The Jay Franze Show: Music - News | Reviews | Interviews

Jay Franze
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  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Jay Franze Show is your source for the latest music – news, reviews, and interviews, providing valuable insights and entertaining stories, stories you won’t find anywhere else. Hosted by industry veteran and master dry humorist Jay Franze, alongside his charismatic co-host, the effortlessly charming Tiffany Mason, this show delivers a fresh, non-traditional take on the world of music. Jay and Tiffany bring you behind the scenes with insider insights, untold stories, and candid conversations with seasoned artists, industry pros, and rising stars each week. Whether you’re here for the laughs, the information, or to be part of The Crew (their family), they’ve got you covered. You will be entertained, educated, and maybe even a little surprised, because nothing is off the table here.

  1. Nearly Perfect 80s Rock Albums, Most Unique 70s and 80s Sound, and Music News

    1D AGO

    Nearly Perfect 80s Rock Albums, Most Unique 70s and 80s Sound, and Music News

    Nearly perfect albums are a trap and we walked straight into it. We go down a punchy list of 1980s rock staples and actually argue the hard part: what makes a classic rock record feel flawless from top to bottom, and what makes it feel “too polished” even when the songs are huge. From Back In Black to Appetite For Destruction to Purple Rain, we swap favorites, call out the moments where bands start chasing the mainstream, and talk about how producers and the 80s studio sound shaped what we still hear today. Then we hit the headlines with music news that’s equal parts heartfelt and nerdy. We talk about Dolly Parton stepping away from her Las Vegas residency for health reasons, the growing wave of big releases and comebacks, and the live music trend that sent us spiraling: metal shows inside caves. If you’ve ever wondered how acoustics, reflective surfaces, and a room full of bodies change a mix after soundcheck, we break it down in plain English. We also bring the community into the driver’s seat with the question of the day: what 70s or 80s artist had a completely unique sound? The crew drops everything from Bowie and Hendrix to Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Run-DMC, and more. Add current country and rock charts, a quick 2001 time capsule on radio and CDs, and a mailbag on branding and “too polished” artists, and you’ve got a full hour of music podcast conversation that feels like hanging with real fans. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us your one truly unique artist pick. Episode Links Chris Franz: https://jayfranze.com/episode27/Dalila Mya: https://jayfranze.com/episode102/Alyxx: https://jayfranze.com/episode123/Gina Fritz: https://jayfranze.com/episode137/Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/MacKenzie Leigh: https://jayfranze.com/episode153/Kieran Robertson: Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    1h 12m
  2. ACM Awards Picks, Best Drummer, and Music News

    6D AGO

    ACM Awards Picks, Best Drummer, and Music News

    The ACM Awards are coming, and we’re not treating it like background noise. We lay out what to expect from the show in Las Vegas, how to watch on Amazon Prime, and what it means that Shania Twain is hosting for the first time. Then we make our ACM predictions with zero fluff, debating what “Entertainer of the Year” should actually reward, and why the new-vs-established “rivalry” narrative feels more like marketing than reality.  From there we hit the week’s music news with an eye for what matters: Morgan Wallen teasing a new era, Luke Combs setting huge concert attendance records, and the constant push toward genre blending across country, rock, and everything in between. We also talk about why certain artists thrive right now through touring, streaming, and fan engagement, and how that shifts the industry’s gatekeeping.  Then we dive into our question of the day: who is the best drummer of all time? We explain what to listen for as a non-drummer, read listener picks, and argue our way to a final ranking that’s guaranteed to spark comments. We wrap with charts, birthdays, and a mailbag packed with practical music industry advice, including what to do after a TikTok blow-up, streams vs ticket sales, and how to handle gear failure in a high-pressure studio session.  Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who will argue with our drummer list, and leave a review with your pick for best drummer of all time. Episode Links Jim Cristaldi: https://jayfranze.com/episode27/Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/Dalila Mya: https://jayfranze.com/episode102/Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    1h 18m
  3. Kieran Robertson, Musician (Geoff Tate’s Operation Mindcrime)

    MAY 4

    Kieran Robertson, Musician (Geoff Tate’s Operation Mindcrime)

