Podcasts about Music 🎵
The podcast world has boomed over the past few years, but what is it about podcasts we love? I think it’s as straightforward as the fact that they provide entertainment and information in such an accessible and simple way.
Before lockdown, listening to a podcast was the perfect handsfree way to distract yourself from a mundane commute, and now it’s a welcome break from looking at a screen but still staying engaged with something. And let’s be honest, no one ever grows out of having a story read to them!
From unpicking songs and the effect a piece of music has in our lives to navigating the music industry – here are some of our favourite podcasts about music to add to your lockdown listening.
Have you got a recommendation? Get in touch here and we’ll add it to the post.
By Sophie Ogunyemi
Are we live?
Described as ‘some mates having a chat about music’, tune in to hear our fave musicians BarneyArtist, AlfaMist, TomMisch and JordanRakei chat about, well, music! From what they’re listening to, to talking about recording studio etiquette and much, much more.
🔊 Listen on Spotify｜SoundCloud｜Apple Podcasts
Bitesize Bodacious Babes 
This podcast by Gabi Corbett is from women in the music industry helping to demystify the industry and inspire more ‘bodacious babes’ to get involved!
Broken Record
From FKA Twigs and Niler Rodgers to Bon Iver, well loved musicians talk about their life, inspiration, craft and what goes into their music.
🔊 Listen on Spotify｜Apple Podcasts
Desert Island Discs 
The OG of podcasts about music! This radio show has been running since 1942. Each guest is asked to choose 8 tracks, a book and a luxury to take with them as they’re castaway on a mythical desert island. In between each track, the guest is interviewed and generally discusses their lives up to that point.
🔊 Listen on BBC Sounds｜ Apple Music｜Spotify
Dissect
This show deep dives and dissects a single album per season and one song per episode. From The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill to Frank Ocean‘s Blonde, Beyonce’s Lemonade and more.
🔊 Listen on Spotify｜ Apple Podcasts
Music Matters
‘The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters.’ From clips like ‘Why music can literally make us lose track of time’ and ‘Why CDs may be more eco-friendly than streaming’ to ‘The evolution of video game music’, there are some super interesting topics covered in this podcast to keep you going!
🔊 Listen on BBC Sounds｜Apple Podcasts
Music Made Me Do It
“Just what do music managers, record label owners and festival founders do, and how can you become one? Stuart Stubbs attempts to unpack the different roles within the music industry by talking to the people who felt compelled to start their own successful businesses and projects within this brilliant and silly world”
🔊 Listen on Spotify｜Apple Podcasts
Song Exploder
“Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made.” Over 150 musicians have been involved including Fleetwood Mac, U2, Metallica, Solange, Lorde, and Yo-Yo Ma so we’re sure you’ll find someone you’re interested in!
🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts｜Spotify
Soul Music 
“This podcast series explores pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.” Each episode takes one song (such as Back to Black and Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay) and hears first hand how it’s impacted various peoples lives.
🔊 Listen on BBC Sounds｜Apple Podcasts
Sound Tracking 
Each week Edith Bowman sits down with a variety of composers, directors, actors and producers to talk about the music that inspired them and how they use music in their films – from Normal People to Peaky Blinders!
🔊 Listen on Spotify｜Apple Podcasts
Switched On Pop
This show is about the making and meaning of popular music hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding. They break down pop songs to figure out what makes a hit and what is its place in culture. They ‘help listeners find “a-ha” moments in the music.’ We enjoyed ‘How streaming changed the sound of pop’.
🔊 Listen on Spotify｜Apple Podcasts
The Story of Music in Fifty Pieces
Composer Howard Goodall in conversation with Suzy Klein, talk through 50 pieces of music that changed the course of music history including pieces from (of course) Mozart, Beethoven, Copland and more.
🔊 Listen on BBC Sounds｜Apple Podcasts
World Service Music Documentaries
BBC World Service broadcast lots of documentaries and they’ve gathered together all of the music related ones in one place which is very handy! From Lemn Sissey talking about Bob Marley with fans all over the world to the rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust there so many musical genres and histories are covered.
🔊 Listen on BBC Sounds