Switched on Pop How podcasting got its sound ft. Breakmaster Cylinder
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Jul 22, 2025 Breakmaster Cylinder, the enigmatic composer behind over 200 podcast themes, dives into the origins of podcast music. He traces its roots back to a Grateful Dead song, revealing how classical and contemporary influences shaped today's soundscapes. They explore the emotional power of theme music and its role in defining the podcasting experience. Breakmaster shares insights into his creative process and the fun of blending diverse genres. The conversation even touches on the humor of anonymity, likening it to Daft Punk's iconic style.
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The First Podcast Was a Dead Song
- The very first podcast audio distributed by RSS was a Grateful Dead song uploaded in 2001 as an experiment.
- This permissive culture of sharing music parallels the open, DIY ethos that defines podcasting itself.
NPR Shaped Podcast Music Sound
- Early podcast theme music inherited the orchestral and jazz sounds of NPR's public radio.
- This established the podcast music's characteristic gravitas combined with plonking piano sounds.
Fiction Podcasts Broaden the Sound
- Fiction podcasts like Welcome to Night Vale expanded podcast music to include spooky drones and breakbeat drums.
- The signature plonking piano motif persisted, linking fiction and journalistic podcast themes.