Associate Music Supervisor, Ruben Lira, spent a lot of time reflecting on his favorite album of the year. And this year, his selection goes beyond just the music: it also connect with him on a personal level. Check out his pick for top album of 2018: Leon Bridges’ Good Thing. 

There are albums that are enjoyable, playful, and thought-provoking. And then there are albums that take this one step further, and connect with you on a deeper level. These are the albums that you embrace and claim to yourself, as your songs to the world; and this is one of those albums for me. Leon Bridges’ Good Thing veers into multiple emotions, in a style which is just not done enough today. From vintage R&B, to Jazz, to vintage soul of the Motown days, Good Thing traverses all these genres in fluidity not done enough in today’s music-scape. From celebrating life, to telling the struggles we all encounter in our daily lives, Good Thing is best heard as an antidote […]

For Christian Zabala, Associate Music Supervisor, his favorite album of the year was not a debut release, but rather a soundtrack. Check out his review of the Black Panther Soundtrack below!

While there are many albums that I enjoyed this year, my favorite may not be what you’d expect. It’s not an album that was a debut release (Cardi B’s album was great though!), nor was it a record that people have been waiting years for to see if it was worth the hype (I did enjoy my visits to Astroworld). Instead, I’ve chosen the Black Panther movie soundtrack. Yes, the soundtrack for the Marvel superhero movie that may very well be responsible for more representation of people of color in film moving forward (hey, Crazy Rich Asians came out this year too, it’s legit!).

Politics aside, the Black Panther soundtrack was put together by Compton native Kendrick Lamar, paying homage to the characters and the overall story of the film. This soundtrack was amazing and will hopefully make soundtracks cool […]

As a member of our procurement department, Grady Tyree has the chance to taste everything that passes into our library. This year, he features Janelle Monae’s Dirty Computer was as the best of 2018! Check out his review! 

Relevant. On-topic. Powerful. Liberating. Sexy. Funky. These are all adjectives that can be attached to the newest album from the multi-talented songstress, Janelle Monae. Her album, Dirty Computer, is another brilliant conceptual piece of musical resistance. Monae began working on Dirty Computer back in 2016, but features in two Hollywood releases (Hidden Figures and Moonlight), as well as the untimely death of her collaborator, Prince, delayed the completion until 2018.

“Make Me Feel” and “Django Jane” were the first cuts released from the album, both hitting digital queues and earphones two months prior to the album release, and the singles were perfect snapshots of how the album was going to sound. “Make Me Feel” was upbeat, fun, funky and free-feeling, while “Django Jane” was more urban, direct and powerful, dropping the playful vibe of […]

In 1998 the French music duo Air (Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel) burst onto the scene with their impactful and highly-praised album Moon Safari. Now, 20 years later, Dunckel has taken a solo flight delivering a sonic gem with his album H+, and according to Music Supervisor Mark Campbell, it is worthy of consideration for album of the year.

Although the content doesn’t veer too far from the standard Air sound palate (delicate vocals, sleek arrangements, downtempo grooves, electronic textures) the songs are still exceptional and noteworthy, featuring superb songwriting and first-rate production levels throughout. The tracks “Hold On” and “Transhumanity” are standouts on an album’s worth of great music – a must-have for fans of Air and their iconic sound.

Artist: JB Dunckel

Tracks: Hold On

Twitter: @JBDunckel

Here at PlayNetwork, our creative music experts work with clients around the world to curate music for a diverse range of clients, from high-end retailers to small mom-and-pop places that want to hear the best music for their brand and audience. From this unique perspective, we tend to look for music that is popular and familiar, and we dig deeper for more obscure music by an artist or band that just broke into the scene that no one knows about yet. Below is a small peek of some of those artists and songs that were used the most by our clients here at PlayNetwork.

And to continue our annual end of the year list, we will be posting some of our Music Supervisor top albums and songs that they loved and most likely curated for their clients in 2019. And make sure to check out our December playlist and discover some great new tracks to add to your rotation, handpicked by our entire music team.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S […]

This month’s music discovery blog comes to you from Music Service Manager, Dean Carlson who is sharing three of his current favorite tracks performed by some amazing new artists. Check out our December playlist and discover some great new tracks to add to your rotation, handpicked by our entire music team.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

Looking for some new music? Here are three artists to watch in 2019, from all around the globe, who I believe will continue to gain more fans and exposure in the coming year. Each of these tracks are on heavy rotation in my own playlists–I hope that you enjoy them too! 

