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Popcast

Popcast

By The New York Times

The Popcast is hosted by Jon Caramanica, a pop music critic for The New York Times. It covers the latest in popular music criticism, trends and news. Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp

Episodes

Zach Bryan Begins Building His Village

A conversation about the singer-songwriter’s post-politics approach to stardom, his dogged work ethic and his artistic coalition with fellow dissidents.
29/09/23·59m 5s

Popcast (Deluxe): Doja Cat’s Rap Renaissance + Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce

Breaking down Doja Cat’s surprising new album, “Scarlet,” plus: Swift’s foray into football and Hasan Minhaj’s fibs.
27/09/23·1h 4m

Remembering Jimmy Buffett, Beach Bum Bard

A conversation about how the musician, who died this month at 76, turned a way of life into a song — and that song back into a very profitable way of life. Guest: Jon Pareles
21/09/23·39m 0s

Popcast (Deluxe): Ice Spice’s Munchkin Drink + Jann Wenner Backlash

Plus: what it’s like in Sean Combs’s sauna.
20/09/23·1h

Popcast (Deluxe): Breaking Down Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Guts,’ Part 2

A deep dive into whom the singer’s new songs might be about — and if it matters. Plus: Zach Bryan’s breakthrough and recent arrest.
13/09/23·1h 11m

Olivia Rodrigo’s Songs About Growing Pains

The 20-year-old singer-songwriter returns with “Guts,” an album informed by the opportunities and costs of her rapid rise. Guests: Caryn Ganz and Lindsay Zoladz.
12/09/23·51m 35s

Popcast (Deluxe): ‘Bottoms,’ ‘Hard Knocks’ & Uncovering Rap History

What we watched (and read!) this summer.
06/09/23·1h 8m

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Speed Round, Part 2

A conversation about Swift’s relationship to celebrity, the tour date as destination event and how fans dressed up for the show. Guests: Caryn Ganz, Vrinda Jagota and Josh Duboff.
05/09/23·1h 15m

Popcast (Deluxe) Mailbag: Selena Gomez, BTS and Doja Cat!

Listener (and viewer!) questions on some recent releases, also including Renee Rapp, Earl Sweatshirt and Zach Bryan.
30/08/23·1h 7m

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Speed Round, Part 1

A conversation about how the concert relates to Beyoncé’s stadium show, the role of dance in Swift’s spectacular and more. Guests: Wesley Morris, Brian Seibert and Bandsplain's Yasi Salek.
29/08/23·1h 4m

Popcast (Deluxe): A Shocking No. 1 Hit and Addison Rae’s New EP

The rapid rise of Oliver Anthony Music’s “Rich Men North of Richmond,” plus: the playful pop of the TikTok star Addison Rae.
23/08/23·1h 4m

Dead & Company Said Farewell, but the Scene Is Very Alive

One of jam’s most definitive bands is still attracting new recruits, and younger generations are finding comfort in its community. Guests: JamBase's Scott Bernstein; and Marc Tracy.
22/08/23·57m 47s

Popcast (Deluxe): Is There Such a Thing as the Song of the Summer?

Tracks by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and more have dominated this summer — or at least attempted to.
16/08/23·1h 7m

Popcast (Deluxe): Lizzo, Travis Scott and the Limits of Persona

What can pop stars get away with? Plus: the deaths of Sinead O’Connor and Angus Cloud.
09/08/23·1h 6m

The Raw Art and Life of Sinead O’Connor

A conversation about her unlikely pop fame, complex relationship to stardom and powerful, signature music. Guests: Alfred Soto and Amanda Hess.
03/08/23·1h

Popcast (Deluxe): Our Favorite Albums of the Year So Far

Peso Pluma, Ice Spice, Skrillex, 100 gecs and more.
02/08/23·1h 1m

Jason Aldean’s Culture War Hit

After the country star’s “Try That in a Small Town” video was criticized as offensive, right-wing support sent the song to No. 2 on the singles chart. Guests: The Tennessean's Marcus K. Dowling; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Amanda Marie Martinez
28/07/23·46m 38s

Popcast (Deluxe): ‘Barbie,’ Jason Aldean’s Culture War and Drake’s Tour

Plus: Violent J in our 50 Rappers, 50 Stories project, new songs and new snacks.
26/07/23·1h 16m

50 Rappers, 50 Stories: Behind the Scenes

A look at how we assembled a sweeping collection of personal narratives, and the threads that tie them together. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Elena Bergeron and Keith Murphy.
23/07/23·57m 32s

Popcast (Deluxe): Fans Misbehaving at Concerts, and Pinkydoll’s NPC TikTok

Plus: Music from Troye Sivan and Militarie Gun (as performed by Post Malone).
19/07/23·1h 8m

Popcast (Deluxe): Britney Spears’s Wembanyama Run-In and Taylor Swift’s ‘Revenge’

Plus: Lil Uzi Vert’s new No. 1 “Pink Tape,” and Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City.”
12/07/23·1h 2m

The Many Lives of Lil Durk

How the Chicago rap veteran reinvented himself, and became a star largely in the shadows. Guest: Fake Shore Drive's Andrew Barber.
11/07/23·52m 31s

Popcast (Deluxe): Olivia Rodrigo Returns, Fall Out Boy Denies History

Plus: “Barbie” memes and the Grimace Shake attacks.
05/07/23·53m 44s

Popcast (Deluxe): Kim Petras’s New LP and Jennifer Lawrence’s Return

Up for discussion this week: “The Idol” approaches its finale, the conclusion of Kesha and Dr. Luke’s legal battle and more.
29/06/23·1h 9m

Kylie Minogue’s ‘Padam Padam’ and the Queer Club-Pop Canon

The global star’s single has become the soundtrack of Pride this year, opening fresh conversations about pop divas and their gay fans. Guest: Vulture's Jason P. Frank
27/06/23·51m 20s

Popcast (Deluxe): Pharrell Williams at Louis Vuitton and Gunna’s New LP

What’s the role of global celebrity in high fashion? Why hasn’t hip-hop penetrated the charts this year? And what’s the snack of the week?
21/06/23·1h 17m

The Joni Mitchell Renaissance

A conversation about how the singer-songwriter was received during her career peak, and how she is remaking her own music in her later years. Guest: Lindsay Zoladz.
17/06/23·42m 6s

Popcast (Deluxe): The Rise of the A.I. Pop Star, Luke Combs’s ‘Fast Car’

Dissecting the recent wave of songs ‘by’ Drake and others, plus your questions about band reunions, a rundown of new songs and more.
14/06/23·59m 48s

Popcast Mailbag! Frank Ocean, Peso Pluma, A.I. Grimes and More

You asked, we answered your questions about the weight of following a smash single and the persistence of genre. Guests: Jon Pareles, Joe Coscarelli, Lindsay Zoladz and Caryn Ganz.
09/06/23·1h 1m

Popcast (Deluxe): Taylor Swift and Matty Healy, Plus ‘The Idol’

Breaking down Ice Spice’s new feature on Swift’s “Karma” remix, the explosion in pop music documentaries and more.
07/06/23·1h 2m

Popcast (Deluxe): Morgan Wallen, Indie Sleaze and ‘Survivor’

Introducing a new weekly video show from the Popcast team that breaks down the essential pop culture story lines of the moment.
31/05/23·1h 2m

On TikTok, Pop Music Speeds Up

A 12-year-old Miguel song has re-entered the Billboard charts, demonstrating how the app reshapes listening habits. Guest: Billboard's Elias Leight.
24/05/23·36m 58s

Jessie Ware Is Dancing Into Her Second Act

A conversation about the British musician’s journey to her lush neo-disco manifesto “That! Feels Good!” Guests: Caryn Ganz and Lindsay Zoladz.
17/05/23·44m 37s

Ed Sheeran Is Vindicated, But Other Copyright Battles Rage On

Do current protections account for how music is actually made now? Guest: Ben Sisario.
10/05/23·47m 21s

Jai Paul Emerges From the Shadows, Somewhat

The elusive vocalist and producer performed his first shows last month. Do they mark the end of an arc, or a new beginning? Guests: Lindsay Zoladz and The New Yorker's Jia Tolentino.
04/05/23·52m 53s

How Fred again.. Jolted Dance Music

A conversation about the genre's new wave of big-tent ambition, and the whimsical British artist at the heart of it. Guest: Foster Kamer.
24/04/23·46m 59s

A Spree of Country Music Divorce Albums

Kelsea Ballerini, Carly Pearce and Kacey Musgraves have reacted to breakups — and found freedom — in song. Guest: Marissa R. Moss.
17/04/23·46m 47s

The Friendship Harmonies of boygenius

How Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus’s side project has become a major part of their music — and their lore. Guests: Jon Pareles and Pitchfork's Cat Zhang.
06/04/23·37m 47s

How Taylor Swift Shapes the Story of Her Eras

The pop superstar is back on tour for the first time since 2018, performing grand stadium shows that spin a narrative from her 10-album catalog. Guest: Joe Coscarelli.
31/03/23·47m 47s

The Inevitability of Ice Spice

A conversation about the ubiquitous Bronx rapper’s rise, and her boosts from the meme universe. Guest: Rolling Stone's Jeff Ihaza.
22/03/23·49m 44s

The Return of Morgan Wallen (Who Never Went Away)

As the country star’s new album earns the biggest debut of the year, a conversation about the nature of his fame and the scope of his reprimand for using a racial slur. Guest: The New Yorker's Kelefa Sanneh.
16/03/23·54m 15s

Celebrating De La Soul, With Questlove

A conversation about the group’s impact and legacy as its music finally arrives on streaming services, just weeks after the death of one of its rappers, Dave Jolicoeur. Guests: Questlove and Joseph Patel.
08/03/23·58m 23s

Pharrell and Luxury Fashion’s Hip-Hop Obsession

The hitmaker has been named a creative director at Louis Vuitton, building another bridge between two worlds with decades of history. Guest: Complex's Aria Hughes.
01/03/23·42m 22s

SZA’s Very Roundabout Path to Success

A conversation about the singer and songwriter’s chart-topping “SOS,” and the different approach to star-making that brought her there. Guest: Danyel Smith.
18/02/23·44m 48s

Lil Yachty Breaks Boundaries and Takes on Rap Conservatism

A conversation about the hip-hop eccentric’s experiments, and the benefits (and perils) of collaborating outside an artist’s established genre. Guests: Jayson Buford and The Ringer's Justin Charity.
10/02/23·54m 24s

Grammys 2023: Hip-Hop Wins, Beyoncé Wins (Sort of)

Does respect from music’s premier awards show still carry weight? Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz.
07/02/23·54m 42s

Blackpink, Aespa, NewJeans: The Evolution of K-Pop Girl Groups

Acts with growing profiles and unique personalities are taking increasingly different paths, as the genre’s globalization opens new doors. Guest: Tamar Herman.
26/01/23·45m 23s

Ticketmaster Under the Magnifying Glass

The concert giant has long been the target of consumer complaints and artists’ ire. Recent incidents involving Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny have renewed focus on problems in the live marketplace. Guest: Ben Sisario.
19/01/23·59m 21s

Jazz’s Year of Reckoning With Tradition

As the genre experiences a creative renaissance, has it become quietly radical to re-embrace the past? Guests: Harmony Holiday and Giovanni Russonello.
12/01/23·44m 17s

The Year of Bad Bunny

With a blockbuster LP and a smash tour, the genre-melding superstar set a new bar for himself, and expanded the possibilities for Spanish-language pop worldwide. Guests: Billboard's Leila Cobo and The New York Times Magazine's Carina del Valle Schorske.
06/01/23·57m 31s

Year-End Listener Mailbag: Your 2022 Questions, Part 2

Answering reader queries about the state of the music video, Morgan Wallen, SZA and Ethel Cain and more. Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.
31/12/22·1h 5m

Year-End Listener Mailbag: Your 2022 Questions, Part 1

You asked, we answered your queries about Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, the state of indie rock and more. Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.
28/12/22·54m 48s

2022: The Songs of the Year

Let’s talk about tracks by Ice Spice, Cardi B, Ethel Cain and many more of the 70 picks on our critics’ lists. Guests: Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz.
14/12/22·50m 37s

The Best Albums of 2022? Let’s Discuss.

