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PlatPhorm Podcasts

NPR Music

Welcome to your all-in-one destination for every NPR Music podcast. We break down the best new albums to hit streaming each week on New Music Friday; we share the latest songs worthy of your playlists on All Songs Considered; there’s off-the-rails conversations (and chisme!) about Latin music on Alt.Latino. The NPR Music channel is your hub for new records, iconic artists and cult heroes, free of algorithms and full of surprises. Support public media by joining NPR+ at plus.npr.org . You’ll get perks for over 25 NPR podcasts, including bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening for NPR Music.

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Episodes

1/27/2026

Best new songs: Mitski, Father John Misty, Kim Gordon, more artwork

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Best new songs: Mitski, Father John Misty, Kim Gordon, more

NPR Music

This week we're obsessing over the hilarious and harrowing “Where’s My Phone?” from Mitski, a slightly softer solo cut from Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, the confounding but wondrous wordplay of Father John Misty and more. NPR Music editor Hazel Cills joins host Robin Hilton. Featured songs and artists: (00:00) Mitski: “Where’s My Phone?” from ‘Nothing’s About to Happen to Me’ (09:29) Robber Robber: “The Sound It Made,” from ‘Two Wheels Move the Soul’ (16:01) Father John Misty: “The Old Law” (single) (24:44) Kim Gordon: “NOT TODAY,” from ‘PLAY ME’ (31:39) Tinariwen: “Sagherat Assani (feat. Sulafa Elyas),” from ‘Hoggar’ (37:21) Vero: “100 Calls,” from ‘Razor Tongue’ Support the show with a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend! Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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1/23/2026

New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 23 artwork

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New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 23

NPR Music

Lucinda Williams. Julian Lage. The debut from rising Americana star Kashus Culpepper. Stephen Thompson from NPR Music chats with Jessie Scott from WMOT in Nashville about the best new albums out Friday, Jan. 23. The Starting 5 (00:00) Intro: Cat Power, 'Redux' EP (02:14) Lucinda Williams, 'World's Gone Wrong' (07:36) Carolina Chocolate Drops, 'Genuine Negro Jig' (15th Anniversary Edition) (15:19) Kashus Culpepper, 'Act I' (20:00) The Lowest Pair, 'Always As Young As We'll Ever Be' (25:29) Julian Lage, 'Scenes From Above' The Lightning Round - Ari Lennox, 'Vacancy' - Sammy Brue, 'The Journals' - V/A, 'Naive Melodies' - Della Mae, 'Magic Accident' Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org . Credits Host: Stephen Thompson Guest: Jessie Scott, WMOT Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell Digital Producer: Dora Levite Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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1/21/2026

Alt.Latino: Rawayana on their new album and a changing Venezuela artwork

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Alt.Latino: Rawayana on their new album and a changing Venezuela

NPR Music

Sometimes life imitates art - or at least the two can seem eerily connected. On Jan. 1, the Venezuelan band Rawayana released a new album, '¿Dónde Es El After?,' which began with a lyric that many interpreted as a wish for their country's leadership to be gone. A few days later, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was ousted from power and seized by American forces. For this week's episode, we chat with Fofo Story and Beto Montenegro of Rawayana to hear how the album came together, where its sonic influences lie, and how they're reflecting on the seismic changes underway in their home country. (00:00) Intro (01:54) How they decided to open the album (06:26) On the song 'Qué Rico PR!' (09:36) Caribbean influences growing up (13:41) Childhood love for merenhouse (16:13) Adapting tonada folk music (21:58) Reflections on Venezuela in this moment This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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1/20/2026

What are the greatest videos of MTV’s golden era? artwork

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What are the greatest videos of MTV’s golden era?

NPR Music

Reports from late last year about the demise of MTV were overstated; but it got us thinking about the network’s legacy and most memorable moments. So, on this episode, we remember the best of MTV with a list of our top 20 videos from its golden era. If you’re listening on Spotify, tell us your favorite classic music video in the episode’s comments. You can support the show by leaving a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Or just tell a friend! Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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1/16/2026

New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 16 artwork

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New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 16