Artist: J.S. Ondara

Track: American Dream

Twitter: @jsondara

Singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to pursue a career in music, partly due to his adoration of native Bob Dylan. You can easily hear the influence in this powerful track “American Dream,” which also showcases his intimate singing style. His […]

This month’s music discovery comes to you by Nicole Maroutsos, who is one of our Music Service Managers within our Music Team. Our November BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to enhance your playlist with this month’s music discovery.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

In the past few months, we’ve seen a new trend arise: the ode to throwbacks. Songwriters seem to be more nostalgic than ever before, singing about the good old days and referencing iconic tracks of yore. These three tracks were released within the past six months and all take it back to the old school.

Artist: Anne-Marie

Track: 2002

Twitter: @AnneMarie

Nostalgic reference weave in and out of this ballad that Anne-Marie co-wrote with Ed Sheeran and Julia Michaels. In just the chorus alone, there are six references from tracks released in the late 90’s and early 00’s; “Oops, I got 99 problems singing ‘bye, bye, bye’ / Hold up, if you wanna go and take […]

This month’s music discovery comes to you by one our Associate Music Supervisor, Ruben Lira. Our October BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction with this month’s music discovery.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

This month’s choices are focused on those songs which seem out of place with mainstream. The songs I picked are those that take the listener on a journey through highs and lows within the song. Some of the songs are slow and some are a ride into an uplifting euphoria. These songs are hidden gems, which rarely get the spotlight but never the less, deserve recognition of the artistic substance they encompass.

Artist: Maggie Rogers

Track: Fallingwater

Twitter: @maggierogers

This song seems to take the formula of a song and reverse it. Rather than a slow build up, the song seems to pulsate at the beginning, then slows down the tempo within the middle, and finally ends on a […]

This month’s Music Discovery Blog comes from one of our Associate Music Supervisors, Kalla Vavra who has highlighted three movie scenes brought to life by music. You can peep these tunes below and be sure to check out the new addition of the September BrandRadio playlist, brought to you by our music team to refresh and impress your ears.

  LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

Music supervisors have a pretty cool job. On a daily basis, we take a deep dive into the right side of our brains, the side that sparks creativity and enhances the artistic senses, to create an emotional connection and reaction through the power of music. At PlayNetwork, music supervisors use music to enhance a brand’s identity through custom-curated playlists.

This month, I’m highlighting key scenes that have struck a chord with me (pun intended) due solely to the music placement. Whenever and wherever I hear the following songs, their corresponding scenes instantly play in my mind. Whittling my choices down to just […]

This month’s music discovery blog is brought to you by one of our newest Music Supervisors, Pete Greenberg! On his off days, Pete dedicated to his small vinyl release label that celebrates some of the great artists of the Northwest who have released some phenomenal albums. Our playlist is all new and has been handpicked by our entire music team to get your summer officially started!

  LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

This month, I selected songs that have caught my ear recently–in the way that great songs just sort of come to you when you’re not really expecting it. Having been a Frightened Rabbit fan for a while, I kept Mastersystem on my radar, and was curious as to how their debut album would distance themselves from their respective associated bands (Frightened Rabbit, The Editors, and Minor Victories). Their track “The Enlightenment” does an excellent job of illustrating a more angular shaping. Hatchie’s “Sugar & Spice” was just one of those songs that once you hear […]

This month’s music discovery blog is brought to you by Alex Ruder, not only is he a multi-year Music Supervisor vet, he is also a part-time KEXP DJ, and runner of DIY label Hush Hush Records. Our playlist is all new and has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction for the month of June.

  LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

The summer season is approaching, so it’s time to get some tasty tunes ready to go for your BBQ + patio playlist. I’ve combed through a stack of new and upcoming releases and selected a handful of standout choice cuts to sprinkle into your mix. These tracks are sure to add some mouth-watering slow-motion underground funk to compliment the inescapable summertime pop anthems.

Artist: Bluestaeb

Twitter: @Bluestaeb

Track: Left & Right

Splitting time between Berlin and Paris, electronic producer Leon Giseke (aka Bluestaeb) has consistently provided smooth beats since debuting in 2013, and the early singles from […]

This month’s music discovery blog is by our seasoned Music Supervisor Alex Espinosa who has over 30 years’ experience in the music world. Our May BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction with this month’s music discovery.

  LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

My earliest memories of music are from the spring and summer months; where the days got longer and the music blared on the radio. I still remember where I was when I first heard “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, or asking my mom to turn up the radio when “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers would come on. These songs have always had a lasting impression on me, as they evoke the perfect chill vibe that is perfect during the warm days and nights this time of year. Below are some new cuts that are all about this vibe, as well as an older classic that will sure to bring […]

This month’s music discovery comes to you by one of our Music Supervisor, Chris Robles who is missing Sade and her old band mates. Our April playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to get you in the mood for spring!

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

Artist: Sade

Twitter: @SadeOfficial

Track: Flower Of The Universe

In early March we were blessed with the first new song from Sade in over 7 years. “Flower Of The Universe” was made for the soundtrack to the movie A Wrinkle In Time. I wasn’t sure what to expect when it was announced that a new song would be coming, but it was a pleasant surprise to hear that familiar stripped down, mellow style with soothing vocals. 

After hearing this song, I was left wondering if we’ll be hearing more new material from Sade or Sweetback (the group the band members formed without Sade Adu at vocals)… Until we find out, I’ve been listening to the old

This month’s music discovery comes to you by one of our Music Supervisor, Aaron Voros. Our March BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction for the month of March.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

As a music curator at PlayNetwork I spend my time making playlists designed for overhead play in retail, hospitality, and restaurant spaces. While every playlist creates a unique experience, they all set out to achieve roughly the same goal of grabbing the attention of the listener from the second they first step into the space and sustaining their interest until they make their exit. I usually focus on selecting the upbeat, the energetic, the catchy, the succinct, and anything else that can make a quick first impression.

Call it a rebellious streak, but despite the time I spend searching for music placed in retail playlists I generally gravitate toward mellow music and instrumentals. Three relatively recent releases by a few of my […]

Every year, our Music Supervision team at PlayNetwork is exposed to a countless number of songs and albums released by the masses. This year alone, we saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library. With each person comes their own unique criteria for song selection and favorite albums. For our December playlist, we’re excited to share our team’s top songs of 2017!

This month’s music discovery comes to you by one our Associate Music Supervisors, Ruben Lira. Our November BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction for this month’s music discovery.

The Seattle music scene is one of variation on intensity; the scope of rock is as broad as the terrain of Washington state. As a lover of a multitude of music genres and music discovery, I bring you a group of bands who do not get the notoriety they deserve. These are a mix of local Seattle punk and rock bands who are slowly gaining more acclaim, and have the potential to become the new foundation of the scene. As a person who loves exploring the depths of music, these are my current favorite local Seattle post punk bands. These are the bands who lean more on the raw, loud side of the music spectrum; you have been warned.

Artist: SHIVERTWINS

Twitter: @shivertwinz

Track: Rearrange

[…]

This month’s music discovery comes to you from one of our Music Supervisors, Gabriel Marowitz, an experienced Music Supervisor who enjoys rocking to the local scene here in Seattle. Gabriel has handpicked a number of awesome tracks, all added to the October playlist-handpicked by our entire music team. Check it out!

When I’m not sitting in my office at work writing blog posts like these or updating the Starbucks playlist, I’m often playing music with friends around town. One of my favorite parts of being in a band is all the interesting and fun people you meet along the way, so here are a few songs from some of the talented musicians we got to cross paths and hang with over the summer.

Artist: Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown

Twitter: @TBSHAKEDOWN

Track: Loaded Dice & Buried Money

These guys came all the way from Nashville to headline Chinook Fest in Central Washington, and the next time they’re out that way they’ll probably be rocking […]

This month’s music discovery comes to you from one our seasoned Music Supervisors, Alex Espinosa, who has worked in this business for over 25 years. As always, our September BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction with some new music discovery.

Music has always been about diversity for me–not caring about color or religion when it comes to the music. My personal opinion has always been, “If it sounds great, who cares who sings it.” With today’s political climate and a them vs. us mentality, I’m happy that music still has that universal feel to it where everyone can just enjoy good tunes.

Below is a list of songs from 2017 that I feel embodies undividedness where it’s the music that really matters.

Artist: Bomba Estereo

Twitter: Bomba Estereo

Track: Ayo

This Colombian band has been making their steady climb since performing at SXSW back in 2009. Since then, they have […]

Summer isn’t over yet! Check out our August playlist for some great new summer tracks, curated by our Music Supervisor team – with four featured tracks from Chris Robles.