Our critics debate their year-end lists (and agree on Beyoncé and Rosalía!) in a wrap-up of the year in LPs. Guests: Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz.
07/12/22·59m 37s

2022: The Year in Atlanta Rap

The country’s most influential hip-hop scene has weathered a period of extraordinary upheaval. A look back at happened, and what’s next. Guest: Joe Coscarelli.
01/12/22·1h 5m

Separating Big Business and Bad Behavior in ‘Tár’

The film about a renowned and embattled conductor puts a fresh spin on conversations about art, power and misdeeds. Guests: Vulture's Alison Wilmore and Zachary Woolfe.
16/11/22·54m 37s

50 Years of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Talking Book’

A conversation about the singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s studio innovations, and melding of social consciousness and musical creativity. Guest: Jon Pareles.
09/11/22·38m 50s

Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’: Listener Mailbag

The New York Times pop music team had its say; now a new panel answers questions about the blockbuster album. Guests: Madison Malone Kircher and Pitchfork's Quinn Moreland.
02/11/22·54m 11s

Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’: Let’s Discuss

The blockbuster singer-songwriter’s 10th studio album finds her at a crossroads: Will she continue to reckon with her past, or forge another new path forward? Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz, Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz.
25/10/22·1h 7m

Remembering Loretta Lynn

A conversation about the country music titan’s sly radicalism and the many readings and misreadings of her work. Guest: Jewly Hight.
20/10/22·46m 18s

The Young Women Who Make TikTok Weep

Songwriters who have found success on the app via emotional catharsis have expanded its range, and piqued the music industry’s interest. Guest: Stereogum's Rachel Brodsky.
12/10/22·49m 12s

The Sudden Rise of Zach Bryan

The breakout country-folk singer and songwriter has found an audience for his old-fashioned artistry largely on a newer platform: streaming. Guest: Grady Smith.
05/10/22·51m 34s

Popcast Live! The New Faces of 2022

Blondshell, Central Cee, Ethel Cain and more: a conversation about what’s breaking through, plus questions from the audience at our first live taping. Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.
22/09/22·1h 23m

The Perseverance of Megan Thee Stallion

The rapper’s rise has been accompanied by outside noise. How has she grown on record, and how have extra-musical narratives shaped her career? Guests: Rolling Stone's Mankaprr Conteh and Pitchfork's Heven Haile.
14/09/22·48m 38s

What Is a ‘Fake’ Artist in 2022?

Firestorms over the “virtual rapper” FN Meka and faceless artists on Spotify have sparked conversations about alienation and creative agency. Guests: Joe Coscarelli; Garbage Day's Ryan Broderick; and Music Business Worldwide's Tim Ingham.
31/08/22·59m 27s

Rage Against the Machine, Roaring On

A conversation about the band’s return, its evolving message and the nature of comeback tours. Guests: Rolling Stone's Andy Greene and the writer and "Summer of Soul" producer Joseph Patel.
24/08/22·46m 19s

Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’: The Speed Round

The conversation continues about one of the year’s most ideologically provocative pop albums, its queer inspirations and its credits. Guests: Naima Cochrane, Vulture's Jason P. Frank, Resident Advisor's Kiana Mickles and Patrik Sandberg.
17/08/22·1h 15m

A Renaissance in American Hardcore Music

A look at the recent burst of bands and how the scene operates as music, ethic and feeling. Guests: Stereogum's Tom Breihan and The Ringer's Chris Ryan.
11/08/22·54m 7s

The Robust Return of Beyoncé

A deep dive on “Renaissance,” her relationship to queer music communities and her framing of authorship. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Wesley Morris, Jon Pareles and Salamishah Tillet.
02/08/22·56m 28s

Lizzo’s Complicated, Joyful Pop

The singer, rapper and songwriter’s peppy empowerment songs have made her an outlier in a field dominated by melancholic music. Guests: The Ringer's Justin Charity; Lindsay Zoladz; and William Robin.
27/07/22·50m 15s

‘Elvis’ vs. Elvis

How much do fantasy and imagination play into how we remember pop culture heroes? Guests: A.O. Scott and Alanna Nash.
13/07/22·57m 35s

What’s Next for Jack Harlow?

He’s one of hip-hop’s biggest emerging stars, and he’s cutting a very different path than the white rappers who came before him. Guests: Hunter Harris, Larisha Paul and Peter Rosenberg.
07/07/22·1h 1m

Where Is Jazz Most at Home?

The genre has long been filled with tension between mainstream outlets and the spaces in which the music is most likely to grow. Guests: Giovanni Russonello and WBGO's Nate Chinen.
29/06/22·53m 4s

Drake Hits the Nightclub

How did the rapper arrive on the dance floor? And what subcultures and expectations might he experiment with next? Guests: Joe Coscarelli and The Baltimore Banner's Lawrence Burney.
22/06/22·1h 2m

Digging Into Bob Dylan and Lou Reed’s Archives

Attempting to uncover unknown things about very well known people. Guest: Ben Sisario.
15/06/22·43m 36s

Mailbag Madness: Adele, Jack Harlow, the State of Rock’s Return

The team answers your questions about Chance the Rapper, how the critics consider extramusical concerns and more. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz and Jon Pareles.
08/06/22·1h 8m

Can Harry Styles’s Music Catch Up to His Fame?

How his time in One Direction and a powerful online fan base have shaped the pop star’s career. Guests: The Atlantic's Kaitlyn Tiffany, and Lindsay Zoladz.
01/06/22·57m 46s

Kendrick Lamar’s Anxiety Era

During his five-year pause between albums, the rapper has been reckoning — with his own evolution, and the narrative that’s been constructed for him. Guests: Rolling Stone's Jeff Ihaza; New York magazine and Vulture's Craig Jenkins; and The Nation's Stephen Kearse.
24/05/22·58m 51s

How Gossip Is Remaking Online Hip-Hop Media

Actual music can seem like an afterthought as digital coverage of the genre has tilted toward tabloidism. Are there other paths forward? Guests: HipHopDX's Jerry Barrow; Complex's Andre Gee; and Genius's Rob Markman.
18/05/22·1h

Why We Collect

A conversation about the urge to accumulate treasured items and the stories objects can hold. Guest: The New Yorker's Hua Hsu.
11/05/22·56m 26s

A Decade of Drill Rap

Pop Smoke, Lil Durk, Fivio Foreign and more have taken the sound that emerged in Chicago in different directions. What might come next? Guests: Joe Coscarelli and David Drake.
08/05/22·1h 8m

Machine Gun Kelly’s Pop-Punk Pivot

After decreasing returns in the hip-hop world, the musician and actor stepped into a revival that had roots in SoundCloud rap, and a champion in Travis Barker. Guests: Meaghan Garvey and Arielle Gordon.
27/04/22·46m 38s

Will Smith, Before the Slap

Plenty has been said about Oscars night. But what about the rapper-turned-actor’s remarkable journey up to that point? Guest: Andscape's Soraya Nadia McDonald.
21/04/22·47m 22s

The 2022 Grammys: Let’s Discuss

What are the awards at this point, and who benefits from them? Guests: Jon Pareles, Wesley Morris and Lindsay Zoladz.
05/04/22·59m 40s

Charli XCX’s Ever-Evolving Pop

The singer and songwriter’s career has inspired dance parties as well as spirited conversations about her ambitions and aesthetic innovations. Guests: Hazel Cills and Shaad D’Souza.
30/03/22·46m 0s

The Many Worlds of Rosalía

The Spanish phenom’s music takes in a host of global influences, making her one of the most sonically ambitious and critically dissected pop artists today. Guest: Joe Coscarelli.
23/03/22·53m 17s

The Sounds of Ukrainian Pop

A conversation about some of the country’s stars, the musical traditions they work within and how they have grappled with the war. Guest: Vogue's Liana Satenstein.
15/03/22·39m 59s

Reggaeton’s Global Expansion and Wide-Open Future

As the genre grows in worldwide popularity, it is engaging with the pop music mainstream and stratifying into subsets, introducing new opportunities and dilemmas. Guests: Isabelia Herrera and Katelina Eccleston.
08/03/22·53m 39s

The Enigma of Big Thief

A conversation about the space the breakout Brooklyn band occupies in contemporary indie-rock circles, and its latest album. Guests: Rolling Stone's Jon Dolan and Pitchfork's Sam Sodomsky.
02/03/22·52m 13s

Remembering Betty Davis, a Futuristic Funk Force

A conversation about her unique music, her short career and the path that led to her rediscovery. Guests: Jon Pareles, Maureen Mahon and Oliver Wang.
23/02/22·49m 1s

Mitski, In and Out of the Spotlight

The indie-rock musician’s albums inspire deep feelings and attract ever-bigger audiences, but in many ways she remains a mystery. Guests: New York's E. Alex Jung and Pitchfork's Cat Zhang.
16/02/22·49m 50s

Spotify’s Ongoing Joe Rogan Problem

The controversy over the star podcaster and misinformation raised thorny questions about the streaming service’s role as a platform, and exacerbated its conflicts with musicians. Guests: Ben Sisario and New York's Nick Quah.
09/02/22·57m 23s

Remembering Greg Tate, Critic and Catalyst

Conversations with two of his contemporaries about the fertile scenes he covered, and the indelible impression he left. Guests: Michael A. Gonzales and Joan Morgan.
01/02/22·1h

A Killing Jolts Sweden’s Rap Scene

A conversation about hip-hop’s evolution in the country, and how a high-profile shooting thrust the music into the spotlight. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Petter Hallen and Alex Marshall.
26/01/22·54m 39s

What’s Left for the Weeknd to Conquer?

