Greg KotEvery podcast appearance, updated as new ones drop

Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot have been writing about Chicago and music for a long time. Greg was the rock music critic at the Chicago Tribune from 1990 to 2020. Jim spent 15 years as the music critic at the Chicago Sun Times . Both have written several great books - Greg's published books include Wilco: Learning How to Die, I'll Take You There Mavis Staples and Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music. Jim's titles include Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, Staring at Sound: The True Story of Oklahoma's Fabulous Flaming Lips and Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly. But they may be best known for the long-running podcast Sound Opinions which celebrated its 1,000th episode in 2025. We loved getting the chance to talk shop with Jim & Greg about what it has been like to cover music for so long, how things have evolved over the years and what they like (and dislike) about Chicago. As a disclaimer - Jim's views on Chicago pizza are his alone and do not reflect the opinions of No Wristbands (and he's clearly wrong!). https://www.gregkot.com/ https://jimdero.com/ Time stamps: 3: What's the biggest misconception people have about being music journalists? 10: What are some of your greatest music discovery moments you've experienced in Chicago? 14:30: What has changed throughout your time as being a music journalist? 17:45: With the rise of online music publications, did that have any impact on how you wrote and/or talked about music? 28: People should get paid to be music journalists. 32: Who are some bands/artists from Chicago that you felt like never hit as big as they should have? 35:25: What makes Chicago such a good and unique music scene? 45: What keeps you going with Sound Opinions? 48:44: Thick or thin crust pizza fans? 51:45: What are some of your favorite venues to see shows at in Chicago?

One conversation is not enough! Greg Kot is back by popular demand. We hop into the time machine and discuss what was happening in Wilco world thirty years ago this summer. We discuss the break-up of Uncle Tupelo, the recording of AM, and the eventual recording of Being There. Greg also shares a song he wishes Wilco would cover. The answer might just surprise you. Greg Kot was the former rock critic at the Chicago Tribune for 30 years and is cohost of "Sound Opinions" -- "the world's only rock 'n' roll talk show" -- an independently produced podcast that airs on more than 150 public-radio stations nationwide. Listen here: soundopinons.org . Kot is also the author of seven books, including "Wilco: Learning How to Die," which is available at numerous on-line outlets and independent bookstores, including "Exile in Bookville" in Chicago: https://www.exileinbookville.com/ . --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/shovingwilco/support

In this episode of Shoving Wilco, Todd visits with the venerable rock critic and author Greg Kot to unpack his phenomenal book, "Wilco: Learning How to Die." In this thought-provoking episode, Greg Kot, known for his insightful commentary on music and culture, shares his firsthand experiences and unique insights into the world of Wilco. "Learning How to Die" isn't just a book about a band; it's a journey through the evolution of Wilco's sound, the struggles they've faced, and the artistry that has defined their career. _____ Greg Kot was the former rock critic at the Chicago Tribune for 30 years and is cohost of "Sound Opinions" -- "the world's only rock 'n' roll talk show" -- an independently produced podcast that airs on more than 150 public-radio stations nationwide. Listen here: soundopinons.org . Kot is also the author of seven books, including "Wilco: Learning How to Die," which is available at numerous on-line outlets and independent bookstores, including "Exile in Bookville" in Chicago: https://www.exileinbookville.com/ .

Mike and Chris are joined by former Chicago Tribune rock critic, author, and the man behind the liner notes for the 1998 Cheap Trick reissues, Greg Kot as they look back at "Stiff Competition" from the band's 1978 album, HEAVEN TONIGHT.

"People ask us, 'What's your favorite record?' Our answer is 'The one we're going to hear next week.'" That anecdote on today's show from Greg Kot is why he and his Sound Opinions co-host Jim DeRogatis have inspired legions of music journalists for decades: Between emotional reactions to pop music and intellectual analysis of art-rock, they consistently remain curious. As former critics at the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times respectively, they have seen weird fads, legendary careers and physical media come and go, documenting it all -- whether in print, via the web or on the air. On this episode, Greg and Jim dive into their own early obsessions with vinyl, whether or not we can truly judge someone by their record collection, and why music criticism shouldn't be a solo project. Find Sound Opinions wherever you hear podcasts, or at soundopinions.org .