NPR Music

Ya Tseen. The Sha La Das. A mesmerizing collaboration between Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore. Stephen Thompson from NPR Music is joined by Alex Newman from KMHD in Portland to chat about the best albums out Friday, January 16. The Starting 5 (00:00) Intro & A$AP Rocky, 'Don't Be Dumb' (02:36) Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore, 'Tragic Magic' (07:43) The Sha La Das, 'Your Picture' (15:33) Ya Tseen, 'Stand On My Shoulders' (21:53) Shaking Hand, 'Shaking Hand' (27:43) Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel, 'Celestun' The Lightning Round • Craig Taborn, Tomeka Reid & Ches Smith, 'Dream Archives' • Courtney Marie Andrews, 'Valentine' • Diogo Strausz, 'Dance Para Se' • Oxis, 'Oxis 8' • Nate Smith, 'LIVE-ACTION (Deluxe)' Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org . Credits: Host: Stephen Thompson Guest: Alex Newman, KMHD Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell Digital Elle Mannion Editor: Otis Hart Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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1/14/2026

Alt.Latino: Our Love Letter to Bob Weir artwork

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Alt.Latino: Our Love Letter to Bob Weir

NPR Music

Over the weekend, we lost a musician who shaped the lives of countless people: the late, great Bob Weir. He was a founding member of the Grateful Dead who played guitar, wrote and sang in the band for 30 years. After Jerry Garcia died and the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir kept the spirit of the music alive for three more decades, creating new Deadheads for generations to come — he brought John Mayer, Billy Strings and even the National Symphony Orchestra into the Grateful Dead universe. The Deadhead slogan proved to be true: Weir everywhere. At Alt.Latino, we’re big fans of Bob Weir and his immensely cosmic musical legacy. Over the years, we’ve learned that many Latin musicians are also, metaphorically speaking, on the bus. Today on the show, we celebrate Bob Weir’s life by hearing some of his past interviews on NPR, exploring the Grateful Dead’s influence on artists like Devendra Banhart, and of course, revisiting his magnetic Tiny Desk concert from 2019. We’re incredibly grateful that Bobby came down to this world for a little while to tell us his stories – we hope to see him in the next one. (00:00) Intro (01:38) Bob Weir's early life and Grateful Dead career (08:05) Grateful Dead at the National Symphony Orchestra (14:30) Felix and Isa reflect on 'American Beauty' (20:35) Grateful Dead's impact on Latin musicians (26:33) Bob Weir at the Tiny Desk This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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1/13/2026

Big Thief’s Buck Meek, Joji and more of the week's best songs artwork

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Big Thief’s Buck Meek, Joji and more of the week's best songs

NPR Music

NPR’s classical critic Tom Huizenga joins host Robin Hilton for our first spin of the best songs we’re hearing in 2026, including new ones from Big Thief’s Buck Meek, the genre-hopping artist Joji, “fragile hope” from composer Daníel Bjarnason and more. Featured artists and songs: 1. Buck Meek: “Gasoline,” from ‘The Mirror’ 2. Pekka Kuusisto & Sam Amidon: "Way Go, Lily" (Arr. by Nico Muhly / Adapted for orchestra by Bernard Rofe), from ‘Willows’ 3. Joji: “Love You Less,” from ‘P*** In The Wind’ 4. Joyce DiDonato & Time for Three: “Because I could not stop for Death," from ‘Emily - No Prisoner Be’ 5. Jana Horn: “Don’t think,” from ‘Jana Horn’ 6. Daniel Bjarnason & The Iceland Symphony Orchestra: “Fragile Hope,” from ‘The Grotesque and the Sublime’ Support the show by leaving a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend! Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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1/9/2026

New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 9 artwork

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New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 9

NPR Music

Dry Cleaning. Jenny on Holiday. An introspective debut from Mon Rovîa. Stephen Thompson from NPR Music is joined by Celia Gregory from WNXP in Nashville to talk about their favorite new albums out Friday, January 9. The Starting 5 (00:00) Intro (00:31) Dry Cleaning , 'Secret Love' (06:53) Jenny on Holiday , 'Quicksand Heart' (15:12) Mon Rovîa , 'Bloodline' (21:22) Home Star , 'A Binding Life' (27:07) Kris Davis and the Lutoslawski Quartet , 'The Solastalgia Suite' The Lightning Round • Zach Bryan, 'With Heaven On Top' • The Cribs, 'Selling A Vibe' • Pullman, 'III' • Clémentine March, 'Powder Keg' • Rawayana, '¿Dónde Es El After?' Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org . Credits Host: Stephen Thompson Guest: Celia Gregory, WNXP Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell Digital Producer: Elle Mannion Editor: Otis Hart Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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1/8/2026

