Rephonic
Artwork for NPR Music

NPR Music

NPR
NPR Music
Bad Bunny
Music
Sufjan Stevens
Puerto Rico
Jazz
Nostalgia
Taylor Swift
Geese
Venezuela
Tiny Desk Contest
2009
Carrie & Lowell
Salsa
Halloween
MTV
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

PublishesDailyEpisodes408Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for NPR Music

Latest Episodes

Olivia Rodrigo. Pussy Riot. Hayley Kiyoko. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Nastia Voynovskaya from KQED in San Francisco about their favorite albums out Friday, June 12. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in ... more

Ruben Ramos' life story mirrors the history of what we now know as Tejano music. His family's musical roots in Texas go back to 1918, and as a boy he was brought into the family bands, first as a drummer and then as a vocalist. He's been playing big ... more

NPR listeners share the songs they reach for when they need to reset the mood, their day or even their life.

This is a followup to our April episode on songs for starting over.  NPR’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton.

A good review helps! So, le... more

Vince Staples. Zoh Amba. Death Cab for Cutie. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Laura Grant from WEXT in New York about their favorite albums out Friday, June 5. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightn... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Robin Hilton
Guest contributor
NPR Music
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out May 22
Isaiah Rashad
TDE rapper, subject of the interview
Top Dawg Entertainment
Episode: Interview: Isaiah Rashad is ready to bare his soul
Ann Powers
NPR Music editor; colleague referenced in conversation
NPR Music
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out May 1
Anamaria Sayre
Alt. Latino co-host
NPR Music
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out April 24
Gia Margaret
Singer-songwriter, Singing
Gia Margaret
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out April 24
Noah Kahan
Singer-songwriter, The Great Divide
Noah Kahan
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out April 24
Season 2
Melbourne-based indie pop band, debut album Power of Now
Season 2
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out April 24
Hazel Cills
Contributor in lightning round
NPR Music
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out April 24
Carla dal Forno
Australian artist, new release Confession
Carla dal Forno
Episode: New Music Friday: The best albums out April 24

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
    21 days 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
    Australiaa month 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 Statesa month 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 States2 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
    Germany2 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
#24
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#12
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#11
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#77
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#31
Australia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#82
Germany/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Alt.Latino: Our Love Letter to Bob Weir
Q: What was it like for you discovering the Grateful Dead?
Felix shares his experience of discovering the band through underground radio stations and how he first saw Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir perform live.

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

Where can I find podcast stats for NPR Music?

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. World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
2. All Songs Considered
3. Fresh Air
4. Song Exploder
5. Sound Opinions

How many episodes of NPR Music are there?

NPR Music launched 21 years ago and published 408 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. Robin Hilton
2. Isaiah Rashad
3. Ann Powers
4. Anamaria Sayre
5. Gia Margaret
6. Noah Kahan
7. Season 2
8. Hazel Cills

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days