there isn't a lot of talking. You know that music is moving if people don't have to talk and the music tells you what they are saying.

Also, now that I've stopped taking piano lessons and can play whatever I want, I usually only write and play music in the key of A minor. Minor music has the most effect on me.

@alisa:
The movie Next Stop Wonderland is just like that.
GREAT soundtrack.

I agree with movie soundtracks. Check out Clint Mansell, particularly in the "Requiem for a Dream" and "The Fountain" soundtracks.

You know, 28 Days Later and the sequel that just came out also have very cool music. I should look for it....