From a very young age, Britney Spears seemed destined for stardom. The kid from Louisiana had landed a role on the revived Mickey Mouse Club and styled herself as a belter of power ballads. But to score her first No. 1 hit, Spears would team up with an introverted Swedish songwriter named Max Martin. He was trying to write American R&B and instead, through B ... Show More
May 30
All Apologies Edition Part 2
The story of Nevermind, Nirvana’s genre-defining breakthrough, is a familiar one. Less well known is the saga of Billboard’s Modern Rock chart—and how college-rock staples of the 1980s like R.E.M. and The Cure gave way to heavier, more commercially dominant groups of the ‘90s lik ... Show More
1h 3m
Mar 2022
Listening 2 Britney: I'm a Slave 4 U
In the first three years of Britney Spears’ pop music career, she released annual, consecutive albums. In 1999 we got Baby One More Time – its lead single was #5 on the Billboard year-end Hot 100 chart. In 2000, Oops… I Did It Again generated multiple hits. It’s eponymous single ... Show More
29m 5s
Mar 2022
Listening 2 Britney: ...Baby One More Time
On a crisp Autumn morning in 1998, the world was introduced to the voice of Britney Spears, and pop would never be the same. Britney’s mix of vocal fry, percussive pronunciations, and timbral play on “...Baby One More Time” hadn't been heard before. As successful as they were, th ... Show More
29m 2s
Feb 2020
Justin Bieber's 'Changes' Proves the Enduring Allure of Child-Turned-Adult Pop Stars
Justin Bieber released his debut album, My World 2.0, almost exactly a decade ago, and last week, the pop star put out his fifth studio album, Changes, which is on track for yet another No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200. Keith & Katie talk all about the power of that connection be ... Show More
26m 27s
Nov 2020
Toxic Tango: Britney Spears vs. Christina Aguilera
For ‘80s babies, Britney and Christina represent the ultimate fan face-off. Originally friends and co-stars on The Mickey Mouse Club reboot in the early ‘90s, by the decade’s end they were pitted against one another in the press and in the charts. On the surface, the comparisons ... Show More
54m 12s
Apr 2016
Jackie Evancho Talks Going Pop; Plus Desiigner's No. 1 & Beyonce's 'Lemonade'
On our latest show, we welcome Jackie Evancho, the 16-year-old classical music prodigy who is dipping her toes in the top 40 waters with her debut pop single "Apocalypse." We talked about why she wanted to venture into pop music, which current pop star is her inspiration and what ... Show More
31m 34s
Aug 2022
Aug 29 - Taylor Swift Announces A Brand New Album, Britney Spears Opens Up About Her Conservatorship & More
Taylor Swift announces a brand new album 'Midnights', Britney Spears gets candid about her experience living under her conservatorship, Harry Styles and Bad Bunny stay on top of the Billboard 200 and Hot 100, Yung Gravy takes Addison Rae's mom as his date to the VMAs and more! Le ... Show More
6m 13s
Dec 2020
December 2nd - Taylor Swift's Clip of a Re-Recorded 'Love Story,' Britney Spears' Unreleased Single 'Swimming In The Stars' & New 'BTS Law' in South Korea
Britney Spears drops a previously unreleased single 'Swimming In The Stars' in celebration of her birthday, Taylor Swift gives us a preview of her re-recorded music in a new clip and BTS inspires a new law in South Korea. This is Billboard News Now, rounding out the top music sto ... Show More
3m 53s
Nov 2021
Britney Spears Is Free of Her Conservatorship, But What's Next?
On the latest Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie and Keith discuss news of how Britney Spears' nearly 14-year conservatorship was terminated by a judge -- and what happens next for the superstar. Plus, the team dives into the release of Taylor Swift's re-recorded "Red" album. In a ... Show More
50m 52s
Jun 2023
June 2 - Beyoncé, Rihanna & Taylor Swift Make Forbes List, New Music From Stray Kids & More
Beyoncé, Rihanna and Taylor all make Forbes' 2023 richest self-made women list, Kelly Rowland responds to whether she would do a Destiny's Child reunion, Billboard takes a look at the songs that are resurging on our charts thanks to TikTok and we get new music from Latto and Card ... Show More
11m 30s