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Artwork for The Music Book Podcast

The Music Book Podcast

Marc Masters
Chapel Hill Music Scene
Jazz
90s Music
Music Writing
Murder Ballads
Death
Krautrock
Indie Rock
African American Culture
Free Jazz
Photography
Architecture
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Chuco Punk
Squirrel Nut Zippers
North Carolina Music
Trauma
Tragedy
AACM

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes83Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsMusic

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Artwork for The Music Book Podcast

Latest Episodes

On this episode, Marc talks with Kembrew McLeod, the author of two closely related books: "Parallel Lines," an entry on Blondie's 1978 album for the 33.3 series published in 2016, and "The Downtown Pop Underground: New York City and the Literary Punk... more

On this episode, Marc talks with Ronen Givony, author of "Us v. Them: The Age of Indie Music and a Decade in New York (2004-2014)," published in March of 2026. It's a fascinating history of the indie and underground music scene in Brooklyn during a t... more

On this episode, Marc talks to Andy Beta, author of "Cosmic Music: The Life, Art, and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane," published in March of 2026. It's a thorough and insightful biography of the musician and her various lives as a prodigious young s... more

On this episode, Marc talks with Daniel Rachel, author of "This Ain't Rock'n'Roll: Pop Music, the Swastika, and the Third Reich," published in February of 2026. It's an enthralling and massively important look at many of the bands and artists who hav... more

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Recent Guests

Ronen Givony
Author of Us v. Them, The Age of Indie Music and a Decade in New York, 2004-2014
Abrams (publisher)
Episode: 082 Ronen Givony on NYC Indie, 2004-2014
Andy Beta
Author of Cosmic Music: The Life, Art, and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane
Decapo (publisher)
Episode: 081 Andy Beta on Alice Coltrane
Daniel Rachel
Author of "This Ain't Rock'n'Roll, Pop Music, the Swastika, and the Third Reich"
Episode: 080 Daniel Rachel on Nazi symbols in Rock'n'Roll
Howard Fishman
Author of To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse
Dutton
Episode: 079 Howard Fishman on Connie Converse
Matthew Blackwell
Author of Plunderphonics and contributor to the 33 1/3 series
Episode: 078 Matthew Blackwell on Plunderphonics
Al Shipley
Music journalist and author of "Tough Breaks: The Story of Baltimore Club Music"
Repeater Books
Episode: 075 Al Shipley on Baltimore Club Music
Simon Raymonde
Author of 'In One Ear, Cocteau Twins, Ivor, and Me' and member of the Cocteau Twins
Bella Union
Episode: 074 Simon Raymonde on Cocteau Twins
Bill Janovitz
Author of The Cars, Let The Stories Be Told
De Capo Press
Episode: 072 Bill Janovitz on The Cars
Joe Bonomo
Author of 'Play This Book Loud, Noisy Essays' and several other music-related books.
University of Georgia Press
Episode: 071 Joe Bonomo on Writing Essays About Music

Host

Marc Masters
Host of The Music Book Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 73 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 States10 days 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.

Fans highlight high-quality conversations with authors and the approachable, well-researched style.
Audience notes the show expands interest beyond mere discussion of books to include writing and archival storytelling.
Listeners praise the host's ability to draw out process and craft from guests.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

079 Howard Fishman on Connie Converse
Q: Were you kind of surprised that nobody had done that before?
Fishman noted that many people still don't recognize the name Connie Converse, highlighting the challenge of bringing her story to a wider audience.
079 Howard Fishman on Connie Converse
Q: How did this book come to be?
Fishman became fascinated with Connie Converse's music, which led him to explore her life and story, realizing it needed to be shared.
078 Matthew Blackwell on Plunderphonics
Q: What was the genesis of the idea for your book, Plunderphonics?
I thought for a long time about doing a normal 33 and a third album book about John Oswald's Plunderphonics album, but I never quite pulled the trigger on that one because that album is very weird and there's a lot to say about it.
077 Seth Neblett on the Women of Parliament-Funkadelic
Q: How did you come to decide your own role in telling this story?
Seth explained that it was essential for him to create a complete picture, understanding that he had a unique insider perspective while also wanting to ensure the women's stories were prioritized.
076 Josh Bloom on The Apples in stereo
Q: Did you know about J.Card and pitch them an idea? Did someone suggest it to you? How did the whole thing come about?
I have been making a soft exit out of the music industry over the past few years... Jeff at J-Card reached out, asking if I would be interested in doing PR for a book about AFI.

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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?

This show centers on deep-dive conversations with authors who write about music and musicians, exploring how books about music are researched, written, and shaped. Episodes consistently feature detailed discussions of craft, sources, and archival work, with a storefront of topics from iconic bands and historical scenes to niche subcultures. A notable strength is the host's ability to extract practical storytelling and research insights from guests, making it useful for listeners who crave behind-the-scenes access to music literature and the writing process. The format tends to blend biography, project-specific history, and reflections on how music history is constructed, offering both aspirational and instructional value for readers, writer... more

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How many listeners does The Music Book Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Music Book Podcast?

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

1. The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds
2. Bandsplain
3. You'll Hear It
4. The Best Show with Tom Scharpling
5. Thinking Allowed

How many episodes of The Music Book Podcast are there?

The Music Book Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 83 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. Ronen Givony
2. Andy Beta
3. Daniel Rachel
4. Howard Fishman
5. Matthew Blackwell
6. Al Shipley
7. Simon Raymonde
8. Bill Janovitz

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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