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The Music Show

ABC Australia
Jazz
Folk Music
Music
Bob Dylan
Classical Music
Australian Music
Protest Music
Keith Jarrett
Bach
Christine Anu
Irish Music
Australia
Blues Music
Arnold Schoenberg
Ella Fitzgerald
Improvisation
Mahler
Becoming Ella Fitzgerald
1984-85 Miners' Strike
The Beatles

All kinds of music and all kinds of musicians in conversation with Andrew Ford.

PublishesDailyEpisodes948Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsMusic

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Artwork for The Music Show

Latest Episodes

Can you tell the history of the world in fifty pieces of music? No, but BBC Radio 3 presenter and writer Tom Service has given it a red hot go in A History of the World in 50 Pieces: The Classical Music That Shapes Us. He joins Andy to talk through t... more

All The Grateful Dead are one of the iconic bands of the last century, not just for their music, but for their extended tours, which saw their fans follow them across America and create a very special sort of travelling community. Mischa Richter shar... more

Anita O'Day was a jazz singer who lived 'the jazz life'. She's been compared to people like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald: an incredible singer, storyteller, and a deeply troubled drug user and alcoholic. Despite the turmoil of her personal life... more

American composer William Basinski's very long and much celebrated avant-garde electronic work The Disintegration Loops was born from the gradual decay of magnetic tape. It was created over a month in August and September 2001, during which time Basi... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

James Gavin
Author of Cool Heat, Anita O'Day and Her Dangerous Jazz Life
Author/Biographer
Episode: The dangerous jazz life of Anita O'Day
William Basinski
Composer and performer of Disintegration Loops
Self
Episode: William Basinski hosts a sleepover, Will Swenson plays Neil Diamond, and vale Glen Hansard
Will Swenson
Actor and singer performing as Neil Diamond in A Beautiful Noise
Theatre/Production
Episode: William Basinski hosts a sleepover, Will Swenson plays Neil Diamond, and vale Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard
Irish singer-songwriter, actor (from the film Once)
The Frames; Once
Episode: William Basinski hosts a sleepover, Will Swenson plays Neil Diamond, and vale Glen Hansard
Liza Lim
Composer of The Oresteia, professor and educator
Composer, Huddersfield/Sydney Conservatorium
Episode: Music Now & Then: Liza Lim
Finn Andrews
Lead singer of The Veils
The Veils
Episode: Music for winter stillness and electromagnetic storms
Anna Maria Friman
Vocalist of Trio Mediæval
Trio Mediæval
Episode: Music for winter stillness and electromagnetic storms
Arve Henriksen
Jazz trumpeter and collaborator with Trio Mediæval
Trio Mediæval / Jazz
Episode: Music for winter stillness and electromagnetic storms
Elissa Goodrich
Composer and percussionist
Gene Tree project
Episode: Songs about fish, divorce, and moth DNA: Montaigne, Gin Wigmore, and Elissa Goodrich

Host

Andrew Ford
Host of The Music Show, ABC Radio National

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 155 ratings
  • From mixtapes to mtv.

    Pretty disappointing boomer perspective of the 80s from a journo who finds it hard to give women agency - madonna barely gets a mention, Kylie name-checked dismissively at the coda, Tina turner, Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston not even mentioned. Why is this stale / pale perspective not called out?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ozdrongo
    Australia8 months ago
  • Very conservative in genres.

    Bring back Lucky Oceans. If your not a fan of classical or very very tame genres this show is not for you. I can’t believe they cut lucky oceans and this is their sole offering. Very poor ABC.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    WilhelmWilson
    Australia2 years ago
  • National treasure

    No weekend would be complete without an episode of RN’s The Music Show. Andrew Ford and the team converse with musicians, composers and creatives the world over - informative, entertaining and always special!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gavmed
    Australia6 years ago
  • New ideas and discoveries every week

    Even after formally studying music, I’m amazed every week with the diversity of musical ideas and worlds that I never knew existed. The guests are eclectic and always interesting. Andrew Ford does a great job in keeping it accessible and informal with humour.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wendy5Dock
    Australia7 years ago
  • RN fan

    Yep segments are silly and they dominate every ABC podcast. Just delete them all

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    737B
    Australia7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

- Production quality and live segments are consistently strong, though some listeners wish for even more variety in genres.
- The host's breadth of knowledge and enthusiasm stands out, making complex topics accessible and engaging.
- Interviews are deep and insightful, with a good mix of guests from different musical traditions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

William Basinski hosts a sleepover, Will Swenson plays Neil Diamond, and vale Glen Hansard
Q: What makes Disintegration Loops work so well in a live diffusion setting?
The piece translates the quiet, slowly changing textures into a shared experiential space where the audience participates in listening, making the scale and ambience of the work feel immediate and communal.
William Basinski hosts a sleepover, Will Swenson plays Neil Diamond, and vale Glen Hansard
Q: Tell me how you approached translating Neil Diamond's voice and persona into a live performance without slipping into caricature.
I aimed to capture the energy and essential vocal traits without turning it into a parody, seeking a balance between energy, sound, and the emotional through-line of the songs so the storytelling remains the focus.
Hilary Geddes' Redleaf and Kae Tempest's Self Titled
Q: What does Redleaf reveal about your relationship to place and memory?
Geddes talks about Redleaf Beach as a creative touchstone, using field recordings and a sense of place to ground the music, while the band's textures and timbres reflect her improvisational approach.
Hilary Geddes' Redleaf and Kae Tempest's Self Titled
Q: How did personal life and identity influence Self Titled?
Tempest discusses transitioning, the impact on voice and performance, and how the collaboration environment supported exploring new vocal and narrative possibilities while staying true to his artistic vision.
Hilary Geddes' Redleaf and Kae Tempest's Self Titled
Q: What was your approach to shaping the album with Fraser T. Smith?
Tempest explains a process of rapid rough demos built over several days, pausing to avoid premature listening, which allowed the ideas to be explored fully before finalizing the direction and inviting collaborators.

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 The Music Show

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

This program features in-depth conversations with a wide range of musicians, composers, conductors, critics, and scholars who explore creative process, historical context, and cross-genre collaborations. Episodes often blend biographical storytelling with technical insight, performance practice, and production concepts, spanning folk, classical, jazz, world, theatre, and contemporary art music. A notable strength is assembling both legendary figures and rising talents, yielding rich discussions about artistry, mentorship, and the evolving landscape of music and culture. It's particularly noteworthy for its accessible yet erudite style, live performance moments, and a penchant for tying music to broader artistic and historical narratives, ma... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Music Show?

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

How many listeners does The Music Show get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Music Show?

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How many subscribers and views does The Music Show have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Music Show 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.

How many episodes of The Music Show are there?

The Music Show launched 20 years ago and published 948 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 The Music Show?

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 The Music Show?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Music Show from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Music Show?

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What guests have appeared on The Music Show?

Recent guests on The Music Show include:

1. James Gavin
2. William Basinski
3. Will Swenson
4. Glen Hansard
5. Liza Lim
6. Finn Andrews
7. Anna Maria Friman
8. Arve Henriksen

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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