8 Best Music History Podcasts of 2021

Updated: Jan 2022


All Songs Considered

By NPR  

Music  

300 Episodes

Started: Jul 2019

Latest: Few days ago

Hosts/nerds Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton are your friendly music buddies with the week's best new music discoveries, including conversations with emerging artists, icons and more. Hear songs that can completely change your day, with humor, heart and (sometimes) a whole lot of noise. Directions for use: Morning commute, the gym, or alone time. (If rash persists, discontinue use.)

Best Episodes of All Songs Considered:

New Music Friday: The Top 6 Albums Out Jan. 14

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include FKA Twigs' CAPRISONGS, SICK! from Earl Sweatshirt, joyful singalongs from The Lumineers and more.Featured Albums: 1. FKA Twigs — CAPRISONGSF…

Popcast

By The New York Times  

Music Commentary  Music  Music Interviews  

341 Episodes

Started: Aug 2014

Latest: Few days ago

The Popcast is hosted by Jon Caramanica, a pop music critic for The New York Times. It covers the latest in popular music criticism, trends and news.

Best Episodes of Popcast:

2021 in Jazz: Intimacy and Conversation

Throughout the pandemic, the music’s flexibility has become an asset. Where will artists take it next? Guests: Giovanni Russonello and Marcus J. Moore.

The Music History Project

By NAMM Resource Center  

Music  

112 Episodes

Started: Jun 2017

Latest: Week ago

NAMM’s resident Music Historian Dan Del Fiorentino and co-hosts Michael Mullens, and Ashley Allison examine the innovative creations, evolution of musical instruments, the changing world of music retail, music industry icons, and other topics covered in NAMM’s Oral History program. The NAMM Oral History program boasts over 4,500 interviews and is continually growing. For more information about NAMM’s Oral History program please visit https://www.namm.org/library.

Best Episodes of The Music History Project:

Ep. 112 Amro Music

The Music History Project podcast would like to join the music community in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Memphis retailer Amro Music! Over the years, the NAMM Oral History program has captured…

Mogul

By Gimlet  

Music History  Music  Society & Culture  
0

Mogul is a show about hip hop’s most iconic moments, told by the people who lived them. In Season 3, we’re telling the story of DJ Screw, a reclusive genius who changed the sound of music forever. An auteur who created his own genre — Chopped and Screwed — Screw slowed music down until it sounded like syrup coming out of your speakers. It quickly became the soundtrack to the city of Houston, before influencing an entire generation of rappers. But the man behind the beats was a mystery to all but his closest collaborators, and to this day he remains one of hip-hop’s greatest enigmas.

Best Episodes of Mogul:

Celebration Rock

By Cumulus Media Minneapolis / KXXR-FM  

Music  

100 Episodes

Started: Sept 2016

Latest: Year ago

Rock Critic Steven Hyden ("Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me", "Twilight Of The Gods") talks with rock stars and the country’s biggest music writers about what’s happening in rock. Presented by 93X (www.93X.com) and Uproxx.com (http://uproxx.com/music/)

Best Episodes of Celebration Rock:

Celebration Rock: Best Albums of the Decade with Ian Cohen

Steve decided to take the podcast out of hibernation for this special one-off episode on the best albums of the 2010's, with special guest Ian Cohen. See [omnystudio.com/listener] (https://omnystudio.…

Song Exploder

By Hrishikesh Hirway  

Music  

236 Episodes

Started: Jan 2014

Latest: Few days ago

Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode features an artist discussing a song of theirs, breaking down the sounds and ideas that went into the writing and recording. Hosted and produced by Hrishikesh Hirway.

Best Episodes of Song Exploder:

Joy Oladokun - Look Up

Joy Oladokun is a singer and songwriter from Arizona, now based in Nashville, who’s been releasing music since 2015. Last year, she was named an Artist to Watch by NPR, Spotify, and Amazon, and she wa…

Cocaine & Rhinestones: The History of Country Music

By Tyler Mahan Coe  

History  

32 Episodes

Started: Oct 2017

Latest: Few days ago

Step right up. Come on in.

Best Episodes of Cocaine & Rhinestones: The History of Country Music:

CR030/PH16 - Another Lonely Song: The Tammy Wynette & George Richey Story

Oh, you thought Jones had a hard time dealing with George Richey? Imagine being married to the guy. Today we say one of the saddest and most infuriating goodbyes we'll ever have to say, the one we say…

Questlove Supreme

By iHeartRadio  

Music  Society & Culture  

203 Episodes

Started: Nov 2019

Latest: Few days ago

Questlove Supreme is a fun, irreverent and educational weekly podcast that digs deep into the stories of musical legends and cultural icons in a way that only Questlove and Team Supreme can deliver. Led by Each episode is driven by conversation ranging from the guest’s origins (along with a few never-before-revealed secrets to their success) to their life passions and current projects. This is not your typical interview show. This is about legends and legends in the making bringing their legacy to life in their own words. Previous guests have included Usher, Michelle Obama, Chris Rock, Steve Miller, Maya Rudolph, Weird Al, Chaka Khan, Babyface and many more.

Best Episodes of Questlove Supreme:

QLS Classic: Linda Perry

Singer-songwriter Linda Perry talks about her musical beginnings with 4 Non Blondes and how she creates chart-topping hits for stars like Adele and Pink. Learn more about your ad-choices at [https://w…

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