    You know that moment when you realize the thing you’ve worshipped as a fan is now your actual job? That’s where this conversation with guitarist and recording artist Kieran Robinson begins, and it only gets wilder from there. We talk through how a young musician goes from growing up on Queensrÿche and classic rock to performing alongside Geoff Tate, learning songs with serious technical weight, and walking the tightrope between confidence and imposter syndrome. We get into the real mechanics of making a legacy project work. Kieran explains how he approaches writing and demo-building for Mindcrime III, why the goal is to keep the music in the same sonic universe as Operation: Mindcrime, and what happens when Geoff takes a draft and transforms it with melody, synths, and arrangement choices. If you’re into songwriting, producing, or progressive metal composition, you’ll hear a practical workflow you can steal, plus the mindset required when the fanbase knows every note and expects the music to be played with respect. Then we shift to the live world: the iconic Viper Room night, the nerves of performing in front of other pros, and why playing Mindcrime feels more like theatre than a standard rock set. Kieran also shares what touring really looks like, from dividing time with Faster Pussycat to the unglamorous truths of backstage riders, band pranks, and recording on the road with portable studios in hotel rooms. We wrap with gratitude, perspective, and the reminder that rock is still a community built on craft, feel, and showing up ready. Subscribe for more interviews, share this with a friend who loves heavy music, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Episode Links Geoff Tate: https://www.geofftate.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    31 min
  4. Jay Bragg

    MAY 4

    Jay Bragg

    Broadway looks like a dream from the sidewalk, but the reality is closer to a high-speed stress test. We sit down with Nashville performer and “View From Nashville” creator Jay Bragg to get honest about what’s happening on Lower Broadway right now, why tourism shifts are rattling working players, and how new entertainment districts could stretch an already thin scene even further. Jay breaks down why Broadway can be an elite boot camp for stagecraft while still becoming a trap that quietly rewires artists into tip-driven cover machines. We also zoom out to the country music industry and the future of Music Row. Labels don’t break stars the way they used to, TikTok and social media momentum act like prerequisites, and signing a deal can feel less like validation and more like taking on a bank loan with strings attached. Jay shares why independence can be the smarter path when you know your definition of success, keep overhead low, and build skills that let you steer your own career instead of handing the wheel to someone else. Then we tackle the hard topic: AI music. From Suno-assisted “work tapes” to producers replacing session parts, we talk about what gets disrupted, what still counts as ethical tool use, and why trust with fans is so fragile. Jay also explains how getting knocked off a long-running Broadway gig pushed him to create New Vaudeville, a modern reboot of a family lineage that AI can’t replicate. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review if it helps you see Nashville and the music business differently. What part of today’s industry feels most broken to you right now? Episode Links Jay Bragg: https://www.jaybragg.com/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    53 min
  5. Nicest Rockstars, All Access Backstage Pass, and Music News

    APR 29

    Nicest Rockstars, All Access Backstage Pass, and Music News

    Some artists sound dangerous onstage and turn out to be the kindest people you’ll ever meet, and that contrast kicks off a wide-ranging music conversation we can’t stop thinking about. We dig into a list of rock musicians known for having genuinely good reputations, then swap stories about what “nice” looks like when the lights are off and the backstage pass is real. Along the way we talk about why fans remember small moments forever and how an artist’s character becomes part of their long-term legacy. Then we hit the week’s music news across country and rock: tour expansions, streaming-era release strategies, and the genre lines that keep getting blurrier. We unpack Zach Bryan’s surprise drops and direct-to-fan approach, the steady rise of festival headliners who can move between country and rock, and what it even means to call someone a “legacy band” now. From Foo Fighters and Green Day to Metallica’s in-the-round stadium production, we look at how veteran acts stay relevant while new artists rewrite the rules. The question of the day turns into a full-on backstage fantasy draft: if you had all-access for one night, who are you choosing and why. We compare craft-focused picks with pure chaos picks, read listener answers, run through country and rock charts, and close with mailbag questions that get surprisingly real: is country radio “too safe,” does a great mix still matter, and is a record deal in 2026 worth chasing if you want a real team behind you. Episode Links Scotty Simpson: https://jayfranze.com/episode3/Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/Bruce Reiter: https://jayfranze.com/episode67/William Lee Golden: https://jayfranze.com/episode72/Blake Tyler: https://jayfranze.com/episode120/Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/Stephanie Rabus: https://jayfranze.com/episode149/RJ Preston: httpsSend us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    1h 15m
  6. Josie Sal - 4/27/26

    APR 27

    Josie Sal - 4/27/26

    She’s 14, she’s already cutting records in Nashville, and she’s learning the music business in real time. We sit down with country recording artist Josie Sal to talk about the jump from “posting covers” to building a true career with a team, a release plan, and the kind of relationships that open doors fast. We get into how she connected with producer Brandon Hood, what it’s like walking into a serious studio session with elite Nashville musicians, and why recording full-song takes helps her keep the emotion of a live performance. Josie also shares how she’s dialing in her sound, leaning into a classic country and classic rock blend while still staying aware of pop trends. If you’re searching for Nashville recording insights, artist development lessons, or how producers shape a young artist’s confidence, this conversation delivers practical detail without the fluff. The most powerful thread is what happens offstage: her parents and siblings functioning like a small business team, the reality of online school under constant time pressure, and a vocal health scare with nodules that forced her to cancel shows and get serious about technique. We also talk about staying humble around big names, being present with fans, and how networking really works, including her dad’s bold approach to handing out business cards in the wild. Josie closes with what’s next: new music, bigger touring goals, songwriter festivals, and plans around CMA Fest. If you like real behind-the-scenes country music stories with equal parts drive, nerves, and laughter, hit play, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Episode Links Josie Sal: https://josiesal.com/Charlie Judge: https://jayfranze.com/episode29/Presley Tenant: https://jayfranze.com/episode50/Josie Sal: https://jayfranze.com/episode100/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    43 min
  7. RJ Preston

