Starting a Podcast as a Musician

A podcast gives you a platform that belongs to you, not an algorithm. Unlike social media where reach is throttled and posts disappear in 24 hours, podcast episodes live indefinitely and reach subscribers directly. For artists with something to say beyond their music, podcasting builds deeper fan connection and cross-promotion opportunities that social media alone cannot match.

Introduction

Podcasting is not for everyone. It requires consistent production, comfort with talking, and patience to build an audience. But for artists who have something to say beyond their music, it can become a significant promotional channel.

The commitment is real. A podcast that dies after 8 episodes is worse than no podcast. Before you invest in equipment and branding, honestly assess whether this format fits your strengths.

This guide covers format options, production basics, guest strategy, and how to turn podcast listeners into music fans. For the full picture of promotional channels, see Music Promotion Guide (With and Without a Budget).

Is Podcasting Right for You?

Before committing, honestly assess whether podcasting fits your strengths and goals.

Podcasting works if:

• You enjoy talking about topics beyond your own music

• You can commit to a regular production schedule (biweekly minimum)

• You have access to interesting guests or compelling solo topics

• You want to build authority in a specific niche

• You are patient with slow audience growth

Podcasting does not work if:

• You struggle to fill conversation time

• Your goal is quick, viral reach (social media is better for that)

• You cannot commit to at least 20-30 episodes

• You have nothing to say beyond promoting your releases

Format Options

Interview Format

Conversations with guests: other artists, producers, industry professionals, or anyone relevant to your audience. The guest brings their audience and expertise. You facilitate the conversation.

Best for: Artists with strong networks or interviewing skills. Cross-promotion potential is high since guests share episodes with their audiences.

Challenge: Requires consistent guest booking, which takes significant outreach effort.

Solo Commentary

You, talking directly to your audience. Industry opinions, music reviews, career updates, behind-the-scenes stories. No guests, no coordination. Just your perspective.

Best for: Artists with strong opinions who are comfortable talking alone. Lower production complexity.

Challenge: Requires you to consistently generate interesting topics without the structure a guest conversation provides.

Co-Host Format

Two or more regular hosts discussing topics together. The interplay between hosts creates natural entertainment and reduces the burden on any single person.

Best for: Artists with a collaborator (bandmate, manager, industry friend) who has complementary perspective and chemistry.

Challenge: Scheduling two people is harder than one. Co-host relationships can strain over time.

Music Breakdown

Detailed breakdowns of your own music or analysis of other artists' work. Song breakdowns, production walkthroughs, theory analysis, or genre history.

Best for: Artists with technical knowledge who can articulate what makes music work. Fans who want to learn, not just listen.

Challenge: Requires actual expertise. Shallow analysis is obvious and damages credibility.

Hybrid Format

Mix of solo episodes, interviews, and themed series. Provides variety but requires more planning.

Best for: Artists who want flexibility and have enough ideas to fill different formats.

Challenge: Less predictable for audiences who like consistency.

Production Requirements

Minimum Viable Setup

You can start for under $100. Audio quality matters, but what you say matters more. A compelling conversation on a decent mic beats a boring conversation on expensive gear.

Recording Environment

Record in a quiet space with minimal echo. Closets with clothes, rooms with soft furniture, or any space with sound absorption. Bare walls and hard floors create harsh reflections.

If you record music, you already have a treated space. Use it.

Editing Time

Expect 2-3 hours of editing for every hour of recorded audio when starting out. This decreases with practice. Some podcasters barely edit at all. Others cut aggressively. Find your standard.

Minimum editing:

• Remove long pauses and filler words

• Cut tangents that go nowhere

• Normalize audio levels

• Add intro/outro

Guest Strategy

Guests multiply your reach. Their audience discovers you through them. The key is finding guests whose audience overlaps with your target fans.

Who to Invite

Other artists in your genre. The most natural fit. Their fans are likely to enjoy your music too.

Producers and engineers. Technical conversations attract music nerds who become loyal listeners.

