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I learn about music from any source I can get my hands on.

I follow a recording artist, and now, thanks to the Internet, these artists "link" similar artists (by name and so forth) that stir one's interest. At one time, Stereophile had a great tool at their disposal until the payola (relax---it's a joke) got the better of them. As a matter of fact, a CD I purchased via a review, Ariel Ramirez's "Misa Crilla, Navidad Nuestra," with Jose Carreras, was excellent! The reviewer should be approbated (like being taken to the White House and fondled---or something!). I still have a copy of the pocket-size "Records 2 Die 4" that is used as a reference tool. Also, when you have 6000 compact discs (always wanting more---of course!), it expands the musical horizons by attempting to locate similar music.

Since I mostly buy classical music, I look to the Penguin Guide, the Gramophone guide, and reviews in music magazines, including Stereophile.

I use all the above: mostly magazine reviews, followed by store browsing, radio, and music heard at concerts.

I also trade recommendations with musically like-minded people on an internet site.

Newsgroups.

Jazziz magazine's monthly sampler CD of current jazz offerings.

The World is still pretty simple.

not exactly samples, but MP3Z. mp3z mp3z mp3z AND MORE mp3z, how else can i find out the latest hits from Europe?

Magazine is the best,but FM radio is also a good place.

The Internet has changed the way I get info about the music I buy. In the past I would be happy to know the release date for an album, whereas now, the efficiency of information dispersion often allows me to know (via newsgoups, musicians' own web sites, or even via e-mail from the musicians themselves, in certain cases) when the musicians are PLANNING to go into the studio to record!

Being single and living in Colorado where live music is, thankfully, everywhere I want to be is the best. The women I meet at these concerts have always enjoyed sharing their musical style. I have been impressed by many bands that would be labled "world beat" that I normally would never consider. Personally I follow two genre of music, classic JAZZ and SKA. My enjoyment is exposing a women in her early 50's to Jazz music that she never encountered when she was my age, because she was not allowed to listen to that type of music. And Ska, well there you have a musical style that is an uptempo, always positive, happy production. With these, when I go to a music store, I just point and shoot; I have not been let down yet. P.S. for those of you whom do not know what type of music Ska is, it is the FIRST home grown musical style of Jamaica; its' bass plays more than three cords.

From all of the above. One source is not enough.

Just the best access to information.

others and i trade cd's, record others and find stuff we like then normally end up buying the entire catalogue... by limiting recording technologies the record company execs are cutting their own throats... Michael Eisner may be rich but he is frightfully stupid as well..

There is so much crap that is passed off as good, well recorded music these days that objective reviews are necessary to prevent wasting money.

Soundstage!, Stereophile, and Fi all provide me with a comprehensive preview of music that may interest me. Secondary sources include the local public broadcasting radio station (KAZU, Pacific Grove, Ca.) and the most enjoyable method of all, countless hours thumbing through the local music outlet racks. When computers finally reach the "Jetsons" stage of simplicity, ie. refined voice recognition and user friendliness to the majority of the world (who still don't use computers in their home), then I'll probably "ask" my computer to sample a few musical samples for me.

Music is such an important source of pleasor that I get it from every where.

It may not be the best way to choose music, but I often find myself endlessly searching for new releases on vinyl. There are only a couple of stores in Sydney, Australia where this is possible. Much of my searching for music therefore involves reading a review, then finding out if it is available on vinyl, then ordering a copy through a store, then waiting 4 to 6 weeks for my order to arrive.

Lord, there are a lot of titles evry month! There are two main constaints: a method of auditioning them, and the time to do so---if there were a way to do so in the first place. I study reviews, I trust a specific clerk in my local shop, and I rely on a mail order service. I still hate to think how much good stuff I never hear. Radio could be invaluable. Too bad it is stripped down and homogenized, and almost useless as a source of new sounds.

Record stores, like bookstores, give me dry rot of the brain. Every time I enter a record store, my mind blows, my mouth goes dry and I can't remember why I came. CD's cost too much to buy on a whim like I used to back in the days of vinyl. Usually I came for something that I read about in Stereophile or one of the local free music review 'zines, but I have a hard time commiting sixteen bucks on something I haven't actually sat and listened to. (I can't do those crummy headphone kiosks, impossible to make a decision like that). The radio might play a song I like, but I never buy what I hear on the airwaves because I'm sick of hearing it, and they eventually play the whole thing, dribbling out songs as "new from so-and-so" every couple of months. Nope, most new music I'm exposed to comes from friends, and it's not always new, just unheard. Of course garage sale vinyl is risk free, but usually nothing new is available. But if your into early sixties swing, lounge, jazz, pop vocals, pop waltzes, etc. You've hit the goldmine. I make cool party mix cassetes from these, and they're sometimes more popular than "new" music. Over time you pick up so much music that your friends come over and introduce you to things unheard from your own collection. That's my favorite part...