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Artwork for Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions
Chicago
Goose Island Beer Company
Soul Music
Punk Rock
Music
Music Industry
Rock Music
Redd Kross
Grateful Dead
Purple Rain
Bob Weir
Prince
Desert Island Jukebox
1984
Neil Young
Witches
Ghosts
Sound Opinions
Fruit Bats
Punk Music

Take two nationally respected rock critics, the latest music news, personal commentary, and exclusive interviews and performances, add a huge pile of records old and new, and the result is Sound Opinions, where people who love music can come together.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1345Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicArts

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Artwork for Sound Opinions

Latest Episodes

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are joined by Ratboys lead singer and songwriter Julia Steiner. The Chicago band's sixth album, "Singin' To An Empty Chair," is one of the most acclaimed releases of 2026 so far. The hosts also review the n... more

In this bonus episode, Jim cues up a Desert Island Jukebox pick—and explains why it’s deeper than it first sounds.

Join our Facebook Group: bit.ly/3sivr9T

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The prolific and singular rapper Billy Woods has spent decades carving out his own lane in hip-hop. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot chat with Billy Woods about his career, discography, and the process driving his music. The hosts also rev... more

In this bonus episode, Greg pays tribute to legendary drummer James Gadson who died on April 2, 2026 at age 86.

Join our Facebook Group: bit.ly/3sivr9T

Become a member on Patreon: bit.ly/3slWZvc

Sign up for our newsletter: https://... 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

Billy Woods
Fiercely independent voice in hip hop, co-founder of Backwoodz Studios
Backwoodz Studios
Episode: Rapper Billy Woods, Opinions on Robyn & Courtney Barnett
Rob Miller
Co-founder of Bloodshot Records, author of The Hours Are Long, But the Pay is Low
Bloodshot Records
Episode: Bloodshot Records with Co-Founder Rob Miller
Jimmy McDonough
Author of Soul Survivor, biographer of Al Green
Author, Soul Survivor
Episode: Al Green's The Belle Album & Opinions on Mitski
Bonnie Raitt
Late-career encore performer, highlighted by producer Andrew Gill
Bonnie Raitt Band
Episode: Late Career Encores
Beth Streit
Listener and Desert Island Jukebox contributor
Oak Park, Illinois
Episode: A Song About the Dark Side of Organ Donation
Kristen Thompson
Kristen Thompson, Tsunami member, Desert Island pick
Tsunami
Episode: Guest Desert Island Jukebox Picks & Opinions on Peaches and Danny Brown
Steve Nguyen
Steve Nguyen, Dream Syndicate member, Desert Island pick
Dream Syndicate
Episode: Guest Desert Island Jukebox Picks & Opinions on Peaches and Danny Brown
Lily Trefilio
Lily Trefilio (Beach Bunny), Desert Island pick
Beach Bunny
Episode: Guest Desert Island Jukebox Picks & Opinions on Peaches and Danny Brown
Lili Trifilio
Lead vocalist and guitarist of Beach Bunny
Beach Bunny
Episode: Beach Bunny (Lili Trifilio) Live, Plus Opinions on Charli XCX

Hosts

Jim DeRogatis
Co-host known for his insightful critiques and rich knowledge of music history.
Greg Kot
Co-host who brings a unique perspective to music analysis and a strong background in journalism.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 2.4k ratings
  • Updated review

    Sorry guys but you are losing the plot. You chat about something for 5 minutes, interspersed with smokers cough laughing and the obligatory name dropping (Brian Eno - DING!), and then you play a small snippet of whatever you claimed was so great. But increasingly, the music isn’t great. And you miss dozens of regional bands, innovative players, and even classic sounds from all over the world. PLEASE, play more diverse music besides your favorite punk/grunge acts, and PLEASE lay off the cig... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Another Anonymous ID
    United States23 days ago
  • This one is special. My introduction to REM was during college attending a tiny venue concert performed and produced by fellow students: rare artsy kids in a conservative engineering university. Themes were youth, DIY, artsy vibe, and music that was in the zeitgeist. The lights were controlled by a Commodore 64 from a student's own project. It was a special experience, and I link it to my introduction to REM. Thanks for doing the deep dive on this lifetime band.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    jdspatula
    a month ago
  • Old and Out of Touch