“Dawn FM” suggests at least one future direction for the pop powerhouse, who’s spent a decade making careful moves. Guest: The Ringer's Rob Harvilla.
18/01/22·45m 48s

2021 in Jazz: Intimacy and Conversation

Throughout the pandemic, the music’s flexibility has become an asset. Where will artists take it next? Guests: Giovanni Russonello and Marcus J. Moore.
12/01/22·44m 3s

Bonus Episode: Lana Del Rey’s American Fever Dreams

As a New Year's treat, we've recovered an old episode sidelined by technical issues (thank you, Pedro!): a discussion of Lana Del Rey’s “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” and the long arc of her career. Guests: Mina Tavakoli and Lindsay Zoladz.
01/01/22·53m 8s

What We Forgot to Talk About in 2021

A catch-up round table on a host of topics: Maneskin, Jazmine Sullivan, Kelly Clarkson, a Real Housewife’s music career and much more. Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.
28/12/21·59m 4s

TikTok’s Music Critics Reflect on 2021

Four of the app’s voices on pop name their favorite releases of the year and discuss developing taste in the age of the algorithm. Guests: Margeaux Labat, Eric Morris, Cam Sullivan-Brown and Hunter White.
21/12/21·1h 2m

The Best Albums of 2021? Let’s Discuss.

Our critics spar over their year-end lists (and agree on Olivia Rodrigo and Tyler, the Creator) in a wrap-up of the year in LPs. Guests: Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz.
14/12/21·56m 55s

Remembering Stephen Sondheim, Musical Theater Visionary

A conversation about his legacy, his engagements with pop music and whether he has any true inheritors. Guests: Jesse Green and Elisabeth Vincentelli.
07/12/21·39m 53s

Adele Returns, From Beyond Space and Time

Will we ever see a star who unites audiences like this British musician again? Guests: Jon Pareles and Pitchfork's Jillian Mapes.
30/11/21·46m 28s

The Emotional and Financial Business of Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well’

What does the rerecorded song from “Red” say about how power and the past have shaped her career? Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz and Lindsay Zoladz.
17/11/21·36m 52s

Remembering the Velvet Underground Through the Mirror of Film

A conversation about how the band was experienced in its time, and how Todd Haynes’s new documentary explores the world that birthed it. Guests: Jon Pareles and A.O. Scott.
16/11/21·39m 35s

How the Mosh Pit and ‘Raging’ Came to Hip-Hop

The tragedy at Travis Scott’s Astroworld turned attention to how rap festival performances are increasingly oriented toward the rowdy. Guest: Masked Gorilla and Masked Records' Roger Gengo.
09/11/21·41m 29s

Popcast Mailbag! Halsey, Nicki, TikTok and, of Course, Taylor

Answering your questions about pop’s big names, the state of the music video and more. Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.
03/11/21·1h 15m

glaive and Hyperpop’s Breakthrough Moment

A conversation about one teen’s rapid ascent, and what the future might hold for a singer and sound evolving in real time. Guest: The Fader's Alex Robert Ross.
19/10/21·48m 12s

The Music Lost to Coronavirus, Part 3

Remembering Jacob Desvarieux, John Davis and Chucky Thompson. Guests: The New Yorker's Doreen St. Felix; Billboard's Gil Kaufman; Jeff Mao.
12/10/21·56m 57s

The Reporters Who Covered R. Kelly on His Trial and Conviction

A conversation about the testimony, the meaning of the verdict and the long quest for proper recompense for the singer’s victims. Guests: Troy Closson and Jim DeRogatis.
05/10/21·44m 55s

Bringing Aaliyah Into the Streaming Era

A conversation about the tug of war over her musical legacy, and how her songs — even without a digital presence — impacted the evolution of contemporary R&B. Guests: Naima Cochrane; Billboard's Gail Mitchell and Dan Rys.
28/09/21·58m 17s

Kacey Musgraves, Country Music Chameleon

The singer and songwriter’s “Star-Crossed” documents the end of her marriage. But reports of her divorce from Nashville have been greatly exaggerated. Guests: Amanda Hess and The Guardian's Laura Snapes.
21/09/21·55m 7s

Is Drake Tired of Drake?

“Certified Lover Boy” dominated the charts, but something seems to have shifted in the most influential pop star of the past decade. Guests: The Ringer's Charles Holmes and Rolling Stone's Jeff Ihaza.
14/09/21·1h

Miss the Old Kanye? Try the New Kanye.

West has always been dreaming big, speaking loudly, courting controversy and channeling all of that into music. But one thing has changed. Guests: Vibe's Datwon Thomas and The Ringer's Justin Charity.
07/09/21·1h 1m

Lorde Steals Her Sunshine Back

How successful is a sunny new phase of her career, and what does it mean to choose to move away from the expectations of superstardom? Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Lindsay Zoladz.
30/08/21·54m 50s

The Style of Kanye West’s ‘Donda’ Era

How West has used fashion to signify musical evolution, how he’s been regarded by the fashion industry and how other musicians are following in his footsteps. Guests: GQ's Rachel Tashjian and Vogue's Steff Yotka.
24/08/21·47m 45s

The Lox, Triumphant at Verzuz

A conversation about New York hip-hop in the 1990s and early 2000s, and a night that brought the spirit of battle back to the pandemic-era staple. Guests: Jayson Rodriguez and Jayson Buford.
16/08/21·56m 53s

Billie Eilish’s New Pop Perspective

How has the teenage phenomenon’s songwriting, and her relationship to the larger music machine, evolved between albums? Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Lindsay Zoladz.
09/08/21·58m 16s

Lil Nas X in the Pop Stratosphere

A conversation about his unconventional path to success, his unconventional methods of maintaining it and his possible futures beyond it. Guest: Jazmine Hughes.
23/07/21·39m 12s

When Pop Music Trolls Grow Up

New albums from Doja Cat and Tyler, the Creator place their makers — children of the internet with a taste for friction — in a new light. Guest: The Ringer's Justin Charity.
19/07/21·50m 1s

The (Not So?) Tentative Return of Live Music

A look at the challenges touring musicians faced over the last year, and how the industry is adjusting to the new normal. Guest: Ben Sisario.
12/07/21·30m 33s

Britney Spears Takes On Her Conservatorship

An exploration of how the arrangement has intersected with her work, the latest legal updates and what might come next. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Liz Day and Samantha Stark.
01/07/21·48m 39s

In the Weeds of ‘In the Heights’

A conversation about bringing musicals to the big screen, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s artistic choices and the critical blowback to the film’s casting. Guests: Sandra Garcia, Isabelia Herrera and Lena Wilson.
18/06/21·52m 9s

Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Sour’ Breakthrough

Few artists making pop music have risen to the top in the past several years. What made this Disney star click with listeners? Guests: Olivia Horn and Lindsay Zoladz.
04/06/21·56m 50s

J. Cole, Triumphant (at His Own Pace)

The rapper’s sixth No. 1 album is here. Listen to a conversation about his career, and the long exchange between hip-hop and basketball. Guests: The New York Times's Elena Bergeron and Rap Portraits' Yoh Phillips.
29/05/21·1h

The Beatific Re-emergence of Beverly Glenn-Copeland

A conversation about his winding path to a receptive, ready audience — and how music can be a bulwark against cynicism and trauma. Guests: Taja Cheek and Mina Tavakoli.
14/05/21·47m 3s

Where Is Country Music Making Room for Women?

Nashville remains challenging for women artists. But some rising performers are breaking through on radio — and TikTok. Guests: Marissa Moss and Natalie Weiner of the Don’t Rock the Inbox newsletter.
09/05/21·52m 9s

The Sing-Rap Generation Branches Out

How melody has continued to reshape hip-hop via the work of Polo G, Rod Wave, Lil Tjay and more rising artists. Guest: Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre.
26/04/21·51m 53s

When a TikTok Influencer Dances, Who Gets Credit?

Addison Rae’s appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s show sparked conversations about appropriation and how dance has been central to the platform. Guest: Taylor Lorenz.
16/04/21·39m 56s

The Telling of DMX’s Life Story

A conversation about the intense potency of the rapper’s music and religious fervor, and what it was like to interview him. Guest: Smokey Fontaine, the co-author of the 2002 book “E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX.”
11/04/21·58m 3s

Taylor, Billie, Demi, Blackpink: The Pop Star Documentary Boom

A conversation about the influx of films made about (and by) current stars and its implications for the format. Guests: The Observer's Simran Hans; and Caryn Ganz.
02/04/21·59m 29s

The Grammys, Improbably, Made It Work

The show navigated a year of crisis, minted a new generation of stars and didn’t fixate on boomers. Guests: Jon Pareles, Joe Coscarelli, Ben Sisario, Lindsay Zoladz and Caryn Ganz.
16/03/21·1h 3m

TikTok and the Pop Music Rough Draft

The wildly popular platform has reshaped pop during the coronavirus pandemic, and changed how record labels grapple with unpredictable virality. Guest: Caryn Ganz.
13/03/21·50m 7s

New Jazz That Agitates for Change

A conversation about strong recent debuts, and how canon and community can be in tension. Guests: Giovanni Russonello and Marcus J. Moore.
02/03/21·49m 54s

Remembering Sophie, Architect of Future Pop

Exploring the legacy of a producer and performer who imagined an approach to music without borders. Guests: Sasha Geffen and Pitchfork's Philip Sherburne.
15/02/21·53m 40s

The Music Lost to Coronavirus, Part 2

Remembering Fred the Godson, Adam Schlesinger and Cristina. Guests: Kurt B. Reighley; Complex's Shawn Setaro; and Ben Sisario.
05/02/21·1h 6m

Olivia Rodrigo and ‘Drivers License’ Aren’t Going Anywhere

A conversation about the year’s first genuine pop phenomenon, and the long arc of the Disney machine. Guests: Joe Coscarelli; Vulture's Justin Curto; and Larisha Paul.
31/01/21·1h 3m

Inside the Bull Market for Songwriting Rights

The emergence of Hipgnosis has helped turn the battle for catalogs into an arms race that shows no signs of slowing down. Guest: Ben Sisario.
19/01/21·44m 53s

How Zev Love X Became MF Doom

Conversations about the legacy of the beloved rap figure’s early career, which set the table for the artist he would become. Guests: Stretch Armstrong, Bobbito Garcia and Dante Ross.
07/01/21·1h 17m

2020 Popcast Listener Mailbag: Taylor, Dua, MGK and More

Answering your questions about the year’s biggest stars, and also some of its curious flops. Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.
23/12/20·1h 16m

Taylor Swift’s ‘Evermore’: Let’s Discuss

A second album written and recorded during pandemic lockdown carries the singer and songwriter further from conventional pop. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz and Jon Pareles.
15/12/20·58m 21s

The Best Albums of 2020? Let’s Discuss.

