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Artwork for History in Five Songs

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff

Pantheon Media
Heavy Metal
Hair Metal
Black Sabbath
Led Zeppelin
Rock Music
Judas Priest
New Wave Of British Heavy Metal
AC/DC
Aerosmith
Ozzy Osbourne
Hard Rock
Deep Purple
Rush
Queen
Kiss
Van Halen
Yes
Iron Maiden
New Wave
Punk Rock

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff is the show that aims to make grand and often oddball hard rock and heavy metal points through a narrative built upon the tiny idea of a quintet of songs. Buttressed with illustrative clips, Martin argues quickly and succinctly why these songs - and the specific sections of these tracks - support his mad professor premise, from the wobbly invention of an “A... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes376Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusicMusic Commentary

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Artwork for History in Five Songs

Latest Episodes

In Episode 377 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines the fascinating “shared birthdays” of iconic 1970s albums. He highlights unexpected release-day pairings, musical rivalries, and the stories and connections behind these coi... more

In Episode 376 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the art of the album “con” by examining rock and metal records whose dramatic or intriguing covers may have overpromised the experience. Artists including Alice Cooper, Jet... more

In Episode 375 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contemplates the gritty, rebellious, swaggering, often dark and unapologetically uncommercial album that stands apart in a band's discography, including Van Halen, Pink Floyd, and Ozz... more

In Episode 374 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines how bands such as the Pixies, Queen, and Black Sabbath use dramatic shifts between quiet and heavy passages to create tension, surprise and impact.

• Pixies – “Tame”

... more

Key Facts

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

Recent Guests

Joe Skinner
Host of American Masters Creative Spark, interviews artists about their creative processes.
PBS
Episode: Introducing American Masters: Creative Spark

Host

Martin Popoff
Host of History in Five Songs, long-form music historian and author known for dense, fact-filled narratives and strong opinions on rock and metal history.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 307 ratings
  • Bands Ruined by Funk

    So if I don’t care for Atlantic Star, Chic or Peaches and Herb, it’s because I hate black people? C’mon, Martin, spare us your white guilt. It is possible to dislike a band and not be a racist.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Enjoy Prog
    United Statesa year ago
  • Signature Guitars

    How about the subject of signature guitars? How many of these guitars have been sold? John Petrucci and Steve Morse Melody Maker guitars. Satriani, George Benson, plat Metheny and Paul Stanley’s Ibanez. How many of those guitars have been sold?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Enjoy Prog
    United States2 years ago
  • A perfect nostalgic trip to the music I love!

    Martin is the perfect host for this podcast - a fan and an expert all rolled into one. He brings it all back to me and brings new music that I had not considered for me to buy - what a joy!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stuart Walton
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • A spoof?

    Based only on the Genesis episode from 9 days ago this is either a) a not very funny spoof or b) an ill conceived project that should be laid to rest as soon as possible.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Goonerdavem
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Blah.

    Blah blah blah blah,blah, blah blah, blah blah,blah blah blah and a ton of weird mouth noises.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Daddy Pickles!
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Sponsorship-friendly and well-produced with strong storytelling and source-backed claims.
Listener enthusiasm centers on the host's breadth of knowledge and concise five-song format.
Fans praise the show's ability to illuminate connections across bands and eras.

Chart Rankings

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Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About History in Five Songs

What is History in Five Songs about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Five-song focused narratives explore hard rock and heavy metal history through tight, curated song choices. Each episode uses concise analysis of sections within tracks to illustrate broader themes—from the evolution of guitar roles to the spread of metal across subgenres—often weaving in anecdotes, fan input, and historical context. Noteworthy is the consistent emphasis on how five tracks can illuminate expansive storytelling, with a distinctive authorial voice that blends scholarship and passionate opinion. The format is approachable for both deep genre fans and newcomers curious about lineage, making it a strong fit for listeners who enjoy curriculum-like yet highly opinionated music history in a compact, episode-driven package.

Where can I find podcast stats for History in Five Songs?

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How many listeners does History in Five Songs get?

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How many subscribers and views does History in Five Songs have?

To see how many followers or subscribers History in Five Songs 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 History in Five Songs?

These podcasts share a similar audience with History in Five Songs:

1. The Eddie Trunk Podcast
2. A Pod Somewhere In Time
3. 100 Songs that Define Heavy Metal
4. The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds
5. The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

How many episodes of History in Five Songs are there?

History in Five Songs launched 7 years ago and published 376 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 History in Five Songs?

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 History in Five Songs?

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What guests have appeared on History in Five Songs?

Recent guests on History in Five Songs include:

1. Joe Skinner

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