holiday gift guide: music gift list
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see the terms page.
We’re just a few weeks out from Christmas, and in the crunch for wrapping up the holiday shopping lists! If you’re feeling stuck on gift ideas, I’ve put together a week of ideas to help you get inspired! Today we’re shopping for the music lover in your life, and go figure, it’s the longest list of them all. I tried to curate it down to just 5 or 6 options, but I just couldn’t stop thinking of all these great ideas. In addition to the obvious – physical music, or gift cards for concert tickets – there are so many other awesome, personal gifts out there. Read on for fun ideas for the music nut on your list!
These Frends headphones are on my list, for sure. Admittedly, I’m not much of an audiophile, but I’ll always sacrifice a bit of audio quality for some fashionable headphones. (And anyway, if you’re listening to music on a portable device, you’re not one to kvetch about audio quality anyway.) The oil slick design is awesome, but all of their art is really great.
Carrie Brownstein’s Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl is one of the music memoirs I’m most excited to read. Carrie’s a member of Sleater-Kinney, and her book takes us through growing up in Seattle through what it was like in the scene – both on-stage and backstage.
I’m obsessed with the whole Sunnylife line – especially these retro-inspired Speaker Cases. Perfect for the beach, pool, or even just cranking the tunes at home, they tuck your phone inside to keep it safe from sand or water.
If you want to carry your tunes with you all the time, a phone case with built-in speakers is another great option. While it doesn’t offer as much protection as the Sunnylife case, it’s still an effective choice for blasting jams at home or in the office.
Vinyl is at its most popular peak, which means there are lots of really cool gift options. If you’re not sure what your snobby music friend is listening to lately, but still want to help them grow their collection, check out a subscription service like Vinyl Me, Please. They’ll receive a record and an art print inspired by the album, plus some other fun goodies.
If your friend loves live music, consider a gift subscription to Jukely. Jukely is an app that allows users to claim tickets to undersold shows in their city, for one monthly subscription fee. It’s no secret that I love live music, and though I’m not a Jukely user, it’s not unusual for me to average 5 shows or so per week. This would be great for someone who wishes they could get to shows more often!
Crowdfunding has been very en vogue for a few years, and PledgeMusic is one of the most popular for musicians. In exchange for pre-ordering a new release, artists will offer a variety of other options as well, from unique merchandise items to experiences. My favorite band offered a “six pack hangout” on their last release, where the purchaser got to hang out with the band and drink a few pre-show beers, and the lead singer used the platform for his last solo effort as well, where I scored a mix CD curated by him for me. Take a look to see if your friend’s favorite band might be offering something tailor-made for them!
Many artists are also offering similar unique goodies on their own website, like these handwritten lyrics from Cory Branan. Your giftee will be thankful and appreciate the attention you’ve paid to know what their favorites are!