The last Big Sonic Heaven of the year features the latest from She’s Green, The Mary Onettes, Yndling, Night Tapes, 16 Underground, and more.

Plus, this episode features tributes to two music industry greats who passed away this week. Perry “Teddy” Bamonte, guitarist and keyboardist of The Cure, passed Dec. 26, and Howie Klein, head of Sire and Reprise Records, passed away at 77. Darren reminisced about long conversations with Howie and his love and dedication to music. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

• “Gold” – Sigur RósBlack
• “Celebration” – Depeche Mode
• “Little Birds” – She’s Green
• “From The Edge of the Deep Green Sea” – The Cure
• “Without a Trace” – 16 Underground
• “6 Underground” – Sneaker Pimps
• “No More Kissing in the Rain” – TrenteMøller
• “Sea of Tranquility” – Siouxsie
• “Champagne Charlie” – Ashes and Diamonds
• “Machine Gun” – Slowdive
• “Procession” – New Order
• “The United States of Amnesia” – Hooverphonic
• “What Else is There??” – Royksopp
• “Hurricane Heart” – The Mary Onettes
• “Musette and Drums” – Cocteau Twins
• “Pacifico” – Night Tapes
• “Blown a Wish” – My Bloody Valentine
• “Vertigo” – Miki Berenyi Trio
• “Jesseye ‘Lizabeth (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)” – Mercury Rev
• “You Know How I Hate it (How the World Moves On)” – Yndling
• “You Do Something to Me” – Sinead O’ Connor
• “Vertigo” – The Love is Deadly
• “Snow Heart” – Lucy La Dusk
• “Leave the Lights” – Marta and Tricky
• “All Night Long” – Peter Murphy
• “Sacred Echoes (Part Two)” – The Church
• “Twisterella” – Ride
• “Like Suicide” – Actors
• “Atonement (feat Hatchie)” – Winter
• “For Love” – Lush
• “Out of Breath” – Melt Motif
• “Shine ’07” – Ulrich Schnauss
• “War in Heaven” – The Raveonettes

Over the holidays…the Detroit Evening Report team is sharing some of the stories we produced for the radio this year. Today, we hear a story from WDET’s Bre’Anna Tinsley.

A survey by the Entertainment Software Association found that 86% of veterans turn to gaming to reduce stress and anxiety. Bre’Anna Tinsley spoke to Stephen Machuga, who founded a nonprofit that supports mental health for veterans through gaming. Before creating Stack Up, Machuga spent eight years in the army.

That’s just part of Bre’Anna Tinsley’s interview with Stephen Machuga who founded the veteran support nonprofit Stack Up. You can hear the full story at wdet.org.

Additional headlines for December 31, 2025

First Day Hike

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is encouraging Michiganders to spend the first day of 2026 outdoors. The “First Day Hike” is an option for state and national parks. The Friends of Maybury State Park host a New Year’s Day hike every year. Recreation passes are required for vehicles entering state parks. You can find Michigan trails close by or across the state at michigan.gov/dnrtrails.

New year wishes

Decked Out Detroit’s “Create” program is offering a holiday crafting workshop tomorrow (Thurs). The Shadow Boxing New Year’s Wishes Workshop is a chance to make a shadow box and fill it with wishes for 2026. The workshop is from 1 to 3 p.m. at 1413 Woodward Avenue. Search for “create by decked out Detroit” on Eventbrite to register.

Markets open until January 4

Shopping at the Downtown Detroit Markets and warm drinks at the Cadillac Lodge at Cadillac Square are also available New Year’s Day and through January. For more information, visit downtowndetroit.org.

Pistons at home

The Pistons host the Miami Heat at Little Caesars Arena New Year’s Day. The game starts at 7 p.m.

Stay safe

And of course, there will be plenty of New Year’s Eve celebrations tonight.  Make sure to select a designated driver if you plan to drink. 

Diana Ross

If you’re staying home tonight, Motown legend Diana Ross will headline Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.  The live New York based show featuring several artists starts at 8 p.m. on ABC television.

Happy New Year!

The Detroit Evening Report will take a break for the holiday, but we’ll be back on Friday – ready to bring you all things Detroit in 2026. 

From all of us here at WDET, Happy New Year!

