👋 Happy Sunday! Axios' Carly Mallenbaum and Sami Sparber here with a special newsletter edition about how music is helping people of all ages unplug, connect and find a little joy.

• 🔎 Find these stories on our Wellness Brief page.

Today’s newsletter is 938 words — a 3.5-minute read.

People are snapping up Apple's retired MP3 players for nostalgia and a break from smartphones.

The big picture: For younger generations especially, the comeback is part of a broader return to offline devices and hobbies, driven by digital burnout.

By the numbers: Search interest for the original iPod and particularly the iPod Nano spiked in the Twin Cities last year and this spring — even though Apple discontinued the product line in 2022, according to Google Trends data.

• eBay users worldwide searched for iPods more than 1,300 times per hour during the first half of 2026, per internal data shared with Axios.

How it works: Older tech tends to be "single-purpose," says Cal Newport, a computer science professor and author of "Digital Minimalism." "All you can do with an iPod, for example, is listen to music."

• Smartphones, by contrast, bundle music, messages, social feeds, news and more, making it "nearly impossible to control your technology use with any consistency," Newport says.

What they're saying: "The act of playing my music, with the sole purpose of listening to music — no ads, no apps, no distractions — makes my brain feel brand-new again," says Gen Zer Shaughnessy Barker, who started using an iPod Classic last year after scouring eBay and Facebook Marketplace.

Between the lines: ​​The MP3 revival also taps into so-called "friction-maxxing," as younger people embrace more hands-on experiences over algorithmic ease, says Libby Rodney, chief strategy officer at The Harris Poll.

• Think: Manually loading a set number of songs onto an iPod instead of letting a streaming app curate a playlist for you.

Reality check: Music streaming isn't fading anytime soon.

• U.S. on-demand audio streaming reached 1.4 trillion song streams in 2025, up from 1.3 trillion the year before, according to Luminate, an industry data firm.

Grab a card — music bingo may be the Twin Cities' hottest "soft socializing" meetup, according to Eventbrite data shared with Axios.

Why it matters: The twist on classic bingo swaps in songs and artist names, giving people something low-pressure to do while they hang out.

By the numbers: In the Twin Cities metro area, there were 92% more music bingo events in 2025 than in 2024, per Eventbrite.

• Attendance soared 350%, as music bingo also took off nationally.

Zoom in: There are several rave-style Bingo Loco events in Minneapolis this year.

The big picture: More than half (55%) of U.S. Gen Z and millennial respondents say socializing matters, but they don't want it to be the focus of a gathering, Eventbrite's survey found.

• That feeling is fueling other low-key events like puzzle competitions and mahjong nights, while Japanese-style listening bars are gaining ground over nightclubs.

Picture this: A concert venue filled with glow sticks, dance beats — and tiny hands in the air.

• That's a "Toddler Rave," Australian DJ Lenny Pearce's show that's making a stop in St. Paul this month.

The big picture: Pearce has built a following by turning songs like "The Wheels on the Bus" into EDM bangers, and those tracks into an interactive show that caters both to little ones and to their raver parents.

By the numbers: Family-friendly raves are taking off.

• The event category grew 93% from 2024 to 2025 nationally, according to Eventbrite data shared with Axios.

Yes, but: Entertaining the world's most brutally honest audience isn't easy.

• "Kids can stare at you and I'm like, 'Oh my God, is he bored of me?'" Pearce says. He's learned that toddlers do better with action and cues than music alone.

If you go: Pearce's Toddler Rave is Oct. 18 at the Palace Theatre.

• Tickets range from about $40 to $140 for VIP. Babies under 1 year old don't require a ticket.
• Doors open at 11am for the 12:30pm show, which is an hour long.

Arena concerts get plenty of hype, but some of the Twin Cities' best live music comes with a full orchestra.

What's happening: The Minnesota Orchestra kicked off its season Sept. 25, and this fall's lineup has plenty to offer for classical music regulars and newbies alike.

• Here are five shows on our radar.

🎬 "Return of the Jedi" in Concert: Watch "Star Wars: Episode VI" in full as the orchestra performs John Williams' score live alongside the movie. Oct. 8-11, starting at $68

🐺 "Peter and the Wolf": Geared toward students in grades 1–6, the classic children's symphonic tale will be narrated by Twin Cities vocalist and artist Lady Midnight. Oct. 27-29, $7

🎻 Andrew Bird: The Grammy-nominated violinist and songwriter will join the Orchestra for one night only, performing fan favorites and the entirety of his record "The Mysterious Production of Eggs." Nov. 21, starting at $52

🎄 Audrey's pick: I already nabbed tickets to a performance of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Best holiday music ever. Dec. 8-9, starting at $53

Do twins run in your family? We want to hear about it.

• Maybe you're a twin, have twins or have a family tree full of them.

Tell us: What's the most interesting, funny or surprising story behind the twins in your family?

• Reply with your name and response, and we may include it in next week's Wellness Brief.

Our picks:

✨ Sami is listening to Taylor Swift's new songs on repeat.

🕺 Carly is dancing in the living room with her toddler, to this.