Introducing the ID 2025 Editor’s Choice Playlist
A promotional three-act playlist curated by the Editors, set to drop over the month of December
Here at Intellectual Dissatisfaction, we believe music is the thing that brings people together.
Every December, the internet gets flooded with “year-end lists” that feel like they were assembled by a committee that doesn’t actually listen to music.
This year, I wanted to do something different: a month-long (roughly) Editor’s Choice playlist that feels closer to a curated film festival than a playlist link tossed in your feed.
So, Jeremy (hi, that’s me) and my best friend/frequent music co-conspirator RaveTopia are teaming up for a 3-act project.
The 3-Act Structure
Act 1 – Jeremy’s Cut
Drops in the second week of December.My personal 9-track snapshot of how 2025 actually sounded in my head.
Act 2 – RaveTopia’s Cut
Drops in the third week of December.Devin’s version of the year: same universe, completely different camera angles.
Act 3 – The Final Cut (Jeremy x RaveTopia) Drops in the fourth week of December.
A joint playlist where we argue, compromise, and land on the canon: the tracks that define 2025 for both of us. This one may also pull in a few “foundation” songs from other years for context.
Live AMAs — Talk with the editors at the end of each week on a first of its kind ID live-stream!
We will answer any and all questions. Ask about the playlists, our publication, why we do what we do, just shoot the shit… whatever really!
Bonuses — Tune in to find out…
How the rollout works
Each act is 9 songs total, and roughly 30 minutes long. We’re not dumping them all at once. We’re treating each track like a proper feature, with notes and context.
For every act, we’ll release:
3 songs per day
Over 3 days that week
Host a live AMA with the editors to wrap up the week
So each week looks like:
Day 1 / Monday – Songs 1–3
Day 2 / Wednesday – Songs 4–6
Day 3 / Friday – Songs 7–9
Day 4 / Saturday Live AMA
Each drop will hit your inbox as a short, focused post: why this track made the cut, where it fits in the act’s narrative, and how it connects to the year.
What’s free vs paid
I want this to be something anyone can follow along with, but also give paid subscribers something genuinely special.
Act 1 (Jeremy’s Cut): free
Act 2 (RaveTopia’s Cut): free
Act 3 (The Final Cut): paid
The final act — our combined playlist + deeper commentary — will live behind the paywall. Paid subscribers will get:
The full Act 3 track-list
Access to the final unlisted playlist links sent to you personally by the editors
Extra notes on what we cut, where we disagreed, and how we landed the final order
Access to the final live AMA with both Editors
Note: If you become a paid subscriber, you’d be directly contributing to funding the purchase of a new camera for our Sioux Falls journalism team. There will be an alternative way to contribute coming soon…
How to plug in
If you want to ride along in real time:
Subscribe for free so the drops actually show up in your inbox when Acts 1 and 2 go live.
If you already know you’ll want the full story (and want to support the work behind Intellectual Dissatisfaction), consider becoming a paid subscriber ahead of Act 3.
And if you have friends who obsess over music the way we do, share this post or invite them to subscribe so they can follow the series from the beginning.
December is going to be a little loud over here — in a good way.
And if you guys enjoy this, we will consider doing it on a more regular basis for paid subscribers.
December Playlist Schedule
Act 1 — Jeremy’s Cut
Mon. December 8th: Act 1 - Part 1
Wed. December 10th: Act 1 - Part 2
Fri. December 12th: Act 1 - Part 3
Sat. December 13th: Live AMA (free)
Act 2 — RaveTopia’s Cut
Mon. December 15th: Act 2 - Part 1
Wed. December 17th: Act 2 - Part 2
Fri. December 19th: Act 2 - Part 3
Sat. December 20th: Live AMA (free)
Act 3 — The Final Cut
Mon. December 22nd: Act 3 - Part 1
Wed. December 24th: Act 3 - Part 2
Fri. December 26th: Act 3 - Part 3
Sat. December 27th: Live AMA (paid)
