Agreed!
I totally feel you. There's something about listening to music "off the grid" that is really nice. They're becoming fewer and fewer. I wouldn't expect a new player to last for many years, but it's a shrinking market. I think Ipod shuffles (although discontinued now) have a good reputation. You might be able to find one on facebook marketplace. If you want new, Sandisks also have great reviews:

https://www.amazon.com/Sandisk-8GB-Clip-Player-Black/dp/B00VXMY262/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=mp3+player&qid=1686799844&sr=8-3

I doubt any of the new ones have a super long battery life (maybe I'm wrong), but as most of them are USB charged, I guess in theory you could bring a portable phone battery or something of the sort to charge them. I think for the battery to last longer, you could try finding one without a screen, or that just has a very basic one. Good luck! Keep us posted on what you get!

I have had the same SanDisk Clip Jam for like ten years and never once had an issue with it. I use it almost daily while walking in the mornings. The battery last me the week still after years of use. It is also an FM radio player which I find I use more than I thought I would. The MicroSD allows infinite storage; I use one card for music, one card for podcasts, and a different one for books.

SanDisk Clip Jam Mp3

I also don't know if you are serious, and this sub isn't for real advice, but nonetheless, here's how you can do it.

1. Get one or more of a simple, easy to use mp3 player such as the SanDisk Clip Jam.

2. Buy a name-brand (such as SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston) microSDHC card up to 32 GB.

3. Buy songs/tracks as DRM-free AAC files from iTunes and MP3s from Amazon.com. The tracks/files from those two services do not rely on having an account anywhere after you download them.

4. Download and save the the tracks/files from iTunes and/or Amazon MP3 somewhere on your computer.

5. Copy the files to the microSD card.

6. Insert the microSD card into the player.

7. Give the player to your parents.

8. Show them how to use the player. Show how them to insert and remove the microSD card. To give them additional or different songs, exchange microSD cards with them as needed or give them additional microSD cards as needed.

Alternative

1. Install Chrome on their computer.

2. Install and configure the Chrome Remote Desktop add-on on their conputer and your own computer.

3. Test Chrome Remote Desktop to control their computer from your computer. You will use it at the very least to assist them if they have questions/need help.

4. Show them how to how to use mp3 player and how to connect it to their computer.

5. Either:

   1. Use Chrome Remote Desktop to connect and control their computer and using an account of your choice, open Amazon MP3 or iTunes, and buy and download the tracks.
   2. Or, teach them how to buy and download the tracks. Amazon and iTunes lets you create sub accounts that you control, so you could create a sub account for your parents and load money into it.

6. Have them connect the MP3 player to the computer.

7. Either transfer the tracks over to the player using remote control, or teach your parents how to do that.