So far in our YouTube series, we’ve talked about the most-subscribed YouTube channels, funniest YouTube channels, and my favorite YouTube history channels, but now it’s time for one of my favorite things in the whole world: music. There are a ton of popular musicians on YouTube and popular music YouTube channels that stream music and maybe have tens of millions of subscribers, but I didn’t want this to be a popularity contest. Rather, I wanted to include on this list the coolest music YouTube channels, that is channels that you can learn from, jam to some not-so-popular beats, or just have fun on.
Some of these YouTube music channels do a brilliant job of mixing humor, entertainment, and musical education, and I think that’s the perfect combination to remain engaged in the content and keep coming back for more. I wanted these types of channels to be the highlight of this article, with a few musical geniuses sprinkled in between that I believed were worth mentioning.
So let’s check it out, what are some of the coolest music YouTube channels?
Davie504
Roomie Official
Anthony Vincent
Frog Leap Studios
Rick Beato
Adam Neely
Helen Ibe Music
Lari Basilio
Marc Rebillet
Alfo Media
Violet Orlandi
Halocene
NoApology
The Punk Rock MBA
Coolest Music YouTube Channels
Davie504
As his own bio says, Davie504, or rather Davide Biale, is “an Italian guy who wants to share his passion for slapping the BASS.” Davie is a highly talented bass player and is the account with the most subscribers on this list, at 13.3 million. His content ranges from videos of him playing different songs and styles on the bass to musical reaction videos, him giving money to musicians on Twitch or on the street, meme reactions, collaborations with other talented musicians, and other types of videos in between. Everything music-related, of course.
Davie has a very particular style of dry humor and chill demeanor, and he delivers his content and jokes with a stone face, and that’s what people love most about him. Other than his incredible talent as a musician, of course. Subscribers love that you can find both good music and comedy on Davie’s channel. Due to the style of humor, Davie’s channel is particularly appreciated by and recommended to a younger audience up to around 45, I would say. This doesn’t mean that older folks can’t watch his channel, especially since he plays a lot of classics, but younger people are generally more likely to get his humor.
Check out these amazing 100 bass lines:
And here’s a more entertaining one, where he pays bass players on Fiverr to play an impossible baseline:
Roomie Official
Roomie, by his real name of Joel Gustaf Berghult, is a 35-year-old Swedish singer-songwriter with a very popular music YouTube channel, currently at 7.55 million subscribers. His most popular videos are reaction-style videos to different musical-related stuff like memes, songs that sound exactly the same, songs you can’t sing along to, lip sync fails, comparing singers with and without autotune, most streamed songs of all time, things that sound like music, and hilarious misheard lyrics. He also posts original songs and covers, videos of him trying different voices on popular songs, and collaborations with other popular YouTubers like PewDiePie, Daniel Thrasher, and Boyinaband. His subscribers love his personality and sense of humor, which is kind of similar to that of PewDiePie.
Joel’s video of “One Guy, 14 Voices” went viral, which is how he first became known. He has since then released a few more similar videos like “One Guy, 15 Voices” and “One Guy, 43 Voices”, which is the most popular video on his channel, at 95 million views. Joel also has a few musical collaborations with PewDiePie, like the song “Congratulations”, which has 224 million views as of July 2022, and has released an album single called “Livin’ For That” on Spotify under the name of Lil Pitchy. The name Lil Pitchy comes from Joel frequently using the phrase “It’s a lil’ bit pitchy” when describing other people’s singing. His channel is most suitable for a younger audience, similar to PewDiePie and Davie504’s channels, but I suggest you check several of his videos out either way to see if you enjoy his content and style of humor. I’ll leave you with one of the most popular videos in the series “Songs That Sound Exactly The Same”:
Anthony Vincent
Anthony Vincent Valbiro is a highly talented New York vocalist with 3.46 million subscribers. If he doesn’t sound familiar, you might know him by the name of “Ten Second Songs”, which was the name of his YouTube channel up until March 2021, when he rebranded it to Anthony Vincent. Anthony became popular in 2014 when he released a cover of “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry sung in 20 different styles. To this day, that is still the most popular video on his channel, at 23 million views. In fact, the videos where he plays certain songs in different styles make up the majority of his channel and are also the most popular. He also posts original music, regular covers, and challenges like “the hardest songs in different languages”, “vocals impossible to sing” or “metal songs impossible to sing”. If you like listening to great vocalists and you feel inspired by that, I suggest you check out his channel. The amount of work that goes into his videos is impressive. I’ll leave you with an interesting one, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen sung in the style of System of a Down:
Frog Leap Studios
Leo Moracchioli is a Norwegian metal musician who runs a studio in Norway called Frog Leap Studios. His music YouTube channel has 4.73 million subscribers and includes mostly metal music covers, so it is obviously suited to lovers of metal music. Other than metal covers, Leo’s content also includes vlogs, tutorials, gear reviews, acoustic covers, and studio updates. If you didn’t know you needed to hear “Poker Face” in a metal version, here you go:
Rick Beato
Richard John Beato is a 61-year-old American music producer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and educator. He has worked in the music industry since the early ’80s as a record producer, songwriter, teacher, and audio engineer. He launched his YouTube channel in 2006 and became popular when he started posting his “What Makes This Song Great” videos, where he explains in easy-to-understand musical terms what specifics make a song great, such as in this video about Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way”:
Rick’s music YouTube channel now has 3.88 million subscribers and his videos also include tops like “Top 20 Acoustic Guitar Intros of All Time”, “Top 20 Drum Intros of All Time”, and “Top 20 Rock Guitar Solos of All Time”, as well as educational videos about the greatest musicians in the world. I believe you’ll appreciate Rick’s videos whether you’re into more old-school or newer music, as there’s something you can learn from his musical lessons, and you can discover new great music or new things about the music you already love.
