We all know someone who is always humming a new song or (not so subtly) strumming an air guitar as they stroll down the street. To these music enthusiasts, moving to the rhythm of the beat is more than a passion — it’s second nature. And finding them a gift that strikes a chord (sometimes both literally and figuratively) just makes sense.
Since music might inspire the person you’re shopping for to compose, perform or even fangirl, finding the perfect gift can seem daunting. That’s where we come in. No need to play gifting by ear — we found gifts for music lovers that will have them grooving all year long, from portable music players to speakers and vinyl coasters.
Unique gifts for music lovers
A perfect stocking stuffer for any rock fan, this affordable bottle opener is made with long-lasting stainless steel. Commerce writer Jannely Espinal recently gifted this to a guitarist friend of hers and he loved it!
The designer split these cards up based on genre — hearts are for pop singers, spades are for rockstars, diamonds are for folk and country singers and clubs are for the soul, blues and R&B stars. When editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson bought these cards for her friend’s birthday, “he loved it.”
Keep the music with them always, with these socks that have the phrase “treble maker” on them. Pair them with a pair of funky shoes or wear them under a pair of boots. They are made from a comfy cotton blend.
Who doesn’t love music trivia, especially when there are multiple-choice options to choose from? Including 140 trivia cards, this game will test your knowledge of ‘80s pop music while giving you a dose of nostalgia.
No matter the season, it always calls for puzzle time. And what better way to get into the spirit of things than with a rock ‘n roll-themed puzzle? This 1,000-piece option is the product of artist James Mellett who included rock icons and their discography.
Crafted out of the center of recycled records, these coasters are sealed with a protective finish so liquids won’t seep through them onto surfaces. Each set of six is truly unique, offering a variety of artists, genres and songs.
Make your next party one to remember with this mini karaoke machine that is portable and turns any song into a duet. It comes with great audio features and LED lights.
If they love to write music, this notebook is a must-have. It’s lined for music and has over 150 pages so they have plenty of room to brainstorm and get creative.
The founder of Celebs on Sandwiches, Jeff McCarthy, is regularly creating new prints featuring notable celebs, including John Lennon on a Sgt. Peppersteak’s Lonely Hearts Club Sandwich and Elton John on a BLT. This one features a punny flag, emblazoned with the phrase: “Don’t go bacon my heart.”
We’re calling everyone’s inner child with these major-scale musical wine glasses. The fill lines, which are sandblasted in Reno, Nevada, each denote steps on the major scale. To “play,” simply fill the glass to the desired note and run your finger around the rim.
If they’ve been streaming Olivia Rodrigo’s latest release endlessly since its release, they won’t be too sour receiving one of the mega pop star’s Lego sets. Rodrigo worked closely with the brand’s senior designer to incorporate nods to her music, tour and Filipino heritage through each of the five sets in the collection.
If you have a combo of your favorite songs and bands across CDs, records and streaming apps like Spotify, you need to try out this record player that is able to accommodate all of those.
Gifts for concert lovers
Whether the music lover in your life loves a Broadway musical, rock concert or musician documentary, they’ll be able to preserve their ticket stubs with this special diary. It includes clear sleeves and acid-free pages that won’t damage the tickets with time, according to the brand.
With prompts like song names, set lists, venues and more, this journal makes remembering every moment of the show that much easier.
The only thing worse than receiving a "storage full" notification at a concert is a phone that's low on battery or nearly dead. Stay prepared to capture every moment with this device that earned the award for best portable charger during Shop TODAY's 2024 Travel Gear Awards.
With bag restrictions becoming a concert norm, a stadium-approved clear fanny pack is a necessity for concert fans. The belt bag features an adjustable crossbody strap and a roomy interior, so your music-loving friend can keep their necessities close while they soak in the music.
Regular concert-goers know the feeling of ringing in their ears all too well once leaving the venue. Protect your ears with a quality set of earplugs that have also earned the Shop TODAY stamp of approval, thanks to how cushioned and comfortable they are.
Gifts for music lovers who play an instrument
Got a guitar player in your life? This handy clip-on accessory ensures that they'll be striking their chords perfectly in tune.
Alternatively, if you have a budding strummer in your life, some lessons will get them started on the right foot. Fender fortunately has them covered with their online platform that allows users to learn thousands of songs from their catalogue and receive real-time feedback on performance along the way.
Some of rock & roll’s biggest artists have used the Stylophone since its release in the late ‘60s for its ability to develop multilayered beats. Nearly six decades later, the music lover in your life can do the same using the built-in sound banks, beat pad and stylus. Along with being able to connect to your computer to record your developed sounds, it’s also an extra convenient size to tuck into a tote or backpack.
They'll be able to take the phrase "one-man band" to a whole new level after receiving this gift. After pressing the record button, the musician can play a specific rhythm or string of chords that will continuously loop as they jam. One verified customer said, “Bought this because I was tired of playing by myself and need some rhythm guitar to solo across. This thing did just the trick.”
As radical as drums sound out loud, sometimes everybody needs some peace and quiet. Thanks to this drum kit’s low-noise pads and low-noise beater-less kick pedal, the drummer you’re shopping for can jam all night long without keeping everyone awake.
Personalized gifts for music lovers
“One of my friends in high school did this and it was so so cool! We were all so envious!” former associate editor Sierra Hoeger says. “[It’s a] fun way to customize with ‘your song’ or songs that have meaning!”
