
Advertise on podcast: Major Label Debut
Rating
4.8from
This podcast has
60 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Major Label DebutExplicit
Yes
Date created
2024/10/17
Latest episode
2026/02/04
Average duration
56 min.
Release period
8 days
Description
Graham Wright (Tokyo Police Club, CBC Radio) interviews musicians, producers, and writers about what happens when bands sign to a major label. Candid conversations about the intersection of art and commerce. Debuting Monday October 28! New episode every other week!
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Check latest episodes from Major Label Debut podcast
Hot Hot Heat - "Elevator" with Steve Bays
2026/02/04
Joining Graham this week is Steve Bays of Hot Hot Heat to discuss the band's 2005 album, Elevator.
Graham and Steve talk about the realities of touring, the impact of mental health on musicians, and the value of passion projects. Also, pad thai and California gas station wine.
📻🎚️
Hot Hot Heat “Goodnight Goodnight” (1:32)
Liars “Mr You’re On Fire Mr” (7:02)
Hot Hot Heat “Bandages” (12:42)
“Middle Of Nowhere” (16:20)
The Walkmen “The Rat” (49:19)
“You Owe Me An IOU” (54:42)
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MLD News Pitchfork's Subscription Model and an MLD Announcement
2026/01/28
Intrepid correspdondents Graham and John Paul discuss Pitchfork's pivot to a subscription model as well as an exciting announcement from the MLD Podcast Network.
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"The Lost Voice" with Greta Morgan
2026/01/22
Graham is joined by Greta Morgan to discuss her memoir, The Lost Voice. Greta shares the evolution of her musical identity after being diagnosed with a disorder that robbed her of her voice. They also talk about the complexities of band dynamics, the impact of COVID-19 on creativity, and the transformative journey of writing a memoir. Also, homemade cinnabons and superfood lattes, or celery and burnt nachos.
📻🎚️
Hush Sound “Wine Red” (2:30)
Gold Motel “Don’t Send The Searchlights” (8:35)
Greta Morgan “White Sands” (27:15)
Check out Greta's website!
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MLD News - A Salute to Bob Weir and 5 Songs To Get Into The Grateful Dead
2026/01/14
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul celebrate the life and legacy of Bob Weir and offer a guided introduction to the Grateful Dead.
📻🎚️
Grateful Dead “St. Steven” (5:30)
“Truckin’” (8:07)
Bob Weir “Cassidy” (10:22)
Grateful Dead “Althea” (13:22)
“Touch Of Grey” (15:10)
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Navigating the Intersection of Art and Commerce with Randy Ojeda
2026/01/07
Picture this: you are standing at the intersection of Art and Commerce. It is a hectic crossing; a convoluted tangle with countless voices offering advice anywhere on the scale from utterly awful to actually useful but no easy way to discern which is which. Here to clear a path is Randy Ojeda, manager and music lawyer but for purpose of continuing the mind illustration, a crossing guard the traffic actually stops for. Not only do Graham and Randy talk about bad deals and shady accounting, but also about Randy's unique approach to helping new and indie artists navigate the intersection by making legal services more accessible. Also, club sandwiches and Arnold Palmers.
📻🎚️
Ganser “Black Sand” (2:14)
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MLD News - 2026 Forecast
2025/12/31
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul talk about the future - Happy New Year!
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Tokyo Police Club (and beyond!) with Greg Alsop *rebroadcast*
2025/12/24
In this spirit of the season we reflect on the support of our dearest friends with this rebroadcast. From all of us at MLD, take care and Happy Holidays!
Graham is joined by drummer, composer, songwriter, long-time friend and grilled cheese wizard, Greg Alsop to discuss the industry through the lens of their band, Tokyo Police Club. A candid conversation between two friends about creativity, musicianship, and the end of a nearly twenty year old band.
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MLD News - News You Can Yules
2025/12/17
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul are bringing you season's greetings with the official MLD 2025 Gift Guide.
🎁📻
Girlfriend Material's Hyped For The Holidays
Dan Mangan's New Album Natural Light
We Are Scientists / Keith Murray's 20th Anniversary of With Love And Squalor
Chris Stamey's New Album Anything is Possible
Morgan Nagler's New Single “Cradle the Pain"
The Blasters / Dave Alvin's New Album with The Third Mind Right Now! and the first vinyl pressing of his Merle Haggard tribute Tulare Dust
Save Ferris / Monique Powell's New Single "Get Dancing"
Nels Cline's New Album Consentrik Quartet
Bret Berg and Museum of Home Video's Patreon
Alan Siegel's New Book Stupid TV, Be More Funny
Brendan Bourke's artist roster including Big Special and Moon Panda
Nate Jackson and Daniel Kohn's New Book Tearing Down the Orange Curtain
Green Day / Rob Cavallo's 30th Anniversary Resissue of Dookie
Guster / Ryan Miller's 2024 Album Ooh La La
Lisa Fancher and everything from Frontier Records
The Bongos / Richard Barone's 2025 Live Album The Shroud of Touring: Live in 1985
Greg Alsop's Delta Underground Single “I Won’t Give You Up"
Claw Hammer / Bob Lee's New Band Astral Jets
Surfaris / Bob Berryhill's 60th Anniversary pressing of “Wipe Out"
Moe. / Rob Derhak's 2025 Album Circle of Giants
Wire / Colin Newman and Malka Spigel's New Immersion Album WTF??