Adam Neely
Adam Neely is an American NYC-based bass player and composer with a pretty successful YouTube channel, with 1.76 million subscribers. As he says in his bio, his videos include “essays, lessons, and vlogs on new horizons in music and music theory.” His channel explores what music means and what it means to be a musician, with beginner tutorials, live streams, challenges, and videos about the most famous lawsuits in the music industry. You should keep in mind that his music theory videos might be a bit complicated to understand if you don’t have a basic understanding of music and keys, so some of his content is more suitable for musicians. Take for instance this video explaining the elegant key change in Céline Dion’s “All By Myself”:
I didn’t understand much about the music theory, but I did cry several times because of Céline’s powerful and emotional key change. This is something the video tries to explain — why that key change is so emotional for the audience and for Céline herself — and Adam’s mom, who is a voice teacher, explains beautifully why Céline’s body positions and mannerisms are so important in reaching that high note, so even though I didn’t fully (or much at all) understand the musical theory, the video did leave me with a few very interesting tidbits of information, and a lot of emotion. But hey, who hasn’t felt emotional at least once listening to Céline?
Helen Ibe Music
Helen Ibe is a Nigerian guitarist, guitar teacher, performer, and songwriter. Helen is a classical guitarist with a following of 281K on YouTube. She writes and performs mostly original songs, but does musical covers as well, and reviews gear. If you’re into guitars, I believe you’ll like Helen’s gentle playing and charming personality. Here is one of her originals:
And here’s a guitar instrumental cover of “Lady in Red” by Chris DeBurgh:
Lari Basilio
Lari Basilio is a Brazilian who fell in love with the guitar when she was 8 and she’s been jamming ever since. She has released a five-song EP named “Lari Basilio”, a CD named “The Sound of My Room”, and another album called “Far More”. Some of her achievements include winning the instrumental category of the Samsung E-Festival in 2014, singing alongside Steve Vai at the Malibu Guitar Festival in 2017, being invited by Joe Satriani to be part of the G4 Experience in 2019, and releasing her first signature guitar, the Ibanez LB1, in partnership with Ibanez Guitars. On YouTube, she has a subscriber base of 267K and posts her original work. This is the first single from her upcoming album by the same name, “Your Love”:
Marc Rebillet
If you don’t know Marc Rebillet, you’re in for a surprise. He is an American electronic musician with 2.32 million subscribers on YouTube. But playing electronic music is not the special part of Marc. He is best known for improvising his songs to which he adds incredibly comical lyrics and dance moves. Marc is just a free spirit and you can tell he has absolutely no shame in expressing himself exactly how he feels in the moment, which makes his videos very fun and entertaining. He produces his songs in his apartment using a keyboard, vocals, a loop station, and percussion instruments and often records them in his robe. If you’re just as free-spirited or don’t take yourself and life too seriously, you will absolutely love him. Either way, it’s worth checking him out, you will very quickly tell if this is the right channel for you.
Here’s his most popular video, at 34 million views, perfect if you need a motivational and upbeat way to wake up in the morning:
Or an entertaining tutorial on how to make funk music in two minutes:
Alfo Media
Alfo Media, short for “Always Forward Media” is a YouTube music channel run by Harrison Renshaw, who makes essay and commentary-type videos about indie music, hip hop, and a few other things. His goal is to share lesser-known music with people and inform them of stuff they might have missed. Harrison’s channel is currently at 401K subscribers and his playlists include “Great Songs You Might Not Know” and “Rising Artist”, but his most popular videos also include “The Story of the Best Meme Ever”, referring to Rick Astley’s song “Never Gonna Give You Up”, “The Confusing Greatness of The Black Eyed Peas”, and “The Most Misunderstood Songs in Music History”:
If you’re interested in discovering new music and finding out fun facts about the artists you already know, I believe you’ll love his channel.
Violet Orlandi
Violet Orlandi is a Brazilian singer and YouTuber known for her unique covers of popular songs across various genres, including rock, metal, and pop. She gained a considerable following on YouTube (1.2 million subscribers) for her distinctive voice — deep and very powerful yet delicate and angelic at times — and her ability to bring a new twist to well-known tracks. Her channel typically features her performing covers, often with a darker or more melancholic interpretation compared to the originals.
Orlandi’s channel is not only popular for her covers but also for her collaborations with other YouTube artists and musicians. These collaborations often bring together different styles and backgrounds, creating unique renditions of popular songs.
