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Artwork for Soundcheck

Soundcheck

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

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 weeklyEpisodes191Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsMusic InterviewsPerforming ArtsMusic

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Artwork for Soundcheck

Latest Episodes

Cole Quest & The City Pickers are a bluegrass band from Brooklyn, and if that surprises you, well, the fact is New York City has had a long, strong bluegrass scene going back to the 1950’s. Cole Quest draws on that tradition, and his own family tradi... more

The Soundcheck Podcast series offers up music from recent sessions, all revolving around The Blues –at the root of so much popular music, and where the roots have grown into other fruits worldwide. Listen to French-Moroccan band Bab L' Bluz and their... more

Canada’s Ron Sexsmith is a songwriter whose fans include Elvis Costello, Elton John, Paul McCartney, and a few other folks who know a thing or two about that mysterious process. Sexsmith is now forty years into his career, with 18 albums, three of Ca... more

Distinctive songwriter Cass McCombs takes a broad view of the American experience – from the mundane to the mythic. His new songs from a wide-ranging double album -  Interior Live Oak contain “specific detail amid strange painterly settings” (The Gua... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Yosvany Terry
Cuban-born saxophonist and longtime fixture of the New York music scene.
Episode: Omar Sosa Trio Goes Outside the Box, In-Studio
Tomas Fujiwara
Drummer and collaborator with Mary Halvorson
Episode: Guitarist Mary Halvorson and Drummer Tomas Fujiwara, From the 2025 New York Guitar Festival
Angélica Garcia
Vocalist known for her work in music and performance
Episode: Adrian Quesada Revives Dramatic Vintage Latin Pop, With Guest Vocalists
Mireya Ramos
Vocalist featured in Boleros Psicodélicos
Episode: Adrian Quesada Revives Dramatic Vintage Latin Pop, With Guest Vocalists
Walter Fancourt
Musician and producer
Episode: Anand Wilder's Sonic Adventures in Psych-Pop, In-Studio
Reid Anderson
Bassist and founding member of The Bad Plus
The Bad Plus
Episode: The Bad Plus Keeps On Making Their Own Rules
Chris Speed
Saxophonist and member of The Bad Plus
The Bad Plus
Episode: The Bad Plus Keeps On Making Their Own Rules
Ben Monder
Guitarist and member of The Bad Plus
The Bad Plus
Episode: The Bad Plus Keeps On Making Their Own Rules
Dave King
Drummer and founding member of The Bad Plus
The Bad Plus
Episode: The Bad Plus Keeps On Making Their Own Rules

Host

John Schaefer
John Schaefer is an accomplished host known for engaging conversations with artists and cultural figures, focusing on the exploration of their musical journeys and creative insights.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 178 ratings
  • Always inspiring!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ririco007
    France24 days 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
    a year 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the diverse range of musical styles and the quality of interviews, particularly highlighting the host's deep knowledge and relaxed conversational style.
Overall, the podcast garners high praise for its depth of content and cultural relevance, positioning it as a significant platform in the realm of music discussions.
Some feedback expresses disappointment when the podcast trends towards featuring lesser-known acts over more established artists, indicating they may prefer a balance of both.
Reviews mention a feeling of genuine connection with guests, enhancing the experience of music appreciation through personal stories and creative insights.
Many find the live performances engaging and valuable for discovering new artists, noting the emotional depth and authenticity of the discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Plainspoken Texas Troubadour Rodney Crowell Lives for the Moment
Q: When do you know who's the right voice for this? I mean, is there an art to it or is it a little more scientific?
I would say it's intuitive, but I don't think so. I think it's based on relationships.
Plainspoken Texas Troubadour Rodney Crowell Lives for the Moment
Q: How autobiographical are we getting here?
It's me if you take into consideration that a 15, 16-year-old wannabe musician getting in a car with a bunch of other guys and going to Louisiana to hear music.
Plainspoken Texas Troubadour Rodney Crowell Lives for the Moment
Q: Are you a lyrics first writer?
No, generally speaking, melody comes a lot more easily to me.
Songwriter Cass McCombs Addresses the Mundane and the Mythic
Q: Is that just a coincidence or do you find yourself connecting threads between different songs?
It's not really a thought. I think it is a coincidence.
Songwriter Cass McCombs Addresses the Mundane and the Mythic
Q: What does it mean?
It's just a name I saw for a tree species in California.

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 Soundcheck

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

The content focuses primarily on the vibrant intersection of diverse music genres, including pop, indie rock, jazz, and world music, along with broader cultural conversations that encapsulate the New York arts scene. The discussions often involve both established artists and emerging talents, creating a dynamic platform for exploring artistic influences, collaborative processes, and the transformative power of music across cultures. Unique to this exploration is the emphasis on live performances, which highlight the personal stories and innovative approaches of the featured guests, making it an engaging experience for listeners who appreciate depth and variety in musical expression.

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. World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
2. The New Yorker Radio Hour
3. Political Gabfest
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. On the Media

How many episodes of Soundcheck are there?

Soundcheck launched 20 years ago and published 191 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. Yosvany Terry
2. Tomas Fujiwara
3. Angélica Garcia
4. Mireya Ramos
5. Walter Fancourt
6. Reid Anderson
7. Chris Speed
8. Ben Monder

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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