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Artwork for Soundcheck

Soundcheck

WNYC Studios
Music
Anjimile
Blues
Nefesh Mountain
The Lone Bellow
Lau Noah
Afro-Cuban Music
Recovery
Identity
Covid-19
Black Lives Matter
Police Brutality
Giver Taker
Trans Identity
The King
Jewish Cultural Themes
Compline
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite
A Dos
Family

WNYC, New York Public Radio, brings you Soundcheck, the arts and culture program hosted by John Schaefer, who engages guests and listeners in lively, inquisitive conversations with established and rising figures in New York City's creative arts scene. Guests come from all disciplines, including pop, indie rock, jazz, urban, world and classical music, technology, cultural affairs, TV and film. Rece... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes228Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsMusicMusic InterviewsArts

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Artwork for Soundcheck

Latest Episodes

Arturo O’Farrill may be best known as the longtime leader of the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, but he’s done so much else, as a pianist, bandleader, and educator. He’s the son of the Latin jazz legend Chico O’Farrill, and his sons Adam and Zack have est... more

Iraqi-born, American-based composer and NEA Heritage Fellow Rahim AlHaj plays the oud, the Arab lute. Derek Gripper is a classical guitarist from South Africa who has somehow found a way to play West African music for the 21-string harp, or kora, on ... more

Derek Gripper is a classical guitarist from South Africa who has somehow found a way to play West African music for the 21-string harp, or kora, on the six strings of his instrument. Iraqi-born, American-based composer and NEA Heritage Fellow Rahim A... more

Guitarist Steve Gunn has established himself as a singer/songwriter and as an ace collaborator with artists like Hiss Golden Messenger and Kurt Vile. With over 20 albums to his credit, you might think he’s done it all, but until 2025, Gunn had never ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
On the Media
On the MediaWNYC Studios
The Interview
The InterviewThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Rahim AlHaj
Iraqi-born American-based Oud player
Episode: South African Guitarist Derek Gripper, From the 2025 New York Guitar Festival
Steve Gunn
Acclaimed guitarist and singer-songwriter
Episode: Troubadour and Guitarist Steve Gunn Creates Sonic Landscapes, In-Studio
JF Abraham
Episode: British Band Public Service Broadcasting Teaches History Lessons With 'The Last Flight'
Rebecca Foon
Renowned cellist known for her work with Thee Silver Mt Zion and Esmerine.
Episode: Cellist Rebecca Foon's Delicate Layers of Song on "Black Butterflies"
Donny McCaslin
Sax player and composer, known for his innovative blend of jazz with other genres.
Episode: Jazz-Leaning Donny McCaslin Band Grooves With Crunch, In-Studio
Jace Lasek
Frontman and guitarist of The Besnard Lakes
The Besnard Lakes
Episode: Montreal's Psych-Art Rockers The Besnard Lakes, In-Studio
Olga Gorius
Bassist and vocalist of The Besnard Lakes
The Besnard Lakes
Episode: Montreal's Psych-Art Rockers The Besnard Lakes, In-Studio
Eydís Evensen
Icelandic pianist and composer known for her post-minimalist music style and albums like Oceanic Mirror.
Episode: Icelandic Pianist Eydís Evenson Shares Elemental Lessons of LIfe and Nature
Patrick Wolf
English singer and multi-instrumentalist known for his blend of Baroque pop and folk rock
Episode: English Singer Patrick Wolf Plays Artful Baroque Pop, In-Studio

Host

John Schaefer
Host of discussions centered around music, arts, and culture, engaging with a variety of artists and performers.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 181 ratings
  • Always inspiring!

    I find so many fabulous music here . Years of fabulous!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ririco007
    France5 months ago
  • Fantastic

    Love the music and the enlightening interviews in between!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Seton Notes
    United Statesa year ago
  • Some good finds, but the fact the hosts says "brings his/her band back..." shows the major limitations and narrowness explored...just like All Songs did. Lots of "meh"

    Podcast Addict
    3
    Steve Johnson
    2 years ago
  • Find new favorites here

    I love this wide ranging show and the contribution it makes to my ongoing music explorations. John and his team obviously love what they do, and the artists sound happy to be there.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JLSpring
    United States2 years ago
  • A great show

    This is a great way to explore and discover new artists. A broad array of styles, genres, flavors, philosophies and stories, from people that care deeply about creating music.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nucleargetaway
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Many fans note their discovery of new, under-the-radar artists through the show, emphasizing its role in music exploration.
Listeners appreciate the eclectic range of music featured and the insightful discussions with artists.
Some listeners have expressed a desire for a return to more historical and theory-focused content, feeling that recent episodes focus too heavily on live performances.
The host is recognized for his deep knowledge of music and engaging interview style, making conversations feel personal and enlightening.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

South African Guitarist Derek Gripper, From the 2025 New York Guitar Festival
Q: Tell us a little bit about what this additional sound production device does for you as a composer?
Derek explains how he uses a delay device to replicate the mbira's technique called kutsunira, creating a layered sound that mimics a second player without needing someone else on stage.
Clarinetist Michael Winograd Infuses Klezmer Traditions With Jazz
Q: What makes the clarinet so important in Klezmer music?
Winograd states that the clarinet sounds fantastic and transitioned from a less prominent role to becoming a leading instrument due to its integration with other genres in New York's music scene.
Clarinetist Michael Winograd Infuses Klezmer Traditions With Jazz
Q: Why do you think the album flopped at the time?
Michael Winograd suggests that the album didn't connect with its audience due to a shift in musical tastes towards popular music, specifically rock and roll, post-World War II.
Troubadour and Guitarist Steve Gunn Creates Sonic Landscapes, In-Studio
Q: How did your recent experience shape the songs on Daylight Daylight?
Gunn shares that the songs reflect his travels and the various places he was in while writing, connecting personal experiences with broader themes.
Troubadour and Guitarist Steve Gunn Creates Sonic Landscapes, In-Studio
Q: What inspired the instrumental record Music For Writers?
Gunn explains that it was a conversation and an exchange of improvisational pieces with another musician during the lockdown.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Soundcheck

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

This series offers a rich exploration of music and the arts, weaving in lively discussions with both prominent and emerging artists from diverse genres, including pop, indie rock, jazz, and world music. The format often combines engaging interviews with live performances, making it a dynamic resource for discovering new music and gaining insights into the artistic process of various musicians. Noteworthy guests frequently share the stories behind their work, illuminating the connection between their personal backgrounds and their creative outputs, and the series showcases a commitment to cultural relevance and innovation in the music landscape.

Where can I find podcast stats for Soundcheck?

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

How many listeners does Soundcheck get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Soundcheck, 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 Soundcheck have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Soundcheck 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 Soundcheck?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Soundcheck:

1. Fresh Air
2. The New Yorker Radio Hour
3. On the Media
4. All Songs Considered
5. The Interview

How many episodes of Soundcheck are there?

Soundcheck launched 21 years ago and published 228 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 Soundcheck?

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 Soundcheck?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Soundcheck 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 Soundcheck?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Soundcheck. 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 Soundcheck?

Recent guests on Soundcheck include:

1. Rahim AlHaj
2. Steve Gunn
3. JF Abraham
4. Rebecca Foon
5. Donny McCaslin
6. Jace Lasek
7. Olga Gorius
8. Eydís Evensen

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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