Alt.Latino: Music as protest in Venezuela artwork

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Alt.Latino: Music as protest in Venezuela

NPR Music

Venezuela has a deep tradition of reflecting political change through music. This week, as the country reels from the seizure of its president by American forces, we explore the recent history of Venezuelan protest music, and from the Nineties right up until the present. First, we share an excerpt of an episode we made at another moment of political turmoil in Venezuela, in the summer of 2024. Then, we'll walk up to the present and see how some musicians across Latin America are responding to this moment. And a big thanks to NPR Music's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento for being our guide. (00:00) Intro (02:06) A history of Venezuelan protest music (13:39) Social and economic changes under Nicolas Maduro (14:53) Venezuelan protest music in recent years (22:21) How artists across Latin America are responding This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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1/6/2026

The best 2026 albums we've heard so far artwork

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The best 2026 albums we've heard so far

NPR Music

We look ahead to some of the albums we’re most excited about for the new year, from sure bets like Dry Cleaning and Beverly Glenn-Copeland to rumored releases from some pretty big names. (00:00) Intro (01:26) Dry Cleaning: “Cruise Ship Designer,” from ‘Secret Love’ (05:03) Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore: “Perpetual Adoration,” from ‘Tragic Magic’ (07:48) Ásgeir: “Smoke,” from ‘Julia’ (12:27) Joyce Manor: “All My Friends Are So Depressed,” from ‘I Used To Go To This Bar’ (17:45) Beverly Glenn-Copeland: “Laughter In Summer (with Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland),” from ‘Laughter In Summer’ (21:06) gobbinjr: “Just a dream,” from ‘crystal rabbit moon’ (24:59) Danny L Harle, Oklou & MNEK: “Crystallise My Tears,” from ‘Cerulean’ (28:08) August Ponthier: “Handsome,” from ‘Everywhere Isn’t Texas’ (31:14) Mumford & Sons: “Rubber Band Man (with Hozier),” from ‘Prizefighter’ Support the show by leaving a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend! Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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1/2/2026

New Music Friday: A roundup of December albums artwork

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New Music Friday: A roundup of December albums

NPR Music

It's a slow release day to start the new year, so this week NPR Music's Stephen Thompson brings us an abbreviated episode highlighting a few of the new albums you might have missed in December. Artists and albums featured in this episode: - Pink Floyd, 'Wish You Were Here 50' - Fred Again.., 'USB002' - This Is Lorelei, 'Holo Boy' - HEALTH, 'CONFLICT DLC' - Juliana Hatfield, 'Lightning Might Strike' - DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ, 'Fantasy' - Daniel Lopatin, 'Marty Supreme (Original Soundtrack)' Credits: Host: Stephen Thompson Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell Digital Producer: Elle Mannion Editor: Otis Hart Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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12/30/2025

Viking's Choice 2025: The Guitar artwork

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Viking's Choice 2025: The Guitar

NPR Music

On the last episode of All Songs Considered for 2025, NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich takes host Robin Hilton through an exceptional year in guitar music. From Gwenifer Raymond's beautiful and brash fingerstyle to Rafael Toral's stretched-out jazz standards, not to mention William Tyler's glitched hymns and Vernon Reid's ecstatic shred, there's so much diversity to be found in six strings. Featured songs and artists: • Gwenifer Raymond: "Bleak Night in Rabbit's Wood," from 'Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark' • Hayden Pedigo: "Houndstooth," from 'I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away' • TAKAAT: "Isghmar," from 'Is Noise, Vol. 1' • Rafael Toral: "You Don't Know What Love Is," from 'Traveling Light' • Laura Snowden: "This Changing Sky," from 'This Changing Sky' • Madala Kunene & Sibusile Xaba: "Wemfana," from 'kwaNTU' • William Tyler: "Star of Hope," from 'Time Indefinite' • Jorge Espinal: "ají de pollería," from 'Bombos y Cencerros' • Vernon Reid: "Meditation on the Last Time I Saw Arthur Rhames," from 'Hoodoo Telemetry' Want more? See the full Viking's Choice list for the best guitar music of 2025. Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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12/29/2025

Our no. 1 songs: 2024 artwork

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Our no. 1 songs: 2024

NPR Music

In our final look back at our number one songs from the past 25 years, we visit Modesto, take an existential stroll through Petco, and find it all so confusing. Note: This is a recurring series in celebration of All Songs Considered’s 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year. Leave us a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with a friend. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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12/23/2025

