Rephonic
Artwork for The Next Track
Cds
Apple Music
Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark
Keith Richards
Rock Music
The Rolling Stones
Enola Gay
Kraftwerk
Electricity
Bob Dylan
Gear Acquisition Syndrome
Streaming Services
Cambridge Audio
Piano Études
Philip Glass
Music Playlists
Frank Zappa
The Human League
Gary Numan
Depeche Mode

Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn discuss music and musicians, and how we listen to music, whether it be analog or digital, downloaded or streamed, audio, or video.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes330Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicTechnology

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Artwork for The Next Track

Latest Episodes

In another look at a specific year in music, we find that 1979 not only had some great and influential music, but was also the year of two technical innovations that would change music forever.

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We discuss some rock albums that were influential: their music, the way they presented songs, the way they were produced, or they effect they had on culture.

Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self... more

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The Greatest Hits album has been a staple of the music industry since 1958. Some of the best-selling albums of all time are Greatest Hits albums. But what is the future of the Greatest Hits album in this era of streaming?

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In spite of the fact that Kirk has been a Deadhead for decades, we have never done an episode about the Grateful Dead. With the passing of Bob Weir recently, we decided to talk a bit about the Dead, its history, and its future.

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Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Timo Andres
Composer and pianist known for interpreting and writing about minimalist music, particularly Steve Reich's work.
Episode: Episode #305: Timo Andres on Steve Reich's Collected Works
Pete Morgan
Co-founder of Burning Shed
Burning Shed
Episode: Episode #295: Selling Records with Pete Morgan of Burning Shed

Hosts

Doug Adams
Host with a long-running presence, often presenting a guitar-tech and hi-fi focus, and contributing a practical, experience-based perspective to discussions about music listening and gear.
Kirk McElhearn
Co-host with deep knowledge of music, technology, and culture, often providing historical context, critique, and a broad set of references across genres.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 146 ratings
  • Great podcast

    If you like music, how we digest it, how it's made, check out this show. Gotta love Grumpy Kirk and Positive Doug

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JohnHimm
    United States3 years ago
  • Review of The Next Track Podcast

    I listen to The Next Track Podcast, very frequently. They have an extremely informative and entertaining Podcast, with an interesting twist on Music and how it’s consumed. They have vast experiences to draw from, but with a slight bias towards Rock, and Pop music. I enjoy alternate takes on Music, but I disagree with their reports on the use of A/M-Fm radio, and it’s ubiquity. Most Vehicles still have AM-FM radios, and they are still the most listened-to form of Music today. Radio stations and R... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MacLoverIke
    United States4 years ago
  • Equal to my level of "audiophile" skepticism

    I found this podcast after reading a Q&A from one of the hosts in an "audiophile" forum. After looking at the list of episodes, I was happy to see that they included interviews with classical music artists and journalists. The hosts evince a nice balance of "audiophile" skepticism with appreciation of quality sound reproduction. I'm working my way through back episodes and already enjoy their interviews with Andy Doe. Keep up the good work and I'm glad this podcast has maintained a consistent p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DCNYer
    United States5 years ago
  • A ‘must’ for the music geek

    Only discovered this podcast by accident last December (episode 164). I have spent the time since contentedly delving into the back catalogue, as well as enjoying the new releases. I love the discussion around music and technology and all the areas these things relate to each other. Kirk and Doug interview some fascinating guests and I have picked up many excellent recommendations for music along the way as a result of their enthusiasm. A must for the music geek - thanks fellas!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChezzerP
    United Kingdom6 years ago
  • Authentic??

    There are some very positive qualities related to this podcast. For example, the quality of the audio voices of both hosts. Now, when I first started listening, I was impressed by the apparent diverse musical interests of the hosts. However, the longer I listened, I became genuinely suspicious that your talking with enthusiasm about pop music and, for example, the music of John Cage, is a cheap marketing ploy. An attempt, perhaps, to be the “Renaissance Men Of Music” (and books, philosophy, equi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    sadiecaptain
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The duo's skepticism balanced with enthusiasm is a hallmark of the show, making complex topics approachable.
The hosts are deeply knowledgeable about music, hi-fi, and how technology shapes listening today.
Guests are consistently interesting and add credibility to the discussions.
The show blends technical insight with broad musical tastes, appealing to audiophiles and music fans alike.
Some episodes are more niche, but the hosts maintain accessibility and clear explanations.
Listeners appreciate the high production value and thoughtful guests.
The sound quality is consistently praised as a strong point of the production.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#232
Norway/Music
Apple Podcasts
#235
Ireland/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode #321: Writing About Music
Q: Does Cameron Crowe talk about embedding himself in a high school for Fast Times?
Yes, he embedded himself in a high school and discusses it briefly in his book.
Episode #295: Selling Records with Pete Morgan of Burning Shed
Q: How were other people attracted to you and not interested in doing what you were doing themselves?
Pete explained the appeal of using Burning Shed as a platform for selling music without the need to set up their own websites, allowing them to piggyback on an established system.
Episode #295: Selling Records with Pete Morgan of Burning Shed
Q: Why did you decide to found Burning Shed in 2001?
Pete discussed how the idea arose during a time when physical music sales were declining, and mentioned his background in music and CD duplication as factors in starting Burning Shed.
Episode #270: Timo Andres on Philip Glass’s Piano Études
Q: What exactly is a Piano Etude?
A Piano Etude serves as an exercise for specific techniques and compositions, evolving from purely pedagogical roots to engaging compositions.
Episode #282: Embracing the CD Revival
Q: Does this embrace of the technology mean that you are now going to go out and become a used CD shopper?
Kirk contemplates the difficulty in finding CD stores locally but mentions buying a few CDs last week.

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 Next Track

What is The Next Track about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful discussions-focused show for listeners who love music, audio gear, and the broader ecosystem around listening. Episodes routinely explore how we consume music across formats and platforms—digital and analog alike—while peppering in interviews, historical perspectives, and technology-driven critiques. The hosts share personal experiences and strong opinions on hi-fi gear, streaming, archives, and the evolving music landscape, often highlighting the interplay between art, technology, and culture. The format stays accessible and engaging through tight, information-rich conversations, guest expertise, and clear-eyed commentary on how people actually listen today. This mix makes it especially appealing to audiophiles, tech-minded mu... more

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How many listeners does The Next Track get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Next Track?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Next Track:

1. PhotoActive
2. More or Less
3. EconTalk
4. What's Up Docs?
5. Deep Questions with Cal Newport

How many episodes of The Next Track are there?

The Next Track launched 10 years ago and published 330 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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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.

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What guests have appeared on The Next Track?

Recent guests on The Next Track include:

1. Timo Andres
2. Pete Morgan

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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