Rephonic
Artwork for Broken Record

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

Pushkin Industries
Songwriting
Music Industry
Rock Music
R&B
Jazz
Music Production
Grammy Awards
Pushkin Industries
HIP HOP
Country Music
Stevie Wonder
Mental Health
Los Angeles
Will Smith
Deftones
Chicago
The Light For Days
Life & Times
FKA Twigs
Musical Collaboration

Music and storytelling meet on Broken Record, where artists across genres and generations sit down to explore the joy, chaos, and vulnerability of creating—and what it means to devote a life to music. From legendary icons to groundbreaking new voices, each episode captures artists in conversation sharing the inspirations and experiences that shape their craft.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes419Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Broken Record

Latest Episodes

Recently, we had visionary music producer Robert Margouleff on the show and today we're sharing an excerpt from his new audiobook, Shaping Sounds: Stevie Wonder, DEVO, the Synth Revolution and My Life Behind the Music. In legendary studios like Elect... more

Robert Margouleff is one of the most quietly consequential figures in modern music — a sonic architect who helped build some of the most innovative and enduring sounds of the last half century. Together with his partner Malcolm Cecil, Robert created ... more

YouTube

Maya Hawke first became known to wide audiences as an actress — especially through her work in Stranger Things — but she's been quietly building a parallel life as a songwriter of genuine depth. Since her debut album Blush in 2020, she's released fou... more

YouTube

In the latest season of Revisionist History, Malcolm Gladwell is looking at the origins and consequences of mistakes—why we make them, the context in which we make them, and what happens after we make them. Years ago a music producer named Irv Gotti—... 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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Recent Guests

Maya Hawke
Actress and songwriter, co-creator of Maitreya Corso
Episode: Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson - Live from SXSW
Christian Lee Hutson
Musician and co-producer of Maitreya Corso
Episode: Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson - Live from SXSW
Irv Gotti
Rap producer and industry executive featured in the interview
Gotti (producer)
Episode: Why Would I Do That to Jennifer Lopez? | Revisionist History
Bruce Hornsby
Musician, pianist, singer
Episode: Bruce Hornsby
Dave Grohl
Frontman and musician; Nirvana, Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Episode: Dave Grohl
Wyclef Jean
Musician, producer, former member of the Fugees
Fugees / solo artist
Episode: Wyclef Jean - Live from On Air Fest
Jessie Ware
British singer, host of Table Manners
Self / Table Manners
Episode: Jessie Ware
Ariel Engle
Artist featured on the album as La Force collaborator
La Force / Broken Social Scene
Episode: Patrick Watson
Charlie Puth
Singer-songwriter and guest on the episode
Atlantic Records (implied)
Episode: Charlie Puth

Hosts

Bruce Headlam
Host of Broken Record, guides conversations with artists
Justin Richmond
Host and interviewer, co-leading conversations with artists
Leah Rose
Interviewer, contributes to guest conversations

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 7.5k ratings
  • Broken records

    MusicNew said that while it would take the company some time before just a few days before making revisions of a proposed merger agreement for its existing business line and a plan that will make a big impact for both companies and its customers and new businesses that would help them grow the company out there is still much work that could go ahead in a year to be put to rest over time for new customers and the future plans to emerge as well in terms to market the future of their business as ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    city Cody pass
    United Statesa month ago
  • Best Music Podcast. But one criticism

    I love Broken Record. I find it so insightful. I learn so much from my favorite artists, it really is a gift.

    I just played the bonus episode, George Michael - Beyond the Controversy, and thought it missed the mark.

    It glossed over George's music, and betraying the episode title, it dwells too much on the controversial, and iconography bits.

    "Listen Without Prejudice" isn't mentioned at all, and to to many, this was a major album of the era. While the first album had the sales, this seco... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Doug why
    United Statesa month ago
  • Bruce Headlam face palm

    Bruce, stop dropping scale terminology every 5 minutes. Audience doesn’t know what you’re referring to (mixolydian) and you’re not impressing someone like Richard Thompson. You don’t know what you’re talking about half the time. Was embarrassed for you in that interview.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    bcsquest
    United Statesa month ago
  • Patrick Watson

    I enjoyed that interview and learnt a few things. Patrick nailed what makes Quebec/ Montreal different from other places. 🫶

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mvbjvlkbjlkjo
    Canada2 months ago
  • Where’s Rick?

    Why do you still have Rick Rubin in the title of the show? He hasn’t been on an episode I’m years.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    WatchDaawg
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate the candid storytelling and authenticity of guests.
Listeners praise deep, insightful interviews with artists they admire.
Some episodes attract criticism for heavy ad breaks.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#48
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#33
United States/Music
Spotify
#35
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#44
United Kingdom/Music
Spotify
#30
Australia/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson - Live from SXSW
Q: What does the title Maitreya Corso mean to you?
Maitreya comes from Tibetan Buddhism and Corso references poet Gregory Corso; the title signals a fantasy-tinged journey with a powerful female epic heroine as the focal point of the album.
Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson - Live from SXSW
Q: What was the process like writing together during the COVID era?
They describe experimenting with rule-breaking collaboration, writing in unusual settings (like a closet with a guitar) and letting poems guide musical decisions while adapting to pandemic constraints.
Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson - Live from SXSW
Q: So how did you guys' musical connection start?
They describe meeting through mutual friends and email exchanges, eventually shifting from collaborating on an EP to creating a full record after discovering a shared creative chemistry.
Dave Grohl
Q: Were you a songwriter at that point?
He confirms he was already writing songs in his spare time, describing how he used to compose even when still very young and how those early experiments evolved into a broader songwriting approach.
Jessie Ware
Q: What drew her to reveal more of her private life on the album and in public, including family moments?
She explains wanting to share memories and celebrate her family, feeling more confident as an artist to invite listeners into that personal space.

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 Broken Record

What is Broken Record about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Broken Record features in-depth conversations with musicians, producers, and cultural voices about the craft, career journeys, and the emotional textures of making music. Across episodes, guests share intimate stories—songwriting habits, influences, creative breakthroughs, and the tension between art and life—often blending personal history with practical insight for fellow artists and music lovers. The show stands out for its thoughtful, unhurried interviews with both legendary icons and rising artists, offering a rare window into the human side of making music and living a life driven by creativity.

Where can I find podcast stats for Broken Record?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Broken Record. 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 Broken Record and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Broken Record get?

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What are the audience demographics for Broken Record?

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How many subscribers and views does Broken Record have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Broken Record 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 Broken Record?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Broken Record:

1. Song Exploder
2. Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin
3. The Questlove Show
4. Rolling Stone All Access
5. Sound Opinions

How many episodes of Broken Record are there?

Broken Record launched 9 years ago and published 419 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 Broken Record?

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 Broken Record?

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

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What guests have appeared on Broken Record?

Recent guests on Broken Record include:

1. Maya Hawke
2. Christian Lee Hutson
3. Irv Gotti
4. Bruce Hornsby
5. Dave Grohl
6. Wyclef Jean
7. Jessie Ware
8. Ariel Engle

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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