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Drowned in Sound

Drowned in Sound
Spotify
Music Journalism
Music Industry
Climate Change
Grassroots Music
Youth Music
Mental Health
Drowned In Sound
Climate Crisis
Music
Live Music
Social Media
Brexit
Running Punks
Glastonbury
Qobuz
Secondary Ticketing
Music Reviews
Music Education
Nature

Music is upstream from politics. Drowned in Sound investigates how the music industry shapes society and how fans, artists, and workers can organise for systemic change. Hosted by Sean Adams, we decode streaming economics, sustainable touring, climate and tech, workers’ rights, and collective solutions with musicians, researchers, and changemakers.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes92Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsMusicMusic Commentary

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Artwork for Drowned in Sound

Latest Episodes

Did Sean ask a member of the House of Lords whether the House of Lords should even exist? No. Did he get into proportional representation? Also no...

Helena Wadia returns to co-host, and rather than a straight interview this is proper yap of an epis... more

Four thousand, one hundred and forty four music fans responded to a single Parliamentary survey, more than any committee inquiry has recorded before. What they said, over and over, is that going to a gig isn't a transaction like any other, it's close... more

There's a marketing agency that will build your band a small army of fan accounts for about a dollar per thousand views. They post the clips, they seed the captions, sometimes they write the comments underneath too. Until a Substack essay by the musi... more

Spotify paid Joe Rogan over $200 million for his podcast. Then, in 2024, they did it again. Tom Gray has spent the last five years thinking about what that kind of money could do for songwriters instead and his answer at the end of this episode is fa... more

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Recent Guests

Lord Brennan
Member of the House of Lords, interview subject in previous episode
House of Lords
Episode: From Paris Hilton to Andy Burnham: Sean & Helena's Lord Brennan Interview Debrief
Kevin Brennan
Member of the House of Lords, former MP, led fan-led review of live electronic music
House of Lords; former MP for Cardiff
Episode: What can music fans expect from the PM Andy Burnham era? DiS meets Lord Brennan
Tom Gray
Campaigner and musician, Gomez member; leader of Broken Record campaign
Gomez; The Ivors; Campaigner for artists' royalties
Episode: How Gomez's Tom Gray Ended Up Taking On Spotify in Parliament - Part 1
Geoff Barrow
Musician, co-founder of Invada Records and member of Portishead
Invada Records / Portishead
Episode: Geoff Barrow (Portishead) Made a Film with a Sleaford Mod and Every Penny Invada Had
Sathnam Sanghera
Author of Empireland and Tonight the Music Seems So Loud. The Meaning of George Michael
Author / Historian
Episode: Sathnam Sanghera on George Michael: Iraq, Wham!, Empire, Fandom, and The Best Hit Rate in Chart History
Gareth (Los Campesinos!)
Frontman/guitarist of Los Campesinos!
Los Campesinos!
Episode: Los Campesinos! Part! Two! On Class, Privilege, And The Economics Of Bands vs Solo Artists
Gareth David
Lyricist and lead singer of Los Campesinos!
Los Campesinos!
Episode: You! Me! 10 Million Spotify Streams! How Much?!?!! Why Los Campesinos! Stopped Being Quiet - Part 1
Dr. Hayleigh Bosher
Copyright expert, author of Copyright in the Music Industry
Brunel University
Episode: AI & Consent Special with Addison Rae, Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift featuring Dr Hayleigh Bosher
David Martin
CEO of the Featured Artists Coalition
Featured Artists Coalition
Episode: Can £125,000 Make a Difference to the Crisis in Live Music?

Hosts

Sean Adams
Host of the show
Helena Wadia
Co-host and researcher

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 54 ratings
  • Brilliant podcast

    Just like the writing on DiS, the podcast is done really well.

    It balances not sugar-coating the state of the music industry right now (particularly in the UK) with shedding light on the good stuff.

    + talks with interesting and informed artists/industry insiders who care.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    reflectiveorigin
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Always relevant and authentic

    DIS has always been a music channel I can trust, it doesn’t feel sponsored like everything else these days. The music, the attitude and tone, the passion, it’s all on point and real. No one else stands up for the musicians like DIS.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Forward Falling
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Where

    How are you are around

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Leo hern
    Canada11 years ago
  • Great Start

    I've long been a fan of the writing on Drowned in Sound and the first couple of episodes suggest this will be great music podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Swodaem
    United Kingdom11 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Trustworthy, authentic music policy analysis.
Great guest variety and thoughtful critique of current reforms.
Clear-eyed about industry challenges without selling out.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From Paris Hilton to Andy Burnham: Sean & Helena's Lord Brennan Interview Debrief
Q: What were the key takeaways from the Lord Brennan interview?
The speakers highlight the importance of a clear government ask, the potential value of a fans' representative body, and the interconnectedness of culture policy with other public services, while remaining cautiously hopeful about political progress.
What can music fans expect from the PM Andy Burnham era? DiS meets Lord Brennan
Q: What is your view on the government's response to the fan-led review and the potential impact of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister?
The response showed positive steps and ongoing initiatives, but Brennan hopes Burnham will push further, especially on Fans' Association funding and a more robust approach to ticketing reform and grassroots support.
What can music fans expect from the PM Andy Burnham era? DiS meets Lord Brennan
Q: What were the seven essentials of live, and why are they important from a fan's perspective?
They are core priorities identified to ensure fans have a fair, safe, and rewarding live music experience, including ticketing fairness, grassroots venue support, safety, accessibility, transport, and ensuring fans have a voice at the table in policy discussions.
You! Me! 10 Million Spotify Streams! How Much?!?!! Why Los Campesinos! Stopped Being Quiet - Part 1
Q: Why did you want to be so honest about touring numbers and costs?
Because openness with fans helps contextualize why tours aren't always as glamorous or profitable as they might seem, and it empowers fans to understand the realities, costs, and trade-offs involved in keeping a band afloat.
Sathnam Sanghera on George Michael: Iraq, Wham!, Empire, Fandom, and The Best Hit Rate in Chart History
Q: What surprised you most during research about his activism and media treatment?
He points to the incongruities of his fame—how he could be both highly public and deeply private, and how the press crucified him at points, while also serving as a catalyst for broader discussions on anti-racism, AIDS, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Drowned in Sound

What is Drowned in Sound about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show analyzes how the music industry intersects with political, social, and technological change. Across recent episodes, conversations span AI's impact on artists' rights and consent, policy debates around ticketing and resale, funding models for touring and grassroots venues, and climate and social activism within music communities. Guests include IP experts, artist advocates, promoters, and musicians who connect industry mechanics to fan access, legitimacy of funding, and broader cultural impact. A recurring strength is pairing thoughtful policy critique with practical on-the-ground perspectives, often featuring partnerships with streaming platforms to illuminate listener-facing opportunities. The mix of rigorous analysis, real-worl... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Drowned in Sound?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Drowned in Sound:

1. Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast
2. Strong Message Here
3. Oh God, What Now?
4. Word In Your Ear
5. THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

How many episodes of Drowned in Sound are there?

Drowned in Sound launched 11 years ago and published 92 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Drowned in Sound?

Recent guests on Drowned in Sound include:

1. Lord Brennan
2. Kevin Brennan
3. Tom Gray
4. Geoff Barrow
5. Sathnam Sanghera
6. Gareth (Los Campesinos!)
7. Gareth David
8. Dr. Hayleigh Bosher

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