Her musical background, combined with a strong presence on social media platforms, has helped her build a dedicated fan base. She often engages with her audience through comments and social media, making her channel a dynamic and interactive space for music lovers.
Orlandi’s work is a good example of how YouTube has become a platform for talented musicians to showcase their skills and reinterpret music in their own style, reaching audiences worldwide that they might not have been able to otherwise. The most popular video on her channel is a collaboration with Ai Mori, covering Disturbed’s “Down With The Sickness”. And it’s no wonder this is her most popular video, as it’s an incredibly hard-to-sing song, which they pull off fantastically. Even Disturbed commented on their video with the “rock on” and “prayer hands” emojis. Can you imagine getting a seal of approval from Disturbed? If you’re a fan of Disturbed or their type of music, you have to listen to this cover.
Another popular cover, in a totally different but equally amazing style, is Hozier’s “Take Me to Church”:
Halocene
Halocene is a notable independent rock band that has gained popularity primarily through their YouTube channel, which is currently at 894K subscribers. Formed in 2008, the band consists of members Addie Nicole (lead vocalist), Bradley Amick (guitarist), and Joe Polizzi (drummer). They are known for their energetic covers of popular songs, as well as their original music.
On YouTube, Halocene distinguishes itself with high-quality videos featuring both studio and live performances. Their covers span a wide range of genres but often lean towards rock interpretations of pop, punk, and alternative songs. This approach has allowed them to showcase their versatility and musicianship, appealing to a broad audience.
In addition to covers, Halocene also produces original music, which resonates with their fan base for its authentic and engaging rock sound. Their original tracks often feature powerful vocals, dynamic guitar riffs, and strong drumming, creating an energetic and memorable musical experience.
Halocene’s success on YouTube is also a testament to their consistent engagement with their audience. They often interact with their viewers through comments and social media, creating a strong community around their channel. This direct connection with fans is a hallmark of their approach to building their presence online.
Their channel is not just a platform for music but also a space for collaboration and creativity. They have worked with other YouTube musicians and artists, contributing to the diverse and collaborative nature of the online music community.
Overall, Halocene represents how independent bands can leverage digital platforms like YouTube to reach a global audience, engage with fans directly, and create a unique niche in the music industry. This is one of my favorites on their channel, a cover of “Enter Sandman” by Metallica, in collaboration with Violet Orlandi and Lauren Babic.
NoApology
Since 2014, NoApology lead members Daria Zaritskaya and Sergey Sershen have been collaboratively producing music. By the year 2022, they had successfully established themselves in the music scene, primarily through their exceptional covers of songs from renowned artists like AC/DC, KISS, and Michael Jackson. There have been comments from some viewers suggesting that these covers surpass the originals, although this is largely a matter of personal preference and might be considered an overstatement compared to the original hits.
Daria and Sergey themselves don’t necessarily agree with these comparisons, but they do appreciate the positive reception their covers receive.
In 2022, a new chapter began for them. Since early that year, they started sharing original songs with their Patreon supporters. The release of their first original song, “Ashes,” in October 2022, marked a significant milestone. This hard rock track showcases Daria’s impressive vocal abilities, elevating the band’s performance.
However, it’s evident that their original material hasn’t quite reached the same level of acclaim as their covers, which isn’t surprising given their focus on covering globally popular songs. “Ashes” is a solid first effort, but it also highlights that the band, including Daria’s fellow members, has room for growth. The most popular video on their channel is a cover of “Back in Black” by AC/DC.
The Punk Rock MBA
The Punk Rock MBA is a unique and influential presence on YouTube, particularly known for its exploration and commentary on various aspects of punk rock, hardcore, metal, and other alternative music genres. The channel, currently at 541K subscribers is run by Finn McKenty, an experienced marketer and music enthusiast with a deep understanding of the music industry and subcultures.
The Punk Rock MBA offers a blend of in-depth analysis, cultural commentary, and historical perspectives on the music scene. Finn McKenty delves into the evolution of different music genres, the rise and fall of bands, industry trends, and provides insights into what makes certain music and musicians successful. His content often includes discussions about the business side of music, offering a unique perspective on how bands and artists navigate the industry.
What sets The Punk Rock MBA apart is its educational approach. McKenty utilizes his marketing background to dissect the strategies behind successful bands and trends in the music scene. He also addresses broader cultural issues within the music community, such as inclusivity, the impact of social media, and changing consumer behaviors.
In addition to music analysis, The Punk Rock MBA often features interviews with musicians, industry professionals, and other figures from the alternative music world. These interviews provide firsthand insights and experiences, adding depth to the topics discussed.
Finn McKenty’s engaging presentation style, combined with his deep knowledge and passion for the subject, makes The Punk Rock MBA not just informative but also highly entertaining for viewers, whether they are hardcore fans of the genres covered or just casually interested in music and culture.
Overall, The Punk Rock MBA stands out as a resource for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of alternative music, its history, and its place in the broader cultural landscape. This video about the strange history of Evanescence is one of the most popular on the channel:
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I hope you’ve enjoyed this and will come back for more as we keep on adding to this list of cool music YouTube channels.
See also: How Brands Are Winning With Video Marketing