The Watchmen / Sammy Kohn's Realtor Services
Vashti Bunyan's 20th Anniversary Reissue of Lookaftering
Rooney / Ned Brower Watch The Pitt on HBOMax
Soul Asylum / Dave Pirner's New Album Slowly but Shirley
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Dan Mangan + Blacksmith - "Club Meds" with Dan Mangan
2025/12/10
Graham is joined by Dan Mangan, singer/songwriting icon of the Canadian music scene, to discuss his 2015 album Club Meds. Dan candidly shares what happened when the record he took a big swing on didn't quite connect, and how hard lessons learned during that experience led him down a new path. They also talk about hanging with Paul McCartney, turning down a drum feature from Dave Grohl, and the mid 00's fascination with robots. Also, sausage breakfast wraps.
📻🎚️
Dan Mangan + Blacksmith “Vessel” (2:47)
“Offred” (8:30)
Dan Mangan “So Much For Everyone” (19:09)
“Robots” (28:30)
Bon Iver “Skinny Love” (34:27)
Dan Mangan + Blacksmith “New Skies” (50:35)
“Mouthpiece” (56:44)
“Club Meds” (1:00:29)
“Forgetery” (1:06:05)
Dan Mangan “Race To The Bottom” (1:19:44)
“Cold In The Summer” (1:24:30)
Lay Low” (1:44:19)
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MLD News - Jack White and Eminem's Halftime Show
2025/12/03
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul talk about Jack White and Eminem's performance at the Detroit Lions' Thanksgiving halftime show.
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We Are Scientists - "With Love and Squalor" with Keith Murray
2025/11/26
Graham is joined by Keith Murray of We Are Scientists to discuss the band's 2005 major label debut, With Love And Squalor. They also talk about the journey from major label to self-releasing records, as well as autobahn toilets and country pubs. Also, burritos and margaritas.
📻🎚️
We Are Scientists “Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt” (2:20)
Art Brut “Formed A Band” (20:15)
We Are Scientists “The Great Escape” (24:55 )
Ambulance Ltd. “Primitive (The Way I Treat You)” (51:45)
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MLD News - The Florian Schneider Auctions
2025/11/19
Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul dive into the gear and belongings of Kraftwerk's Florain Schneider up for auction - from Volks-Trautoniums to Volkswagons and everything in between.
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Chris Stamey - "It's Alright"
2025/11/13
Graham is joined by musician and producer Chris Stamey to discuss his 1987 record It's Alright and the experience with A&M Records. But as you know by now the conversation also wanders into his formative years in the New York City scene, the process behind his latest release Anything Is Possible, and how even with extensive sonic knowledge Chris is still surprised by the magic of music.
📻🎚️
Chris Stamey “Of Time and All She Brings To Mind” (1:24 )
DNA “Egomaniac’s Kiss” (23:07)
Lydia Lunch “Ran Away Dark” (23:36)
Chris Stamey “Cara Lee” (29:19)
Chris Bell “I Am The Cosmos” (34:35)
Chris Stamey “I’d Be Lost Without You (feat. The Lemon Twigs)” (43:00)
“Meet Me In Midtown (feat Marshall Crenshaw)” (45:26)
“Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (feat. The Lemon Twigs)” (52:45)
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MLD News - Songs vs Records and Year Two of Major Label Debut
2025/11/06
Graham and John Paul talk about songs and records and songs vs records and also what is in the pipeline for Year Two of Major Label Debut.
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MLD's First Birthday and Year in Review with Graham, John Paul and Josh
2025/10/29
It's been one year of MLD! We discuss lessons learned, our fav highlights from interviews, and dive in to our very first mailbag for some listener questions! Thanks for joining us on this journey and hope you enjoy the next year of MLD!
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Podcast reviews
Read Major Label Debut podcast reviews
alittlechaos 2025/08/30
Love it.
Graham Wright is such a great host! Very good at interviews and talking solo. Enthusiastic, curious, and insightful.
Echoes1313 2025/06/04
In-Depth, Insightful discussion
MLD goes deeper into the process of creating an album than your typical podcast. Really fascinating stuff. Love the final question too! Also, the News...
Kchrisfox 2025/04/28
Guards down, interest up!
The artists he interviews have all been very relaxed and forthcoming. It feels—in the best way—like eavesdropping on what musicians talk about when mu...
Bob23087 2025/04/09
Great Music Pod
Great concept! Graham is a fantastic host and the guests have been interesting. A different take on the music podcast.
Thehoagieman 2024/11/25
Great show
Excellent interviews, good guests, and cool concept - really enjoying this!
andrewnewby 2024/11/11
Too Many Ads
There’s a great interview in there, but it’s buried in so many ads the show is a challenge to enjoy.
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