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.

This summer has been hot — perfect for enjoying a cool beverage and an even cooler playlist. To mark the halfway point of 2025, we asked our award-winning DJs to share their top five tracks of the year so far so we could create the ultimate summer soundtrack.

Below is a well-balanced mix of genres, energies and artists.

Listen to the full playlist:

Ann Delisi, Ann Delisi’s Essential Music

• “Everything’s Beautiful” — Hiatus Kaiyote
• “I Don’t” — Madison McFerrin
• “Flower Moon (feat. Aaron Frazer)” — Durand Jones & The Indications
• “Lotta Love” — Lamont Landers
• “Stealing A Kiss” — The War And Treaty

Chris Campbell, The Progressive Underground

• “20/20” — Ideeyah, Meftah
• “Your first time” — Erogenous
• “Lovers’ Holiday” — Durand Jones & The Indications
• “Sweet Danger” — Obongjayar
• “LIFE IS A RHYTHM (feat. Cazeaux O.S.L.O)” — Alexander Flood

Jeff Milo, MI Local

• “Jessie” — Danny VanZandt
• “Fearless and the Pure” — Elisabeth Pixley-Fink
• “UR WORLD” — LOCAL ORGANIC
• “Power” — Neu Blume
• “The Bloodletting” — PHABIES

Jon Moshier, Modern Music

• “Alcohol” — TVOD
• “Emilina” — Bloodshot Bill
• “She’s Too Cool for You” — Audio Book Club
• “Evil People” — MIEN
• “Transmuted Matter” — Stereolab

Liz Warner, Alternate Take

• “Ibiza” — Butcher Brown
• “The Missing Piece” — Max Cooper
• “Babystar” — Herbert & Momoko
• “BROKEN” — Ela Minus
• “Gadabout Season” — Brandee Younger

Mike Latulippe, The Detroit Move

Note: Due to the retrospective nature of this show, these five songs were released before 2025.

• “Possum Belly Overalls (feat. Noble ‘Thin Man’ Watts and His Rhythm Sparks)” — June Bateman
• “I Don’t Like You That Much” — Royal Jokers
• “Dance What You Wanna” — George E. Lee
• “Way Out” — Keetie & The Kats
• “I Can’t Do The Ska” — The Zodiacs

Rob Reinhart, Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music

• “I’ll Be OK” — Michigander
• “Walk This Road (feat. Mavis Staples)” — The Doobie Brothers
• “Love Is On Fire” — The War And Treaty
• “Lady Liberty” — Galactic & Irma Thomas
• “After I’m Dead” — Ryan Allen And His Extra Arms

Ryan Patrick Hooper, In The Groove

• “R B J” — LL Burns
• “Dumb Feeling” — Mei Semones
• “Elderberry Wine” — Wednesday
• “Melodie Is A Wound” — Stereolab
• “You got time and I got money” — Smerz

More best-of playlists