1. Song Exploder
Hrishikesh Hirway’s Song Exploder podcast invites artists on to explain the songwriting process behind their most iconic songs. Starting with the ideation process and the motivation behind writing their song, the artist gives the listener a step by step guide on how the song was developed and mastered. If you’ve ever wondered how Fleetwood Mac came up with their hit single ‘You Can Go Your Own Way’, or how U2 wrote ‘Cedarwood Road’, be sure to check out Song Exploder on Spotify and hear from the artists themselves. The podcast covers a variety of genres, so you won’t be disappointed!
2. The Joe Budden Podcast with Rory & Mal
Former rapper turned broadcaster Joe Budden and his friends Rory & Mal run a podcast twice a week where they discuss and breakdown the most prevalent topics in the Hip Hop industry. In August, 2018, the podcast penned a deal with Spotify to host the podcast on their platform, while still releasing their content on YouTube. While the podcast is described as a hip-hop podcast for the most part, the trio regularly touch on other topics such as sports, politics, and the music industry in general. The show also has guests on from time to time, with well-known artists such as Nicki Minaj, Pusha T, and Chance the Rapper appearing on the podcast in the past.
3. The New York Times Popcast
In contrast to what the name might suggest, the New York Times Popcast covers a variety of genres and is more fitted to the listener who wants to keep up to date with the music industry as a whole. The show is hosted by Jon Caramanica, an American journalist and pop music critic. Caramanica’s podcast hosts a variety of guests on a regular basis from a wide scope of genres, and also touches on industry happenings such as Grammy nominations.
4. Questlove Supreme
Hosted by the drummer of American Hip-Hop band ‘The Roots’, QuestLove Supreme is a weekly podcast that delves into stories shared by some of music’s most iconic names. QuestLove Supreme is one of the more light-hearted podcasts on this list, with Questlove focusing on creating a fun and engaging environment with his guests. Although the podcast primarily hosts guests from the music industry, QuestLove Supreme guestlist boasts some huge names from other industries, including Seth Rogen and Jimmy Fallon.
Broken Record
Broken Record is a podcast hosted by industry legend Rick Rubin, alongside Malcom Gladwell and former New York Times editor Bruce Headlem. The podcast gives a unique insight into one of the music industry’s all-time greatest producers in Rick Rubin, and blends perfectly with the conversational skills of Gladwell and Headlem to create a fascinating experience for the listener. The Broken Record also has guests on a regular basis, with big names such as Tyler the Creator, Andre 3000, and Bon Iver appearing on the show in the past.