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

This week’s pick comes from multiple Grammy nominated artist and producer Solomon Fox, who has been steadily building a reputation as one of soul music’s most intriguing emerging voices.

After a much acclaimed mixtape in 2021, he is back with his proper solo debut album “Sweettooth,” loaded with collaborations from rising talents like Duckwrth, Samm Henshaw and Mai Anna.

The cut we are about to get into features vocalist Amaria. Their back and forth on this track is all chemistry and feel, wrapping tight melodies around a warm, future soul groove.

Here is Solomon Fox featuring Amaria with “Fallin’ Back,” and it is my Pick of the Week.

That was Solomon Fox with “Fallin’ Back” featuring Amaria, from his debut album “Sweettooth.”

If future soul sounds like this move you, tune in to The Progressive Underground every Saturday at 6 p.m. on 101.9 WDET and at wdet.org. 

Sunday marked the Winter Solstice as we celebrated the longest night of the year in Big Sonic Heaven.

We played mix of traditional and non-traditional holiday songs, along with some of your favorite shoegaze, dreampop, trip-hop, and post-punk. Check out the playlist below. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

• “Silent Night” – Sinead O’Connor
• “Shanty” – Slowdive
• “Garden” – Maria Somerville
• “2000 Miles” – Deary
• “Stumble” – Meena
• “Christmas Reindeer” – The Knife
• “Merry Christmas from Björk” – Björk
• “All is Full of Love” – Björk
• “Christmas Don’t Be Late” – Rosie Thomas
• “My Love” – Silk Daisys
• “Winter Wonderland” – Cocteau Twins
• “Thoughtforms” – Lush
• “White Christmas” – 93MillionMilesfromtheSun
• “Warmth” – Glazyhaze
• “Stripped” – Depeche Mode
• “Holiday House” – Beach House
• “You Look So Fine” – Garbage
• “Emo Song” – The Haunted Youth
• “Christmas Time is Here” – Mark Kozelek
• “Song to the Siren” – This Mortal Coil
• “Christmas Will Break Your Heart” – LCD Soundsystem
• “Mad About You” – Hooverphonic
• “Just Drive” – Postiljonen
• “O Holy Night” – Bien
• “Gorecki” – Lamb
• “Until You Come Back Home” – Nother and Moon Leap
• “Happy Xmas (War is over)” – Cranes
• “She Won’t Be Home” – Erasure
• “Say You Will” – Ivy
• “Spirit”- Dead Can Dance
• “White Christmas” (2010) – Iggy Pop
• “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” (2007) – Asobi Seksu
• “Frosty the Snowman” – Cocteau Twins
• “My Christmas Prayer” – St. Etienne
• “All I Want For Christmas” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• “Oíche Chiún (Silent Night)” – Enya

Listen to Big Sonic Heaven with host Darren Revell Sundays from 9 p.m. to midnight ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, Josh Ritter rounds our 2025 as our last guest of the year. Recorded at The Leon Loft in November, Josh plays songs from his new album “I Believe In You My Honeydew“.

Also, in-studio archives from Amos Lee, Shawn Colvin, Mike Doughty and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for December 21, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “This Christmas I’m Coming Home” – Leon Bridges & Norah Jones
• “Buffalo, 1981” – Haley Heynderickx & Max Garcia Conover
• “Clay Pigeons” – Muireann Bradley
• “All For You” – Rhett Miller
• “How To Love” – Buffalo Nichols (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “River” – The Accidentals
• “You Won’t Dig My Grave” – Josh Ritter (in-studio guest performance)
• “Truth Is A Dimension…” – Josh Ritter (in-studio guest performance)
• “Hard Times” – Mavis Staples
• “The Way It Will Be” – Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
• “Small Talk” – Whitney
• “Looks” – Mike Doughty (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Appalachian Adam’s Apple Smile” – Palmyra
• “Store Bought Christmas” – Old Crow Medicine Show
• “Rebel Soul” – Michael Kiwanuka
• “I’m Gone” – Shawn Colvin(Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” – Freedy Johnson
• “Who Knows” – Daniel Caesar
• “Hanukkah Gelt” – The Klezmatics
• “Bottom Of The Barrel” – Amos Lee (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Thunderbird” – Josh Ritter (in-studio guest performance)
• “Only A River” – Josh Ritter (in-studio guest performance)
• “Wild Ways” – Josh Ritter (in-studio guest performance)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, as Hanukkah ends and Christmas week begins, naturally it’s time for the annual holiday music extravaganza!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for December 20, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Santaland Diaries (excerpt 1)” – David Sedaris
• “Mi La Gozo” – Cheo Feliciano
• “Everybody Knows It’s Christmas” – Roland Gift
• “The Christmas Song” – Roberta Flack
• “Christmas Time Is Here” – Jill Jack
  
