The Music Lens Podcast

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August was the month for album releases evidently, because there were so many of them! Join us for a special edition of our monthly new music episode we're coining: August Albums. From Charlie Worsham and Ian Munsick's first independent releases to the latest from Alex Warren and Dan + Shay, we're discussing them all.

New Music:

Charlie Worsham - Once Upon a Second Time Around

Erin Kinsey - Suede

Ashley Cooke - ashley cooke

Kate Cosentino - Weirdly Normal

Dan +...

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We're excited to welcome Isabelle and Natalie of SwiftArtists to the pod! Join us to hear us discuss how SwiftArtists came about, the community they've created, and (of course) a bunch about Taylor Swift.

SwiftArtists was founded in May 2022 by Isabelle Grogan for the purpose of connecting and promoting the music of independent artists in the Swiftie community. Natalie joined SwiftArtists shortly after due to the pair’s mutual love for Taylor and the Nashville music scene Their first live show was held in August 2022, and they’ve held 36 since then, buil...

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We're celebrating 100 episodes of the podcast by taking a look at what music looked like 100 years ago back in 1926. Join us as we see what's changed in music in the past century.

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

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You can also follow Alex and Katie on all socials at: @alexallegramusic and @katiefeemusic

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Happy August and happy new music listening! Hear us discuss some of the latest music that's come out in the last month and let us know your own thoughts on them too!

New Music:

Riley Green and Hannah McFarland: "Go Again"

Grace Tyler: "Worse Places to Be"

Anna Vaus: "Human Being"

Mackenzie Carpenter: "Heart That Don't Break"

Lauren Watkins: "Better Love Next Time"

Ashland Craft and Tyce Delk: "Doesn't Have To Be That Way"

Ashley...

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Do you know which color M&Ms Van Halen banned from their green room in their rider? What about which artist has had a Billboard number 1 hit in each of the last four decades? We're testing each other with music trivia this week. Join us and see how many of these you know too!

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

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Our Widening The Lens series is back, and we're welcoming Miggie Snyder onto the podcast!

Miggie Snyder is an independent pop artist based in Nashville, TN. She has been releasing music since 2020 and is proud to write, produce, and record all of her music. She has had viral success with multiple songs including her singles "Legend Lake", "music man" and "How To Write A Love Song", with each gaining millions of views on social media. Her song "Legend Lake" continues to be her most streamed song, with over 1.5+ million streams to...

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Billboard released their staff picks of the top 50 albums of 2026 so far, and we decided to take a look at the top 20 of them this week. Join us as we take a very genre-diverse journey through new albums by some artists that we know, such as Ella Langley and Harry Styles, and many that we are discovering for the first time.

Resources:

Best Albums of 2026: Our 50 Favorites So Far (Staff Picks)

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Happy July! It's time again for a recap on new music that came out this past month!

New Music:

Tenille Townes: “Sunshine’s Free”

Paige King Johnson: “It Ain’t Me”

Lauren Alaina: “Better Off"

Maoli and Maddie Font: “Runnin’ Me Off”

First song from Maddie without Tae.

Maddie Lenhart: “Newton’s First Law”

Taylor Swift: “I Knew It, I Knew You”

Lainey Wilson ft. John Mayer: “Phone, Keys, Wallet”

Ian Munsick: “World War III”

Bre...

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We're celebrating pride month this year by bringing you two episodes highlighting LGBTQ+ musicians in history, the second of which is one of the leading pop stars of the '80s and '90s, George Michael. Follow along as we discuss everything from his time in Wham! to his solo career, controversial headlines, and a 2008 comeback.

Resources:

George Michael

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Happy Pride Month! To celebrate this year, we're bringing you two episodes highlighting LGBTQ+ musicians in history. Up first is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Russian composer of popular works such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker. Join us as we shift gears into the world of classical music to discuss the life, love, and music of Tchaikovsky.

Resources
Celebrating Pride with Tchaikovsky

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Wikipedia

Kennedy Center

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CMA Fest took over Music City this past weekend, and it was jam packed full of killer sets, big surprises, and tons of fun! Join as we as recap our experience with this year's festival.

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube at:  @themusiclenspodcast

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We're back with another monthly rendition of new music and music news! Join us as we talk about some of amazing music that dropped in May as well as some music news discussions pertaining to the ever evolving state of the music industry.

Resources:

Brad Paisley 'Tacklebox' Project

Fred again Dropbox Collab

Who is Stella Lefty?

New Music:

Braid Paisley: Tacklebox

Bandana Cheyenna: "Devil in the Desert"

Tigirlily Gold: "I Do or Die"<...

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This year's ACM Awards were filled with strong performances and record-setting wins! Join us as we discuss and give you a play-by-play of all the action.

Resources

Record Setters at the ACMs

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

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You can also follow Alex and Katie on all socials at: @alexallegramusic and @katiefeemusic

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Blue Dot Fever: a music industry term coined to describe the growing list of cancelled tours. Are these cancellations from low ticket sales due to high ticket prices, artists booking too big of venues for their audience, or perhaps a bit of both? Join us as we discuss this current industry trend in our first remotely recorded episode.