    APR 20

    RJ Preston

    A great song can start as a joke, a brand name, or a bad travel day then turn into something listeners wear like a memory. RJ Preston joins us from Florida to explain how his country rock style took shape, why he leans toward edge and storytelling over pop-country trends, and how “Tropically Impaired” came from the very real feeling of being stuck up north wishing you were back in the sun. We get into the nuts and bolts of modern Nashville recording, including what it’s like working with producer and engineer Jacob Garner, how studio musicians build tracks, how vocals get captured and comped, and why some of the most impactful “studios” are private spaces that feel more like a backyard hang than a high-rise facility. If you’re curious about music production, mixing, and mastering for country rock and independent country artists, you’ll hear a clear, practical look at the full process from demo to final master. Then we zoom out to the career side: writers rounds, relationships, and the grind that turns opportunity into momentum. RJ breaks down how he landed shows opening for Lakeview with a straightforward cold email and EPK, what he learned watching a pro team handle soundcheck and tour routines, and why the merch booth is still one of the best places to convert a new listener into a real fan. He even shares the persistence play that led to performing at Florida Panthers games. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    48 min
  8. Most Memorable American Idol Winners, Song Titles With Woman’s Name in It, and Country Music News

    APR 13

    Most Memorable American Idol Winners, Song Titles With Woman’s Name in It, and Country Music News

    Twenty-three seasons of American Idol later, a weird question still cuts through the noise: how many winners do we actually remember? We put “most memorable” on trial and rank every champion from the names that vanish the second the confetti falls to the artists who still feel like cultural landmarks. Along the way, we talk about why “winning” and “lasting” are two different skills, how contracts can shape careers, and why the audience sometimes loves the competition more than the artist’s post-show music. Then we shift into a packed country music news rundown with the stories we can’t stop thinking about. Ella Langley’s surge with “Choose In Texas” sparks a bigger conversation about label friction, co-producing, and why fans are tired of songs that all sound the same. We also hit the ACM Awards performance lineup, Ray Stevens’ recovery after a serious fall, Morgan Wallen launching his own SiriusXM channel, and Chris Young building a Nashville sports bar that turns fandom into a full experience. We keep it interactive with the question of the day (songs with women’s names in the title), run through the latest chart moves and indie chart picks, and time-travel to 1987 for a fast, fun look at what ruled country and rock. The mailbag closes it out with real talk on playlists, industry mimicry, and a producer’s answer to the question every creator faces: when do you stop tweaking a track before it goes lifeless? Subscribe for more music news, country charts, and behind-the-scenes industry talk, then share this with a friend and leave us a review. Who is the most memorable Idol winner to you? Episode Links Bob Bullock: https://jayfranze.com/episode28/Avery Glenn Crabtree: https://jayfranze.com/episode77/Billie Jo Jones: https://jayfranze.com/episode98/Dalila Mya: https://jayfranze.com/episode102/Mark Badolato: https://jayfranze.com/episode140/Send us Fan Mail Support the show Links Jay Franze: https://jayfranze.com/JFS Countdowns/Playlists: https://jayfranze.com/playlists/Contact Contact: https://jayfranze.com/contact/Socials Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayfranzeYouTube: https://youtube.com/@jayfranzeEverywhere: @jayfranzeServices Services: https://jayfranze.com/services/Books Books: https://jayfranze.com/books/Merchandise Merchandise: https://jayfranze.com/merchandise/Support Support: https://jayfranze.com/support/Sponsor the Show: https://jayfranze.com/sponsor/Shout Outs High Mountain Breezes Music: https://highmountainbreezesmusic.com/VR Knives: https://www.facebook.com/VRKnives

    1h 20m
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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

The Jay Franze Show is your source for the latest music – news, reviews, and interviews, providing valuable insights and entertaining stories, stories you won’t find anywhere else. Hosted by industry veteran and master dry humorist Jay Franze, alongside his charismatic co-host, the effortlessly charming Tiffany Mason, this show delivers a fresh, non-traditional take on the world of music. Jay and Tiffany bring you behind the scenes with insider insights, untold stories, and candid conversations with seasoned artists, industry pros, and rising stars each week. Whether you’re here for the laughs, the information, or to be part of The Crew (their family), they’ve got you covered. You will be entertained, educated, and maybe even a little surprised, because nothing is off the table here.

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