• “Santaland Diaries (excerpt 2)” – David Sedaris
• “I’ll Be Your Santa Baby” – Rufus Thomas
  
• “Happy Joyous Hanukkah” – The Klezmatics
  
• “Santaland Diaries (excerpt 3)” – David Sedaris
• “It’s Christmas” – Cory Henry
• “This Christmas I’m Coming Home” – Leon Bridges & Norah Jones
  
• “Mele Kalikimaka” – Jake Shimabukuro & Jimmy Buffet
  
• “At The Holiday Party” – St. Vincent
• “Happy Kwanza” – Teddy Pendergrass
  

• “Santaland Diaries (excerpt 4)” – David Sedaris
• “Someday At Christmas” – The Accidentals
• “No So Merry Christmas” – Michigander
• “No So Merry Christmas” – Raul Malo
• “Christmastime Is Here” – Spoon
• “8 Days” – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
  
• “Driving Home For Christmas” – Kathy Kosins
• “Santaland Diaries (excerpt 5)” – David Sedaris
• “Who Took The Merry Out of Christmas” – Staples Singers
  
• “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” – Ella Fitzgerald
• “Mistletoe And Holly” – aron!
• “Hanukkah Blessings” – Barenaked Ladies
• “Santaland Diaries (excerpt 6)” – David Sedaris
• “What Are You Doing New year’s Eve?” – Herb Alpert

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

Every year, legendary jazz broadcaster Ed Love (host of Destination Jazz: The Ed Love Program on 101.9 WDET Sundays 5–7 p.m.) curates a list of recently-released recordings that he considers required listening for today’s jazz lovers.

This year’s list features 166 “CDs” from around the world, from France with Michel Petrucciani’s ‘Jazz Club Montmartre’ to right here in Detroit with the compilation album ‘Strata-East: The Legacy Begins.’

Use the table below to check out Ed Love’s highly recommended new CDs for 2025.

Modern Music host Jon Mosier joins In The Groove to share his Best of 2025 selections, spotlighting standout tracks from across new and emerging independent artists from Detroit and beyond.

From the propulsive energy of “Hey You” by The Belair Lip Bombs to the expansive sound of “Others” by Matthew Smith Group, Jon’s picks reflect a year defined by adventurous new voices and confident returns from indie mainstays.

As Jon puts it: “2025 was a stellar year for under-the-mainstream-radar music from all over the globe and right here in Detroit with an impressive number of brand-new artists releasing debut records as well as indie stalwarts returning this year with solid records. Trends from my world are the continuing influence of 1980s post-punk experimentalism and shoe-gaze.”

Check out Jon’s full Best of 2025 playlist below, and listen to In The Groove to hear his selections.

• “Hey You” — The Belair Lip Bombs
• “Others” — Matthew Smith Group
• “Deus-Dará” — Oruã
• “DrnkGrlfrnd” — Kiln
• “Mercury” — Automatic
• “Secret Door” — Jeff Tweedy
• “Unsolicited Advice” — Laura Lee & the Jettes
• “Uniform” — TVOD
• “(You Can’t Go Back To) Oxford Talawanda” — Guided By Voices
• “Evil People” — MIEN
• “It’s All About the Music” — Bee Bee Sea

Tune in Friday, Dec. 12 – Friday Dec. 19 on 101.9 WDET FM, stream anytime at wdet.org — and follow along online for daily Best Of playlists and reflections from our music hosts.

See the Best of 2025 playlists »

Once again, Jon Moshier teams up with local all-vinyl DJ and record collector Dave Lawson for a brand-new batch of rare and sometimes unusual holiday gems on the award-winning (not so) Modern Music Holiday Special!

