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Artwork for Who Cares About the Rock Hall?

Who Cares About the Rock Hall?

Joe Kwaczala & Kristen Studard
Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame
Outkast
Mariah Carey
Billy Idol
Mary J. Blige
Chubby Checker
Joe Cocker
Cyndi Lauper
Soundgarden
Oasis
Cher
Sinead O'connor
B-52s
Bad Company
The White Stripes
Foreigner
Kool & the Gang
Warren Zevon
Dave Matthews Band
Ozzy Osbourne

A podcast about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hosted by comedians Joe Kwaczala and Kristen Studard. He's a long-time devotee. She's a skeptic. Join them as he attempts to get her (and their guests) to care about this institution. Proud part of Pantheon - the podcast network for music lovers.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes374Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusicMusic Commentary

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Artwork for Who Cares About the Rock Hall?

Latest Episodes

Former Tommy Boy Records president Monica Lynch joins the show to discuss the life and career of her long-time friend and 2026 Rock Hall Early Influence inductee, Queen Latifah. This show is part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Podcasts.

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We talk to producer Joe Mardin about his father, prolific record producer and 2026 "Musical Excellence" Rock Hall inductee, Arif Mardin. This show is part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Podcasts.

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The 2026 class of Rock Hall inductees seem disparate and unrelated but is there one year that ties them all together? Joe puts forth... his 1981 Theory. Featuring guest Greg Heller. This show is part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Podcasts.

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We chat 2026 Early Influence inductee Celia Cruz with the co-author of her autobiography, Ana Cristina Reymundo! Azucar! This show is part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Podcasts.

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Joe Mardin
Producer, arranger, mixer, composer and musician; co-director of The Greatest Ears in Town, The Arif Mardin Story
Arif Mardin Family/Documentary
Episode: Arif Mardin w/ Joe Mardin
Greg Heller
Writer, producer, friend of the pod
Independent
Episode: How 1981 Changed the Game for the 2026 Inductees w/ Greg Heller
Ana Cristina Reymundo
Journalist and writer, co-author of Celia Cruz's autobiography Celia, My Life
Ana Cristina Reymundo (author)
Episode: Celia Cruz w/ Ana Cristina Reymundo
Jim Merlis
Music publicist, son of Bob Merlis, longtime music publicity professional
Independent; Publicist
Episode: Jimmy Miller w/ Jim Merlis
Danyel Smith
Nominating committee member mentioned in intro
Nominating Committee (Rock Hall)
Episode: Remastered: Sade w/ Danyel Smith
Michael Veal
Professor, musician, writer; author of a biography on Fela Kuti
Yale University; Afrobeat scholar
Episode: Remastered: Fela Kuti w/ Michael Veal
Wendy Fonarow
Writer and guest on the remastered Joy Division/New Order episode
Episode: Remastered: Joy Division/New Order w/ Wendy Fonarow
Jimmy Pardo
Comedian, podcast guest on the show
Podcast guest on Who Cares About the Rock Hall?
Episode: REMASTERED FOR 2026: Iron Maiden w/ Jimmy Pardo
Jim McGuinn
Nominating committee member, Rock Hall voter
XPN (Philadelphia-based radio/organization)
Episode: Karen Glauber & Jim McGuinn's 2026 Rock Hall Ballots

Hosts

Joe Kwaczala
Host with deep Rock Hall knowledge and storytelling drive
Kristen Studard
Co-host known for skeptic perspective and engaging discourse

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 377 ratings
  • Loved until their ballots

    I thought Joe owed Kristen an apology for putting both her and us through a fake exercise when he'd already voted. Mean and dishonest

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BostonBoy29
    United States3 months ago
  • Fun show

    Earned 5 stars when Kristen said induct Björk

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A Mad Roxy Fan
    Canada3 months ago
  • Love it

