Top-Ranked Music Podcasts Worth Checking Out
In the realm of music, podcasts have emerged as a popular platform for both casual listeners and dedicated enthusiasts. This guide offers a curated list of podcasts that cater to various aspects of music, from discovery and analysis to interviews and production tips.
## Discovery, History, and Analysis
### Switched on Pop Hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding, **Switched on Pop** is renowned for its insightful breakdowns of current pop music trends, but also frequently dives into music history, cultural context, and song analysis. Their episodes often make seemingly niche topics universally engaging—for example, their deep dive into Beyoncé’s *Cowboy Carter* album demonstrates their ability to contextualize music in ways that appeal beyond casual listeners[1]. Expect a blend of academic rigor and accessible conversation.
### Song Exploder **Song Exploder** is a unique podcast where musicians deconstruct their own songs, explaining the creative and technical decisions behind each element. The show provides rare insight into the songwriting and production process, making it invaluable for aspiring creators and curious listeners alike[4].
### Dissect A standout podcast, **Dissect** offers a deep dive into individual albums, exploring their themes, production techniques, and cultural relevance[3].
## Interviews with Musicians
### Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters This bi-weekly podcast brings audiences intimate conversations with the songwriters behind iconic tracks. It focuses on the stories, creative processes, challenges, and successes of those who craft the music we love[2].
### Tastes Like Music Each episode features interviews with a different musician, band, songwriter, or producer, covering their careers, influences, and creative methodologies. This format provides a wide array of perspectives across genres and experience levels[2].
### Made It In Music Offering interviews with artists, songwriters, and music industry professionals, **Made It In Music** is a resource for listeners wanting to understand the business side of music, as well as the creative journeys of those who have succeeded in the industry[5].
## Music Production and Songwriting Tips
### The Mastering Show A practical podcast that offers tips for improving technical skills in music production[6].
### The Songwriting Podcast A valuable resource for honing one's craft in songwriting[7].
### Sound On Sound Electronic Music Podcast For those interested in electronic music production, this podcast interviews pioneers of the genre and discusses both vintage and modern equipment, studio techniques, and creative workflows. It’s especially valuable for producers and engineers looking for technical tips and inspiration[5].
### DAW Nation Podcast Focused on digital audio workstations (DAWs) and music technology, **DAW Nation** is aimed at producers and songwriters wanting to enhance their technical skills and stay up-to-date with the latest tools and trends in music creation[5].
## Comprehensive Recommendations Table
| Podcast Name | Focus Areas | Notable Features | Host/Network | |-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------| | Switched on Pop | Pop analysis, history, trends | Musicologist + songwriter hosts | Vox, Nate Sloan, Charlie Harding | | Song Exploder | Song breakdowns, production, songwriting| Artists deconstruct their own songs | Hrishikesh Hirway | | Dissect | Album analysis, themes, cultural impact | Tracks individual albums | Cole Cuchna | | Songcraft | Songwriter interviews | In-depth creator stories | Paul Duncan, Scott B. Bomar | | Tastes Like Music | Artist/producer interviews | Weekly conversations across genres | Jason | | Made It In Music | Industry, artist interviews | Success stories, business insights | Independent | | The Mastering Show | Technical production tips | Mastering engineer hosts | Joe Lambert | | The Songwriting Podcast | Songwriting tips | Songwriter hosts | Various | | Sound On Sound Electronic | Electronic music production | Gear, techniques, pioneer interviews | Sound On Sound magazine | | DAW Nation Podcast | Music tech, DAW tips | Focus on production tools | Independent |
## Bonus Episodes and Series
- **99% Invisible** (“As Slow as Possible” episode): Explores unique music history stories, like the world’s slowest musical performance[1]. - **Listening 2 Britney: …Baby One More Time**: A deep dive into iconic pop songs and their impact[1].
## Summary
For a well-rounded music podcast diet, start with **Switched on Pop** for analysis and cultural context, **Song Exploder** for songwriting and production insights, and **Songcraft** or **Tastes Like Music** for artist interviews. Add **Sound On Sound Electronic Music Podcast** or **DAW Nation** for technical production tips, and explore genre-specific shows like **Dissect** for historical depth[1][2][5]. These podcasts collectively cover discovery, history, analysis, interviews, and practical music-making advice—making them top choices for dedicated music enthusiasts.
[1] https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/12/11/18138821/switched-on-pop-podcast-review [2] https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/tastes-like-music-podcast-interviews-818508/ [3] https://www.vulture.com/2018/09/dissect-podcast-review.html [4] https://www.npr.org/2018/09/05/646481866/song-exploder-returns-for-a-sixth-season [5] https://www.soundonsound.com/podcasts/daw-nation-podcast [6] https://www.masteringthemix.com/podcast/ [7] https://songwritingpodcast.com/
In the music podcast sphere, 'Switched on Pop' offers a blend of academic rigor and accessible conversation, dissecting current pop music trends, music history, cultural context, and song analysis. The unique podcast, 'Song Exploder', invites musicians to deconstruct their own songs, providing rare insight into the creative and technical decisions behind each element. Furthermore, 'Dissect' delves deep into individual albums, exploring themes, production techniques, and cultural relevance. These three podcasts are invaluable for music enthusiasts, offering comprehensive insights into various aspects of music production and entertainment.