An absence of live music refocused attention on records, and work by Fiona Apple, Taylor Swift and Run the Jewels spoke loudly.
09/12/20·1h 9m

Saweetie, City Girls and the Female Rapper Renaissance

Streaming, social media and the tireless work of trailblazers have helped change the hip-hop landscape.
29/11/20·54m 52s

Who Will Control Britney Spears’s Future?

While her father remains the head of her estate for now, the pop star has signaled she’s ready for change. Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Vanessa Grigoriadis.
18/11/20·53m 31s

Ariana Grande, a Pop Star for the Post-Pop Star Age

A conversation about her unique route to the top of the charts — and what’s next. Guests: Lindsay Zoladz and Shaad D’Souza.
10/11/20·1h 5m

The Many Mariah Careys

A conversation about her memoir, her range of contributions to pop music and her secret alt-rock album. Guests: New York's Allison P. Davis; Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.
22/10/20·1h 4m

Luke Combs’s Country Stardom and the Remaking of the Bro

The Nashville star learned from the genre’s past and carved his own path. Guest: Grady Smith.
04/10/20·59m 59s

Will Pop Music of the Future Rely on Actual Musicians, or Avatars?

The pandemic has sped up how digital look-alikes are reshaping stardom. Guest: The Ringer's Alyssa Bereznak.
28/09/20·43m 18s

Is TikTok a Music Industry Friend or Troll?

“Old Town Road” showed the app’s potential as a hit generator. But its relationship to the business is far more complex. Guest: Taylor Lorenz.
17/09/20·51m 22s

Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, Preserving Pop’s Old Guard

Six albums into major-label careers with “Chromatica” and “Smile,” where do these two stars fit in? Guest host: Caryn Ganz. Guest: Lindsay Zoladz.
09/09/20·48m 22s

Remembering Riley Gale of Power Trip, a Thrash Titan

The band’s 34-year-old frontman helped break down barriers between scenes, and was known for singularly wild live shows. Guests: Dan Franklin; James Khubiar; and Andy O’Connor.
01/09/20·56m 56s

How Merchandise Bundles Undid the Album Chart

For today’s biggest artists, an album release isn’t just about the music. Guest: Ben Sisario.
22/08/20·53m 42s

The Music Lost to Coronavirus, Part 1

Remembering Joe Diffie, Mona Foot and DJ Black N Mild. Guests: Hits' Holly Gleason; Jacob Bernstein; and Elena Bergeron.
18/08/20·58m 27s

The Welcome Return of the Chicks

How would Nashville be different if it hadn’t pushed the trio away? A conversation about “Gaslighter” and beyond. Guests: Jewly Hight and Slate's Carl Wilson.
10/08/20·55m 17s

Answering Your Questions About Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’

Readers asked about Bon Iver, country music, Jack Antonoff and more. Guests: Northwestern University's Lauren Michele Jackson and Lindsay Zoladz.
04/08/20·1h 27m

Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’: Let’s Discuss

On an album made entirely in quarantine, the singer and songwriter embarks in a fresh direction. Guests: Jon Pareles, Caryn Ganz and Joe Coscarelli.
28/07/20·1h 4m

Remembering Ennio Morricone, the Film Score Maestro

His music was dynamic, bold and idiosyncratic, setting a high bar for composers connecting sound and vision. Guests: Jon Pareles and Joshua Rothkopf.
20/07/20·53m 12s

The Timely Agitation of Run the Jewels

Killer Mike and El-P’s anti-government and pro-justice hip-hop feels like it anticipated the current moment. Guest: Pitchfork's Sheldon Pearce.
09/07/20·1h 5m

Pop Superfans Are Getting Politically Active. What Happens Next?

A subset of passionate listeners are asking for more of their heroes than simply music. Guest: Denisha Kuhlor.
30/06/20·55m 44s

Lil Baby Is Warming Up to the Spotlight

His protest song “The Bigger Picture” marks a high point in his evolution from reluctant up-and-comer to one of hip-hop’s reliable superstars. Guest: Joe Coscarelli.
21/06/20·42m 34s

The Long, Complicated History of ‘Urban’ Music

As the music industry reckons with racial inequality, one of the first old structures to fall has been a term that dates back to the 1970s. Guest: Nelson George.
15/06/20·58m 26s

How Did The Source Cover the 1992 Los Angeles Uprisings?

Two former editors look back at the magazine’s on-the-ground reporting following the Rodney King verdict. Guests: James Bernard and Reginald Dennis.
07/06/20·47m 56s

After Missteps, Pop Stars Apologize … and Sometimes Push Back

Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat and how some in the limelight bristle at social media condemnation. Guest: The Ringer's Justin Charity.
01/06/20·1h 14m

The Many Lives of Doja Cat

The pop star took an extremely nonlinear path to No. 1, and continues to push the boundaries of online behavior. Guest: Lakin Starling.
18/05/20·46m 14s

Remembering Tony Allen and Florian Schneider, Two Pillars of Rhythm

Thousands of miles apart, and with radically different tools, both musicians were innovating. Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles; and Joseph Patel.
11/05/20·1h 1m

The Triumphant Return of Fiona Apple, Pop Music Renegade

A conversation about everything “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” and beyond. Guests: Jenn Pelly and Lindsay Zoladz.
30/04/20·53m 14s

Beyond ‘Trolls’ and ‘Frozen’: What Are Our Kids Listening To?

Children’s films lean heavily on pop, but the elementary school set has access to a whole universe of music now. Guests: The New York Times's Gilbert Cruz, Jeremy Egner, Dave Itzkoff and Dave Renard.
19/04/20·1h

Dua Lipa, Dance-Pop Crusader

The English pop star has given fans an upbeat album at a very dark time. Guest: Caryn Ganz.
11/04/20·47m 56s

Sam Hunt and Kenny Rogers, Country Music Rule-Benders

Both artists pulled Nashville in fresh directions, and gave the genre growing pains. Guests: Bill Friskics-Warren and Natalie Weiner.
05/04/20·56m 40s

What Is the Role of Criticism in a Crisis?

The coronavirus pandemic has upended the world, and the arts are reeling. Pop music critics are asking (and facing) hard questions. Guests: The Ringer's Rob Harvilla, New York's Craig Jenkins and Lindsay Zoladz.
27/03/20·57m 6s

What Music Should I Listen to in a Crisis?

Pop critics from around the country recommend pick-me-ups: Pharrell, the Pointer Sisters, Helado Negro and more.
20/03/20·1h 5m

How Will Pop Music Respond to the Coronavirus?

The ways the pandemic has already reshaped the year, and what might happen in pop next. Guests: The New York Times's Ben Sisario and Jon Pareles.
19/03/20·59m 29s

The Unrelenting Space Jams of Tame Impala

How has Kevin Parker built and sustained his successful psych-rock project — and where will he head next? Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles and Pitchfork's Jillian Mapes.
08/03/20·43m 16s

The Death of Pop Smoke and the Future of Brooklyn Drill

The 20-year-old rapper was poised to carry the scene’s sound to the world. Guest: Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre.
28/02/20·58m 54s

Justin Bieber Is Back With Confessions, Personal and Musical

One of pop’s biggest stars returns with an album that has unexpected kinship with new music from Harry Styles and Selena Gomez. Guest: Lindsay Zoladz.
21/02/20·1h 1m

Answering Your Questions About Britney, Billie, Aaliyah and More

The Popcast opens its mailbag in the second of two episodes devoted to our listeners. Guests: The New York Times’s Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz and Jon Pareles.
14/02/20·1h 8m

Answering Your Questions About Taylor, Mitski, Emo and More

The Popcast opens its mailbag in the first of two episodes devoted to our listeners. Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.
07/02/20·1h 3m

When Did the Super Bowl Halftime Show Become Political?

A conversation about how its meaning has evolved over the last two decades. Guests: The New York Times's Elena Bergeron and The Undefeated's Soraya Nadia McDonald.
01/02/20·57m 6s

The Grammys, Dissected: Out With the Old, in With the Billie, Lizzo and Tyler

Did the deserving artists win? Was Aerosmith terrible? The debates rage on our post-awards show. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz, Wesley Morris and Jon Pareles.
28/01/20·1h 11m

How TikTok Is Killing the Radio Songwriter

Songs that work in 15-second bursts are different from tracks that succeed on the FM dial. Guests: The writer Aimee Cliff and GodMode's Nick Sylvester.
17/01/20·53m 6s

In 2019, Jazz Reckoned With Old Boundaries, and Marched Past Them

A conversation about the best jazz albums of the year, and what they tell us about the genre’s future. Guests: Martin Johnson and Giovanni Russonello.
11/01/20·56m 0s

Were These the Best Albums of the 2010s?

A revealing (and hilarious) look back at our year-end lists from the past decade. Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles and Joe Coscarelli.
31/12/19·1h 15m

Debating the Best Albums of 2019

How do you measure a year in pop? Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles, Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.
20/12/19·57m 22s

Juice WRLD and the Crisis of SoundCloud Rap-Era Fame

Success is coming faster than ever for a new generation of musicians. But at what price? Guests: David Turner; the directors Ramez Silyan and Sebastian Jones.
13/12/19·51m 54s

Would Prince Have Wanted His Rough Drafts Made Public?

A memoir and a deluxe edition of “1999” offer a new perspective on the meticulous artist. Guests: Jon Pareles, Naima Cochrane, Keith Murphy and Jay Smooth.
08/12/19·52m 9s

Dissecting the 2020 Grammy Nominations

Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X lead the way. But has the Recording Academy’s relationship to pop changed? Guests: The full New York Times pop music team.
22/11/19·52m 17s

Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Lana Del Rey: Pop Stars (and Their Fans) Clap Back

Are artists responsible when their fan armies can be weaponized? Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Lindsay Zoladz.
20/11/19·1h 10m

Can Reality Television Produce a Plausible Rap Star?

