Your iPod: It's for more than music

MP3 players are awesome for musicians, but if you're using yours to listen only to music, you might be missing out. There are some fine podcasts out there that can inform and inspire any musician looking to get to another level (spoiler alert: if you're already making a living off your music, this may not be for you).

Here's what I've discovered to be the cream of the crop so far (disclaimer: I have no relationship with anyone related to these programs; I've simply discovered them and found them interesting and helpful):

Music Business Radio: This podcast comes out of music city USA - Nashville - but don't go thinking its focus is only popular country music. Host David Hooper interviews guests that range from artists to label execs to publicists to... you get the picture. Each guest offers practical tips on a wide range of topics. Hooper is an excellent interviewer, and despite its plain-Jane name - Music Business Radio - its moniker makes clear what the show is about, while offering breadth and depth.

A recent episode featured great online marketing advice from exec John Clore of Sony Music The show is rich in other ways too: I discovered Hannah Miller during Dave's Demo Derby portion of the show, where the guest offers feedback on music submissions from less established artists. Periodically Hooper offers bonus content in separate, shorter podcasts that feature an artist and his/her music.

Overall, a fine blend of music, information, and inspiration.

Music Career Juice: Presented by experienced music biz guy Peter Spellman, this podcast can be a bit dry on the presentation side, but it's rich in content, and covers a lot of ground in different episodes.

Pandora Presents... the Musicology Show: This podcast is purely about the music. Host Kevin Seal brings in guests who are experts at very specific skills. What to know about song structures? The difference between a xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, and more? Want an education in percussion? Rhythm styles? Recording tips? Mixing vocals? Seal and his various guests take music apart layer by layer for listeners. If you've ever asked, "How do they do that?" about anything musical, then this is the show for you.

A Musician's Life: If you'd prefer something in smaller bites, try this five-ish minute podcast from WXPN radio hosted by Tracy Tannenbaum out of Philadelphia. I recently heard that Philly is home of the second ever folk festival after Newport in the 1960s; it's where styles of the northern and southern USA meet, blend, and fuse. A good listen in the car if your commute is short.

PRI Selected Shorts Podcast: Reading fine literature should be part of any songwriter's healthy diet, but some lifestyles have us so steadily on the move that literary indulgence is a rare treat. Reading a book while driving should never be attempted, and going for a run or a walk while trying to read can be a challenge. At once a week, this short story podcast from Public Radio International is high quality stuff read by actors who know how to tell a story to a live audience. This is a podcast I await with eager anticipation.

My astute Canadian readers will have by now observed that all of the above are American offerings. While Canada has a lot of good podcast stuff, I've found little that provides the kind of specialized content available from the above sources. I'd like to hear from you about how you nurture your musicality. Send me your favorite way to get inspiration and information - and I'll share it here - or simply add it in a comment below.

PS: Since I started this blog just a few short months ago, it has already totaled about 600 page views. A big THANK YOU to all the readers who show up here for a skim through. I hope you're finding it helpful.