Gifts for the Hard to Shop for Music Snob

Gifts for the Hard to Shop for Music Snob

Got someone in your life addicted to the Pitchfork news feed? Can they stump Pandora when creating a new station? Do they know the difference between gypsy punk and liquid funk (yes, these are real musical styles). Can they name at least three examples of chillwave bands? Does their home receiver and speaker set-up rival your nearest concert venue? If you answered yes, to any of these questions, you know a music snob.

Shopping for a certified music snob can be a challenge. Trying to get away with an iTunes gift card? I don’t think so. But rejoice, here’s a list of gifts that will satisfy even the most discriminating music snob in your life.

Artists in Residence

Featuring super deluxe limited edition box sets, Artists in Residence produces hand crafted works of art for such artists as Beck, Nine Inch Nails, Sigur Ros, Pixies and Julian Casablancas. Sets range from $75 to $395.Some features include: previously unreleased performances (Pixies), virgin vinyl records, art set and limited edition sticker sheets (Beck), hand signed books (Julian Casablancas), limited edition Giclee prints (Nine in Nails), and never released tracks (Sigur Ros). All sets are extremely limited production, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. So if you see something that your snob would absolutely go gaga over, grab it before it’s gone.

The Ultimate Headphones

Is the new Björk on permanent replay at home? Want a subtle way to tell your music snob that you’ve had enough? How about top of the line headphones from Ultrasone? Marketed as the world’s leading brand for high-end headphones, Ultrasone uses proprietary inimitableS-Logic™ Natural Surround Sound, which offers a three dimensional sound experience and a 40% drop in sound pressure levels (less stress on your ear). The end result is crisper, clearer audio and a safer experience for your eardrums. Prices range from $1,999.00 to $109.00.

Luxury Guitar Rentals

From the $4,295.00 Gigliotti Joe Bonamassa Signature to the $6,700 Sandoval Dot V, Guitar Affair rents hard-to-find luxury guitars by the day and week. Customers must become members prior to renting and are charged a $50 one-time fee. Once a member, customers browse through Guitar Affair’s extensive catalog where they can find the fantasy guitar of their dreams. Members then simply pay a rental and shipping fee and get to enjoy the experience of strumming the opulent instrument for a limited time. Members also have the option of purchasing the guitar and various accessories.

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Turn your snob into a money producing promoter by signing them up for a free account with eMusic’s affiliate program. eMusic is something like a membership club for music lovers. It’s a place where audiophiles can connect with each other, enjoy discounts on purchasing music (25% - 35% lower than iTunes or Amazon prices), and form communities where they can discover emerging artists.

Becoming an affiliate is easy. Regardless of whether or not your snob’s blog or website is associated with music, eMusic looks at every affiliate application individually, and is willing to work with sites of various styles, sizes and popularity. It costs nothing to join the affiliate program, and commissions are $6 for every referral that signs up for a FREE trial subscription. The referral doesn’t even need to purchase a subscription! Affiliates get paid based on referrals, not subscriptions.

So think outside of the box when it comes to gifts. Gifts like custom luxury box sets from Artist in Residence, high-end headphones from Ultrasone, fantasy guitar rentals from Guitar Affair and eMusic’s affiliate program promise to put a smile on even the most difficult to shop for music snob’s face this holiday season.

Now, excuse me I have to get back to my new organic ambient CD.