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Artwork for The Music Book Podcast

The Music Book Podcast

Marc Masters
Music Industry
Punk Rock
Jazz
The Apples In Stereo
Music
Music Collaboration
Murder Ballads
Free Jazz
Alan Vega
Creativity
Oral History
Dream Syndicate
Spotify
Hey Joe
Texas Punk
Elephant 6 Collective
Photography
Chapel Hill Music Scene
Steve Wynn
Collaboration

A podcast about music books, talking to authors about how they wrote their books about music! Hosted by music writer Marc Masters.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes90Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicMusic Interviews

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Artwork for The Music Book Podcast

Latest Episodes

On this episode, Marc talks with Ben Cardew, author of "Space Age Batchelor Pad Music: The Story of Stereolab in 20 Songs," published in April of 2026. It's a mix of biography and criticism that gets at both how Stereolab made their music and why it'... more

On this episode, Marc talks with Caryn Rose, author of Why Patti Smith Matters, published by the University of Texas Press, and Three Chords and Blessed Noise: A Patti Smith Tour Chronicle, a chapbook released on her own Till Victory Press imprint. T... more

On this episode, Marc talks with Richard Langston, author of "The Clean: In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul," published in April of 2026. It's an excellent oral history of the Clean, the band started by brothers David and Hamish Kilgour along wi... more

On this episode, Marc talks with Steve Bowie, author of "Concerto for Cootie: The Life and Times of Cootie Williams," released in October of 2025. It's an in-depth look at the saga of a revered trumpet player who was a vital member of Duke Ellington ... more

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Recent Guests

Ben Cardew
Author of Space Age Bachelor Pad Music, The Story of Stereolab and 20 Songs
Jawbone Press
Episode: 090 Ben Cardew on Stereolab
Caryn Rose
Author of Why Patti Smith Matters and Three Chords and Blessed Noise
Till Victory Press; University of Texas Press
Episode: 089 Caryn Rose on Patti Smith
Richard Langston
Author of The Clean, In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul
Feral House (US) / Auckland University Press (NZ)
Episode: 088 Richard Langston on the Clean
Steve Bowie
Author of Concerto for Cootie, The Life and Times of Cootie Williams
University Press of Mississippi
Episode: 087 Steve Bowie on Cootie Williams
Melvin Gibbs
Author of How Black Music Took Over the World
Basic Books (publisher)
Episode: 086 Melvin Gibbs on How Black Music Took Over the World
Peter J. Woods
Assistant Professor in Learning Sciences at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
Episode: 085 Peter J Woods and John Melillo on the Academics of Noise
John Melillo
Associate Professor of English at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
Episode: 085 Peter J Woods and John Melillo on the Academics of Noise
Adele Bertei
Author of No New York, A Memoir of No Wave and The Women Who Shaped the Scene
Author
Episode: 084 Adele Bertei on the Women of No Wave
Kembrew McLeod
Author of Blondie book Parallel Lines and The Downtown Pop Underground
Author
Episode: 083 Kembrew McLeod on Blondie and the Downtown Pop Underground

Host

Marc Masters
Host of The Music Book Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 76 ratings
  • Podcast for music writing lovers!

    Great podcast with interviews with wonderful music writers of all sorts of variety. I listen to every episode with great interest. It is wonderful to learn about the art and process of writing as well as highlights within the research of the subject matter itself. This podcast often has me returning to material and listening again. I think the host is a thoughtful interviewer himself which is rewarding.

    I have bought and/or checked out quite a few books because of this podcast as well. It allo... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A chess lover.
    United States3 months ago
  • Title

    Great podcast that isn’t afraid to talk about process and mechanics alongside the books’ subjects.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beltwave
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great podcast!

    I love the guests he gets on this podcast. A great listen if you like music, or books, or books about music!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AJM08AZ
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Music Great Books Great Podcast!

    Couldn’t be better, really

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pheezypheezy
    United Statesa year ago
  • Essential listening

    Marc is a great interviewer, and the people he has on the podcast — and the topics they discuss — are top-rate, hence my five star review. I don’t listen to many podcasts, but this is an exception.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kembrew11
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are consistently covered with archival detail and publishing context.
The host asks thoughtful, well-researched questions that let guests share deep insights.
Listeners praise the interviewing style and the way episodes inspire reading and further exploration.
Audio quality and pacing are frequently highlighted as positives.
The show is appreciated for spotlighting under-discussed music literature and scene histories.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

090 Ben Cardew on Stereolab
Q: How did you balance the music analysis with biography and personal interpretation to keep it engaging?
Cardew discusses treating the book as a blend of analysis and storytelling, with careful selection of songs to anchor periods while weaving in anecdotes, production details, and human moments to keep the narrative lively and accessible for both fans and new readers.
090 Ben Cardew on Stereolab
Q: Why not interview the band directly, and how did that shape the final narrative?
He explains that access can be overrated, citing advice from Chris Morris and emphasizing that compiling diverse sources and perspectives allowed for a richer, more independent narrative without being steered by the band's direct input, while still honoring their work.
090 Ben Cardew on Stereolab
Q: How did the idea for the book come about, and was the pitch to the publisher a pivotal moment?
Cardew describes wanting to cover Stereolab not just through a discography but via a set of guiding themes, which led Jawbone to greenlight the project after considering how to present their story. He explains the initial tension of whether to pursue interviews with the band and how liner notes and previous conversations formed the backbone of the book.
089 Caryn Rose on Patti Smith
Q: Did you intend to interview Patti Smith for the book from the start, or did you decide against it?
I decided not to rely on Patti Smith's direct interviews; the book was designed as a personal take from a strong writer, not an interview-driven memoir, so I pursued a path of independent research and limited direct engagement with the artist.
089 Caryn Rose on Patti Smith
Q: Tell me a little bit about the proposal for the Music Matters project and how you decided to pitch it.
The proposal came after I had submitted work to the series and learned the process; I was initially hesitant, but eventually Evelyn (the editor) invited me to submit, and I managed to get in under the wire and secure a home for the book at Yale University Press's Music Matters line.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Music Book Podcast

What is The Music Book Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful interview series focusing on music writing, biographies, and the crossover between music history and memoir. Episodes routinely feature authors and researchers who unpack how they research, structure, and present music-focused books, often balancing archival discovery with personal storytelling. Noteworthy is the hands-on look at writing processes, publishing journeys, and the way leaders in niche music scenes illuminate broader cultural histories. Potential listeners will likely enjoy deep dives into research methods, ethical storytelling, and the craft behind documenting music's past and present, with a consistently approachable, interview-driven style.

A standout quality is the host's ability to surface practical workflows ... more

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How many listeners does The Music Book Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Music Book Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Music Book 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 The Music Book Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Music Book Podcast:

1. Kreative Kontrol
2. Transmissions
3. Life of the Record
4. The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds
5. The Best Show with Tom Scharpling

How many episodes of The Music Book Podcast are there?

The Music Book Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 90 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Music Book Podcast?

Recent guests on The Music Book Podcast include:

1. Ben Cardew
2. Caryn Rose
3. Richard Langston
4. Steve Bowie
5. Melvin Gibbs
6. Peter J. Woods
7. John Melillo
8. Adele Bertei

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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