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

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If you grew up in the 2000s, odds are you've watched a Disney Channel Original Movie or two as well as Hannah Montana. Have you ever noticed how so many of those movies/shows made it seem like getting famous is incredibly easy? Join us as we discuss this strange, reoccurring theme of 2000s Disney Channel.

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

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Some incredible music came out this past month! Join us as we discuss new releases as well as music news, including the ACM Awards nominees.

Music News:

Live Nation and Ticketmaster Case

ACM Awards Nominees

New Music:

Just Jayne: “Love A Loser”

Dan + Shay: “Say So”

LEW: “Someone I Want You To Meet”

Miley Cyrus and Lainey Wilson: “Younger You”

Belles, Dolly Parton:  “Son of Jolene”

Tenille Townes: The Acrobat

Lauren...

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We recently took a trip to down to New Orleans, so we thought we oughta do a dive into the history of the city's deep music roots. From jazz and gospel, to R&B and hip-hop, to opera, brass bands, and rock & roll, join us as we discuss the various sounds that make up the soundtrack of NOLA.

Resources:

Music of New Orleans

New Orleans: The Birthplace of American Music

New Orleans Music History

300 Years of New Orleans Music

...

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In this installment of our Widening The Lens series, we're welcoming full-time independent artist Amanda McCarthy onto the podcast!

Most people don't exactly plan to drop out of college, become a parent before the age of 21, and move to a new city in the middle of a pandemic - but Amanda McCarthy has always been pretty good at tackling the unexpected head on.

In a situation where most would have given up and settled for a traditional 9-5, she has gone on to make a full time living out...

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Take a dive with us into the world of touring as we discuss various touring terminology that you may come across on the road!

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube at:  @themusiclenspodcast

You can also follow Alex and Katie on all socials at: @alexallegramusic and @katiefeemusic

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Join us as we discuss the latest music releases from the past month!

New Music:

SJ McDonald: “Blue Ridge Red"

Hunter Hayes: Evergreen

Russell Dickerson: Worth Your Wild EP

Gracie Carol: “Fake Flowers”

Lainey Wilson: “Can’t Sit Still”

Erin Kinsey: “Reasons Why We Broke Up”

Julia Larkin: “Changes”

Kacey Musgraves: “Dry Spell”

Carly Pearce, Riley Green: “If I Don’t Leave I’m Gonna Stay”

Avery Anna: forgive, forget

Amanda McCarthy: “g...

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We're taking you back into our Artist Inventory series to discuss another member of an artist's team: the music director. Join us for a discussion on what the role of a music director entails, how it's similar/different to the role of a band leader, and how you can apply the skills of a music director into your own career yourself.

Resources

Berklee

What Does It Take To Be A Musical Director?

Guide To Common Creative Roles In The Music Industry

...

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In this installment of our Widening The Lens series, we're welcoming Korie Burton Rott from One Writer To Another onto the podcast!

Born and raised in South Carolina, Korie moved to Music City at the age of 18 to attend Middle Tennessee State University and begin her pursuit of a career in the music industry. With a passion in both country and pop music, her main goal as a creative is to help other artists tell their stories through the art of songwriting. Korie has received 20 cuts as an independent writer with...

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Happy Women's History Month! We're celebrating two women who were both deemed mothers of their genres: Sylvia Robinson and Mother Maybelle Carter. Join us as we discuss these two pioneers and how Hip-Hop and Country wouldn't be what they are today without these incredible women's contributions.

Resources:

Sylvia Robinson

Lesley Riddle

Maybelle Carter Wikipedia

Maybelle Carter, The Mother of Popular Country Music

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February (and end of January) was filled with new music! Join us as we discuss our favs!

New Music:

Ella Langley: "Dandelion" and "Be Her"

Ian Munsick: "Geronimo"

Tim McGraw, Eric Church, HARDY, Morgan Wallen: "McArthur"

Amanda McCarthy: Looking For The Light

Russell Dickerson: "The Roses"

Luke Combs: "Be By You"

Sam Ferrara: "Second Place"

Emily Ann Roberts: "Whipped"

The Band Perry: "PSYCHOLOGICAL"

Chloe Collins: Bombshell

Alex Am...

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Happy Black History Month! We're taking the time to highlight Black voices who have been trailblazers in the music industry. Join us as we learn about the pioneer of neo-soul, D'Angelo, as well as the Black Opry, a movement to raise awareness for Black artists in country music.

Resources:

D'Angelo - Wikipedia

D'Angelo - Variety

Black Opry

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In our second episode of our Widening The Lens series, we welcome Kristian Veech to the podcast!

Taking a songwriter-centric to production, Kristian Veech is a Nashville based producer, and mixing & mastering engineer whose work covers a wide variety of genres. From country, to pop, to rock, and everything in between, Kristian blends classic and familiar sounds with modern production techniques to create cutting edge, and fresh sounding productions.

Go give Kristian a follow and check out his music here!

Have a question, story, or feedback to...

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It's time again for our annual Grammy Awards episode! Join us for a recap and review of this year's looks, performances, and awards!

