Rephonic
Artwork for Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives

Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives

Mercury Studios
LGBTQ+ Rights
Queer Culture
LGBTQ+ Community
Standing In the Way Of Control
Pop Music
Years & Years
Mental Health
Gossip
Punk Rock
Little Richard
Olly Alexander
1950
Tutti Frutti
George W. Bush
Fast Slow Disco
Seattle
Rock and Roll
LGBTQ+ Anthems
Peaches
Coming Out

Jake Shears celebrates the anthems that have dominated dancefloors and shaped queer lives. Throughout the history of popular music, queer artists have made huge contributions - often at great expense and risk to themselves personally and professionally. This podcast shines a spotlight on those who trailblazed paths towards self expression. Join Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears and his guests ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes30Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Queer The Music: Jake Shears On The Songs That Changed Lives

Latest Episodes

Christmas has come early as Jake selects some of his favourite bits from the last 3 seasons. Really just a reminder to go back and listen to the episodes you've missed - there have been some brilliant conversations - wishing everyone a Happy New Year... more

For this special episode of Queer The Music Jake is joined by the brilliant Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem. With a critically acclaimed new album, a concert tour and book under her belt this year, the pair have plenty to catch up on.

Listen as ... more

It's our season finale and we're delighted to be joined by Roddy Bottum, best known as the keyboardist of Faith No More.

Back in 1990 Roddy found himself in the spotlight in the rock world as its first openly gay star. In this special episode Jake ... more

This week on Queer The Music we celebrate Grace Kelly - the debut single from Multi-platinum, BRIT Award-winning, and Grammy nominated global pop visionary Mika.

Listen to Jake and Mika's fascinating conversation about Mika's childhood, the struggl... 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

Mike Hadreas
Perfume Genius, an influential queer artist in music
Episode: 'Queen' by Perfume Genius
Kate Pierson
Member of the B52s and influential musician
The B52s
Episode: The B-52s (with Kate Pierson)
Billy Porter
Multi-award-winning actor and singer known for his role as Lola in Kinky Boots.
None
Episode: ‘Not My Father’s Son’ from Kinky Boots with Billy Porter Part 1
Kae Tempest
Celebrated musician, performer and poet, known for their personal storytelling and exploration of queerness in music.
Self-released artist
Episode: 'Statue In The Square' by Kae Tempest
Rob Halford
Iconic singer of Judas Priest and pioneering figure in heavy metal music
Judas Priest
Episode: ‘Raw Deal’ by Judas Priest with Rob Halford Part 1
Holly Johnson
Iconic lead singer of Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Episode: 'The Power of Love' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood - with Holly Johnson
Neil Tennant
Member of the Pet Shop Boys and music legend
Pet Shop Boys
Episode: 16 - 'It's a Sin' by Pet Shop Boys
John Cameron Mitchell
Acclaimed creator and star of 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch'
Episode: 14 - 'Midnight Radio' with John Cameron Mitchell
Jessie Ware
A celebrated British singer-songwriter known for her contributions to the dance and pop music scenes.
Episode: 'Free Yourself' by Jessie Ware

Host

Jake Shears
Host of the podcast and frontman of the Scissor Sisters, known for his charismatic storytelling and insightful exploration of queer music.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 321 ratings
  • Jake is giving us a queer home

    Jake is a fantastic host and I’m really grateful that he is doing this grand work of helping us celebrate our culture. Music is so much in the heart of who we are and how we rejoice and celebrate our queerness. Jake creates a safe home for us where we can hear and share these experiences and celebrations. I’m grateful for the work he does and love him for it ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nysseMaister
    United Kingdom14 days ago
  • Great pod

    Can you do The Who, Queen and Faith No More

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Krishnadfgh
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Love this, love Jake!

    Finally a podcast host who understands how to host! Jake doesn’t hog the mic, doesn’t interrupt and keeps completely away from dramatically trying to steal the limelight. The show is a pleasure to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ptwy8
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Late to the party, but it’s still going!

    I found this after the end of season 2, which has given me a wealth of interviews to listen to. It’s so fantastic! I love learning the layers behind each song and delight in the storytelling of these interviews. Fingers crossed Jake keeps going! I’d love to hear episodes on I’m Coming Out, Lunch by Billie Ellish, Pynk by Janelle Monet, and anything by David Bowie. 🌈💗⚡️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alabama Heather
    United Statesa year ago
  • It’s A Sin

    Neil Tennant was, as always, a truly magnificent guest. Could listen to him talking for hours. What an orator and storyteller. The definition of legend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ROBBIEHAMILTON
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast effectively combines education with entertainment, making it enjoyable while also raising awareness of important socio-cultural issues.
Jake Shears is commended for his interviewing style, which fosters a warm and inviting atmosphere that encourages guests to share openly.
There is a strong sense of nostalgia for queer music, which resonates with many listeners who have personal connections to the songs and stories shared.
Listeners appreciate the engaging storytelling and emotional depth of the conversations, highlighting the relatability of both the host and guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#201
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#203
Switzerland/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Queer Year In Music with Self Esteem
Q: What was your first and last teenage crush?
My first crush was Lindsay Lohan in Parent Trap, and my last crush is a character named Ravi on EastEnders.
A Queer Year In Music with Self Esteem
Q: What do you feel like performing unlocks in you that everyday life does not?
Being self-esteem allows me to express myself without the self-doubt and fear I experience in daily life.
A Queer Year In Music with Self Esteem
Q: Do you feel artistically satisfied?
Yes, I feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction from the projects I worked on this year.
'Grace Kelly' by Mika
Q: When did they start being your words?
I started to write songs really early, trying to replicate my feelings with others' repertoire.
'Grace Kelly' by Mika
Q: How did it feel in the moment when Grace Kelly hit number one?
It was a really strange experience, born out of frustration and a culmination of years of rejection.

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 This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A vibrant exploration of the impact of music on queer culture, this podcast highlights pivotal songs and the stories of the artists behind them. Hosted by the charismatic Jake Shears, the discussions often center on the challenges and triumphs faced by queer musicians throughout history. With a focus on personal narratives, including coming out, identity formation, and the transformative power of music, each episode serves as both a celebration and an examination of how these anthems have influenced lives within and beyond the LGBTQ+ community. Unique in its approach, the series not only dives into the songs but also connects them to broader cultural conversations, making it a compelling listen for music lovers and advocates of queer repres... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

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

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, 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 this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast 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 this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
2. Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club
3. The Rest Is Entertainment
4. Bad Gays
5. Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 30 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 this podcast?

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 this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast 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 this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Mike Hadreas
2. Kate Pierson
3. Billy Porter
4. Kae Tempest
5. Rob Halford
6. Holly Johnson
7. Neil Tennant
8. John Cameron Mitchell

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