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Artwork for The Working Songwriter

The Working Songwriter

Joe Pug
Songwriting
Nashville
Music Industry
Banzoogle
Country Music
Touring
Music Production
Los Angeles
Music
Bluegrass Music
K Flay
Steve Louw
Indie Rock
Save Ferris
Creative Process
Michigander
Austin City Limits
Old Town School Of Folk Music
Joe Ely
Chicago

Joe Pug hosts a weekly conversation with one of today's best songwriters. The Working Songwriter is a part of the Bluegrass Situation Podcast Network. Interested in sponsoring us? Contact: bit.ly/sponsorBGSpods Over 300 catalog episodes available to stream in the Nation of Heat Vault. Visit joepugmusic.com/vault

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes349Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsPerforming ArtsMusicArts

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Artwork for The Working Songwriter

Latest Episodes

This episode originally aired on November 5th, 2021.

John Flansburgh, one of the founding members of this groundbreaking indie-rock institution, stops by the show to talk about his creative process and how his band has navigated the music business f... more

Our guests this week are Gabe Dixon and Mike Mattison of the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the Grammy-winning roots ensemble led by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks.

Formed in 2010, their debut album, Revelator, won the Grammy Award for Best Blues Album, and... more

This episode was originally published on March 5th, 2021.

The renowned troubadour from Louisiana found his commercial success in music later in life; he reflects on the journey that brought him to that peak.

Interested in sponsoring us? 

Contact B... more

This week on The Working Songwriter, we're thrilled to step out of our normal comfort zone by welcoming one of the country's most acclaimed young novelists. Originally from Mount Vernon, Ohio, author Stephen Markley now makes his home in Los Angeles.... more

Key Facts

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Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Stephen Markley
Acclaimed novelist and screenwriter
Simon & Schuster (publisher for Ohio); writer for Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Episode: Novelist, Stephen Markley
Chris Carrabba
Lead singer/songwriter of Dashboard Confessional
Dashboard Confessional
Episode: Classic Episode - Dashboard Confessional
Dale Watson
Singer-songwriter known for Ameripolitan and roots music
Self-employed musician/Ameripolitan founder
Episode: Dale Watson
Marcus King
Native of Greenville, South Carolina, guitarist, songwriter, Grammy-nominated artist
Marcus King Band / Fantasy Records
Episode: Classic Episode - Marcus King
Joe Pernice
Singer-songwriter and author of It Feels So Good When I Stop
Pernice Brothers / Scud Mountain Boys
Episode: Joe Pernice
Joan Osborne
Singer-songwriter featured on Relish and Trouble and Strife
Mercury Records (breakthrough label)
Episode: Classic Episode - Joan Osborne
Eddie Schwartz
Canadian songwriter and artist known for Hit Me With Your Best Shot; former president of the Songwriters Association of Canada
Songwriters Association of Canada; BMI/SOCAN/JUNO awards recipient
Episode: Eddie Schwartz
Kevin Morby
Singer-songwriter, musician, and founder of Mare Records
Woodsist/Mare Records
Episode: Classic Episode - Kevin Morby
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Singer-songwriter
Columbia Records (historical)
Episode: Mary Chapin Carpenter

Host

Joe Pug
Host of the show, known for exploratory, conversational interviews with contemporary songwriters.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • Great stuff

    Been listening for years, thanks for the good work Joe! … and personally I think the website salesman ads are funny. Cheers!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nahhhhh…
    United States2 months ago
  • If you write songs…

    This is the podcast for you. Joe is funny, intelligent and insightful. My favorite podcast about music and the reality of being an independent singer songwriter. The best!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MD Boat Guy
    United States5 months ago
  • Insightful, intelligent, and essential!

    This is one of the best songwriting podcast out there. As a professional songwriter, who’s been on a lot of interviews, I’ll say that Joe is a fantastic host and brings on amazing guests who reveal deep and unique aspects about themselves and the creative industry they are part of. I’m always enthralled and enlightened and I’m so grateful that this forum exists so we can get to know the artists we love and admire. Definitely give a listen. Ps he’s also funny which helps.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Robin Jacksophone
    United Statesa year ago
  • No

    First thing I hear is “Some guy named Tucker would drive an fj cruiser and would make you a website for $1000?” Absolutely not. What a moronic statement.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ashexxx
    United Statesa year ago
  • Always a great listen!

    Joe has a great conversational approach that is easy to listen to and his production is top notch. Easily one of the best podcasts out there today.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Russell Christian
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Production quality and conversational tone are repeatedly highlighted as top-notch.
Guests are varied yet consistently relevant to songwriting and the music industry.
Listeners praise the host's thoughtful, engaging interview style and deep dive into craft.
Show is seen as essential and inspirational for songwriters and music creators.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dale Watson
Q: When did you move to Austin and what drew you there?
Watson explains it was a combination of influences and opportunities after LA, ultimately falling in love with Austin's welcoming environment for original music and a stronger live scene.
Novelist, Stephen Markley
Q: What drew you out to Los Angeles and into screenwriting?
The guest recounts the practical and artistic pull of writing for TV, the collaborative environment of a writer's room, and the appeal of transitioning from solitary novel writing to the fast-paced, team-driven process of television.
Novelist, Stephen Markley
Q: When did you start to develop that polyphonic voice in your writing?
The guest explains that developing multiple perspectives wasn't a planned decision; it emerged as the novel evolved, especially when moving from Ohio to The Deluge, with the approach becoming a deliberate tool to explore different characters and viewpoints.
Classic Episode - Marcus King
Q: What was it like to work with Dave Cobb and then Dan Auerbach?
Working with Dave Cobb was a collaborative, respectful experience with a mutual understanding, while Dan Auerbach brought a different energy and forward-looking approach, both of which broadened how I approach recording and leadership in the studio.
Classic Episode - Marcus King
Q: What was the process of building your band and starting to tour after getting your GED?
I began by playing locally, using a fake alias to reach out to clubs, booking four to five nights a week, and gradually expanding to out-of-state gigs, which laid the groundwork for larger tours.

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 Working Songwriter

What is The Working Songwriter about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on in-depth conversations with contemporary songwriters across genres, exploring craft, career evolution, and the realities of making a living from music. Conversations often trace early influences, DIY beginnings, and the balance between artistic integrity and industry demands, with a strong emphasis on storytelling, collaboration, touring, and the evolving ways artists release and sustain their work. A notable through-line is the host's approachable, curiosity-driven interviewing style that helps guests unpack creative processes, personal routines, and resilience in a changing music landscape. Expect a mix of intimate career retrospectives, practical craft tips, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes that are useful for aspiring... more

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How many listeners does The Working Songwriter get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Working Songwriter have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Working Songwriter 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 Working Songwriter?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Working Songwriter:

1. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
2. The Bob Lefsetz Podcast
3. That's How I Remember It
4. Wong Notes
5. Song Exploder

How many episodes of The Working Songwriter are there?

The Working Songwriter launched 10 years ago and published 349 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 Working Songwriter?

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 Working Songwriter?

Recent guests on The Working Songwriter include:

1. Stephen Markley
2. Chris Carrabba
3. Dale Watson
4. Marcus King
5. Joe Pernice
6. Joan Osborne
7. Eddie Schwartz
8. Kevin Morby

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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