A very tolerable Christmas, 2025 artwork

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A very tolerable Christmas, 2025

NPR Music

We take a motorcycle road trip to Wisconsin in our annual search for the true spirit of the season. And, of course, we meet some special guests along the way. Thanks for another amazing year, and happy holidays! Listen to the songs featured on this episode and more in our holiday playlist in Apple Music and Spotify . Tell a friend about the show and leave us a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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12/22/2025

Our No. 1 songs: 2023 artwork

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Our No. 1 songs: 2023

NPR Music

We get in our fast car, drive like a red wine supernova, and run into Kristine from the 7th grade. Bad idea, right? Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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12/19/2025

Listener Poll: Your Favorite Albums of 2025 artwork

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Listener Poll: Your Favorite Albums of 2025

NPR Music

We asked and you answered. Earlier this month, we opened the polls and invited All Songs Considered 's listeners to tell us their top 5 records of the year. We tabulated all of the ballots, determined the top 10, and gave the results a proper countdown in this episode of All Songs . And while we usually include the albums we discuss in our episode notes, this time you'll have to listen to find out what made the list. (OK, fine, you can click here to see the top 50 vote-getters .) NPR Music critic Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton. Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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12/17/2025

Alt.Latino: What We Missed In 2025 artwork

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Alt.Latino: What We Missed In 2025

NPR Music

The sheer volume and variety of Spanish-language music released every year is breathtaking. Even those of us with our ears to the ground are bound to miss things. So, in this episode we travel back through the year to resurface some of the remarkable albums that somehow didn't make it on the show. Catch Afro-Caribbean jazz, a history-spanning classical strings project, the return of Juana Molina and much, much more. Artists and albums featured in this episode: - Alex Cuba, 'Índole' - Enyel C, 'Nuevo Caribe' - Berta Rojas, 'La Huella de las Cuerdas' - Cazzu, 'Latinaje' - Conrad Herwig, Eddie Palmieri and Luques Curtis, 'Reflections-Facing South' - Juana Molina, 'DOGA' This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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12/16/2025

Songs that hit hard in 2025 artwork

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Songs that hit hard in 2025

NPR Music

NPR listeners share the one song that hit them the hardest this year, and tell us why they laughed, cried, or simply couldn’t stop listening to it. Featured songs and artists: 1. Annie DiRusso: "Back In Town," from Super Pedestrian 2. Tunde Adebimpe: "Drop," from Thee Black Boltz 3. Brandi Carlile: "You Without Me," from Returning To Myself 4. Bad Bunny: "DtMF," from DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS 5. Of Monsters And Men: "The End," from All Is Love And Pain In The Mouse Parade 6. Eph See: "Malachi The Uber Driver" (unreleased single) 7. Audra McDonald: "Rose's Turn," from Gypsy 8. Big Thief: "Los Angeles," from Double Infinity 9. Flock Of Dimes: "Afraid," from The Life You Save 10. Ben Rector: "Forever (Doesn't Quite Seem Long Enough)," from The Richest Man In The World Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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12/14/2025

Our No. 1 songs: 2022 artwork

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Our No. 1 songs: 2022

NPR Music

We go to college and get the “big D,” hit the dance floor and do what we want, then head back to the radio. Is this a life filled with every possibility, or is it all just devastatingly mediocre? Note: This is a recurring series in celebration of All Songs Considered’s 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year. Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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12/12/2025

The Best Albums of 2025 artwork

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The Best Albums of 2025

NPR Music

If we needed any more proof that the album isn't dead, 2025 was it. On this episode, Stephen Thompson is joined by Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen to run through 12 dazzling albums that stuck with the NPR Music team this year. And for an even deeper exploration, check out the full lists of our critics' best albums of 2025 here . Artists and albums featured on this episode: - Rosalía, 'LUX' - Wednesday, 'Bleeds' - Nourished by Time, 'The Passionate Ones' - Daniel Caesar, 'Son of Spergy' - Dave, 'The Boy Who Played the Harp' - Clarice Jensen, 'In holiday clothing, out of the great darkness' - Gwenifer Raymond, 'Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark' - Kal Banx, 'RHODA' - Mary Halvorson, 'About Ghosts' - Annie DiRusso, 'Super Pedestrian' - Queralt Lahoz, '9:30 PM' - Patrick Watson, 'Uh Oh' Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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