Interviewing Madonna, Taylor Swift & Everyone In Between — Inside Music Media with Andrea Dresdale

Send us Fan Mail On this episode I sit down with Andrea Dresdale—a two-time Gracie Award winner and longtime ABC radio host who has interviewed everyone from Elton John to Madonna, Taylor Swift to Adele and Teddy Swims among many others. A voting member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame —Andrea and I chat about the real levers of access, trust, and influence in today’s music media. Andrea traces her path from a teenage radio obsessive to syndicated programming, where small stations gain national access. From there, we explore how the interview landscape shifted as podcasts, YouTube, and social platforms splintered attention. With more outlets chasing the same 20 minutes and listeners, she shows why relationship capital with publicists and managers beats clout chasing—and tells the story of how a smart early bet led to three Madonna interviews. We also revisit the VMAs and hear how a kept promise turned into a rare, respectful conversation with Taylor Swift right after the Kanye call. The red carpet gets its own spotlight: tactics for breaking through the noise and the value of a long boom mic, and how split-second prep differs from a studio sit-down. Then we zoom into newsroom reality at ABC: independent verification, high standards around celebrity news, and why being second but right still matters in a social-first cycle. Andrea opens up about navigating rock spaces as a woman, the quiet ways women's expertise gets questioned, and tangible signs of progress as voting bodies broaden and gatekeeping weakens. When the conversation turns to legacy, Andrea votes with influence over pure sales—naming artists whose impact echoes through other artists, like Amy Winehouse. We challenge old industry myths with a look at Bad Bunny’s rise: a Spanish-first catalog, minimal traditional media, massive global demand, and deals that flip the script on power. The takeaway is clear: authenticity travels fast, research earns trust, and relationships endure longer than trends. We close on a love letter to radio as a living discovery engine that still surprises, one local station at a time. If this conversation shifted how you see music journalism and artist access, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more curious listeners can find us. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate and share. Many thanks to Anne Tello for her vocals on the theme song and to our sponsor 'Heard City'. Check out https://www.shecreatesnoisepodcast.com for more episodes featuring women who power the music industry. https://www.shecreatesnoise.com/ https://www.sarahnagourney.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shecreatesnoise/ https://www.instagram.com/glassbeatmusic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheCreatesNoise Email: [email protected]