6 Music YouTube Channels That’ll Transform Your Listening Habits
illustration by Emma Niggley
Are you curious about getting into music reviews, video essays, or deep-dives? Here’s a list of awesome YouTube channels to get you started, accompanied with a summary of what makes each one special. Whether you’re looking into Billboard Chart analysis or deconstructions of film scoring, there’ll be a channel for you — take a look:
MicTheSnare is one of the most consistently engaging music channels on YouTube, mixing in-depth analysis with a quick, punchy, and hilarious delivery. The channel features several different kinds of videos, including a nearly hour-long deep dive into the Glee phenomenon, discography deep-dives, and rapid-fire album reviews.
If you’re curious about the technical side of music, the theory, then David Bennett Piano is a great channel to check out. He’s got videos explaining different time signatures, scales, chord progressions, and modes. Not only that, he gives helpful examples from notable artists ranging from Björk to Ed Sheeran.
Looking for up and coming artists to listen to? COLORS is one of the best YouTube channels to discover emerging talent in genres ranging from hip hop to soul to pop. The channel features live performances set against aesthetically pleasing, single color backgrounds that suit the tone of each song. Recent videos feature artists like Isaiah Rashad, FLOHIO, and Sevdaliza.
Todd In The Shadows has been in the game of reviewing pop music since 2009. His page features in-depth reviews of Billboard smashes, discussions about one-hit-wonders, and, most notable, rankings of the best and worst of a particular year’s hit songs. But it also serves as a music archive. If you deep-dive into his older videos, you’ll be able to watch as the landscape of pop shifts in real time.
Trash Theory’s most noteworthy series is New British Cannon, which dissects the influence of British hits like “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell, “Teardrop” by Massive Attack, and “Paper Planes” by M.I.A. It’s a great place to go to gain a better understanding of not only British musical history, but how our modern music landscape took shape.
Whether you’re a production newbie or a seasoned professional, Mix With The Masters is a great channel to check out if you’re curious about how music gets made. The channel features producers rifling through session files, giving insight into their studio setups, and overall describing their creative process. Get a look into the making of “Diamonds” by Rihanna, or take a deep dive into mixing Dua Lipa’s vocals.