The Best Podcasts for Musicians, Producers and Audio Engineers
Check out or big list of the very best podcasts for musicians, producers and audio engineers. And while you’re at it, hear what’s new on the SonicScoop podcast!
Podcasts are a tremendous resource for musicians, producers and audio engineers. The world of sound is our natural habitat anyway, and podcasts make it so that we can improve or gain insights into our craft even while we’re commuting or doing chores.
We think one of the best podcasts out there for those who are passionate about music and sound is the new SonicScoop Podcast with Justin Colletti.
With a new episode every Thursday covering the business and the craft of music and sound, it’s one you won’t want to miss. Catch it on YouTube, iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Ours is not the only great podcast out there, however. Below, find some of the very best musician-centered podcasts (other than the SonicScoop Podcast) for you to try.
1. Gear Club
We’re not just saying this because they’ve been a sponsor of the SonicScoop Podcast, but Gear Club is easily one of the very best podcasts out there for audio engineers and music producers.
Hosted by veteran producer/engineers John Agnello [Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, Kurt Vile] and Stuart Lerman [Sharon Van Etten, St. Vincent, Boardwalk Empire], it’s as insightful as it is fun and funny.
Don’t take our word for it. With nearly 100 5-star reviews on iTunes, it’s clearly a fan favorite. If you haven’t given it a shot yet, start.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Play
2. Unstoppable Recording Machine
“URM” is a podcast that’s geared toward rock and metal producers and engineers, but it offers tremendous takeaways for anyone in the field.
A good way for SonicScoop fans to get a taste for it is with Justin Colletti’s appearance on Episode #67, where he talks to hosts Eyal Levi and Joey Sturgis about music business, time management, personal finance for musicians, and goes on a truly epic rant about file formats, among other things. This one is not to be missed.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
Google Play
RSS
3. The Six Figure Home Studio
Six Figure Home Studio is all about the business of running a studio from home. What else would you expect? From working with clients remotely, to creating a strategy for your studio, to navigating crowdfunding and more, it’s a natural fit for the budding music or audio entrepreneur.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
YouTube Channel
4. Song Exploder
Pick apart music, track-by-track, with Song Exploder. This podcast is a behind-the-scenes discussion with major musicians about the creation of their songs. From the song’s structure and inspiration to production, this podcast offers its listeners a moment-by-moment recap of an act of musical creation.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
SoundCloud
5. Working Class Audio
Matt Boudreau has been hosting the WCA podcast for more than 4 years, and has racked up a couple hundred episodes and about 100 5-star ratings on iTunes. The angle here is similar to what SonicScoop has long focused on: Looking at audio from the perspective of working professionals in the field.
Boudreau often disappears into the background as he facilitates his guests’ telling of their stories. Despite the decidedly blue-color branding of the podcast, Working Class Audio is no stranger to big-name guests working on some of today’s most prestigious projects. But the show also regularly explores new territory with lesser-known engineers making sustainable careers for themselves in every nook and cranny of the business.
Listen on:
iTunes
Google Play
Spotify
6. Soundworks Collection
The Soundworks Collection puts out some incredible behind-the-scenes videos in the audio post-production space. They also have a podcast, where the focus is talking to directors and sound designers about everything audio for movies in particular. Whether as a fan, a creative or an tech, it can lend a richer understanding of just what goes into making sound—which is 50% of the movie going experience—richer and more compelling.
Listen on:
iTunes
Spotify
Stitcher
7. Sodajerker on Songwriting
The British songwriting duo, Sodajerker, host a podcast that’s all about—you guessed it—songwriting. Featuring interviews with some of the biggest living songwriters and artists, it is an unlikely and unusual peek into this creative and ephemeral craft.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
Stitcher
8. This Must Be the Gig
Offering the firsthand accounts of notable musicians, this podcast focuses on revealing the novice stories of artists and industry personalities. From pre-show rituals to performing their first major concerts, these major figures of the music industry talk about their early experiences and more.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Play
9. And The Writer Is…
If you’re a producer or a songwriter, this podcast is for you. Every week, you’ll get to hear acclaimed songwriters intimately discuss their work, their process and their lives. Hear them at their most vulnerable, glean creative insights, and learn music industry trade secrets from hit-making writers.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
10. Lead Singer Syndrome with Shane Told
If you’re a frontman, you can learn a thing or two from these candid interviews with the lead singers of some significant bands. What’s it like to lead your band to stardom, and how can you better your own chances? Find out more by listening to this podcast.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
SoundCloud
RSS
11. NPR Microphone Check
An awesome podcast by NPR, this hip-hop focused show appeals to urban music fans and anyone who appreciates the hip-hop culture. NPR of all places brings the swagger needed to deliver a welcome resource for today’s street scholars. No longer in production, the archive of old episodes dating from 2013 through 2016 is. a treasure trove of conversations with some of hip hop’s most acclaimed, thoughtful and insightful artists.
Listen on:
Microphone Check Archives
12. All Songs Considered
From obscure Latin America bands to mainstream artists to emerging indie groups, this podcast features all genres of music for its listeners. Hosted by Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton, some of the best known hosts in the NPR music sphere, the show is dedicated to discovering new music with them.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
13. Popcast
Featuring a panel of music critics from the New York Times, listeners are subjected to the sharp banter and in-depth knowledge of some of the highest profile music reviewers in the country. Discussing everything from the latest pop news and albums to artists, it should help you keep up with some of the emerging trends in the music industry.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
14. Sound Opinions
Billed as “the world’s only rock n’ roll talk show”, this is one opinionated and natural choice for musicians who love to pick apart and critique new music. Featuring news, reviews and even live performances, this offering from WBEZ is one of NPR’s longest running music podcasts.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
15. Disgraceland
Overdose, scandal, murder, and more: Explore the alleged true crimes of musicians with this podcast. It offers an entertaining and exposing and behind-the-sordid-scenes take of some unforgettable stories in the music industry. If you love true crime drama and music, this is the podcast for you.
Listen on:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Play
Summing it Up
While it may be nearly impossible to keep up with all the podcasts on this list, what better way to find out which are best for you with a little listening binge? We recommend you start with the SonicScoop Podcast (naturally), but if you’re looking to branch out, consider subscribing to as many of these podcasts as you can muster. In today’s increasingly busy world, podcasts can serve as an invaluable resource and offer musicians a wealth of knowledge, even while they multitask. The more you listen, the more you’ll learn.
Ryan Merriweather is an audio engineer, tech enthusiast, and writer.
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