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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
Miles Davis
John Coltrane
Architecture
African American Culture
Free Jazz
Photography
Chuco Punk
Squirrel Nut Zippers
Trauma
Tragedy
AACM
The Cure

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes86Founded3 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 Melvin Gibbs, author of "How Black Music Took Over The World," published today, April 14, 2026. It's a unique look at what Gibbs considers "the science of Black Music," a combination of musical theory, analysis, histo... more

On this episode, Marc talks to two authors, Peter J. Woods and John Melillo. Peter is an assistant professor in learning sciences at the University of Nottingham in England, and John is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Arizona. ... more

On this episode, Marc talks with Adele Bertei, author of "No New York: A Memoir of No Wave and the Women Who Shaped the Scene," released today, March 31, 2026. It's an insightful and super-entertaining chronicle of Bertei's journey through New York m... more

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

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Recent Guests

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
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

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 Statesa month 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

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

085 Peter J Woods and John Melillo on the Academics of Noise
Q: How do you balance defining noise with keeping it open to new connections across poetry, music, and education?
Both authors discuss making noise a capacious concept rather than a rigid definition, using structure and cross-disciplinary references to keep it broad but navigable, allowing room for unexpected connections like war poetry and avant-garde practices.
085 Peter J Woods and John Melillo on the Academics of Noise
Q: How did your ideas for the books originate during your PhD work and dissertations?
Peter explains his shift from education-focused, DIY noise contexts to a broader academic frame, while John describes his pathway from a generative dissertation into a book that expands into sound poetry and technology, highlighting the evolution from niche topics to broader scholarly conversations.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Social Media Reach

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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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. Life of the Record
3. The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds
4. Sound Opinions
5. Turned Out A Punk

How many episodes of The Music Book Podcast are there?

The Music Book Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 86 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. Peter J. Woods
2. John Melillo
3. Adele Bertei
4. Kembrew McLeod
5. Ronen Givony
6. Andy Beta
7. Daniel Rachel
8. Howard Fishman

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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