This is a list of radio programs that sounded interesting that I ran across while looking for local music shows. I haven't had a chance to check out a lot of them yet.
Hosted by Bob Phillips. Each week has a different featured artist, but he also includes tracks from other artists to fill out the playlist. The miscellaneous tracks are nice for discovering smaller/side projects that probably couldn't support the featured artist slot. However, I think the show would be better if just a little more focus was given to the featured artist.
A radio show about video game music. Each episode tends to explore a theme, like seasonal music from cozy games or battle music.
A show exploring the history of different genres. The episodes I caught have been pretty cool. The first episode was on Post-Minimalism, so ot hits on more than just popular music subgenres.
Hosted by the charismatic Chris Campbell. The show title might imply that it's a political show, but it is actually about music. The description on the website mentions deep house, future soul, nu-jazz, but it hits on many other genres. I especially like the special editions: episodes that focus on a genre (such as New Wave), artist (like his D'Angelo tribute) or some other specific theme (like his exploration of the Soulquarians's time at Electric Ladyland). I find these episodes are helpful for exploring gaps in my musical knowledge. The latest two episodes are available on demand at the link above. It's really a shame the special editions aren't archived.
"Whether you're an expert, or just a casual fan, Sound Opinions is your source for smart and engaging music criticism and conversation. Each week on the show, nationally respected rock critics Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis interview artists, talk about pop culture and music industry news, review new record releases and give trends a historical context. And, because on Sound Opinions, "everyone's a critic," listeners are invited to join in the debate."
I really enjoy this show. It's also available as a podcast. The main episodes are a little shorter than on the radio because they don't have the NPR news at the top. There are also ~7 minute bonus episodes every week. I've been recording the stream, but the number of streams I'm recording has ballooned. Moving forward, I think subscribing to the podcast would be more convenient.
Hosted by Don Was and Ann Delisi. Don curates a playlist around a topic, including anecdotes about the record business. Don and Ann have great rapport, and the tracks are usually outside of what I normally listen to. The latest two episodes are available on demand at the link above.
Ambient music
A program about early music (Middle Ages, Renaissance, etc.)
An hour of soothing Celtic, new age, etc.
A program about symphonic movie scores.
Jazz, American Songbook
Brazilian music and culture.
Roots and Americana music
A one hour exploration into new and notable electronica, downtempo, and ambient music from around the world. Hosted by Nico at Night.
"Welcome to the world's most lovingly curated collection of Ambient, Space, and Contemplative music from around the world and across the centuries —a resource for calm, concentration and deep listening since 1983."
"The Movie Music Spotlight focuses on the career – in music – of your favorite film stars, film directors, and various genres of movie music."
(Archive only) A radio show about video game music.
A podcast discussing the background of Michigan becoming the pizza chain capital of the world.
"The Splendid Table, hosted by award-winning food writer Francis Lam, is an original weekly companion, celebrating the intersection of food and life for more than two decades. A culinary, culture and lifestyle program, it hosts our nation's conversations about cooking, sustainability and food culture and introduces us to generations of food dignitaries."
"Wordplay is an offbeat mix of poetry, comedy, and an ongoing exploration of the possibilities of the spoken word. Wordplay's opening monologue blends music and language (and sometimes sound effects) into a surreal, funny, often darkly serious meditation on the state of one man's struggles to live in the bewildering world of contemporary America. The show also features guest appearances by local poets and nationally known writers. But the real strength of Wordplay is the interaction between co-hosts George Bilgere and John Donoghue. The two poets read short, interesting poems by important writers. They banter about poetry, argue about it, and generally give each other a hard time. A Plain Dealer article about Wordplay called the show "the Click and Clack of poetry." Not a bad description."