Netflix’s “Rhythm + Flow” is the most recent example of the reality-TV business trying to get into the hip-hop business. Guests: Complex's Frazier Tharpe and Stereogum's Tom Breihan.
11/11/19·57m 19s

Kanye West’s ‘Jesus Is King,’ From the Gospel Perspective

Gospel music insiders on the rapper’s turn to religious music and how his album relates to contemporary holy hip-hop. Guests: Root's Hasan James and The Journal of Gospel Music's Robert Marovich.
30/10/19·1h 4m

The Rise of DaBaby, From Memes to the Mosh Pit

The year’s most consistent new hip-hop star combines intense rhymes with online savvy. Guest: Joe Coscarelli.
19/10/19·1h 14m

The Highwomen, Miranda Lambert and the Women Invigorating Country Music

Nashville has long marginalized female performers, songwriters and producers. But a wave of artists is fighting back. Guests: Jada Watson and Natalie Weiner.
11/10/19·1h 3m

Is 100 gecs the End of Pop, or a New Beginning?

One of the year’s most unlikely breakthroughs is a duo that makes disorienting, genre-jumbling music. Guests: Eli Enis and The Fader's Larry Fitzmaurice.
05/10/19·1h 5m

A New Flood of English-Spanish Pop Is Here. Is It Opportunism or Progress?

Collaborations have flourished in the wake of “Despacito,” some sounding natural, some sounding forced. Guest: Remezcla's Eduardo Cepeda.
29/09/19·1h 4m

How Does Post Malone Sound Like Everything and Nothing?

A conversation about his rapid rise and the questions — about genre and race — glossed over along the way. Guests: Pitchfork's Jayson Greene and The New York Times Magazine's Jonah Weiner.
22/09/19·59m 20s

Young Thug Gets His Due, But Is It Too Late?

One of the decade’s most copied rappers finally reached No. 1 on the album chart, years after his aesthetic rubbed off on hip-hop. Guest: Andrew Nosnitsky.
07/09/19·1h 9m

What’s the Point of Album Covers in the Post-Album Era?

What was once a large canvas for grand statements is now a tiny digital mark. Guest: Chips's Teddy Blanks.
29/08/19·55m 37s

Is Taylor Swift’s ‘Lover’ the Beginning or the End of an Era?

Breaking down the sounds, the themes, the obscure (and not-so-hidden) messages and more on her seventh album. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz and Jon Pareles.
27/08/19·1h 6m

A Tribute to David Berman, Who Never Hid His Truth

Conversations about his songwriting, his struggles and his striking sweetness outside of music. Guests: Jeff Johnson; The New Yorker's Amanda Petrusich; and Nick Weidenfeld.
16/08/19·1h 15m

Funkmaster Flex and Tyler, the Creator’s Unlikely Buddy Comedy

The Hot 97 D.J. and the hip-hop disrupter shared the wildest interview of the year. Guests: Rolling Stone's Charles Holmes and Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre.
02/08/19·1h 10m

How Many Streams Is a T-Shirt Worth? Breaking Down Chart Dilemmas.

There’s more data about music consumption than ever before. That doesn’t mean we understand who’s the most popular. Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli and Ben Sisario.
26/07/19·1h

The Loudness of João Gilberto, Bossa Nova’s King of Quiet

A look back at the Brazilian musician’s innovations as one of the genre’s primary architects. Guest: Ben Ratliff
19/07/19·55m 50s

How Hootie & the Blowfish Inspired Both Love and Hate

Critics who were writing about the band at the peak of its fame look back at how the group became so bitterly divisive. Guests: Jim DeRogatis and Danyel Smith.
08/07/19·53m 54s

Taylor vs. Scooter: The Pop Music Civil War of 2019

The superstar complained that the powerful manager acquired her master recordings, setting off a debate that divided the industry. Guest: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli
03/07/19·1h 4m

The Unexpectedly Deep Musical Roots of Hootie & the Blowfish

“Cracked Rear View” catapulted the band to superstardom. But the group made great music long before — and after — anyone paid attention. Guest: former A&R representative Tim Sommer
01/07/19·57m 51s

Why Are the Movies So Obsessed With Pop Stars?

From “Rocketman” to “Her Smell,” “Blaze” to “Vox Lux,” the film industry seems to think all musicians have the same ups and downs. Guests: The New York Times's A.O. Scott; Vanity Fair's K. Austin Collins; Kristen Yoonsoo Kim.
21/06/19·1h 14m

Can Record Labels Be Trusted to Preserve Music History?

A 2008 fire destroyed master recordings for a who’s who of popular music. A new investigation explores the damage done. Guest: The New York Times Magazine's Jody Rosen
13/06/19·1h 13m

Bob Dylan’s Excellent Adventure

The Rolling Thunder Revue was more than a tour: It was a chance for the songwriter to play with the truth. Guest: The New York Times's Jon Pareles
11/06/19·41m 50s

Megan Thee Stallion and Rap’s Rising Generation of Women

Hip-hop has historically been inhospitable to female performers. A new class is finding fresh paths to break through. Guests: The Atlantic's Hannah Giorgis and Vulture's Hunter Harris.
25/05/19·30m 9s

Are AirPods Worth the Costs?

Apple’s wireless earbuds have led to questions about personal tech as environmental scourge and punch line. Guests: The New York Times's Brian X. Chen and Motherboard's Caroline Haskins.
20/05/19·1h 3m

Vampire Weekend, Indie Rock Heretics Turned Anxious Jam Band

Ezra Koenig’s literate group has returned, sparking questions about how it was received in the past, and where it stands in the current climate. Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles; The Ringer's Rob Harvilla
13/05/19·52m 44s

The Return of Bikini Kill and the Long Tail of Riot Grrrl

A movement of punk-powered feminism that began in the early 1990s has a fresh urgency in 2019. Guests: Evelyn McDonnell, Elisabeth Vincentelli and Caryn Ganz
05/05/19·41m 49s

How Gospel and Pop Learn From Each Other

From Kanye West to serpentwithfeet to the Stellar Awards returning to BET, the genres’ dialogue has been evolving. Guest: The New Yorker's Briana Younger
30/04/19·1h 12m

Is Billie Eilish the Future of Pop?

The 17-year-old musician has been revising the rules of young stardom. But she may be more of a classicist than her aesthetic would suggest. Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli; Meaghan Garvey
19/04/19·59m 19s

Lil Nas X and the Long History of Country-Rap

“Old Town Road” is the latest flash point in the two-decades-long dialogue between Nashville and hip-hop. Guest: Average Joes Entertainment's Shannon Houchins
07/04/19·46m 58s

Boy Bands, Now Featuring Grown Men

Backstreet’s back, the New Kids put out a new single and groups in the K-pop ecosystem are thriving. Why are boy bands so central to pop music? Guests: Jezebel's Maria Sherman and Billboard's Andrew Unterberger
29/03/19·1h 20m

How a Viral Rap Star Rocketed From Meme to Hit

Blueface’s “Thotiana” is a nearly perfectly engineered hit of the social media age. Guests: The Fader's Ben Dandridge-Lemco and Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre.
21/03/19·55m 40s

Can Michael Jackson’s Legacy Ever Really Be Derailed?

The documentary “Leaving Neverland” details devastating allegations of sexual abuse. How do fans process them, and Jackson’s body of work? Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli, Aisha Harris and Ben Sisario
07/03/19·59m 30s

The Hip-Hop Superstar as Local Newsmaker

Musicians often make headlines; balancing coverage of their art with coverage of the accusations they face isn’t always easy. Guest: The South Florida Sun Sentinel's Brett Clarkson
01/03/19·41m 1s

Behind the Ryan Adams Investigation

The musician has been accused of dangling career opportunities while pursuing female artists for sex, then turning domineering and vengeful. He denies the claims. Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli and Melena Ryzik.
18/02/19·41m 40s

The 2019 Grammys Make Up for Last Year, Somewhat

After a terrible ceremony that minimized women and nonwhite artists, the Recording Academy tried something else: the opposite. Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli, Caryn Ganz and Jon Pareles.
12/02/19·56m 35s

Maggie Rogers and Sharon Van Etten Break Free From Old Expectations

Two singer-songwriters at different points in their careers are staking claim to new creative ground. Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli; The Ringer's Lindsay Zoladz
01/02/19·1h

Fyre Festival’s Post-Mortems: We’ve Still Got Questions

Two documentaries examining Billy McFarland’s debacle aim to shed new light on the scammers and victims. Guests: The New York Times's Aisha Harris, Wesley Morris and Melena Ryzik.
25/01/19·57m 38s

Listening to Pop Music’s Class of 2019

From British punk-rap to 1970s-influenced country to morbid electronic pop, a guide to new artists to watch. Guest: The New York Times's Jon Pareles.
18/01/19·52m 38s

Bad Bunny Is Just Getting Started

His was the defining voice of 2018. What’s next for this Puerto Rican new-pop superstar? Guests: Remezcla's Eduardo Cepeda and Isabelia Herrera; and Rolling Stone's Suzy Exposito.
12/01/19·1h 11m

The New Battles Over the Direction of Jazz

What did the music, innovations and arguments of 2018 tell us about where the genre is headed next? Guests: John Murph and Giovanni Russonello
04/01/19·1h 11m

Your Questions About Pop Music, Answered (or Ruled Unanswerable)

The Popcast wraps 2018 discussing Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, streaming and crying. Guest: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli
27/12/18·1h 15m

A New Kind of Pop Star Has Arrived

K-pop, Latin trap and melodic hip-hop — once regarded as subgenres — have become the center of the pop conversation. Guest: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli
21/12/18·1h 20m

Listening to the Best Songs of 2018

The 1975’s millennial anthem, “Shallow” and a lot of Bad Bunny: Why did these tracks define the year in pop? Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles, Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz
13/12/18·50m 2s

How the Grammy Nominations Really Made Us Feel

Music's big awards show is trying to make big changes. So what do these nominations tell us? Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles. Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz
08/12/18·38m 2s

Debating the Best Albums of 2018: Janelle Monáe, Soccer Mommy and More

Drake, Mitski, Ariana Grande — whose albums defined the year? (And will albums matter next year?) Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles, Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz
07/12/18·58m 42s

6ix9ine’s Troubled Past and Uncertain Future

A conversation about the Brooklyn rapper’s arrest and musical prospects as he releases “Dummy Boy” while behind bars. Guest: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli.
01/12/18·1h 4m

The Gentle Return of Mariah Carey

With her 15th album, “Caution,” the singer has entered a new phase of her long career. Guests: Michael Arceneaux; Jezebel's Julianne Escobedo Shepherd; The New Yorker's Briana Younger.
29/11/18·1h 5m

Kane Brown, Pistol Annies and Country Music’s Inclusion Problem

The tug of war between how the genre advertises itself and how it’s actually evolving is growing more tense. Guests: Nick Murray; Natalie Weiner.
17/11/18·1h 1m

Remembering Roy Hargrove, Who Brought Jazz History Into Tomorrow

The trumpeter, who died at 49, was a singular figure dedicated to keeping jazz’s past in dialogue with its future. Guests: The New York Times's Giovanni Russonello; Jozen Cummings.
09/11/18·1h 2m

Robyn, Pop’s Reluctant Pacesetter

With “Honey,” the Swedish star returns to a landscape she’s quietly shaped for over 20 years. Guests: The New York Times's Caryn Ganz; the Guardian's Laura Snapes; Jezebel's Hazel Cills
02/11/18·55m 58s

BTS Conquered America. What’s Next for K-Pop?

