I listen to my buddy's new discs that he buys which he initially hears on World Cafe and other similar radio stations. Also, I listen to clips on Amazon.com or other internet sites.
How do you decide on new music to buy?
What prompts you to buy new music, especially music from artists you're not familiar with? One of my favorite ways is to pick up on a thread or a review of an artist or genre that sounds interesting, and then head over to www.allmusic.com to read about them and similar bands. I often then buy a CD from the ones that sound most interesting and have received high ratings at that site. It isn't bullet-proof by a long shot, but I've found a lot of good music I wouldn't otherwise necessarily have found.
What's your strategy?