About this podcast
The Judged by the Cover Podcast is all about album cover design. I will be discussing the designs of a variety of album covers, how the cover design helps tell the story of the album, and any cool facts and stories I find along the way. I believe that album art can be one of the major factors in someone listening to and buying your music, so come on a journey with me as we discover why having an album cover designer is a key to your musics success.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 37 episodes
- Something Real - Gracie Lou, the NYC Cowgirl Making Country Soul · 1 h 11 min · Season 4 Episode 10She's a New York City cowgirl making country soul, and she's doing things her own way. This week on Judged by the Cover, we're getting to know singer-songwriter Gracie Lou…
- What the Font? Why Typography Matters in Album Cover Art · 38 min · Season 4 Episode 9What the font?! On this episode of Judged by the Cover, Josh and Phil dive into the world of fonts, typography, and album cover art. From the iconic typography of Nirvana and…
- Never Turning Back: A Conversation with Teni Rane · 1 h 23 min · Season 4 Episode 8What does it really take to build an album, and a career, as an independent artist? In this episode of Judged by the Cover, we sit down with Chattanooga singer-songwriter Teni…
- New Rolling Stones!?!?!? Foreign Tongues · 36 min · Season 4 Episode 7The Rolling Stones have released another album... and honestly, we didn't see that coming. In this episode of Judged by the Cover, Josh and Phil take a closer look at Foreign…
- Take ’em to Church - The Christian albums that shaped who we are · 49 min · Season 4 Episode 6This week we're doing something a little different. Instead of diving deep into one album, we're sharing the Christian records that left a lasting impact on our lives as…
- Music Discover 3.0 - Cold Roses Ryan Adams · 30 min · Season 4 Episode 5This month on the Judged by the Cover podcast, Josh and Phil dive back into one of their favorite traditions, picking a random album purely based on the cover art and seeing…
- Michael Jackson’s Thriller — All Thriller, No Filler (Why It Changed Everything) · 44 min · Season 4 Episode 4With a new Michael Jackson movie generating buzz, we’re taking a deep dive into Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the album that changed music, MTV, and pop culture forever. In this…
- Technology Meets Album Art: Ghost in the Machine by The Police · 26 min · Season 4 Episode 3In this episode of Judged by the Cover, Josh and Phil explore the iconic album artwork for Ghost in the Machine by The Police. Released in 1981, this record marked a turning…
- Judging the Grammy's 2025 Best Cover Art Nominees · 41 min · Season 4 Episode 2For the first time ever, the Grammy Awards introduced a Best Album Cover category — and we had to break it down. In this episode of Judged by the Cover, Josh and Phil react to…
- Judged by the Cover - Best of 2025 · 48 min · Season 4 Episode 1Kick off 2026 with Josh and Phil as they recap the standout album art, physical packaging, and music moments from 2025. They debate if the song of the summer is officially dead…
- Our Favorite Christmas Movie Soundtracks - Christmas 2025 · 39 min · Season 3 Episode 6It’s the most wonderful time of the year on Judged by the Cover! In this special Christmas episode, Josh and Phil deck the halls with stories behind the most iconic Christmas…
- What would JW do...? - Creating Real to Reel Cover Art · 47 min · Season 3 Episode 5In this episode of Judged by the Cover, Phil Hyland takes us on a nostalgic journey through his musical past. He shares the story behind "Reel to Real," a collection of 90s demo…
- Music Discovery 2.0 - The Outlaws · 31 min · Season 3 Episode 4In this episode of Judged by the Cover, Josh and Phil dive into a new round of musical discovery—choosing albums based purely on their cover art. This time, they stumble upon the…
- Judged x 148 Studios - Linkin Park From Zero · 46 min · Season 3 Episode 3Get ready for an electrifying episode of "Judged by the Cover" as we explore the legendary comebacks of two iconic bands—AC/DC and Linkin Park. Josh and Phil dive into the…
- Judged X 148 Studios - AC/DC Back in Black · 33 min · Season 3 Episode 2Get ready to rock! In this episode of "Judged by the Cover," we explore the legendary album "Back in Black" by AC/DC. From the band's history and transition after Bon Scott's…
- Judged by the Cover - Best of 2024 · 51 min · Season 3 Episode 1On this episode of Judged by the Cover, Josh and Phil take a deep dive into the standout album covers, physical packaging, and unforgettable music of 2024. From the bold and…
- Unexpected Christmas Albums · 38 min · Season 2 Episode 8Christmas music holds a special place in the hearts of so many. For an artist, releasing a Christmas album comes with its own unique pressures—but it can also become a defining…
- Judged by the Cover - Greatest Hits 2024 · 7 minIt was way past time to refresh our podcast trailer! This year has been incredible for Judged by the Cover, especially with the energy Phil Hyland has brought to the show since…
- What would JW do...? Chasing a Crashing Dream · 31 min · Season 2 Episode 7The guys are back! After a few months away, Judged by the Cover returns with more deep dives into the fascinating world of album art and music discovery. In this episode, we…
- Pro Panel - Rating album covers with the pros · 1 h 14 min · Season 2 Episode 6In this special episode of the Judged by the Cover podcast, we invite five music/entertainment industry professionals to put their expertise to the test. Join us as our guests…