Now that K-pop is successful on its own terms, the questions it faces are changing. Guest: Billboard's Jeff Benjamin.
26/10/18·1h 26m

For Those About to Rock, An Uncertain Fate

Is rock music in 2018 a sound, a mood or a retail category? Where do Twenty One Pilots, the 1975 and Greta Van Fleet fit in? Guests: The New York Times's Caryn Ganz; Rolling Stone's Kory Grow; the Ringer's Lindsay Zoladz
20/10/18·1h 18m

‘A Star Is Born’ Is Here. Let’s Discuss.

What does Bradley Cooper’s remake starring Lady Gaga say about the pop music business — and the film industry — today? Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli, Manohla Dargis, Caryn Ganz, Wesley Morris and Jon Pareles
11/10/18·1h 14m

How Lil Wayne Became One of Hip-Hop’s Most Durable Stars

Tracing the rapper’s evolution from a teen in New Orleans to his long-awaited album “Tha Carter V.” Guests: XXL's Vanessa Satten; The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli
05/10/18·1h 23m

Should They Stay or Should They Go? Pop Stars and Retirement

Why do some artists stick around and others choose to retreat? Guest: The New York Times's Jon Pareles
28/09/18·34m 15s

What Makes for a Great Celebrity Profile?

Writing in-depth features about stars can be an art form. But it’s been changing in recent years. Guests: The New York Times Magazine's Vanessa Grigoriadis; GQ's Zach Baron.
20/09/18·1h 4m

Remembering Mac Miller, Low-Key Hip-Hop Bellwether

The 26-year-old rapper and producer stood at the crossroads of movements that have been shaping popular music over the past decade. Guests: ItsTheReal's Eric and Jeff Rosenthal; Pitchfork's Sheldon Pearce; and Eric Renner Brown.
15/09/18·1h 12m

Remembering The Village Voice, Music Criticism's Crucible: Part 2

Forty years of writers and editors share memories about helping invent a language to talk about music, and the artists they critiqued — some grateful, some not. Guests: Ann Powers, Evelyn McDonnell, Chuck Eddy, Rob Harvilla and Tom Breihan.
10/09/18·1h 5m

Remembering The Village Voice, Music Criticism's Crucible: Part 1

Forty years of writers and editors share memories about helping invent a language to talk about music, and the artists they critiqued — some grateful, some not. Guests: Robert Christgau, Jon Pareles, Nelson George, Kyle Gann and Joe Levy.
10/09/18·1h 13m

How We Arrived at Ariana Grande’s Big Moment

“Sweetener” has taken the singer to new heights at a moment of transition for the top ranks of female vocalists. Guests: The Ringer's Lindsay Zoladz; VF.com's Josh Duboff; and Billboard's Nolan Feeney.
28/08/18·47m 41s

Nicki Minaj and Travis Scott, Rivals With Common Problems

One is an old-style hip-hop star, one comes from a newer school. But both are facing challenges making effective albums and defining their artistic identities. Guests: David Turner and Briana Younger.
21/08/18·55m 44s

Aretha Franklin: The Artist We Knew, and the Woman We Didn’t

The Queen of Soul leaves a towering legacy. How will we remember her? Guests: The New York Times's Jon Pareles and Wesley Morris; and David Ritz.
17/08/18·1h 12m

The Shrinking Space Between Band T-Shirt and High Fashion

Merch has become a crucial part of a musician’s rise. Here’s how it’s evolved. Guests: Procell's Brian Procell; The Cut's Emilia Petrarca; and Grailed's Lawrence Schlossman.
10/08/18·1h 19m

Can Guns N’ Roses, or Any Artist, Erase an Unflattering Moment?

What happens when a band wipes a stain from its historical record? Or when physical albums vanish, replaced by different digital versions? Guests: Mark Richardson; Rolling Stone's Christopher R. Weingarten; and The New York Times's Caryn Ganz.
04/08/18·1h 13m

Who’s in Charge of Telling Whitney Houston’s Story?

Two documentaries have attempted to unpack the life of one of pop’s transformative figures, whose complex legacy is still riddled with questions. Guests: Naima Cochrane; Jezebel's Rich Juzwiak; Alan Light; and The Times's Joe Coscarelli.
27/07/18·1h 6m

When Superfans Attack

A writer critiqued Nicki Minaj online; the rapper’s fans responded in force. How does celebrity fandom become a vicious tool online, and what’s behind stan culture? Guests: iOneDigital's Janeé Bolden; Who? Weekly's Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber; The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli and Caryn Ganz.
21/07/18·1h 11m

Drake: Platinum in a Day, but Still at a Crossroads

With his new double album, “Scorpion,” the rapper and singer is grappling with brand maintenance. Is he innovating, and where can he go next? Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli and Reggie Ugwu; Sheldon Pearce; and Jasmine Sanders.
05/07/18·1h 17m

Kanye West: You Asked, We Answered

Was "Ye" rushed, and does it matter? How do women fit into Kanye’s world? Are conversations about politics with him fruitless? Guests: The New York Times's Joe Coscarelli and Reggie Ugwu, and the Ringer's Justin Charity.
27/06/18·1h 23m

XXXTentacion, Mourning and Morality

The 20-year-old broke out of the SoundCloud rap scene and reached No 1. But he faced accusations of violent crimes against a woman, and leaves behind a troubling legacy. Guests: Noisey's Lawrence Burney and Miami New Times's Tarpley Hitt.
22/06/18·58m 14s

Charlie Puth and Shawn Mendes, Would-Be Pop Kings

Boy bands are on the rise and young male singers have some choices to make. A conversation about two performers with their sights set on pop ubiquity.
16/06/18·1h 9m

Kanye West’s ‘Ye’ Is Here: Let’s Discuss

The rapper’s polarizing eighth album arrived surrounded by a celebrity circus and provided few answers.
06/06/18·1h 14m

Drake vs. Pusha-T, Unpacked

An excavation of the skeletons animating the back-and-forth between the two rappers — and a conversation about who’s inching ahead.
31/05/18·56m 46s

Yes, We Stuck With ‘American Idol’

Maddie Poppe won the show, rebooted on ABC with a new cast of judges. What worked, what didn’t and who really stood out? Two longtime “Idol” enthusiasts discuss.
26/05/18·54m 21s

Pursuing R. Kelly: The Reporter Who Never Gave Up

For two decades, accusations of sexual impropriety have been leveled at the R&B superstar. And Jim DeRogatis has been covering the story.
23/05/18·37m 52s

‘Girls’ Gone Wrong: Who Gets to Make a Gay Love Song?

The Rita Ora track was positioned as a celebration of bisexuality, but struck a sour note with critics who found its lyrics problematic.
18/05/18·53m 40s

Avicii: Overexposed and Underappreciated?

The 28-year-old producer and D.J., who died last month in Oman, was a pop savant and an EDM innovator who left behind a complicated legacy.
04/05/18·1h 5m

Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar Break Boundaries

A Coachella set stunning in scope and execution. The first Pulitzer Prize winner who isn’t from classical or jazz. A conversation about the two artists’ triumphs.
25/04/18·1h 16m

Pop’s Category Killers, From Live Nation to Spotify, Under the Microscope

In recent weeks, the businesses that present music to the public have undergone major shifts.
20/04/18·43m 56s

Cardi B Arrives at the Top

The 25-year-old’s LP “Invasion of Privacy” is part of her broad-scale pop culture takeover. A conversation about her rise and debut album.
12/04/18·1h 6m

Logic, XXXTentacion and Hip-Hop Morality in 2018

A conversation about the earnest rapper and the SoundCloud renegade, both successes of modern internet-driven rap fandom.
06/04/18·1h 9m

Kacey Musgraves and Ashley McBryde, Country Traditionalists With a Twist

Two new albums put a spotlight on Nashville’s ongoing, agonized relationship with female performers.
30/03/18·57m 53s

Ashlee Simpson: You Asked, We Answered

Part two of our conversation about the mid-2000s pop star features debates about her MTV reality show and “S.N.L.” debacle, and a listener mailbag.
16/03/18·1h 18m

Was Ashlee Simpson Underappreciated? Discuss

In the mid-2000s, the pop singer had platinum albums and an MTV reality show. Hear the first of two conversations about Ms. Simpson’s misunderstood career.
09/03/18·1h 14m

Lucy Dacus, Soccer Mommy, the Breeders and the Future of Indie Rock

A conversation about carefully considered creative paths — and how pristine voices with powerful messages are amplified — as three strong new albums arrive
02/03/18·56m 58s

In Defense of Soundtracks. And Fergie.

What’s responsible for the recent soundtrack renaissance that brought albums from “Black Panther” and “The Greatest Showman” to the top of the charts?
24/02/18·1h 13m

The Complex Intersection Where Rap and the Legal System Collide

A conversation with a criminal lawyer about the racial politics of legal representation, the Meek Mill saga and the future prospects of incarcerated would-be stars.
16/02/18·45m 50s

Justin Timberlake Down, Meek Mill Up: How Twitter Swings Public Opinion

The internet’s response to the two musicians after the Super Bowl shows how criticism works these days. Rapid-fire groupthink online can be strong enough to have real-world impact.
09/02/18·1h 17m

Can the Grammys Be Fixed?

Big stars didn’t show up. Ratings were down. Hip-hop was once again shut out of the major categories. Can “music’s biggest night” represent what’s really happening in music?
30/01/18·58m 15s

Hear What Music Will Sound Like in 2018

Flamboyant hip-hop, promising punk rock, intricate bluegrass and more: a conversation about the artists we’re looking forward to following this year.
26/01/18·1h 6m

Remembering the Cranberries’ Dolores O’Riordan

The lead singer of the Irish rock band, who died at 46, wrote songs in the 1990s that deeply touched young women and Irish listeners while appealing to a worldwide audience
19/01/18·52m 33s

In Streaming, One Goliath Creates Many Davids

Streaming has established itself as the dominant mode of music distribution. What could go wrong? Quite a lot, it turns out.
12/01/18·1h 2m

Is Today’s Jazz Finally Outrunning the Past?

Jazz could have spent 2017 looking backward, focusing on the centennials of foundational figures. But instead, several strains of contemporary jazz thrived.
05/01/18·1h 5m

Will Eminem Ever Change?

