As WYCE (88.1 FM) wraps its Fall Fund Drive, Local Spins asked the station that plays the most Michigan music to reveal acts getting the most airplay. View the Top 10 artists and tracks, then pitch in to WYCE.
No. 1 in Michigan’s Hearts and at WYCE: May Erlewine at Wealthy Theatre. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
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Singer-songwriter May Erlewine has always fostered an intense connection with her Michigan fan base.
So while it comes as no surprise that the much-admired Traverse City songbird would be the most-played Michigan artist at Grand Rapids’ WYCE (88.1 FM) so far in 2025 — along with the most-played track, “Animal,” from her 2025 album, “What It Takes” — she doesn’t take it for granted.
“We dedicate our lives to this sacred thing in music and when it reaches people, it really means a lot to us. It feels like a completion of the creative circle — from the conception of an idea, to a tangible piece of art that people can have and hold and lean on,” said Erlewine, who just released a new single and has another on the way next month. “So, it means the world when I hear people are listening and the music is doing its own work in their hearts.”
And WYCE — which plays more music by Michigan artists than any other station in the state — is “a big part of creating that culture,” she added.
“It’s easier than ever to be involved in lifting up the musicians you believe in. WYCE has done this in community for so long, before a lot of these options existed. Sharing independent artist’s work, celebrating and valuing local culture: It’s a big part of our scene here in Michigan, people actually valuing art and artists.”
Those artists cover a wide spectrum of music as evidenced by the Top 10 charts ranking Michigan artists and tracks getting the most attention from programmers and listeners at WYCE since Jan. 1, as requested by Local Spins. The lists not only spotlight artists unfurling Americana, pop, blues, folk, country, soul, hip hop, funk and indie-rock, but include many female performers, such as Grand Rapids keyboardist Hannah Laine, who boasts three songs in the Top 10 from her 2025 EP, “Unfolding,” pushing her to No. 2 on the most-played Michigan artists list.
“It’s nice to see so many female artists represented on the list,” said WYCE music and program director Chris Cranick. “And our programmers clearly are missing Earth Radio with all the love sent to Hannah Laine.”
Laine called the announcement “amazing and so unexpected. It’s a delightful surprise hearing that the album has been received so well, as I didn’t have any expectations when I released it. I feel very grateful for WYCE and the music supporters in this community for amplifying this project that I put a lot of heart and soul into. It’s a vulnerable thing that we artists do: creating music that honestly reflects how we are moving through this world and processing our experiences. Seeing this music resonate within my community feels like a fulfillment of purpose as an artist.”
She noted that artists aim to share their creations, “connect our souls to each other and inspire change and liberation. Without established organizations and platforms like WYCE and Local Spins to amplify the music of our community, a lot of this music would never be heard.”
Local Spins’ announcement of the Top 10 lists comes as WYCE wraps up its 2025 Fall Fund Drive, which ends at 6 p.m. Friday (Oct. 24). The listener-supported and volunteer-driven community radio station depends heavily on donations from listeners to keep its programming on the air and to maintain its focus on Michigan-made music — something that Friday’s Local Spins on WYCE has showcased for the more than 10 years while debuting thousands of tracks by Great Lakes State artists. Donate online here.
In addition to Erlewine and Laine, the Top 10 Michigan artists list includes The Bootstrap Boys, Luke Winslow-King, Michigander, The Hacky Turtles, Adrian Wright, Elisabeth Pixley-Fink, The Crane Wives and Via Mardot — all representing different parts of the state and varied genres.
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