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Artwork for NPR Music

NPR Music

NPR
NPR Music
Music
Sufjan Stevens
Bad Bunny
Jazz
Nostalgia
Puerto Rico
Taylor Swift
Geese
Venezuela
Tiny Desk Contest
2009
Salsa
Halloween
MTV
Carrie & Lowell
Latin America
Silvana Estrada
Phoebe Bridgers
Nicolas Maduro

Welcome to your all-in-one destination for every NPR Music podcast. We break down the best new albums to hit streaming each week on New Music Friday; we share the latest songs worthy of your playlists on All Songs Considered; there’s off-the-rails conversations (and chisme!) about Latin music on Alt.Latino. The NPR Music channel is your hub for new records, iconic artists and cult heroes, free of ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes417Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

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Artwork for NPR Music

Latest Episodes

On a special mid-year episode of New Music Friday, host Stephen Thompson and a lineup of NPR Music writers and critics reflect on their favorite albums of the year so far. 

Albums featured in this episode:

(01:14) Album No. 1

- Noah Kahan, 'The Gre... more

The origin story of The Postal Service is as simple (and twee) as they come: An electronic music producer (Jimmy Tamborello) and an indie rock singer-songwriter (Ben Gibbard) decide to collaborate on a few songs, sending each other music via snail ma... more

On this week’s Alt.Latino, Anamaria and I both gush about 'Femme Fatale Vol. 2,' the new album from Chilean-Mexican singer Mon Laferte, who is on one of the more amazing creative streaks I've witnessed in a while. Also, Ana and I sometimes unintentio... more

It's the midway point of 2026, and it's safe to say that when it comes to the best songs of the year, there's not really any consensus to be found. So we’ve assembled our personal Top 10 list of the most memorable songs to cross our paths, from the o... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Pepe Gonzalez
Member of Zapata, Washington, DC Latin and Afro-Caribbean band
Zapata
Episode: Alt.Latino: They opened for Miles Davis and Sly Stone, then disappeared
Noah Caldwell
Producer
NPR Music
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out June 19
Tom Heisinga
Contributor/host
NPR Music
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out June 19
Tucker Zimmerman
Singer-songwriter
Independent artist
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out June 19
Daniel Lanois
Producer and solo artist
Self, notable producer of major acts
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out June 19
Janus Rasmussen
Electronic producer, member of Chiasmos
Chiasmos ( duo with Olafer Arnolds)
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out June 19
Gary Bartz
Jazz saxophonist, veteran performer
Your Brother's Keeper (London-based collaboration)
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out June 19
Micah Thomas
Pianist, jazz musician
Emanuel Wilkins Quartet (associated)
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out June 19
Nate Chinen
Music journalist, host of NPR programs on jazz/acclaimed critic
WRTI in Philadelphia
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out June 19

Hosts

Stephen Thompson
Host with NPR Music roles including New Music Friday; provides show leadership and conversational guidance.
Felix Contreras
Host focused on Alt.Latino and Latin music conversations; brings cross-genre and global perspectives.
Robin Hilton
Host of All Songs Considered; co-host and conversations around new music.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 4.9k ratings
  • One of the best ways to discover new music and rediscover old favorites

    Podcast Addict
    5
    fanky
    a month ago
  • Disappointed

    I can’t believe New Music Friday is now subscription only here!!! This is incredibly disappointing. I can listen for free on the website, so what gives? Bizarre. At least give us the option to listen with ads if we want to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    foraggio
    Australia2 months ago
  • Finding so much joy

    I’m a big music lover and am almost embarrassed to say that I just recently discovered this podcast. But I am enjoying it so much that happiness at discovering so much great new music is no doubt the biggest emotion I’m feeling. I love the presentation and style of the various shows, along with the openness to welcome all types of music and artists. It’s been a wonderful experience not just from downloading a new release after listening to a show, but also from the concerts and albums from newly... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Madcodave
    United States2 months ago
  • Good music variety, annoying hosts

    This is a great source for a wide range of music. However, can’t NPR get hosts who don’t sound like juniors in high school with all the vocal lilts and the incessant use of “like” and “you know,” and “I feel like”? Can’t this show try to sound more professional? Thank god that, on a podcast, I can fast forward through the immature-sounding hosts’ vocal tics.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Western Webspinner
    United States3 months ago
  • Full of amazing discoveries

    The source of so many of my favorite songs. A must listen every time there is a new episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Allatonce26
    Germany3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many highlight the show's role in expanding musical horizons beyond mainstream hype.
Listeners praise discovery of new artists and breadth of music covered.
Some critique hosts' delivery but overall praise the depth of music-context.
Fans appreciate NPR's regional voices and cross-genre conversations.
Praise for the Latin music focus and diverse guest selection.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#23
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#8
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#57
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#18
Australia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#77
Germany/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

New Music Friday: The best albums out May 29
Q: What new albums are out today?
The hosts discuss Boards of Canada Inferno, Kurt Vile Philadelphia's Been Good To Me, Iceage For Love of Grace and The Hereafter, Feeble Little Horse Bitnot, Greg Mendez Beautyland, and several other titles in the May 29 drop.
Interview: Beck returns to the spotlight
Q: Take me back to when you were writing Ride Lonesome—what was going on in your life at the time?
Beck recalls a lonely period that fed into the song's introspective mood, emphasizing how personal experiences filter into writing and help shape the emotional core of the music.
All Songs Considered: Cruelly ranking the best original song Oscar nominees
Q: What is your criteria for ranking, is it quality or odds of victory?
The ranking is based on quality and how well the song integrates with the film, with occasional notes suggesting which one the editor thinks could win, but the primary factor is the song's musical and thematic fit rather than odds.
New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 20
Q: What makes this week's music releases particularly unique?
This week features a wide range of genre-defying music, including new releases from artists like Willow Smith and Pekka Kuusisto, mixing traditional and modern sounds.
Alt.Latino: Our Love Letter to Bob Weir
Q: What do you think makes American Beauty such an accessible album for new listeners?
Isabella explains that American Beauty is a comforting entry point into the Dead's music, especially highlighted by a scene from Freaks and Geeks.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About NPR Music

What is NPR Music about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A network-focused music podcast featuring weekly roundups of new releases, in-depth conversations with artists, and culturally-informed discussions across the broader NPR Music ecosystem. Expect timely analysis of fresh albums and tracks, plus artist interviews and genre-spanning conversations—from indie and pop to Latin and world music—driven by the network's rotating set of hosts and contributors. It's likely to appeal to music fans who want context, discovery, and expert perspectives on both mainstream and indie scenes, with a strong emphasis on the process behind music creation and the stories behind artists. A notable strength is the breadth of voices from NPR Music, Alt.Latino, and partner stations, offering regional viewpoints and cr... more

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for NPR Music. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to NPR Music and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does NPR Music get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for NPR Music, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for NPR Music?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for NPR Music, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does NPR Music have?

To see how many followers or subscribers NPR Music has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to NPR Music?

These podcasts share a similar audience with NPR Music:

1. All Songs Considered
2. Fresh Air
3. Pop Culture Happy Hour
4. Sound Opinions
5. Alt.Latino

How many episodes of NPR Music are there?

NPR Music launched 21 years ago and published 417 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact NPR Music?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for NPR Music?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for NPR Music from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for NPR Music?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of NPR Music. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on NPR Music?

Recent guests on NPR Music include:

1. Pepe Gonzalez
2. Noah Caldwell
3. Tom Heisinga
4. Tucker Zimmerman
5. Daniel Lanois
6. Janus Rasmussen
7. Gary Bartz
8. Micah Thomas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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