I listen to pretty much ALL kinds of music!

Folk/ethnic, singer-songwriters, jazz, prog, experimental, pop, rock, hard rock, doom metal, hip hop, electronica, synth..... There are good music in all genres. That is my basic opinion. Favourite? Experimental pop. If I have to choose one genre. But I don´t want to do that. Everything goes as long as it´s good. And that can vary depending on mood, time of the day, season etc..... So in general I listen to ALL kinds of music. As long as it´s good.

Agreed - and played with passion!

I am one of the odd Stickists that doesn’t come from a prog or jazz background. I actually listen to a lot of Stick-players’ music. I tend to immerse myself in new things. Since I’ve only been playing a few years, it’s still new to me and I had not known of most Stick players prior to getting into playing Stick myself. Full album listens really only happen in the car or on a plane.

early/teen influences were generally “alternative” and new wave, I still keep up with and listen to:
Peter Gabriel
Thomas Dolby
Howard Jones
Laurie Anderson

more recent music I listen to a lot:
Muse
Moderat / Apparat
Imogen Heap / Frou Frou
Zoe Keating
Orbital
Faithless
Gorillaz

Through a class in Indian music concepts in electronic music, I found I really love some other artists:
Nitin Sawhney
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Karsh Kale
Tabla Beat Science
Talvin Singh

My MA studies involved analysis of various works, some other recent influences:
Erdem Helvacioglu
Phill Niblock
Morton Feldman
Gyorgy Ligeti
Arvo Part

I’ve also been trying to listen to more guitar stuff:
Terje Rypdal
Bill Frisell
David Torn
Steve Wilson

Very Cool. Hope he's staying on the straight and narrow these days.

The last time I saw Ween play, the first words out of Aaron's (Gene's) mouth was, "This is going to be a special night" and I knew there would be trouble. I could hear how f*cked up he was from his voice. The rest of the show the band just played "around" him for as long as they could. Even going so far as turning his amp WAY down when he wasn't looking. Eventually, they abandoned him on stage. He tried to keep going by himself, but gave up after a song or maybe two. The band split for good a few months later.

Always entertaining, Ween was always just a huge celebration of music in general. They hopped from one genre to the next, while never feeling forced or contrived. That's the biggest inspiration I get from them.

Aaron Freeman is a gifted songwriter; deep, funny, honest and thoughtful.

That is included in the word "good"....

I find my current listening to be split into three parts: home (with 4-year old Dante, and without), car, and work.

Home with Dante: Laurie Berkner band, esp. the Goldfish song.

Home without Dante:
Spiraling
Secret Oyster
Magic Pie
Morglbl
Delicious Agony radio station

Car: radio
Black Keys
Fitz and the Tantrums
Imagine Dragons
Classic rock station
Jazz station

Work: youtube background
Spock's Beard - Snow
System of a Down - Aerials
Sirenia
Nightwish
Epica
other symphonic metal

Enjoy!

I have been trying to answer the inspiring question but can only come up with: "I don't." I simply have no spare time for just listening to music. But I get to hear a lot of course and it is all kinds of styles. The most concentrated listening I'm currently having from watching films and tv series. And I'm watching a lot now for scoring studies.

In the past I have listened to most artists already mentioned here and can not name any particular favourites. I like to hear something fresh that doesn't copy existing styles or manners. Oh, right now I'm actively checking out Armenian Duduk music to see if I can pick up that type of melancholic phrasing for my fretless guitar playing (certain delicate glissandi and vibrato)

Benny Greb
Gavin Harrison
Screaming Headless Torsos
ABBA(just kidding)
Snarky Puppy
Umphrey's McGee
Garage Mahal
to name a few groups I enjoy currently.

Also into traditional(or indigenous) music from just about any culture. Especially Egyptian, Arabic and South American.

And anything improvised. There is just something special and intimate about hearing music being birthed right before your ears.

As an afterthought, I can't wait to check out all the artists all y'all named that I have never heard of.

Picchio Dal Pozzo
Tipographica
The Flying Luttenbachers
Zs
Extra Life
Henry Cow
Art Bears
Magma
Thinking Plague
Bob Drake
Bob Drake - era 5uus
Zona Mexicana
Para-medics
Planets
Arti y Mestieri

BUZZARD - the band I have played in for 22 years. The first album from '93 was a huge influence. The first half is with a vocalist, the second half instrumental. "Churp!!" can be downloaded at http://www.mediafire.com/?m1eninfkljt (you're welcome)

Gentle Giant
PFM
Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso
Area
Genesis
Moving Gelatine Plates
Samla/von Zamla, etc.
Meshuggah
Meatjack
Watchtower

I like all music pretty much. I do sort of lean towardss the weedly guitarists, and the crashy drummers, though... Rush, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Steve Vai, Dream Theater, Bad Plus, Mike Stern, Megadeth, Primus, Stevie Wonder, Benny Greb, Chet Atkins, Lenny Breau... buncha other stuff...