After a brief break from the spotlight, the rapper returned with “Revival,” an album that revisited familiar tropes and sounds. Where can he go from here?
22/12/17·54m 12s

The Popcast Answers Your Burning Questions About Pop Music in 2017

Our readers picked the topics of conversation, which included Fergie, the state of streaming and evolutions in Latin pop
18/12/17·1h 5m

In 2017, Pop Music Made Triumph Out of Tough Times

From Lorde to Kendrick Lamar, many of the albums and songs on our critics’ best-of lists showcased the work of musicians meeting difficult circumstances with artistic fortitude.
08/12/17·1h 13m

After 40 Years, U2 Is Still Huge. Why?

A conversation about the band’s 14th album, “Songs of Experience,” and its ongoing quest for bigness.
02/12/17·33m 49s

Remembering Lil Peep

The 21-year-old rapper, who died last week, found a unique way to unite the languages of hip-hop and emo.
22/11/17·58m 22s

Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ Has Arrived. Let’s Discuss.

Ms. Swift plays a different game on her sixth album — making pop music that directly competes with the rest of the field’s dominant players.
14/11/17·1h 11m

Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ Is Almost Here. Let’s Discuss.

She hasn’t done interviews, but the pop star has been leaving hints about what to expect on her sixth album. Our writers listen to the signs.
09/11/17·47m 59s

How Will Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Be Remembered?

A new biography of the magazine’s founder has been praised by our critic and slammed by its subject.
03/11/17·40m 42s

What Are the Billboard Charts Really Measuring?

Changes to the formulas used to build albums and singles charts will weigh paid streams more than free ones. What will the impact be?
27/10/17·47m 30s

The Persistence of Pink and Kelly Clarkson, Outspoken Pop Survivors

Two of the music world’s biggest voices and boldest personalities are back. Deep into successful careers, where have their paths diverged?
20/10/17·55m 24s

Shania Twain Was Country’s Crossover Queen. What Is She Now?

In the 15 years since she last released an album, the music industry has undergone big changes, but Ms. Twain’s new LP still debuted at No. 1.
13/10/17·47m 11s

Tom Petty, a Secret Punk on Rock’s Mount Rushmore

He was a student of the ’60s who learned from his elders, but put his own deliberate spin on rock ’n’ roll.
04/10/17·33m 43s

National Anthem Protests, From ‘Jazzing the Banner’ to Taking a Knee

“The Star-Spangled Banner” has long been a site of dissent and disagreement. A conversation about the history of the anthem, and those who have protested it.
29/09/17·47m 57s

Bye, Bro. In Country Music, It’s the Year of the Gentleman.

Nashville has been undergoing a gender crisis for most of the 2010s. Is the latest development — kinder men — a solution?
22/09/17·1h 3m

From Instagram to ‘Bodak Yellow,’ Cardi B Has Arrived

The rapper behind one of the summer’s biggest hits has made swift moves in the music industry, and is making waves in the fashion world, too.
15/09/17·55m 10s

Women Dominating Rock: There’s More to the Conversation

What happens when the media shines a light on feminist punk? A conversation about D.I.Y. scenes and representation.
11/09/17·56m 13s

The Popcast Answers Your Questions About Beyoncé, Music Videos and More

On this week’s episode, our readers picked the topics of conversation, which include Lil Wayne, merchandise and Camila Cabello.
02/09/17·1h 7m

Is SoundCloud a Business or a Community?

If the music-streaming service disappeared, a culture might vanish too. A conversation about where the tech and culture worlds collide.
25/08/17·30m 53s

Kesha and Taylor Swift Find New Voices

On “Rainbow,” Kesha steps away from her old persona but keeps her former spark. In court, Taylor Swift speaks with no filter.
18/08/17·45m 12s

What Keeps Phish Fans Coming Back for More?

The band just completed a 13-show run in New York where it didn’t repeat any songs, and its fans are already hungering for the next residency.
11/08/17·41m 47s

Is Arcade Fire Its Own Worst Enemy?

As the band released its most divisive album yet, it embarked on a rollout that confused its narrative even further.
04/08/17·35m 53s

Celebrating Two of Rock’s Big Voices, Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell

A conversation about two singers in different bands who left significant musical and emotional legacies
28/07/17·59m 21s

Streaming Is Taking Over Pop, but It’s Far From Flawless

Spotify, SoundCloud, Tidal: Seemingly every major streaming service has suffered through some controversy lately
21/07/17·46m 57s

From Jay-Z to Prodigy, It’s Time to Talk About Hip-Hop’s Elders

A new album from Jay-Z, documentaries about Sean Combs and Dr. Dre, and the death of Prodigy have stirred new thinking about older artists
14/07/17·1h 13m

Can K-pop Conquer America?

Fanaticism about this Korean genre is on the rise in the United States, but it hasn’t cracked mainstream pop culture
30/06/17·55m 42s

Hip-Hop’s Punk Moment Has Arrived

SoundCloud rap is a raw, rowdy, rebellious movement fueled by young rappers looking outside the genre for inspiration.
23/06/17·1h 5m

Katy Perry, Lorde and Halsey: How to Make a Pop Album in 2017

Three female pop stars, three different approaches: a conversation about their new albums, on Popcast.
16/06/17·55m 13s

Why We’re Still Listening to the Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’

Our pop music critics are not fans of record anniversaries, but 50 years after the creation of “Sgt. Pepper,” there are still lessons to be learned from the album.
09/06/17·30m 26s

Latin Pop Thrives, No Bieber Required

“Despacito” is the first Spanish-language song to top the chart since “Macarena,” but there are many more interesting shifts in Latin pop today.
02/06/17·47m 29s

Festivals That Inspire Awe, and Festivals That Lead to Criminal Investigations

Music fests are ubiquitous, but only some are curated well enough to be thrilling. And there’s the Fyre Festival.
26/05/17·46m 38s

Harry Styles and John Mayer, Teardrops on Their Guitars

The One Direction member and the pop-blues poster boy have a few things in common.
19/05/17·39m 4s

Paramore Returns, Headed Straight For the 1980s

One of the most impressive rock bands working in the mainstream has taken a left turn. Where is Paramore headed, and how did it inspire scores of artists?
12/05/17·30m 35s

Finding Feist’s Pleasure and Pain

The singer-songwriter’s new album is a low-fi exploration of extreme emotions. How does it relate to her earlier hits, and how did she get here?
05/05/17·25m 48s

How Lil Uzi Vert Turned Rap Into Rock and Became a Pop Star

He’s a rapper, a social media phenomenon, the guy yelling “ya” on Migos’s hit “Bad and Boujee.” What’s the secret of Uzi’s success?
28/04/17·46m 43s

A Deep Dig on Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole’s Hip-Hop’s Values

The two rappers recall an earlier time in the genre’s history, in terms of aesthetics and politics. How do they fit in today?
21/04/17·55m 21s

How Do You Solve a Problem Like the Chainsmokers?

In three years, the duo has had several hits while offending all sorts of people. What does its sound say about EDM?
14/04/17·49m 21s

Jazz in 2017: The Music Is Thriving, Though Support Is in Peril

Kamasi Washington and some Los Angeles musicians are producing vital recordings, but N.E.A. funding is uncertain. A conversation about the state of jazz.
07/04/17·39m 27s

Drake Changed Hip-Hop’s Sound. Can He Change the Business?

His release isn’t an album or a mixtape, but a playlist — a move that could position him to shift the music industry once again.
27/03/17·57m 55s

How Chuck Berry Became a Rock ’n’ Roll Mastermind

He wrote the guitar licks, told the clever stories, duckwalked across the stage and forever changed popular music
22/03/17·23m 52s

The Billboard Charts Are Wackier Than Ever: What’s Going On?

Streaming figures into chart positions now, a fact that has started yielding some very odd results.
17/03/17·56m 13s

The Greatest Trick Ed Sheeran Ever Pulled Was Convincing the World He’s an Underdog

The British singer/songwriter is a record-smashing superstar, but he still plays the spurned lover. How does he do it?
10/03/17·43m 57s

What Future and Migos Tell Us About Atlanta’s Rap Dominance

A panel discusses Migos, Lil Yachty and more of the city’s budding stars on Popcast.
03/03/17·58m 35s

What Happens When Nashville Outsiders Become Country’s Big Stars?

The city synonymous with the country music business is in transition. How is it dealing with rapid change, and the Trump era? A panel discusses on Popcast.
24/02/17·1h 10m

Were There Any Real Winners at the Grammys?

It was an awards show filled with flubs, tear, apologies and protests. The New York Times pop music writers discuss Adele, Beyoncé, Chance the Rapper and more on Popcast.
14/02/17·57m 27s

Will the Grammy Awards End With a Big Surprise?

The New York Times pop team debates whether Sturgill Simpson will pull out a surprise victory in a night stacked with Adele vs. Beyoncé face-offs.
10/02/17·37m 50s

Punk Rock Is Alive and Well, No Politics Required

The current political climate doesn’t come up even once during the latest Popcast, a conversation about Japandroids, the Menzingers and the state of rock.
03/02/17·44m 39s

The War Over ‘La La Land’: Gotta Hear Both Sides

The toast of Hollywood has divided our culture writers. Two of the movie’s boosters go to battle with two of its critics in this week’s Popcast.
27/01/17·49m 57s

The Crooner in Chief: Barack Obama’s Musical Legacy

He brought soul and hip-hop into the White House like no president before him. A discussion of Mr. Obama’s most powerful musical moments, on this week’s Popcast.
20/01/17·53m 57s

Hip-Hop’s Elders and Youth Go to Battle (Again)

Should rap’s young stars have more reverence for the genre’s pioneers, and vice versa? A conversation about hip-hop’s latest generation-gap struggles.
13/01/17·52m 0s

Mariah Carey and New Year’s Eve: Is the Fantasy Over?

A panel discusses Ms. Carey's recent New Year's Eve performance and career.
06/01/17·52m 20s

10 Songs That Tell the Story of 2016

A round table of pop experts discuss the year in tracks, from Maren Morris's "Rich" to Twenty One Pilots' "Ride" to Rihanna's "Sex With Me."
30/12/16·58m 27s

The Year in Jazz Music

A roundtable of writers discuss trends and notable moments of the year.
23/12/16·42m 35s

Pop Music Trends in 2016

The pop music team discusses news themes and what may shape it for years to come.
16/12/16·38m 10s

The Best Albums of 2016

This week, The New York Times music team reflects on albums that defined 2016.
09/12/16·53m 13s

For Bruno Mars and the Weeknd, the Past as Muse

This week, a discussion of new releases by both artists who have more in common than it may appear.
02/12/16·43m 17s

Revisiting Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo'

After a series of bizarre shows, Kanye West canceled the remainder of his "Saint Pablo" tour last week. This weekend, we're listening back to the conversation Jon Caramanica led at the time of the album's release.
25/11/16·53m 28s

Mourning the Greats: Leonard Cohen, Leon Russell and Mose Allison

This year has seen the loss of Prince, David Bowie, Merle Haggard, and, now, three more towering figures have died. A look at their legacies.
18/11/16·29m 26s

Popcast: Division and Unity in Pop, and Beyond

Can the cultural events of the last couple of weeks connect to macro political realities?
12/11/16·52m 30s

Popcast: A Tribe Called Quest Returns

A discussion of the group’s legacy and how it fits into the current hip-hop landscape
05/11/16·42m 31s

Popcast: What’s Next for Kesha?