Industry professionals. Managers, publicists, label people. Educational conversations position you as knowledgeable.

Adjacent creators. Visual artists, music video directors, music journalists. Expands your network beyond the music world.

How to Book Guests

Start with your network. People you already know will say yes more easily. Use early episodes to build credibility before reaching out cold.

Pitch specifically. "I'd love to discuss your approach to [specific thing they do]" beats "want to be on my podcast?"

Make it easy. Handle all scheduling, send calendar invites, provide clear technical instructions, keep the recording efficient.

Promote them well. Show guests you will put effort into promoting their episode. Tag them, send clips, make them look good. Future guests notice how you treat past guests.

Guest Cross-Promotion

The real value of guests is access to their audience. Maximize this:

• Create shareable clips for them to post

• Tag them in all promotion

• Ask them to share when the episode drops

• Feature their music in the episode where appropriate

A guest who shares with their 50,000 followers does more for your growth than any paid promotion.

Building Your Audience

Realistic Growth Expectations

Most podcasts grow slowly. Expect 50-200 downloads per episode in your first year. Growth compounds over time as your back catalog attracts new listeners and recommendations build.

Viral podcast episodes are rare. Consistent quality over 50+ episodes is how most shows build meaningful audiences.

Promotion Strategies

Repurpose episodes. Turn them into short clips for TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Transcribe episodes into blog posts. The same material serves multiple platforms.

Cross-promote with your music. Mention the podcast in your release promotion. Include podcast links in your artist profiles. The audiences overlap. For independent artists running their own promotion, a podcast becomes another touchpoint in the fan journey.

Appear on other podcasts. Being a guest on established shows exposes you to built audiences. Every interview can include a mention of your own show.

Email your list. Your email subscribers are your warmest audience. Notify them of new episodes.

Submit to directories. Make sure your podcast is on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and any other relevant directories.

Converting Listeners to Fans

The goal is not just podcast listeners. The goal is moving podcast listeners into your music fan world.

Include your music. Use your songs as intro/outro music. Feature unreleased tracks. Give listeners something to discover.

Call to action. End episodes with a clear next step: follow on Spotify, join email list, check out new release. See How to Get Fans as a New Music Artist for the full conversion framework.

Cross-pollinate. Discuss your music naturally within episodes. Behind-the-scenes of recording, stories behind songs, upcoming release details.

The podcast and the music should feel like parts of the same world, not separate projects.

Common Mistakes

Starting without a clear concept. "A podcast about music" is not a concept. Narrow your focus. "Conversations with DIY artists about surviving the first 1,000 fans" is a concept.

Inconsistent publishing. Audiences abandon podcasts that disappear for months. Set a sustainable schedule and stick to it. Biweekly is better than weekly if weekly is not realistic.

Poor audio quality. Bad audio is the fastest way to lose listeners. Invest in a decent mic and learn basic recording technique before launching.

Making it all about you. Unless you are already well-known, episodes that are only about you and your music will struggle. Provide value beyond self-promotion.

Giving up too early. Podcasts typically take 20-50 episodes to find their voice and audience. Quitting after 10 episodes means quitting before you started.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I release episodes?

Biweekly is the minimum for maintaining audience connection. Weekly grows faster but requires more production time. Monthly is too infrequent for most formats.

Should I monetize my podcast?

Not at first. Focus on audience before thinking about ads. A podcast under 1,000 downloads per episode has limited ad revenue potential. The value for artists is fan building, not direct podcast income.

How long should episodes be?

30-60 minutes is standard. Length should match the material. A tight 25-minute episode beats a rambling 90-minute one. Cut anything that does not serve the listener.

Can I use copyrighted music in my podcast?

Not without licensing. You can use your own music freely. Using other artists' work requires permission or licensing, which is complex and often expensive.

Read Next

• Music Promotion Guide (With and Without a Budget)

• How to Get Fans as a New Music Artist

• Social Media Strategy for Music Artists

Build Your Identity:

Orphiq's branding tools gives you the framework to define who you are as an artist so everything you put out feels intentional and cohesive.