Tune in Saturday, Dec. 20 at 4p.m. EST and again on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 10p.m. here on 101.9 WDET.

Looking back at 2025, Rob Reinhart from Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music and Acoustic Cafe reflects on the music that cut through the noise and brought moments of joy during a challenging year.

From the infectious energy of Jon Batiste’s “Big Money” — a delightful track from an album famously created in just 12 days — to “After I’m Dead” by Detroit rocker Ryan Allen, a sharp, compact song from one of three albums released by Ryan Allen & His Extra Arms in 2025, Rob’s picks celebrate humor, heart, and creativity at its most human.

Rob says, “Looking back at 2025, I wanted to see what captured my attention the most. The music that made me laugh held the biggest sway over me this year. It helped to brighten the mood in an otherwise very dark year. Smiles count, too! In that spirit, I offer the following samples of tracks that brightened my year.”

Check out Rob’s full Best of 2025 playlist below, and listen to In the Groove to hear the tracks that brought some much-needed light to the year.

• “BIG MONEY” – Jon Batiste
• “After I’m Dead” – Ryan Allen And His Extra Arms
• “Chicago” – Mavis Staples
• “Round and Round” – Alex Williams
• “No Champagne (6am)” – Cautious Clay
• “Divide and Conquer” – The Devil Makes Three
• “If Not For Love” – Durand Jones & The Indications, Durand Jones & Aaron Frazer
• “Killer Bee” – Jack Spivey
• “Yard Sale” – Priscilla Block
• “Uptown Downtown” – Jon Cleary
• “Sleeves Up” – Crys Matthews

Tune in Friday, Dec. 12 – Friday Dec. 19 on 101.9 WDET FM, stream anytime at wdet.org — and follow along online for daily Best Of playlists and reflections from our music hosts.

See the Best of 2025 playlists »

After decades of decay, Detroit’s historic Packard Plant could be on the road to redevelopment.

The city announced a letter of intent with a developer to give 28-acres of the site new life. The plant as a whole has been a significant structure throughout Detroit’s history. It has seen the heights of the automotive boom and the consequences of disinvestment and neglect. 

When auto manufacturing operations at the plant came to an end in the mid-20th century, another generation reimagined the space. So which moments deserve to be preserved in its next chapter? 

Dave Marchioni, the industrial and automotive curator at the Detroit Historical Society, and John Lauter, Packard Plant historian, revisit key moments throughout it’s history. 

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

This week, I spun just some of my favorite songs released by artists based around metro Detroit and all across the state of Michigan. Emphasis on some, hah! Because there’s just so many to choose from and, for me, so difficult to narrow it down, but I did my best.

I’ve been covering the local music scene for 20 years, and more than eight of those years have been here on WDET. Each year I’ve found myself giving a similarly-worded year-end appraisal: more and more (and more) amazing music keeps coming out of Detroit! Music that is engaging, experimental, impressively produced, catchy-as-hell, and frankly, inspirational!

Spin the episode above to hear more of my thoughts, and look below to find a list of my top 10 favorite songs of the year!

Fav Songs of 2025!

1.) The Bloodletting – Phabies

2.) Jesse – Danny VanZandt

3.) The Middle – Na Bonsai

4.) Fearless & The Pure – Elisabeth Pixley-Fink

5.) Black Cat Operator – Rogue Satellites

6.) Wildflower – Nancy Friday

7.) Fast Food Napkin – Low Phase

8.) Looks Like We’re Alive – Spencer LaJoye

9.) Do It All – The City Lines

10.) Anymore – Mirror Mask

And stay tuned for two more episodes of MI Local in the year of 2025: 

Tuesday, Dec. 23: Highlighting original holiday music by local artists, plus in-studio guests include members of local rock groups Strange Witch and The City Lines, both of whom will perform original Christmas music and a classic cover!

Tuesday, Dec. 30: I’ll run through a bunch of great songs released during the year of 2025 that I nearly missed, plus in-studio guests Emily Rose and Audra Kubat will hang out to perform some original songs live, as well as a cover of Auld Lang Syne!

Happy New Year & Happy Holidays! Thanks for listening!

Few voices are as deeply woven into Detroit’s musical fabric as Ann Delisi’s. A trusted presence in Detroit radio for decades, Ann brings her unmatched perspective and curiosity to In the Groove with her Best of 2025 selections.