The pop star has been locked in an ugly contract dispute with Dr. Luke; two writers who have examined her case break down the pop star’s situation.
29/10/16·29m 11s

Popcast: Nu-Dance Rises With Help From Streaming

This week, Jon Caramanica and guests discuss club music.
22/10/16·37m 6s

Dylancast: Bob Dylan Wins the Nobel Prize!

Our music and book critics discuss Dylan, the musician, and Dylan, the writer.
15/10/16·26m 51s

Popcast: Tyler Glenn at the Crossroads

His fiery solo album questions almost everything he used to believe in.
08/10/16·23m 46s

Popcast: Finding the Joy (and Humor) in Bon Iver’s Pain

The new Bon Iver album abandons many of the musical choices that informed much of his earlier music.
30/09/16·31m 25s

Popcast: The Next Teen Star Machine

Shawn Mendes broke out on Vine. The next breeding ground for pop stars might be Musical.ly, a social music app for teens.
23/09/16·35m 11s

Popcast: Fall Preview

The pop music team discusses some of their favorite upcoming fall releases.
16/09/16·30m 43s

Popcast: The Return of New York Rap

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Young M.A. represent an unexpected moment.
10/09/16·57m 5s

Popcast: Stardom in the Age of Social Media

With celebrities so accessible online they have to go above and beyond when meeting fans in the arena.
02/09/16·51m 47s

Popcast: Frank Ocean Returns

A roundtable discussion on the release of the musician’s latest works.
25/08/16·52m 52s

Popcast: Race and Hip-Hop, a Conversation

A discussion about the current wave of white rappers trying to elide conversations about race, with varying success.
19/08/16·37m 19s

Popcast: Janet Jackson and the Legacy of ‘Control’

A discussion on how pop failed Ms. Jackson for years, and what it has done for her lately.
12/08/16·32m 52s

Popcast: A Send-Off for Ben Ratliff

Mr. Ratliff, a music critic at The Times since 1996, discusses his tenure.
05/08/16·47m 30s

Popcast: Gucci Mane and Atlanta Hip-Hop

Jon Caramanica explains how Gucci Mane, Lil Yachty and 21 Savage are all part of the same long line.
29/07/16·37m 4s

Popcast: Dissecting the Legacy of Alan Vega and Suicide

Days after Mr. Vega’s death, the journalist Geeta Dayal discusses Suicide’s early days.
22/07/16·37m 36s

Popcast: The Return of Pop-Punk and Emo

Pop music writers discuss Blink-182’s influence on modern pop-punk bands.
15/07/16·31m 31s

Popcast: J Balvin’s Reggaeton Mission

Ben Ratliff and Joe Coscarelli discuss how the Latin music superstar is rewriting the rules.
08/07/16·20m 28s

Popcast: Prince’s Fateful Flight and Judith Hill’s Story

For those looking to understand Prince’s musical life in his final years, the larger story of Ms. Hill is illuminating.
24/06/16·25m 35s

Popcast: Techno’s Dual Identity

A discussion of techno as youth music and heritage culture.
10/06/16·34m 52s

Popcast: Hip-Hop Concerts and the Police

After a fatal shooting at a T.I. concert, Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli discuss rap, race and security with Minya Oh, a.k.a. Miss Info, and Joie Manda of Interscope Records.
03/06/16·43m 15s

Popcast: Arthur Russell

New York Times music critics discuss Mr. Russell’s wide-angle, slow-release significance.
27/05/16·24m 35s

Popcast: Chance the Rapper and Drake

New York Times music critics discuss the latest albums by both artists.
20/05/16·32m 44s

Popcast: Radiohead and James Blake

New York Times critics compare the latest releases.
12/05/16·24m 17s

Popcast: Britney Spears

A discussion of Ms. Spears’s conservatorship.
08/05/16·33m 56s

Popcast: Beyoncé Serves Up ‘Lemonade’

New York Times critics and writers discuss the singer’s new album.
26/04/16·39m 16s

Popcast: Remembering Prince

New York Times culture critics discuss Prince’s music and impact.
22/04/16·38m 26s

Popcast: Caetano Veloso

Mr. Veloso, the great Brazilian singer and songwriter, discusses current events in his country.
22/04/16·41m 30s

Popcast:Country Music Agitators

New York Times music critics discuss Sturgill Simpson and Merle Haggard.
16/04/16·36m 32s

Popcast: Jazz Artists in Exile

New York Times music critics discuss recent biopics about Miles Davis and Chet Baker.
08/04/16·37m 24s

Popcast: Jazz in Museums

Nate Chinen and Ben Ratliff on the ways jazz is being presented at museum spaces.
25/03/16·33m 40s

Popcast: Gwen Stefani Returns

Ben Ratliff, Times music critic and Caryn Ganz, Times pop music editor, discuss the singer’s new album.
18/03/16·29m 14s

Popcast: The Art and Future of Criticism

New York Times critics gather to discuss their newly released books.
11/03/16·1h

Popcast: Macklemore’s Aesthetic Mission

Jon Caramanica chats with the rapper about the role of music in creating change.
26/02/16·56m 26s

Popcast: Kanye West”s Unfinished Album

A roundtable discussion on “The Life of Pablo.”
19/02/16·53m 3s

Popcast: Beyonce and Rihanna Take a Different Approach

Times critics discuss the recent music releases of each singer.
12/02/16·52m 42s

Popcast: R&B’s New Identity

New York Times music critics discuss changes within the genre.
29/01/16·26m 33s

Popcast: Tropical House Movement

Ben Ratliff and Michaelangelo Matos discuss the genre.
22/01/16·29m 41s

Popcast: Love, Death and David Bowie

A conversation about the pop star’s life and work with the philosopher Simon Critchley, author of “Bowie.”
13/01/16·47m 6s

Popcast: Jazz Moments of 2015

New York Times music critics discuss the year in jazz.
08/01/16·35m 2s

Popcast: Making Sense of 2015 in Music

Music critics for The New York Times talk about the themes, currents and big ideas that defined the year.
30/12/15·30m 46s

Popcast: Best Songs of 2015

Music critics for The New York Times discuss their favorite songs.
23/12/15·33m 44s

Popcast: Best Albums of 2015

Music critics for The New York Times discuss the year’s highlights.
18/12/15·39m 21s

Popcast: Joe Casey of Protomartyr

Ben Ratliff chats with Mr. Casey about the lyrics on the band’s album and more.
11/12/15·25m 55s

Popcast: Sophie and Grimes

Ben Ratliff and Jon Pareles discuss their approaches to music.
04/12/15·24m 10s

Popcast: The Return of Adele

Jon Caramanica and Jon Pareles discuss her new album, “25.”
13/11/15·32m 57s

Popcast: Taylor Swift and Drake, Friendship vs. Partnership

The stars have found both help and hindrance from those who surround them.
06/11/15·35m 12s

Popcast: Joanna Newsom

Ben Ratliff and Melissa Marturano talk about the critique of Ms. Newsom and her music.
30/10/15·30m 20s

Popcast: Justin Bieber Is Back. Thank Poo Bear.

The Times’s pop music squad on the unlikely songwriter behind “Where Are Ü Now” and “What Do You Mean?”
16/10/15·13m 31s

Popcast: The Influence of ‘808s and Heartbreak’

Times music critics discuss the influence of Kanye West’s album on current musical styles.
09/10/15·37m 37s

Popcast: Janet Jackson Returns With ‘Unbreakable’

Times music critics discuss Ms. Jackson’s new album and tour.
02/10/15·16m 16s

Lin-Manuel Miranda On How Hip-Hop Influenced Him and ‘Hamilton’

Jon Caramanica and Mr. Miranda discuss the songs and rappers that inspired him and his work.
25/09/15·59m 17s

Popcast: Jen Shyu Explores the Unknown

Times critics discuss the jazz artist whose music incorporates poetry and dreams.
18/09/15·30m 1s

Popcast: Jon Batiste and ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’

Times music critics discuss Mr. Batiste’s role as bandleader on the show.
10/09/15·25m 52s

Popcast: 2015 MTV Video Music Awards

The night belonged to those who shocked without needing to perform.
01/09/15·20m 29s

Popcast: The Weeknd

Times critics discuss The Weeknd’s music and new album, “Beauty Behind the Madness.”
28/08/15·55m 47s

Popcast: ‘Where Are Ü Now’

Times music critics discuss Justin Bieber’s collaboration with Skrillex and Diplo.
25/08/15·14m 4s

Carly Rae Jepsen Grows Up

With “Emotion,” the singer known best for “Call Me Maybe” embraces a seductive side to her music.
21/08/15·30m 46s

Popcast: ‘Straight Outta Compton’

Jon Caramanica and Reginald C. Dennis, a founding editor of XXL magazine, discuss N.W.A and the film.
14/08/15·1h 20m

Drake’s Bully Pulpit

Jon Caramanica, Minya Oh and Rawiya Kameir discuss Drake and OVO Fest.
07/08/15·1h 7m

Popcast: Titus Andronicus

Ben Ratliff and Joe Coscarelli discuss the New Jersey punk band and their new album.
31/07/15·26m 36s

Popcast: Prince Royce, Pitbull and Multilingual Pop Music

Ben Ratliff, Jon Caramanica and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd discuss international and multilingual pop.
24/07/15·37m 8s

Reggae’s Summer Flirtation

A look at the desire for a reggae or reggae-like worldwide pop hit between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
17/07/15·24m 32s

Hip-Hop’s Silent Majority

Hip-hop’s mainstream can often be confused with prosperity gospel, so it’s striking that in 2015, at least a couple of the genre’s biggest selling stars want nothing to do with such narratives.
10/07/15·1h 10m

Apple Music and Beats 1

Ben Ratliff and Ben Sisario discuss Apple Music, the much-anticipated music-streaming service to be launched June 30.
26/06/15·28m 23s

Popcast: “Tomatoes” Giving Country Its Bite

Jon Caramanica and Ben Ratliff discuss the women of country music.
19/06/15·33m 15s
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