Sound Opinions

Sound Opinions hosts mark 1,000 episodes of bantering about music — and now, other things too

A long-running unscripted rock ‘n’ roll talk show

There was a time in the ’90s when Chicago’s rival rock critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot barely talked. Now, they can’t stop. Every Friday, the former Sun-Times and Tribune scribes meet in a studio on Chicago’s North Side to record an episode of their long-running unscripted rock ‘n’ roll talk show, "Sound Opinions."

A formula that has worked for 26 years

On January 24, the series will release its 1000th syndicated episode. And while they’ll touch on the milestone, it’ll largely follow the same routine the two hosts have had since 1998. That is, bringing their handwritten outlines and spending an hour in some conversational mix of discussing the merits (or lack thereof) of new releases, dissecting classic albums, interviewing special guests, adding to a "desert island jukebox" and introducing the world to "buried treasures," or artists that would otherwise be overlooked by the mainstream.

“I am anti-nostalgia to the core of my being,”

DeRogatis jokes during a Zoom interview. "I’m always most excited about the next one — the next record I’m gonna hear, the next show I’m going to go to, the next person I get to talk to." It’s a formula that has worked over the past 26 years as he and Kot have stayed on the pulse of music and shared their findings with a growing audience of radio and podcast listeners.

A national reach and a dedicated fan base

Since debuting on WXRT-FM (93.1) during a Tuesday night "dead zone" in 1998, the DeRogatis/Kot era of "Sound Opinions" has gone national via 110 stations — including WBEZ-FM (91.5), which airs it at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays — and brought in an average monthly listenership of 300,000 fans. Not to mention logged some incredibly special moments like coaxing Radiohead’s Thom Yorke into playing rare hit "I Want None of This" for episode #30 or heading down to Third Man Records in Nashville to interview Jack White for episode #601.

From music to other passions

Nostalgia be damned, DeRogatis does fondly remember how it all started. In 1998, he was behind the wheel of a U-Haul destined for Chicago to begin his second stint with the Sun-Times (not long after Rolling Stone gave him a pink slip for dissing founder Jann Wenner). While on the road, he had the urge to pick up his cellular and call Kot, recalling that he began the conversation with, "Let’s do ‘Sound Opinions’ right this time. Let’s really get the Siskel and Ebert thing right."

What’s next for “Sound Opinions”?

As "Sound Opinions" eyes its next 1,000 episodes, DeRogatis and Kot have found new ways to expand the model and keep it viable, such as adding on Patreon bonus content, including a brand-new segment, "Everything Else," where they discuss movies and books, even what they made for dinner. "People may not realize it," Kot says, "but we have much to say about other things besides music."

Conclusion

With over 1,000 episodes under their belt, DeRogatis and Kot have solidified their position as two of the most respected and beloved music critics in the industry. Their passion for music, combined with their dedication to their craft, has allowed them to build a loyal fan base and maintain a high level of quality in their work.

FAQs

• What is "Sound Opinions"?
  "Sound Opinions" is a long-running unscripted rock ‘n’ roll talk show hosted by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot.
• How long has "Sound Opinions" been on the air?
  "Sound Opinions" has been on the air since 1998, with over 1,000 episodes to date.
• What topics do DeRogatis and Kot discuss on the show?
  DeRogatis and Kot discuss a wide range of topics, including new releases, classic albums, special guests, and more.