As a longtime champion of artists across genres and generations — from Detroit innovators to global icons — Ann’s picks reflect a career spent listening closely, asking questions, and shaping how this city hears music. Her Best of 2025 continues that legacy, highlighting the records and artists that resonated most with her this year.

Check out Ann Delisi’s full Best of 2025 playlist below, and listen to In the Groove to hear her selections and insights from one of Detroit radio’s most essential voices.

• “Midnight Marauders” – Don Was
• “Stealing A Kiss” – The War and Treaty
• “Gunslinger” – Natalie Bergman
• “No Rain, No Flowers” – The Black Keys
• “Flower Moon” – Durand Jones & The Indications & Aaron Frazer
• “The New Normal” – Sheryl Crow
• “Rollin’ B-Side Blues” – The Muggs
• “Midnight (feat. Keezy)” – Brother Thunder
• “Sober” – Bartees Strange

Tune in Friday, Dec. 12 – Friday Dec. 19 on 101.9 WDET FM, stream anytime at wdet.org — and follow along online for daily Best Of playlists and reflections from our music hosts.

See the Best of 2025 playlists »

Alternate Take host Liz Warner brings her deep listening and lifelong passion for music to In The Groove with her Best of 2025 selections, offering a genre-spanning look at the sounds that shaped the year.

An award-winning audio journalist, DJ, writer and longtime WDET voice known for exploring music and art that shapes Detroit’s culture, Liz highlights the tracks that stood out to her from both established innovators and exciting new voices.

Check out the playlist below for Liz Warner’s top 10 songs of 2025, and listen to the full show above for two weeks after it airs.

• “And Nothing Is Forever (Cosmodelica Electric Eden Remix)” – The Cure
• “cosa rara (feat. David Sylvian)” – Lucrecia Dalt
• “baby” – Gabriel Jacoby
• “Neon Grey Midnight Green” – Neko Case
• “Backwards” – Idle Ray
• “I Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time” – Thundercat
• “Gadabout Season” – Brandee Younger
• “Babystar” – Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill
• “Shapeshift (Radio Edit)” – HAAi

Tune in Friday, Dec. 12 – Friday Dec. 19 on 101.9 WDET FM, stream anytime at wdet.org — and follow along online for daily Best Of playlists and reflections from our music hosts.

See the Best of 2025 playlists »

On this episode of Visions and in typical fashion, I head all over the musical map with my selections.

This week features classic cuts from John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Curtis Fuller, and Detroit’s Barry Harris. I also feature newer releases from Esthesis Quartet, Heat On, Brandee Younger, and Detroit’s Louis Jones III and William Hill III.

I venture slightly into the avant-garde with Eric Dolphy and Marion Brown. And finally, a great track from Roy Hargrove featuring Wynton Marsalis.

There are a few others in the mix, but with music spanning from the 1960’s to the 2020’s, there’s something in here for everyone to enjoy.

Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Visions Playlist for Dec. 15, 2025

• “‘Snuff” – Jackie McLean
• “Black Bath” – Curtis Fuller
• “Mr. Day” – John Coltrane
• “Country Boy” – John Lee Hooker
• “Breaking Point” – Brandee Younger
• “Stay the Course” – William Hill III*
• “Horace Silver” – The New York Bass Violin Choir & Bill Lee
• “Nicaragua” – The Barry Harris* Sextet
• “Homestretch” – Joe Henderson
• “Peek-A-Boo” – Louis Jones III*
• “Ace of Pentacles” – Esthesis Quartet
• “Bye-Ya” – Carmen Staaf
• “Gazzelloni” – Eric Dolphy
• “West India” – Marion Brown
• “Nostalgia” – Roy Hargrove
• “Rimrock” – Heat On
• “Feed the Fire (feat. esperanza spalding & Karriem Riggins*)[Bonus Track]” – Nicholas Payton

*indicates Detroit artists

This week we are rocking with the legendary De La Soul, who just dropped a new album called “Cabin In The Sky.” It is part of Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It series, which links up classic rap crews with new projects for a new era.

