logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
24m 30s

The Christmas number one formula (and wh...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Inside the multi-million dollar scramble for a top hit on the festive music charts. How can new artists take on the likes of Mariah Carey and Slade? Katya gets answers and music – lots of it – from the BBC’s music correspondent Mark Savage, and writer and musician Chris Lochery.

Warning: this episode may leave you humming.

The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC experts around the world, with Katya Adler. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell The Global Story. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note on WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. #TheGlobalStory

Today’s episode was made by Neal Razzell, Farhana Haider and Emilia Jansson. The technical producers were Matt Hewitt and Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Sergi Forcada Freixas and the senior news editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

Up next
Yesterday
Will the Gaza ceasefire hold?
Israel and Hamas have approved President Trump’s plan for a ceasefire and approved a framework including the release of all the hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Gaza. It is being described as the first phase of a wider agreement, but is the deal secure ... Show More
26m 56s
Oct 9
Australia’s mushroom killer trial
It’s been called ‘Australia's trial of the century’. Erin Patterson, the mushroom murderer, was sentenced last month and given a life sentence, but that wasn’t the end of the story. Both the prosecution and the defence are lodging competing appeals. Patterson wants her conviction ... Show More
26m 50s
Oct 8
Trump’s ‘CEO of everything’
The billionaire Larry Ellison could soon control huge portions of America’s AI, attention economy and legacy media. He already owns swathes of AI infrastructure and is preparing to takeover TikTok, whilst his son, whose company already owns Paramount, is preparing a deal to buy W ... Show More
26m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2023
News Review of the Year
Amol and Nick review the year in news, featuring the biggest moments and their favourite interviews from the Today programme in 2023. They’re joined by some familiar voices including Chris Mason, Martha Kearney and friend of the pod, statistician Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter. Wit ... Show More
51m 22s
Jun 2022
Running Up That Chart
Zoe Ball reacts to Kate Bush’s return to number one and the possibility that the UK might host next year’s Eurovision. We reopen the "Newscast Travel Desk" after Gatwick airport announces it will cut some summer flights, with the help of BBC transport correspondent, Katy Austin. ... Show More
35m 57s
Mar 2024
Beyoncé country
Beyoncé has a new country album. The first single has already broken records and drawn criticism from those who think of country music as a “white” genre. Except it’s not. Author and songwriter Alice Randall tells the story of country music’s very Black roots.This episode was pro ... Show More
27m 15s
May 2022
Any Questions-cast?
Adam gets answers about the £400 energy grant that’s going to every household, as he moonlights on another legendary show. With the help of Simon Jack and Adam Shaw from BBC Money Box Live, he explains the details of the government's £15bn support package to help with soaring ene ... Show More
33m 19s
Feb 2024
The Global Story: Could Taylor Swift swing the US election?
Our colleagues on The Global Story made this episode on a subject we know is close to many Americaster's hearts. So we thought we'd put it in your feeds.It's presented by Europe editor Katya Adler. To look at Taylor Swift's potential political sway, she's joined by North America ... Show More
26m 16s
Jul 2023
Music’s nostalgia-industrial complex
A lot of our new hit music sounds just like our parents’ old hit music. Pitchfork’s Jayson Greene says you should blame publishing companies.This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Serena Solin, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Michael R ... Show More
25m 34s
Feb 2023
Born in the UFO
Why is the White House shooting down flying objects? Adam is joined by the BBC’s security correspondent, Gordon Corera, and North America correspondent, Sarah Smith, to discuss the mystery that’s gripping America. After a weekend of showbiz news Radio 1 DJ, Jack Saunders, gives h ... Show More
32m 18s
Jun 2022
100 Days
One hundred days on from February 24th, a date that will be remembered for decades, we take you through the story of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In this special episode, we listen back to some of the key moments from hours of testimony and analysis on the war. This e ... Show More
59m 34s
Dec 2023
Mariah's Christmas Hit
Rerun: All I Want For Christmas Is You has made Mariah Carey a fortune - but it took an astonishing 25 years for the song to finally reach Number One on the Billboard Hot 100; a feat it achieved on 21st December, 2019, becoming America’s first festive-themed chart-topper since Th ... Show More
12m 4s
Nov 2016
Sarah McLachlan Discusses Her New Holiday Album "Wonderland," Plus Chart Chat About Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj
Sarah McLachlan joins us on the latest show to discuss her new holiday album, “Wonderland!” The three-time Grammy Award-winner called in to talk about the set and how the Christmas season is her “favorite time of year.” Plus, we’ve got chart chat about a new No. 1 album on the Bi ... Show More
30m 21s