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Artwork for Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions
Chicago
Goose Island Beer Company
Soul Music
Music
Desert Island Jukebox
Punk Rock
Music Industry
Bob Weir
Sound Opinions
Neil Young
Fruit Bats
Rock Music
South African Music
Roberta Flack
D'angelo
Christmas Music
Hip Hop
Sly and the Family Stone
Bob Dylan
Hip-Hop

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1395Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicArts

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Artwork for Sound Opinions

Latest Episodes

Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot join with the Chicago music community to pay tribute to John Prine on what would have been his 80th birthday. They revisit an interview with the songwriter from 2018 and dissect his debut album with author Erin Osmon.... more

In this bonus episode, Jim pays tribute to Cheetah Chrome, guitarist for Rocket from the Tombs and the Dead Boys, who recently died at age 71.

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Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot welcome their old colleague and former Sound Opinions host Bill Wyman back to discuss his new book, Bill Wyman’s Rock & Roll Lists, in which he ranks every song by some of rock’s biggest artists.

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In this bonus episode, Greg spotlights a song he recently heard as Muzak and makes the case for the original and its grocery store counterpart.

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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.

Recent Guests

Phoebe Bridgers
Singer-songwriter featured in the 2018 interview and 2024 reair
Phoebe Bridgers / Boygenius
Episode: Phoebe Bridgers Plus Opinions on Westside Cowboy
David Porter
Legendary soul songwriter and memoirist
Stax Records
Episode: "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Comin'" Songwriter David Porter, Plus Opinions on Alabama Shakes
Melissa Auf der Maur
Musician and author of Even the Good Girls Will Cry
Author/ musician
Episode: Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, The Smashing Pumpkins) & Opinions on Steve Lacy
Courtney Barnett
Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Self
Episode: Courtney Barnett, Opinions on Phoebe Bridgers & Twisted Teens
Buddy Guy
Renowned blues guitarist and living legend
Buddy Guy's Legends / Chicago blues scene
Episode: Buddy Guy's 90th Birthday Celebration
Erin Osmon
Author of Won't Back Down, Heartland Rock and The Fight for America
Author/Writer
Episode: Heartland Rock with Erin Osmon, RIP Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard
Leader of The Frames and member of The Swell Season
The Frames; The Swell Season
Episode: RIP Glen Hansard
Markéta Irglová
Musician and actress, part of The Swell Season
The Swell Season
Episode: RIP Glen Hansard
Steve Almaas
Beat Rodeo member, former Suicide Commandos member, central figure in Minneapolis punk scene
Beat Rodeo
Episode: RIP Steve Almaas of Beat Rodeo

Hosts

Jim DeRogatis
Host of Sound Opinions
Greg Kot
Host of Sound Opinions

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 2.4k ratings
  • Sound Interviews, Unsound Opinions

    The interviews are good but the new music reviews drag the whole program down. If they don’t like something they’re just going to dump on it and provide little in the way of actual informative music criticism. A good review should inform the audience about the music, just telling us how much you hate something is not enough. It’s okay to not like everything but they’re so negative when they don’t like something I can’t listen anymore. I was genuinely surprised to learn how long they’ve been on t... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    binibob
    United States3 months ago
  • Where is the kneecap review?

    It was advertised on NPR but is not available here

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    frederick7
    United States5 months ago
  • Too short. Go deeper

    Why do a podcast, a platform that allows long from discussions, when you only barley scratch the surface?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Rivermantengo
    United States6 months ago
  • 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 States6 months 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
    7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

A portion of reviews call for more diverse artists and broader genre coverage.
Overall, the show is praised for its thoughtful critique and strong guest lineups.
Audience enjoys nostalgic looks at classic albums and detailed discussions of production and arrangement.
The hosts' music expertise and long-form interviews are highly valued by listeners who want depth over quick takes.
Some listeners feel political commentary or sampling of guests can polarize, but many appreciate the historical and cultural context.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#77
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#159
Australia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#29
Poland/Music
Apple Podcasts
#43
Finland/Music
Apple Podcasts
#143
New Zealand/Music
Apple Podcasts
#185
Norway/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Phoebe Bridgers Plus Opinions on Westside Cowboy
Q: How did Tony Berg influence the recording process and your view of producers?
Bridgers explains that she initially resisted a producer, but Berg's approach and vast musical knowledge helped push the project to a higher level while keeping her own vision intact, leading to healthier collaboration with other co-producers like Ethan Gruska.
"Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Comin'" Songwriter David Porter, Plus Opinions on Alabama Shakes
Q: What motivated you to write Soul Man and to share your version of the Stax story?
Porter explains that the memoir aims to set the record straight about his role, clarify misunderstandings, and provide an authentic account from someone who helped shape the Memphis sound from its early days.
Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, The Smashing Pumpkins) & Opinions on Steve Lacy
Q: How has your view of Courtney Love and Billy Corgan changed over the years?
She emphasizes their humanity and growth; both have shown more care and generosity recently, and their early challenges are reframed within the context of a deeply intertwined career and life.
Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, The Smashing Pumpkins) & Opinions on Steve Lacy
Q: What would you tell your 20-year-old self in hindsight?
Melissa would advise trusting herself, maintaining individuality, and recognizing that purity of self contributed to the strength she showed in turbulent times.
Courtney Barnett, Opinions on Phoebe Bridgers & Twisted Teens
Q: What sparked the creation of Depreston, and how did you build the song around that moment?
The idea grew from a real estate encounter and a line about having a spare half a million; she built the narrative around that moment, creating a sorrowful yet observational piece about a house and its memories.

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?

Two veteran music critics deliver long-form conversations that blend deep dives into classic and contemporary rock with timely culture critique. Episodes span intimate interviews with legendary artists, historic album retrospectives, and roundups of new releases, all anchored by strong opinions, archival clips, and care for the craft of making and presenting music. The show often features tributes, nostalgia-soaked explorations of influential records, and context on how music intersects with culture, politics, and the industry ecosystem. A standout aspect is the willingness to foreground musicians' stories and studio processes while maintaining a sharply informed, opinionated lens that can guide listeners toward both discovery and evaluatio... 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 four 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?

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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. NPR Music
3. A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
4. World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Sound Opinions are there?

Sound Opinions launched 21 years ago and published 1395 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. Phoebe Bridgers
2. David Porter
3. Melissa Auf der Maur
4. Courtney Barnett
5. Buddy Guy
6. Erin Osmon
7. Glen Hansard
8. Markéta Irglová

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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