    Updated APR 2026: the finest ballot/voting season episodes you’ve ever done. Thank you. Updated JAN 2023: You must never stop. Do not quit. It keeps getting better! My kind of music nerdery and insider intrigue. I’m hooked. Keep it up. The caliber of guests, including actual hall voters and nominating committee members, is impressive. Must-listen podcast about a mostly-unimportant industry nostalgia celebration. Who cares? I do! Why do I care? I don’t know!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MelBay
    United States4 months ago
  • Thanks for an insightful podcast. It is giving me an education

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Brendan S
    5 months ago
  • Love it

    Updsted APR 2026: the finest ballot/voting season episodes you’ve ever done. Thank you. Updated JAN 2023: You must never stop. Do not quit. It keeps getting better! My kind of music nerdery and insider intrigue. I’m hooked. Keep it up. The caliber of guests, including actual hall voters and nominating committee members, is impressive. Must-listen podcast about a mostly-unimportant industry nostalgia celebration. Who cares? I do! Why do I care? I don’t know!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MelBay
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Smart, insightful discussions on voting and inductees.
Hosts balance humor with deep knowledge, great for music nerds.
Some listeners critique flow or guest balance, but overall high-quality analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How 1981 Changed the Game for the 2026 Inductees w/ Greg Heller
Q: I'm curious, do you have any thoughts, opinions on what became this class from the voting and from the side categories?
Greg expresses overall approval of the class, with specific enthusiasm for Joy Division/New Order and commentary on how band dynamics, health issues, and posthumous reputations influenced induction decisions and the Band's broader legacy.
Remastered: Billy Idol w/ David Wild
Q: Which songs best represent Idol's impact for the Hall of Fame discussion?
White Wedding and Rebel Yell are typically cited as signature tracks, with Eyes Without a Face and Cradle of Love showcased for their ongoing resonance and cross-genre appeal.
Remastered: Billy Idol w/ David Wild
Q: Why is Billy Idol a plausible Rock Hall inductee now?
Because his hits defined a crucial MTV-era fusion of punk attitude and pop accessibility, he maintained cultural visibility, and recent induction-era dynamics recognize the lasting influence of his image and songs beyond a single decade.
INXS w/ Bee France & Haydn Murdoch
Q: What makes INXS a strong candidate for the Rock Hall this year?
The band has a broad, enduring catalog with crossover appeal in rock and dance scenes, and their first-year eligibility plus recent momentum creates a compelling case for induction.
REMASTERED: The White Stripes w/ Sean Cannon
Q: What led you to doing a podcast about the White Stripes?
I used to work in public radio, have a long history in podcasts, in audio in general. The idea of a podcast came up while working with Ben Blackwell of Third Man Records as they commemorated the 20th anniversary of The White Stripes' first album.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Who Cares About the Rock Hall?

What is Who Cares About the Rock Hall? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show focuses on music history and the Rock Hall discourse through witty, opinionated banter between the hosts and a rotating cast of expert guests. Episodes often center on ballot dynamics, inductions, and deep dives into artists' legacies, balancing rigorous cultural analysis with humor and insider perspectives. Notable traits include featuring actual nominating committee members and long-standing voters, plus remastered archival discussions, which add historical context and behind-the-scenes flavor. Potential listeners can expect thoughtful debates moderated with accessible storytelling, plus curated guest insights that illuminate voting practices, representation, and genre-crossing influence within rock and pop music.

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Which podcasts are similar to Who Cares About the Rock Hall??

These podcasts share a similar audience with Who Cares About the Rock Hall?:

1. Song Vs. Song
2. Hall Watchers
3. Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
4. A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
5. Starter Trek

How many episodes of Who Cares About the Rock Hall? are there?

Who Cares About the Rock Hall? launched 8 years ago and published 374 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 Who Cares About the Rock Hall??

Recent guests on Who Cares About the Rock Hall? include:

1. Joe Mardin
2. Greg Heller
3. Ana Cristina Reymundo
4. Jim Merlis
5. Danyel Smith
6. Michael Veal
7. Wendy Fonarow
8. Jimmy Pardo

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