De La steps back into the spotlight missing a core voice. Trugoy the Dove, also known as Dave, passed two years ago, but he is here posthumously alongside Pos and Mase, trading verses with a who’s who from progressive hip hop and beyond: Nas, Killer Mike, Black Thought, Q-Tip, Yukimi from Little Dragon and more, with production from heavyweights like Pete Rock and DJ Premier.

The cut we are about to get into is classic De La: laid-back, witty, conversational and groove-centered. Here is De La Soul with “The Package” off “Cabin In The Sky” and it is my Pick of the Week.

That was “The Package” from De La Soul, the lead single from their new album “Cabin In The Sky.”

If progressive hip hop like this moves you, lock in with The Progressive Underground every Saturday at 6 p.m. on 101.9 WDET and online at wdet.org.

Thanks for listening, and we will see you next time.

On this week’s episode of Acoustic Café, the duo Rachael & Vilray make music that sounds like the 1940s, but it’s brand new! Rachael Price from Lake Street Dive and singer-songwriter-guitarist Vilray have created a new set of songs called “West Of Broadway.”

Also, in-studio archives from Australian soul songwriter Allysha Joy, folk stalwart John Gorka, Memphis bluesman Alvin Youngblood Hart and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episodes on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Acoustic Café Playlist for December 13, 2025

• “Million Dollar Intro” – Ani DiFranco
• “Teardrop” – Jose Gonzalez
• “Pajarito” – Jose Gonzalez
• “Not Yet Free” – Flock Of Dimes
• “Count The Days” – Swamp Dogg ft. Jenny Lewis
• “Big Mama’s Door” – Alvin Youngblood Hart (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “I’ll Find A Way” – Ted Lucas
• “Forever Never Lasts” – Rachael & Vilray (in-studio guest performance)
• “Love Comes Around” – Rachael & Vilray (in-studio guest performance)
• “No Kings” – Jesse Welles
• “This Morning I Am Born Again” – Haley Heynderickx/Max Garcia Conover
• “No Time To Cry” – John Gorka
• “Blue Chalk” – John Gorka (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “White Winter Hymnal” – The Accidentals
• “Islands” – Whitney
• “My Own Advice” – Belle Canyon
• “Take Two” – Madison Cunningham
• “Raise Up” – Allysha Joy (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Norwegian Wood” – Jacob Collier
• “In My Life” – The Beatles
• “Buckle” – Florence + The Machine
• “Side Pony” – Lake Street Dive (Acoustic Cafe performance)
• “Just For Fun” – Beyonce
• “Off Broadway” – Rachael & Vilray (in-studio guest performance)
• “The Stuff” – Rachael & Vilray (in-studio guest performance)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, remembering the sweet voice of Raul Malo in 2 studio sessions from 2009 and 2010. He died this week at age 60.

Also, new music from the duo TOMORA, Daniel Caesar, and Mavis Staples. Then we take it back to December 1965 (which is still with us every day), a Parliament classic from December 1975 and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for December 13, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Ring The Alarm” – TOMORA
• “Conqueror” – Aurora
• “Florescence” – Big Gigantic & Lady Blackbird
• “If I Told You” – Lady Blackbird
• “The Gingerbread Monster” – Emma Guzman
  
• “Think For Yourself” – The Beatles (“Rubber Soul,” Dec. 1965)
• “Get Off Of Me Cloud” – The Rolling Stones (“December’s Children,” Dec. 1965)
• “My Generation” – The Who (“My Generation,” Dec. 1965)
• “Linus & Lucy” – Vince Guaraldi Trio (“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Dec. 1965)
• “Call On Me” – Daniel Caesar
• “Satisfied Mind” – Mavis Staples
  
• “Poison In My Well” – Maggie Rose & Grace Potter
• “You Always Win” – Raul Malo (Acoustic Cafe performance, 2009)
  

• “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Ella Fitzgerald
  
• “Wonderful Christmastime” – The Accidentals
• “Who’s That” – Brother Wallace
• “What Good?” – Arkells
  
• “Giving Up” – Michigander
• “Give Up The Funk” – Parliament (“Mothership Connection,” Dec. 1975)
  
• “Screwdriver” – Prince (“Hit N Run Phase 2,” Dec. 2015)
• “Looking Out For #1” – B.T.O. (“Head On,” Dec. 1975)
• “Beck N Call” – waterbaby
• “In The Saddle” – Whitney
• “Ignorance Is Bliss” – Alice Merton
• “Living For Today” – Raul Malo (Acoustic Cafe performance, 2010)

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

Three straight hours of music released in 2025—the best of the best. Lots of my picks and lots of yours! Thanks to everyone that left a message on the In The Groove hotline with your picks; they were absolutely lovely and mixed right in with the show!

