Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. Guides

The best music podcasts

Michael Archambault
By

Music makes our souls sing, but what happens when you’ve listened to everything in your library? Instead of starting up another album, think about checking out a music podcast. From podcasts that focus on the history behind your favorite artists and their work to deep dives into the formulas that make different genres shine, there is something for every music lover. We take a look at the best music podcasts that you can listen to using your favorite podcast apps.

Want to discover new and exciting podcasts, but aren’t necessarily looking for something music-related? Be sure to check out our guide on the best podcasts to listen to right now.

Song Exploder

Song Exploder
Image used with permission by copyright holder

We couldn’t mention a list of the best music podcasts without bringing attention to Song Exploder by American musician and composer Hrishikesh Hirway. Launched in 2014, Song Exploder invites musicians to deconstruct their songs and discuss how they were written. Artists discuss the process of both writing and recording so that listeners can learn how life was breathed into their songs. Artists who have appeared on the podcast include Vampire Weekend, Slipknot, Sheryl Crow, Mumford & Sons, Hozier, and many more. Song Exploder typically airs biweekly, so you’ll have two fantastic episodes every month to enjoy.

Related

Broken Record

Broken Record
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A broken record isn’t usually something to be desired, but when it comes to the Broken Record podcast, we want more. A product of Pushkin Industries, Broken Record is produced by Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, and Justin Richmond. Every week, the team invites a different artist to discuss everything from their music to their everyday lives. Of course, no great music podcast would be complete without a musical performance, so here you’ll be able to hear some of your favorites. Past guests have included Run the Jewels, Huey Lewis, Beastie Boys, Alicia Keys, and John Legend.

Hit Parade

Hit Parade
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Slate Podcasts offers Hit Parade, an exciting podcast where pop critic Chris Molanphy analyzes top hits from over half a century of music. Molanphy isn’t just another podcast host discussing a vast collection of music; he is a veteran pop-chart analyst and the author of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series. Composed of song snippets, bits of storytelling, and fun trivia, Hit Parade will school you on how some of the most popular songs influenced our lives. Since 2017, every other week, listeners have been able to take a journey and learn about hits from artists, including Billy Joel, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Whitney Houston, and “Weird Al” Yankovic.

Popcast

Popcast
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Explore the latest in popular music with this New York Times podcast and its host Jon Caramanica as he discusses the works of artists such as Taylor Swift, Run The Jewels, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, and more. A podcast that focuses on both analytical criticism and the latest trends, Popcast asks questions, such as what is the value of music, and are chart sales really the best metric for determining popularity? If you want to take a more detailed dive into your favorite songs and artists, while learning more about the music industry, this is one great option.

Disgraceland

Disgraceland
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Do you really know anything about your favorite bands and artists? From murder to drug addiction and religious cults, iHeartRadio and Jake Brennan look at how close the criminal connection has come to big stars. A combination of music and true crime, this scripted podcast is “inspired by true events” and takes you on an exciting audio journey. As iHeartRadio notes, just remember that it’s not a journalistic podcast, and some moments are fictionalized for dramatic purposes. Episodes have explored stories featuring Little Richard, Jay Z, Guns N’ Roses, Run DMC, and even the famous Studio 54 disco club. Jump onboard this podcast for a bit of unexpected fun and intrigue.

Switched on Pop

Switched on Pop
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Produced by Vox, Switched on Pop analyzes pop music and how it’s made, to help determine what makes it so addictive. Hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding, the duo explores everything from sampling to vocal styles and techniques to how popular, infectious hits have made their way into our ears and how they affect society. You may even discover some new favorites from artists including Beyonce, Carly Rae Jepsen, Fiona Apple, Doja Cat, Kanye West, and others. The podcast has been operating since 2014, so you’ll find a collection of fantastic episodes to binge.

Dissect

Dissect
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Dissect is a music podcast from Spotify Studios that really gets into the weeds, dedicating each season to analyzing a single album. Every episode features a single song from the album as host Cole Cuchna discusses and dissects its music, lyrics, and meaning, so you know exactly what went into each piece. Previous seasons have looked at DAMN by Kendrick Lamar, IGOR by Tyler the Creator, Blonde by Frank Ocean, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West, and The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill. Don’t worry — Dissect isn’t a Spotify exclusive, so you can catch up on the latest episodes using your podcast catcher of choice.

Mogul

Mogul Podcast
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Want a bit more hip-hop in the mix? Mogul is presented by Gimlet and explores some of the genre’s most iconic moments in history. Best of all, with each episode of Mogul you aren’t just listening to another podcast host report on something they researched. Each story — from the craziest parties and feuds to the rhymes themselves — is told by the people who lived them. Artists who have appeared on the show include Kelly Rowland, Mouse Jones, So Wylie, The 2 Live Crew, and Uncle Murda. Episodes for Mogul are delivered in rapid succession, with long breaks between each season, giving you enough time to binge before heading into the most recent season.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Michael Archambault
Michael Archambault
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Michael Archambault is a technology writer and digital marketer located in Long Island, New York. For the past decade…
How much is Apple Music, and how can you get it for free?
Apple Music with lossless audio music track playing on OnePlus 11 along with the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 in black color on top of a green cloth surface.

Apple Music is one of the best music streaming services available, offering a catalog of more than 100 million songs, all in high-quality lossless audio at no additional cost, as well as a huge amount of albums and tracks in Dolby Atmos spatial audio, which if you haven't heard it, is music on a whole other immersive level. And while it does play a close second fiddle to Spotify's excellent UI and music discovery (as well as in global subscriptions), the Cupertino music streamer is still a giant and is loaded with cool features, live shows, and exclusives making it a tricky choice if you're deciding which to run with.

But the biggest factor for most is how much it costs. While there are some limited-time "free" options and a free trial you can cash in on to check out Apple Music, if you stick with the service long enough, you will end up paying. Let's take a closer look at how much Apple Music is.
Apple Music plans

Read more
How much is Spotify Premium and can you get a deal?
Spotify app icon on iPhone.

By the end of 2022, Spotify's global Premium subscribers topped 205 million, continuing its reign as the top-dog music streaming service in the world. And while its closest competitors, Apple Music and Amazon Music, offer comparable 100-million song catalogs, as well as higher-quality lossless audio tracks, Spotify's user interface is often held on a pedestal for its ease of use, fun design, social elements, and aptitude at helping users discover new music. The platform is also always adding new features, such as its AI-driven "DJ" assistant.

But that user experience can be limited depending upon the tier. The only way to enjoy unlimited skips, free downloads, offline listening, and a host of other great features is by upgrading your account to Spotify Premium. With four plan options that range from $6 to $17 per month — note that prices increased in mid-2023 — Spotify is a pretty good value. But before you grab your credit card and sign up, read on as we dig into what you get with Spotify Premium and explore how you might be able to get it at a discount.

Read more
Best cheap headphones and earbuds 2023: Jabra, 1More, and more
Jabra Elite 4 in open charging case sitting on plant leaves.

The best cheap earbuds and headphones out there don't have to be pieces of junk. In fact, they can offer many of the premium features that the best earbuds and best headphones out there have, such as active noise cancelation (ANC) and transparency modes, as well as water-proof ratings and excellent companion apps for tuning them as you see fit.

Not only do we keep an eye out for headphones and earbuds that have those nifty bells and whistles, but we of course make sure that they sound great, fit well, and won't burn a hole in your pocket. And because we think that when you search for budget headphones, you want to see both earbuds and over-ear varieties, we've included both on this list.

Read more