So one thing I’ve gotten into over the last few years is making a song-a-day mix. I got the idea from ex-MTV host Dave Holmes, and all you do is pick one song each day… something you hear, something you think of, something tied to an event/news item/personal milestone, etc. and you just keep building over 365. At the end of each year (or each month, even) not only do you have a sweet - and often very random! - mix but afterwards you can look back on it and re-live the time… be it “oh yeah, that’s the day I watched ____” or “I was out at my local and this song just hit the moment perfectly!” Just sharing in case anyone here wants to give it a go moving forward! Or maybe you do it too? If anyone is interested, here’s how my year started (and, yes, thank you @John Richards for more than a couple of these!) https://music.apple.com/ca/playlist/01-january-2026/pl.u-b3b84WNUbAvLP https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6LhKcbjOy0CkY4mJFazeCT

My favorite music list isn't ready yet, though, I'm honing in (I utilize the ENTIRE year so I don't post that kinda stuff right after Thanksgiving like most). BUT - I can tell you my favorite concerts. SEEMED like I saw a lot this year, but part of that was just working shows & I don't really "count" it unless I saw a full set / most of a set / at least 30 minutes-ish. Saw 56 "shows" / artists this year. My top ten (chronological order): - The Ocean Blue at Crocodile 050225 (playing first album) - Stereo MC's at Madame Lou's 051225 - what a treat to FINALLY see them - They Might Be Giants at Neptune x3! 0613, 14, 15 - will count as one & forever one of my VERY fav live bands - Janelle Monae at Bumbershoot 083025 - WOW - Supergrass at Hollywood Palladium 090525 (playing I Should Coco) - sound as excellent as ever, DECADES later - Oasis at Rose Bowl 090625 - a no brainer because this was an all-time fav concert experience - James at The Showbox 100425 - STILL SO very wonderful, as always - NEVER disappoints - Elbow at The Showbox 101225 - the talent just oozes from these guys & it was wonderful to see them again in my fav venue from up close - Grant-Lee Phillips at Fremont Abbey 111125 - one of my fav HUMANS, let alone artists - absolutely adore him - David Byrne at Paramount 111325 - like nothing else ever - every moment just wonderful

Curious how people are actually listening right now. I play music for people in a room, in a box, sometimes in my own home. When you put on new music, are you Walking? Driving? Cooking? Lying on the floor?? At work with one earbud in. There’s no wrong answer. Just interested in the habits.