During this summer there is been no shortage of great new releases, but these four tracks caught my attention and have been in constant rotation on my Summer 2017 playlist. Sit back and enjoy the rest of your summer with some new music.

Artist: Toro Y Moi

Twitter: @ToroyMoi Track: Girl Like You

The first single from the recently released album Boo Boo is a chill song with an 80’s vibe (check out the visuals in the music video) yet still sounds current with a hint of auto-tuned trap sounding vocals that are, thankfully, not too overdone.

Artist: Jessie Ware

Twitter: @JessieWare Track: Midnight

This song premiered on BBC Music last week as DJ Annie Mac’s “Hottest Record In The […]

Ready for some amazing summer jams? Check out our July playlist, curated by our Music Supervisor team – with featured tracks from Blake Kirpes!

Late-Winter through Spring can be hit or miss for new music releases; there are always a handful of great albums, but there are also long stretches with little movement. However, now that we are in full-on summer mode, there are amazing singles and albums coming out seemingly every day.

In addition to the songs detailed below, be sure to check out the brand radio link which features great new releases from Japanese Breakfast, Algiers, Benjamin Booker, Amber Coffman, Chad VanGaalen, Grizzly Bear and Seattle band Great Grandpa.

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite summer releases for 2017.

Artist: Alvvays

Twitter: @alvvaysband

Track: In Undertow

If you’re looking for a melancholy summer jam, then this is your track. It has been three years since Alvvays released their amazing debut self-titled debut album, and after […]

This month our Music Discovery is brought to you by one of our Associate Music Supervisors, Christian Zabala, who may or may not be a little obsessed with New Jack Swing. And, as always, our June BrandRadio playlist has been hand picked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction for the beginning of summer.

“The Roof! The Roof! The Roof Is On Fire!”

It was a Saturday morning. I had woken up early to make my Gordon Ramsey inspired scrambled eggs with some orange juice. As I sprinkled the salt & pepper over my creamy egg concoction in Salt Bae fashion, I couldn’t help but find myself grooving to a song I randomly saved on Spotify; Full Force’s “Ain’t My Type of Hype.” Unfortunately, I found myself microwaving my food as I had let it sit out too long from dancing.

After eating, I found myself sitting on my couch watching the movie responsible for my cold breakfast that morning, “House Party.” As I watched […]

This month our Music Discovery is brought to you by one of our Associate Music Supervisors, Hallie Sloan, who has decided to break down the evolution of music’s pillow talk starting with the master, Marvin Gaye to the modern day masters such as Miguel and John Legend. And, as always, our May BrandRadio playlist has been hand picked by our entire music team to refresh your spring playlist.

Let’s Get It On // The Evolution of Pillow Talk from Marvin Gaye to Modern Day

Let’s reminisce on our parents’ notion of “simpler times”. This baby-booming generation romanticized direct communication, when carnal encounters were supposedly not contingent on a slide right. We hear their stories of love and lust and we hear it in their songs. And questions you may have asked such as, “Mom, tell me how you met dad?” “Well, one day he was leaving tennis practice just as I was starting my swim lesson, we locked eyes and…” let me stop right there. Many of us are […]

What the World Needs Now is RAPtivism

For the month of April it is all about RAPtivism. Our Associate Music Supervisor, Kalla Vavra, has picked four songs from Aisha Fukushima, Kendrick Lamar, The Relatives, and Kevin Michael, which feature elements of RAPtivism in their music. You can peep these tunes below and be sure to check out the new addition of the April BrandRadio playlist, brought to you by our music team to refresh and impress your ears.

You can feel it all around. There’s an unspoken electricity triggered by the current state of affairs in our nation. Out of such conflict, there is a rise of artistic expression that captures the diverse views and opinions in our cultural environment. During this time of uncertainty and unrest, it is a common habit to focus on the negative because we are so inundated with what the opposition believes that it eventually becomes a competitive divide: rights vs. wrong, us vs. them, me vs. you.

That’s why I’ve chosen to highlight […]

For the month of March we are stepping in to the Seattle music scene which has a diverse history of music, and it is still going strong. “There is an amazing variety of artists ranging from all styles of music who are captivating the Seattle Music Scene. The publicity may not be as noticeable but the creativity is as strong as ever. With an ever changing landscape of technology and corporations, it is no wonder why the local youth are challenging the establishment with a multitude of genres touching on soul, rock, hip hop and folk,” according to Associate Music Supervisor, Ruben Lira. With so many artists to choose from, Ruben as chosen four bands that he says are currently captivating his palate. Plus, our entire music team has made sure our playlist for our March BrandRadio is all new to keep your playlists current for 2017!