Welcome back to the Rock 'n Roll Ghost Podcast . On this week's episode, the Ghost speaks with Greg Kot , creative director of The Coda Collection , a streaming music film channel available for Apple, Android and more. Kot, the former Chicago Tribune music critic and current co-host, along with Jim DeRogatis , of the music-focused radio show Sound Opinions , discusses his role at The Coda Collection . He also discusses the recent deaths of musicians Mark Lanegan and Taylor Hawkins , as well as the upcoming music festival season, how he keeps up with current music and being an active part of youth basketball with Over the Edge Hoops . Links: Greg Kot The Coda Collection Sound Opinions Over the Edge Hoops

Welcome to Roadcase, a podcast exploring the live music experience!! Greg and Jim are the hosts of Sound Opinions and are two of the most renowned rock critics out there. It was a real treat to interview them about the role and influence of live music in rock criticism, some of their favorite shows, the dying independent venue, and how Live Nation is ruining local music. Enjoy!! For more information: http://www.roadcasepod.com or http://lnk.to/roadcase To support Roadcase on Patreon, please visit: http://www.patreon.com/roadcasepod Contact: info@roadcasepod.com Theme music: "Eugene" (Instrumental) by Waltzer Roadcase is produced by Josh Rosenberg and Soothsayer Media Contact: info@soothsayer.media

Episode #72: As long as there’s been music, there have been music critics. Like many professions, music review has been indelibly changed by the Internet. For a while, a numerical rating on Pitchfork could make or break a band. Blogs and social media emerged, and suddenly, truly everyone was a critic. On this episode, we hear from music critics about their role today and more. We’re joined by Sound Opinions’ (WBEZ) Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd (Jezebel), Bob Ham (Paste), and former New York Times critic, Ben Ratliff. Subscribe to The Future of What on iTunes: http://apple.co/1P4Apk0 Follow us: Twitter: http://bit.ly/2gOYMYM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefutureofwhat/ Instagram: http://bit.ly/1L6T8fl

At the dawn of the twenty first century, the music business looked forward to its sixth decade of monopolistic dominance of the sale and manufacture of recorded music. An industry that once had dozens of labels competing for consumer dollars had become, thanks to a series of mergers, controlled by a small handful of international conglomerates by the late nineties. Similar trends had played out in the commercial-radio and concert industry sectors of the industry. The net result was massive profits for these multinational corporations, and rising prices for compact discs and concert tickets for consumers. Yet as Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot ably and acerbically shows in his page-turning Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music(Scribner, 2009) the landscape of the industry had been utterly transformed within a decade. In 1999, the introduction of the Napster peer-to-peer file sharing service made it possible for anyone with an Internet connection and a computer to download and create a huge music library, all without paying a cent to artists or their labels. The creation of such digital networks also allowed artists to market and sell their music directly to consumers, thereby bypassing the industry’s label system. This digital revolution likewise rendered compact discs, once the driver of industry profits, on the path to obsolescence and made the iPod as essential to music consumption as the phonograph had been for much of the twentieth century. Through his illuminating interviews with key figures drawn from all sectors of the industry, Kot skillfully makes sense of this dizzying era of change, one that has seen long established notions of copyright, profit, and creativity in the music business all called into question. Greg Kot has been the Tribune ‘s music critic covering pop, rock, and hip-hop since 1990. He is the author of three other books, including Wilco: Learning How to Die (Three Rivers Press, 2004), and hosts the nationally syndicated radio program Sound Opinions , “the world’s only rock ‘n’ roll talk show,” which can be heard on over one hundred stations nationwide. His next book, I’ll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers and the March up Freedom’s Highway , will be published by Scribner in January 2014. He can be reached through his personal blog, gregkot.com , and via Twitter @gregkot . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/music

Greg Kot of The Chicago Tribune, Co-Host of Sound Opinions, and author of Learning How To Die joins the show this week. We talk about his history in Chicago, Sound Opinions, Wilco, and more. Live Show Wednesday November 9th 8 P.M. at The Upstairs Gallery.

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Greg Kot, host of the radio show Sound Opinions and music critic for the Chicago Tribune, joins us to discuss innovation, the future of the musician and his book Ripped.