Best music streaming gifts
In order to keep the sound quality of their records in tip-top shape, the person you’re shopping for needs to care for their records and record player. This care system includes a stylus brush, stylus cleaning fluid, microfiber cleaning pad, record cleaning fluid and record label protector.
If you’re hoping to gift a record player on a budget, consider this option, which is the number one bestseller in audio and video turntables on Amazon. The record player even has Bluetooth input and AUX audio input for those songs they haven’t scored on vinyl yet.
Associate market editor Audrey Ekman could wax poetic about the sound quality and giftability of this record player for days.
"With a price tag that's comfortably nestled among the lower end of the spectrum, this beautiful turntable blew my expectations out of the water." Ekman gushes. "It's a major upgrade from the suitcase-style options I was used to and makes every record sound exponentially better. I opted for the jade green shade and love how it pops in any space. I was happy to discover that the set up was a breeze, too — just note that you'll need separate external speakers to pair with the turntable."
Our team adores several iterations of Bose’s travel speakers (case in point: the SoundLink Flex that scored top marks in sound quality during internal testing), but we’re quickly warming up to their newly launched model.
“They truly amplified their capabilities with this one,” noted editor Vivien Moon. Aside from tailoring your audio to match a specific genre or mood, it is the first Bose model that is Alexa-enabled!
Deputy managing editor Jess Bender loves these headphones so much, she had to buy a pair for her equally-as-obsessed father.
“I quickly became enamored by the custom soundscapes and noise cancelling I could make for myself, the pillowy comfort it provides while sitting on my ears and the absolutely unprecedented battery life it has (I once went about two weeks before charging it),” she says. “As a music lover who’s always looking for good instrumentals, these headphones can’t be beat.”
Best gift cards for music lovers
Depending on their ticket marketplace preferences, you can gift them a StubHub gift card. The ticket seller has seats for artists across genres including country, pop, rock and so many more. The gift card can hold between $25 and $500.
This year, ticket prices have been a hot discussion topic. Help the concertgoer in your life see their favorite artist live by gifting them a Live Nation Gift Card. The digital gift card can hold between $25 and $500, so you can decide to spot their whole ticket or chip in to their dream concert.
This Spotify premium gift card is the perfect option for someone hoping to access the streaming service’s millions of songs and thousands of podcasts without any interruptions.
Best music gifts for children
Our little ones love music and this 10-piece musical instrument set includes all the tools for a cutie hoping to make some tunes. “For the littlest musician, you can’t go wrong with surprising them with their first instrument(s),” Bender says.
Who doesn’t love building a fun Lego toy? This 3-in-1 set will let their creativity run wild by letting them chose between three different builds.
They’ll love this Kidz Bop karaoke microphone that can connect to your phone to sing along with music from Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music. It even includes voice-altering technology for the little ones who want to sound like a chipmunk and more.
Furb-ulous, definition, make the kids go loco! This vibey edition of the popular interactive toy can change identity and personality based on the glasses they’re wearing, so they can be a glowing pop diva one moment or a fiery punk rocker the next.
Let their inner rock star have one (or several) moments in the spotlight with VTech’s newest interactive guitar. This instrument includes working guitar strings and frets, along with 30 built-in melodies they can jam out to.
If they’re more destined to be the next Marshmello, the brand’s Kidi Star DJ Mixer Pro may be more their speed.
Best books for music lovers
A BookTok favorite, “Daisy Jones & the Six” chronicles the rise of a fictional rock band in the 1970s. Dive into the band’s passions, secrets and music while discerning why they broke up.
Jonathan Lethem captures the 1980s through the lens of downtown Brooklyn, funk and hip-hop in his novel, “The Fortress of Solitude.” The book follows protagonist Dylan Ebdus and his journey to understand himself and his society.
“The dozens of sources the author talked to (including several artists that I worshipped in my teens) had really compelling stories from their time navigating the music scene, from performing in church basements and social clubs to exploding in popularity across the country,” Bender says.
If the music lover you’re shopping for wants to get down to the basics, this book is a musical classic. “Byrne examines pretty much every aspect of how music is created and how we ultimately consume it, from the technical elements of sound to how ritual inspired his approach to performance,” Bender said.
Another recommendation from Bender is this collection of essays. "Hanif Abdurraqib is probably one of the most thoughtful writers when it comes to weaving his personal experience with music into addressing wider points about culture and society as a whole. He’s written several books on specific topics like black artistry in American culture and how A Tribe Call Quest shaped his own experiences, but I keep revisiting this pick years after my first read. His essay on Carly Rae Jepsen alone deserves to be in the Smithsonian."
This Rolling Stone book will give them a tangible check off their bucket list as they truly earn the title of their friend group’s music know-it-all.
There’s never going to be a shining star quite like country legend Dolly Parton. For the mega fan who’ll miss her iconic wardrobe and words, this bestselling book takes you behind the scenes into her most beloved outfits, wigs, makeup and more throughout her decades-long career.
How we chose the best gifts for music lovers
The Shop TODAY team works hard to find the best products and coolest gifts out there. We use our own personal experiences with brands and shopping to find the most unique gifts on the market that are sure to be a hit with music lovers.
Don't forget to check out Shop TODAY's other gift guides to find the perfect gift for everyone on your list including the grillmaster, movie lover, book lover, foodie and more.
