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While nearly everyone enjoys music, it's more than a passing interest for some. Music lovers derive great enjoyment and inspiration from listening to, playing, or even creating their own music.
If this sounds like someone on your shopping list, we've compiled the best gifts for music lovers and musicians to make their hearts sing, from top-rated music players, turntables, speakers, and headphones to music-related accessories that nod to their favorite hobby. No matter their musical experience or favorite genre, these gifts will surely hit all the right notes.
For those who go beyond everyday music appreciation and regularly hit the strings, see our guide to the best gifts for guitar players.
This gift guide includes a sponsored product that Adobe has suggested. It also meets our editorial criteria in terms of quality and value.*
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Staff Pick
Our favorite noise-canceling headphonesHelp them enjoy music on the go with our favorite noise-canceling headphones. This top-notch Sony pair comes with superb equalizer settings and a long battery life. -
A TikTok-famous instrumentSure, they may play several instruments, but do they know the Otamatone? This quirky electronic instrument is all over TikTok, easy to learn, and the funnest way to cover all their favorite songs.
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A subscription to pro-level audio mixingLevel up their music mixing with a gift subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, which includes Adobe Audition — the sound tool trusted by industry professionals. They'll also get access to Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and After Effects for making album covers and music videos.
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A cheese board shaped like a turntableFor cheese and music lovers, this novelty cheese and charcuterie board will take center stage at every future dinner party.
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A message from their favorite musicianSurprise the music lover in your life with a personalized video message from their favorite artist. On the platform you'll find everyone from saxophonist Kenny G to NSYNC member Lance Bass, so there's sure to be an option for every music taste.
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A book about why humans love musicThis fascinating book delves into why music is so important to us and is written by someone with a firm grasp on both the artistic and scientific sides of it: A neuroscientist who previously worked as a session musician, sound engineer, and record producer.
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A vertical vinyl playerThis record player gives them the vinyl sound they love with an added twist: The record is held up vertically, so they can watch it spin as it plays. And if they want to switch to Bluetooth, the player easily pairs with their phone, tablet, or computer.
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LED light panels that sync to musicTake their music listening experience to the next level with the Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels. These hexagon panels stick to your wall and, when synced up to your music, put on a colorful display.
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A karaoke microphone for nights inFor fans of karaoke who want to up their at-home experience, this Bluetooth mic lets them do everything from record their singing to add special sound effects.
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A vinyl record membershipRecord owners experience no greater joy than when they get to add to their collection and play a new vinyl for the first time. Your recipient will choose from three different types of tracks each month and will also receive extra goodies in each package. The three-month membership includes one bonus record.
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Coasters that nod to their pet peevesIf they flinch at every hint of a mispronounced lyric, these coasters will put a smile on their face. Each one has a mistaken lyric printed on it, with nods to classics like "Hold Me Closer, Tony Danza" and "I Wanna Hold Your Ham."
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A custom song just for themFor a super personalized gift, you can get them a custom-made song in their favorite musical genre that's filled with references and details all about them.
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Musician-themed playing cardsThese playing cards are an excellent choice if you are shopping on a budget. Each card in the deck depicts a musical icon, and for $10, they're a steal.
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A custom vinyl recordMake them a custom record where you get to choose everything from the song lists on both sides to the album art. If you have a joint playlist, this can be a nice way to make it a bit more special.
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Apple's best wireless earbudsThe second-generation AirPods Pro are our favorite headphone option from Apple. They're the brand's best in-ear model for audio quality and noise cancellation.
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Hangers shaped like guitar headstocksThese quirky wall hooks are a fun decorative gift for guitar players or enthusiasts. They can hang all three together or scatter them throughout their home.
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A custom plaque of a song they loveHave a song that means a lot to you both? You can get a customized plaque of your song (along with a photo of you together) for them to proudly display in their home.
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A plush mixtape pillowBeyond being a cute, retro pillow, you can also get it customized with their name, your names together, or even an inside joke or fun caption.