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube at:  @themusiclenspodcast

You can also follow Alex and Katie on all socials at: @alexallegramusic and @katiefeemusic

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We’re kicking off February with a roundup of new music we enjoyed from January, along with a few industry headlines, including the Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees and a recent copyright case involving Drew Barrymore.

Resources:

Songwriters HOF Inductees

Drew Barrymore Copyright Infringement Case

New Music:

Amanda McCarthy: "LOL WTF"

BANDANA CHEYENNA: "The Artist's Pilgrimage: ACT 1: THE DREAM"

Kate Cosentino and Melina KB: "Two Kids in a Trench Coat"

SJ McDonald: "You Sa...

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Before producers were household names, Joe Meek and Sam Phillips were quietly (and sometimes chaotically) changing the sound of popular music. In this episode, we explore how Meek’s DIY experimentation and Phillips’ work at Sun Records helped launch new sounds, new artists, and a whole new way of thinking about recording.

Resources:

Joe Meek

Sam Phillips

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Welcome to our new monthly series, "Widening The Lens", where we invite guests onto the pod to broaden our perspectives about different aspects of the music industry. Our guest for the inaugural episode is our good friend and collaborator, Sammy Kay.

Sammy Kay is an independent folk-pop singer-songwriter based in Nashville, TN. Her music inspirations include Taylor Swift, Ingrid Michaelson, and Vance Joy. She just released two new singles last year titled “Baby Shower” and “Pearl” that you can find on all streaming platforms!

Go give Sammy a follow and chec...

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Welcome back to the latest part in the Artist Inventory series, a dive into how to build an EPK. EPKs are essential tools for artists looking to book gigs, gain press, and showcase their work to potential industry collaborators. Join us for a discussion on the elements that make up an EPK as well as other tips and tricks to set you up for success.

Resources:

Earlier Podcast Episode: How to Tour as an Independent Artist

How to Create a Successful EPK

How...

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Happy New Year, everyone! We're kicking off our first episode of 2026 with a chat about new music and music news, including the Songwriters' Hall of Fame Induction nominees and more!

Resources:

Songwriters Hall of Fame Nominees

Songwriters Will Get Paid More for Streaming Royalties Starting Today

Amanda McCarthy's "Lifeline (Healed)"

BANDANA CHEYENNA's "Colorado Baby" and "Back to Light"

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

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For our final episode of the year, we’re hitting pause and looking back on the music that defined it for us. We talk favorite albums and songs, artists we loved seeing live, shows we played ourselves, and the moments that made this year unforgettable. We also look ahead to what’s next, sharing a few goals and hopes for the year to come. Thanks for being part of the ride — we’ll see you next year.

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

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In this episode, we kick things off with a run-through of the history of music videos from technical invention to MTV to YouTube before getting into why they still matter today, just for totally different reasons. We talk branding, storytelling, fan connection, and why videos aren’t about chasing TV play anymore… but they do still shape how an artist shows up in the world.

Resources:

The Music Video: Before Television

Music Video - Wikipedia

How YouTube Changed The Music Industry Forever

MT...

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AI “artists” showing up on charts? Yeah… we have thoughts. We run through a few of the names popping up, why it’s frustrating to see them take up space, and why the chart they landed on isn’t even that important. Plus, we get into why AI can’t replace real human creators—no matter how good the tech gets.

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

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ICYMI, the nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards were announced last week! Join us for a discussion on who's nominated, who should've been nominated, and more!

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube at:  @themusiclenspodcast

You can also follow Alex and Katie on all socials at: @alexallegramusic and @katiefeemusic

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We're diving into the world of parasocial relationships — those one-sided bonds fans form with artists, celebrities, or even fictional characters. From the rise of Stan culture to the pressures it puts on independent musicians, we explore how these connections can both help and harm. We talk about healthy fandom, setting boundaries, and what happens when the line between admiration and obsession starts to blur.

Resources

Psychology Today

THE RISE OF THE STAN: DO PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS HELP OR HINDER INDEPENDENT MUSICIANS?

Have a question, st...

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Deluxe albums: marketing genius or creative overload? We break down the history of the deluxe release, the songs we love that wouldn’t exist without it, and whether they still serve a purpose in today’s music industry.

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube at:  @themusiclenspodcast

You can also follow Alex and Katie on all socials at: @alexallegramusic and @katiefeemusic

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We’re back with a new roundup of the latest music and news! From fresh tracks by Jordan Davis, Lainey Wilson, Old Dominion, and more, we’re sharing what we’ve been loving—and what’s left us on the fence. Plus, we dive into deluxe albums: are they really necessary, or should artists just move on to their next chapter?

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

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Guess who’s back?! After a little summer hiatus, we’re kicking off the pod again. In this episode, we’re catching up like old friends—swapping stories from our summer, sharing some behind-the-scenes updates, and talking about what’s next for the podcast. It feels good to be back, and we can’t wait to bring you along for the ride!

Have a question, story, or feedback to share? Email us at: themusiclenspodcast@gmail.com

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