It may be the most wonderful time of the year but it’s also the busiest. Between parties, dinners, gift shopping, gift wrapping, road trips and just general merriment, there’s even less time than usual to spend on sweating the small stuff.
Like music selections. Everyone knows music is the unsung hero of any social event – and we’re including lengthy car trips/ being stuck in traffic in this category, too – which means you need some go-to, picked-for-you music to fall back on.
So whether you’re hosting a multi-generation lunch, getting ready for a long-overdue night with the girls or jumping in a packed-to-the-brim car with the kids, we’ve got at least one free music station on LiSTNR that everyone will be happy to listen to.
Santa Radio
Tis the season, after all. As you can probably guess from the name, Santa Radio is here with the gift of non-stop Christmas hits and festive feels.
Yes, you’ll hear the classics – Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé are well and truly defrosted by now – but we’ve also sprinkled in plenty of Aussie Christmas tracks for that truly southern hemisphere feel.
Listen here.
Easy hits
THIS is the LiSTNR music station you put on right as your extended family arrive at your front door carrying platters of prawns and immediately descending upon your kitchen.
The continuous feel-good favourites will guarantee at least one “hey I love this song!” an hour, thanks to a 2000s, 90s, 80s and 70s-packed playlist featuring Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Presley, Huey Lewis and the News and Ed Sheeran.
Listen here.
Rock n Road Trip
The only thing that could make this music station better is by listening to it in a top-down convertible with nothing but open road ahead.
Regardless, it still slaps just as much in a hybrid sedan stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
This truly is the essential rock road trip, with The Black Crowes, Meatloaf, Chris Cornell and the Hoodoo Gurus lining up banger after banger. Open road anthems even if the road isn’t that open.
Listen here.
Hard N Heavy
Another LiSTNR music station that does what it promises: Track after track of hard n heavy rock metal. Think Pantera, Judas Priest, Avenged Sevenfold and much, much more.
We did promise music stations that everyone would be happy to listen to but it’s important to treat yourself this holiday season, too. You never know, maybe Aunt Suze can get behind a bit of Iron Maiden.
Listen here.
Buddha
On the VERY other end of the scale we have Buddha, the LiSTNR music station that could very well save your sanity this festive season. It’s easy to listen to, it’s easy to chill out to and, most importantly, it’s easy to turn up the volume on and drown out that battery-powered fire truck your kids’ grandparents rocked up with.
We’re feeling more relaxed just talking about it. Ahhhhh.
Listen here.
Top 30
The biggest hits, right now. Simultaneously discover new music from artists Olivia Rodrigo and Troye Sivan while feeling like a teenager again; 10/10, would recommend.
What we wouldn’t recommend is looking up how old Olivia Rodrigo and Troye Sivan are. They are accomplished.
Listen here.
Oldskool 80s
The hair was big but the hits were bigger – and now, they’re all here in one place in Oldskool 80s Hits. Billy Ocean! Whitney Houston! Prince! Pat Benatar!
Our recommendation? Start with Easy Hits around lunchtime and then, as the sun starts to set, flick to Oldskool 80s Hits. Be warned, though: Your living room may just turn into an impromptu dancefloor.
Listen here.
Triple M Almost Acoustic
Our friends at Triple M know what’s up and this music station is UP. Unplugged and stripped back, Triple M Almost Acoustic spins all your favourite tracks like you (may have) never heard them before.
Guaranteed sing-a-longs.
Listen here.
But that’s not all! We’ve got all your favourite hits blended, mixed and mashed by DJs over on Blender Beats. Oldskool 90s, Triple M Country, R n B Fridays Radio… there really is a LiSTNR music station for everyone.
And the best bit? All the decisions have been made for you. Hit play, sit back, and let LiSTNR do the heavy lifting with the music playlists this summer.
Download the app and listen to all these music stations and many, many more.