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A 2-in-1 turntable and Bluetooth speakerNo music lover's vinyl collection is complete without a turntable that can play their favorite records over and over again. This turntable from Sony not only has incredible sound quality but also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, allowing them to play music from their other devices.
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Access to Apple's music libraryIf they don't already have a subscription to a music streaming service, an Apple gift card is a great way to gift them Apple Music. They can also use it to purchase music from the iTunes store.
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Manuscript paper for their musical ideasThis gift is perfect for the music lover in your life who writes their own music. Pair it with a pack of erasable pens, and they're set to write a masterpiece.
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A worthwhile music news subscriptionMusic lovers will love a subscription to Rolling Stone magazine, the world's foremost source for all things music news. Their subscription includes each physical issue delivered to their home, and access to the digital version online.
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The gift of live musicTicketmaster may be in the dog house (especially if they're a Swiftie), but it's still the biggest concert ticket platform out there. Give them the gift of seeing their favorite band live with a Ticketmaster gift card.
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A waterproof portable speakerThe loud and powerful UE Boom 3 delivers 360-degree sound and has a long battery life, perfect for outdoor hangouts. They can even continue being the DJ at the beach or in the tub because the speaker is waterproof.
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Pasta shaped like music notesIf they like playing music as much as they like playing with their food, here's a fun, edible gift they can cook right away.
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Wall art of their favorite songIf you know they'd appreciate a large piece of decor, you can get them this wooden wall hanging, sleekly designed from a sound wave of their favorite song or another song that's meaningful to you both (like a wedding song).
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Learn from the greatsAn annual MasterClass subscription will get them access to hundreds of celebrity-led classes, including ones taught by famous musicians like Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Questlove, Ringo Starr, Yo-Yo Ma, John Legend, Mariah Carey, and more.
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A special guitar pickIf you're buying for a guitar player, get them something truly unique like this handmade birthstone guitar pick. Each pick is made in Nashville and made of natural stone.
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A customizable record doormatTurn their favorite record into a treasured home decor piece with this thoughtful gift. Personalize this doormat with their favorite record title and their name to make this gift feel like it was made just for them.
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Wine glasses they can play songs withThese special wine glasses have lines labeling different notes of the scale, so they can play a tune with their finger while enjoying their favorite red or white.
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A versatile smart speakerThey'll be able to stream music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM, and more without even lifting a finger. The newest version of the popular Echo device has even better audio features than before: 360-degree Dolby-powered audio, dynamic bass response, and personalized equalizer settings.
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A pair of warm, music-themed socksThese soft and comfortable socks come in a variety of music-themed patterns, from a simple but striking piano keyboard to an ensemble of orchestral musicians.
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Compile concert memoriesVideos and photos aside, a way to remember their concerts, down to the exact seat in the venue, is this ticket stub diary. There's also space on each page to jot down notes and memories to look fondly back on later.
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For the desk drummerThese clever drumstick-shaped pencils are an easy stocking stuffer for budding and experienced drummers alike.
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Add a sixteenth note to their suitThese small accessories are the perfect finishing note on their ensemble, whether they're heading to work or the symphony.
FAQs
Which headphones should you gift a music lover?
Our top headphone picks above — the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Pro 2 (the best AirPods overall) — are featured in our guide to the best headphones, which lists other exceptional options for music lovers drawn from our extensive testing.
However, true audiophiles may find that even the best wireless earbuds and headphones provide insufficient sound quality. For such a recipient, we recommend looking into our guide to the best over-ear headphones, which includes various top-tier wired and wireless models.
Can you gift an Apple Music subscription?
You can gift an Apple Music subscription by purchasing a generic Apple gift card from various retailers. Your recipient can then redeem the card in their App Store or Apple Music app to buy a subscription to the music streaming service.
Retailers like Amazon sell physical Apple gift cards for anywhere between $50 and $500. Best Buy sells digital cards in specific increments between $15 and $200 and physical cards for $25, $50, or $100.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