Artist: Spirit Award

Facebook: @spiritawardband Track: Las Vegas

Vintage dreamy indie rock. I love how the […]

Although the music industry slows downs during the Winter, it definitely never stops. Great new music is being released every day! The new music below from Childish Gambino, Xiu Xiu, and Kero Kero Bonito are all hot off the press. And the album “Air Guitar” from Sat. Nite Duets, is one of those that I’ve had on repeat since September. The good music just never stops. Plus our entire music team has hand selected a mixture of new music discoveries to keep your playlists current through the winter month of December.

Artist: Childish Gambino

Facebook: @donaldglover

Track: Redbone

If you heard this song in passing you’d be hard pressed to guess the artist; after all Childish Gambino is known exclusively in the music scene for Hip Hop. This new track and Donald’s other new single “Me and Your Mama” are a complete departure from his previous releases. A great departure that resulted in his best album to date! The new album from […]

The best season of the year is finally here! Despite what many people think, the weather in Seattle isn’t mild year-round (it doesn’t rain 365 days a year), and we actually do have a summer season–with weather in the high 80’s and even low 90’s! Those “highs” are laughable to most but once you are acclimatized, the struggle is real. So when it gets back down to the 60’s it’s a beautiful thing. Especially if you love the overcast days. Blake Kirpes has picked four tracks that he’ll be spinning though what he considers to be the best season of the year, fall.

Artist: Amber Coffman

Twitter: @Amber_Coffman

Track: All To Myself

I’m absolutely loving the brand new single from Amber Coffman (of Dirty Projectors). It’s hands down my favorite song at the moment. This is her first single from her upcoming album on Columbia Records called City Of No Reply.

Artist: Angel Olsen

Twitter: @AngelOlsen

Track: Never Be Mine

The new Angel Olsen […]

With the summer months coming to an end and fall just around the corner, we’ve created a list of songs that our talented group of Music Supervisors have been listening to lately, be it spinning these tunes DJ’ing at clubs, relaxing at home while finding that next un-discovered artist, or curating these selections for the many clients we program for around the globe. One of our seasoned music supervisors, Alex Espinosa, has selected a few of his favorites below that will take you on a journey where the sun starts to fade and the cold nights get longer.

Artist: Rob Crow

Twitter: @rob5d4

Track: Business Interruptus

Besides being from my hometown of San Diego and seeing his previous band, Pinkback, numerous times, Rob Crow’s solo efforts never seems to amaze me with how current he tends to be with his indie sounds of using heavy bass and amazing melodies. With his current band called, Gloomy Place, and the single “Business Interruptus” this trend still exist. […]

During the day-to-day process of matching bands with brands, our Music Supervisors are obliged to listen to an eclectic spectrum of music. From high-fashion retailers to fast-casual restaurants, the search for needed content exposes our team to a wide range of emerging talent and overlooked classics.

One of our Music Supervisors, Mark Campbell, has featured four songs from Band of Horses, Postiljonen, Tiga, and Blitzen Trapper which reflect the diverse scope of songs our team utilizes on a daily basis. You can check out these songs, as well as many other new releases chosen by our Music Supervisor team, using the Brand Radio player below.

Artist: Band of Horses

Twitter: @bandofhorses

Track: Casual Party

From their forthcoming album Why Are You OK (due out this June), the Seattle rockers share their new single – a peppy, indie rock gem that indicates a slight departure from their previous sound. If this song is any indication, this album should be a standout for 2016. Having Rick […]

Check out what our music supervisors are listening to this month in our Music Discovery playlist for April. Also featured are some great songs to help lift your spirits into spring, hand picked by Alex Ruder, one of our music supervisors.

Following months of constant rain, grey days, and early sunsets here in the Pacific Northwest, I welcome the transition into spring with wide open arms. Time to finally roll the car windows down and jam out to some feel-good music. While I’d still bump these tracks year-round, these 5 new tracks are all sounding especially nice in the sunshine.

Artist: The Range

Twitter: @therangejames

Track: Florida

The Range is the alias of Brooklyn-via-Providence electronic producer James Hinton. He’s been bubbling up from the underground over the last five years with standout releases on fantastic incubator labels such as Astro Nautico and Donky Pitch. His new sophomore album Potential marks his first release on Domino Records, a major look for an artist largely making […]