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for December 11, 2025

• “Save Me” – Emma-Jean Thackray

• “Si Chomphu” – Salin

• “SNC” – DARKSIDE

• “YUKON” – Justin Bieber

• “Found A Light (Beale Street)” – BADBADNOTGOOD & V.C.R

• “S.O.T.H.” – Sault

• “Be A Witness” – Lady Wray

• “Sad Makeup” – Yukimi

• “What It Gave Me” – Jordan Rakei & Jalen Ngonda

• “Constellation” – The Circling Sun

• “Puaj” – Salin

• “Alone (Four Tet Remix)” – The Cure

• “Angles Mortz” – Nightbus

• “Listen2me” – Foxwarren

• “The World’s Biggest Paving Slab (Daniel Avery Remix)” – English Teacher

• “Hit My Head All Day” – Dry Cleaning

• “Belong To You” – Cut Copy & Kate Bollinger

• “I’m Not Ready For The Change” – Nation of Language

• “Mercury” – Automatic

• “You got time and I got money” – Smerz

• “Lo Life” – Antibalas

• “Treat Yourself” – Franc Moody

• “Nobody New” – The Marias

• “Garden” – Maria Somerville

• “To Be A Rose” – Jenny Hval

• “Power of the Moon” – Ezra Furman

• “Sugar in the Tank” – Julien Baker & TORRES

• “Elderberry Wine” – Wednesday

• “..THUS IS WHY ( I DON’T SPRING 4 LOVE )” – SAYA GRAY

• “It’s A Mirror” – Perfume Genius

• “Elegantly Wasted (feat. Leon Bridges)” – Hermanos Gutiérrez

• “Waves” – ISTA

• “Lecker Song” – Yin Yin

• “Stone Shadow” – Glyders

• “Take My Hand” – El Michels Affair & Rahsaan Roland Kirk 

Friday, Dec. 12, 2025

We played three more hours of your top songs and mine on Friday to officially kick off the “Best Of” week of listening. 

Follow along with what our hosts are highlighting as the defining tunes of this year and listen to all of our picks in one place on the Best Of 2025: The WDET Playlist page. 

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for December 12, 2025

• “GOOD LUCK” – KAYTRANADA

• “Another Baby!” – Dijon

• “Rush” – Gerald Clayton

• “Red Moon” – Tom Misch

• “Survivor” – Chronixx

• “Carry Me Away” – El Michels Affair & Norah Jones

• “Heaven” – Yeek

• “SPIDERS” – Lola Young

• “SOS” – Jadu Heart

• “Believer” – Annahstasia

• “Left For Tomorrow” – Perfume Genius

• “Better” – SPRINTS

• “Man Made Of Meat” – Viagra Boys

• “High Vibrations” – Theo Croker, Malaya & D’LEAU

• “Sad Piano House” – Daphni

• “Babystar” – Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill

• “Eye To Eye (Live From The Royal Albert Hall)” – Jordan Rakei

• “The Seize” – Jordan Rakei

• “N8 Medley (Live at Audio Gold)” – Lawne

• “Nubian Lady” – Don Was

• “Dumb Feeling” – Mei Semones

• “Animaru” – Mei Semones

• “Need To Run” – Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill

• “Invocation (feat. Onipa, Jupiter & Okwess, Otim Alpha, Damon Albarn & Joan as Police Woman)” – Africa Express

• “MISK” – Roundabout

• “DON’T LISTEN” – corto.alto

• “Coltrane (Crooked Man Remix)” – Cymande

• “Ibiza” – Butcher Brown

• “Road To Nowhere” – Roge

• “Boste” – Oreglo

• “Uno Punto Uno” – Women In Jazz & Rosa Brunello

• “SPOTTIEOTTIEDOPALISCIOUS” – Kassa Overall

• “2close2farr” – Momoko Gill

• “All That We Were” – Georgie Sweet

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.