Like bad comedians or The Big Bang Theory, local radio stations are extremely predictable.  You can guess what they are going to play from a group of five, maybe seven songs and be right almost all of the time. Often, the excessive playing of these Billboard chart-toppers is under the guise of “new music,” but how new is music that you’ve heard a billion times in the last week?

One local station that I often find myself tuned into plays a promo where they tell the listens what real “mixed music” is. It’s not, according to them, any song that is old or from a non-cross over genre, but it is a song that is most likely on Billboard’s top 40 and gets played no less than 100 times a day. That is not mixed– that is not even slightly stirred.

This is not necessarily the fault of the radio station; they are obligated to play current hits for a variety of reasons. So if you rely solely on the radio to discover your next favorite jams, there’s no avoiding this predicament.

My advice is for music lovers who want to broaden their scope is simple: don’t get stuck in the present, but explore the past. After all, any music is new to you if you haven’t heard it before. Trace the roots of your favorite genre back to when it began, whenever that was, or for an even more interesting approach, try a new kind of music.

I am a mostly R&B and soul music fan, but recently I found myself listening to Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, the classic progressive/alternative rock album that charted for literally 15 years in the 70’s and 80’s. It was a totally new musical experience for me and I found myself in complete awe that there was so much music left to discover. In all honesty, I wasn’t a huge fan of the album, but I would not have known that unless I listened to it.

So for anyone out there who is sick of hearing “We Are Young” by Fun for the hundredth time (I mention that song because recently I’ve been hearing it resurface) go on YouTube, Pandora or Spotify and explore a little. You may have yet to discover your favorite music.