Best of 2021: The WDET Playlist

WDET’s music hosts share their favorite tracks of the year. Listen to the full playlist:

WDET music hosts had a lot to celebrate in 2021. Ed Love of Destination Jazz celebrated 60 years on the air and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Michigan Association of Broadcasts. This Island Earth’s Ismael Ahmed was appointed to the national board of the National Endowment for the arts by President Joe Biden. Plus, Blue Note Records President and music industry powerhouse Don Was joined the WDET roster with the Don Was Motor City Playlist, which airs every Friday from 10 p.m. to midnight.

On top of awards and accolades, WDET’s music hosts still made the time to bring you the best music from around the world and right down the street. 

Check out the tracks they had in heavy rotation this year.

Listen to the full playlist:


Want to jump to your favorite host? Click their name below:


Ann Delisi, Ann Delisi’s Essential Music

Amythyst Kiah Black Myself
BLKBOK Amalia’s Ocean
Dave McMurray Franklin’s Tower
Jupiter & Okwess Na Kazonga
Hard Feelings Holding On Too Long
Julien Decoret, Joon Moon, Liv Warfield Modal B
Butcher Brown & Alex Isley Remind Me
Neal Francis Can’t Stop the Rain
Chris St. Hilaire Wake Yourself to Life
Charlotte Day Wilson (feat. BADBADNOTGOOD)  I Can Only Whisper

Ed Love, Destination Jazz

Jeff Milo, Milo Minute

Handgrenades I’m Away
Carmel Liburdi Like the Dead
Pia Stranger
Trauna Talk To Me
Soviet Girls Think Back
Leaf Erikson Ocean Blue
Libby DeCamp On the Range
Summer Like the Season   Root Means Square
James Linck Short Circuit
Vespre Back to Me

Jon Moshier, Modern Music

The High Strung Cored Out Apple
Zoos of Berlin Lambeth Walk
Cinecyde Sugar Buzz
Shannon & The Clams   Leaves Fall Again
LUMP Animal
Nation of Language Across That Fine Line
KILN Saturator
Mary Lattimore Pine Trees
Dry Cleaning Scratchcard Lanyard
TV Priest Decoration

Chris Campbell, The Progressive Underground

Leaf Erikson Ocean Blue
Al Lindsey & Laura Rain   Claim It
Monique Ella Rose Can’t Get Enough (Love Odessy)
The Vision, Dames Brown, Natasha Diggs  Down (Natasha Diggs Extended Mix)
Rebecca Goldberg Renaissance
Carmen Rodgers Again & Again
Miyan I Am Energy (Detroit Disco Funk Remix)
Raphael Futura Riviera
Kon She Was a Queen
Ego Ella May Song for Bobby

Rob Reinhart, Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music

Jax Anderson Good Day
Jon Batiste Freedom
David Crosby For Free
Allen Stone Bed I Made
Courtney Barnett   If I Don’t Hear From You Tonight
Curtis Harding Hopeful
Matthew Milia Haven’t Heard You Laugh in a Long Time
Jose Gonzalez Line of Fire
Joshua Henry Checking In
Susto Double Rainbow

Nick Austin, Soul Saturday

Silk Sonic Skate
T.Nava Buddy
Little Simz Woman
Cleo Sol Don’t Let Me Fall
Moonchild, Alex Isley You Got One
Samm Henshaw Still Broke
Lucky Daye My Window
Latanya Alberto Futurity
Emmavie, Brandon Woody   2003
Hiatus Kaiyote Get Sun

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Author

  • Meta Stange is the Digital Content and Engagement Manager for 101.9 WDET, overseeing the station's digital editorial content. She enjoys reading, making bad jokes, and hanging out with her dog, Salmon.