    Hard to believe (or is it?) that these two have agreed on the best album of the year. I dare you to venture outside of this echo chamber.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ronaldacunajr13
    United States4 months ago
  • This Show is No Longer Relevant

    Greg and Jim. Your time is up!!!! Just stop. I have tried resubscribing for a while and your show is simply awful. No taste. Blatant whining. Tired old men trying to be relevant.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    morgan.coates
    Canada6 months ago
  • Pompous and Uninformed

    Like being trapped at an airport lounge overhearing a couple of pompous white baby boomers drivel on about the same tired music they’ve listened to their whole lives, trying to explain why it’s better than other peoples music that they don’t really know about.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ellivenud
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, listeners express a blend of love for the content alongside frustrations about certain repetitive themes.
Engagement with contemporary issues in music and culture has been positively noted, making it a staple for many music fans.
Listeners appreciate the insightful music discussions and the exploration of lesser-known artists.
While there are negative reviews regarding perceived biases, many still find valuable insights into the music discussed.
Critiques mention the hosts' tendency to focus on their preferences, which may alienate some audience segments.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#82
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#150
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#117
New Zealand/Music
Apple Podcasts
#165
Finland/Music
Apple Podcasts
#177
Colombia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#187
Indonesia/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Rapper Billy Woods, Opinions on Robyn & Courtney Barnett
Q: Where would you point a novice Woods fan?
A good starting point is to begin with Blood Simple and then move through Maps, Golliwog, and History Will Absolve Me, as these titles showcase different facets of his storytelling, production choices, and collaborations, helping new listeners understand his range.
Beach Bunny (Lili Trifilio) Live, Plus Opinions on Charli XCX
Q: How do you take that step from being so honest with yourself in the lyrics and then putting it out for the public to hear it?
I've found confidence in being vulnerable; each time I open up, I connect with my audience more deeply.
Beach Bunny (Lili Trifilio) Live, Plus Opinions on Charli XCX
Q: Did you think about a totally new direction?
I had a lot of pressure from the record label about how to capitalize on our viral moment, which led to writer's block.
Radio DJ Mary Lucia & Opinions on Lucinda Williams
Q: What are the consequences if you say, jeez, I really love this band, it's not on the list, but I'm gonna play them anyway?
Mary states that by breaking the rules, you risk consequences imposed by the station's programming policies, but she often found ways to incorporate the music she loved regardless.
Radio DJ Mary Lucia & Opinions on Lucinda Williams
Q: Did you feel the need to say this out loud to the public?
Mary felt compelled to share her harrowing story because being stalked made her feel isolated, and she wanted to express the experiences she endured.

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 Sound Opinions

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

The content primarily revolves around discussions on notable music artists, their legacies, and the evolving landscape of the music industry. With themes ranging from modern protest songs and critically analyzing significant bands like R.E.M. to highlighting new underground musicians, a blend of historical context and contemporary relevance stays at the forefront of conversations. Interviews with musicians, biographers, and cultural figures contribute to an engaging exploration of music's role in society, often pairing personal anecdotes with insightful commentary on the industry's intricacies. The combination of critical analysis, a focus on lesser-known artists, and humorous banter adds a unique flavor likely to appeal to devoted music lo... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Sound Opinions?

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

How many listeners does Sound Opinions get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Sound Opinions, 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 Sound Opinions have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Sound Opinions 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 Sound Opinions?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sound Opinions:

1. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
2. Life of the Record
3. Rolling Stone All Access
4. Indiecast
5. A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs

How many episodes of Sound Opinions are there?

Sound Opinions launched 20 years ago and published 1345 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 Sound Opinions?

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 Sound Opinions?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sound Opinions 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 Sound Opinions?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Sound Opinions. 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 Sound Opinions?

Recent guests on Sound Opinions include:

1. Billy Woods
2. Rob Miller
3. Jimmy McDonough
4. Bonnie Raitt
5. Beth Streit
6. Kristen Thompson
7. Steve Nguyen
8. Lily Trefilio

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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