In the rarefied world of smash pop singles, there are No. 1s—and there are No. 1 debuts. Entering Billboard’s Hot 100 at the top is one of the hardest tricks in music. In fact, it wasn’t possible in the U.S. until 1995. That’s when the record labels hacked the Hot 100 and figured out how to send new singles straight into the chart penthouse.
But scoring a ... Show More
Aug 29
The White and Nerdy Edition Part 2
Sped-up voices. Wacky instruments. Songs about cavemen, bathtubs, bikinis, and mothers-in-law. From the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll through the 1970s—the age of streaking, CB radios, disco and King Tut—novelty songs could be chart-topping hits. But by the corporate ’80s, it was harder ... Show More
46m 30s
Aug 15
The White and Nerdy Edition Part 1
Sped-up voices. Wacky instruments. Songs about cavemen, bathtubs, bikinis, and mothers-in-law. From the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll through the 1970s—the age of streaking, CB radios, disco and King Tut—novelty songs could be chart-topping hits. But by the corporate ’80s, it was harder ... Show More
49m 40s
Feb 2025
The Umbrella Effect: How Rihanna’s Breakout Hit Changed Pop Music Forever
In 2007, a 19-year-old Barbadian pop singer released the lead single off her third album. By doing so, she didn't just give us a timeless, undeniable banger -- she changed the way pop music is made, and became the global superstar that we know Rihanna to be today. In this episode ... Show More
37m 24s
Mar 2020
Dua Lipa, Bob Dylan, Rosalía, PartyNextDoor & More
Billboard breaks down the biggest releases in the music world for the week of March 27, 2020, including drops from Dua Lipa, Bob Dylan, Rosalía, PartyNextDoor (featuring Rihanna), Pearl Jam, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
24m 57s
Aug 2024
Tinashe’s “Nasty” takes on Janet and Beyoncé + Are songs getting simpler?
If you've spent any time on the internet this summer, you may have encountered a certain refrain accompanying particularly fierce dance videos—"I've been a nasty girl. Nasty, nasty, nasty." This track, "Nasty" by the R&B singer and songwriter Tinashe, is a jam in its own right. F ... Show More
46m 15s
Sep 2024
‘Teenage Dream’ | Every Single Album: Katy Perry
With ‘Teenage Dream,’ Katy Perry became the first artist since Michael Jackson to have an album with five no. 1 singles. Nora and Nathan talk about the massive highs on this album, including “Last Friday Night,” “California Gurls,” and “Firework” (1:00); the massive lows such as ... Show More
1h 28m
Sep 2016
Daya On Her Upcoming ‘Electro Pop’ Album and Breakthrough Year, Plus Chart Chat About Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga & More
On the latest Pop Shop Podcast, we welcome rising star Daya, who stops by to talk about her breakthrough year and her upcoming debut full-length album, “Sit Still, Look Pretty” and more. Also in the show, Keith and Katie dive into the charts, talking about Barbra Streisand’s 11th ... Show More
29 m
Jun 2025
How the 'Hit Girls' Shaped Our Current Pop Landscape. Plus, Where's Our Song of the Summer?
Nora discusses her new book, 'Hit Girls,' about how stars like Britney Spears and Beyoncé shaped our current pop landscape (1:00). Then she and Nathan talk about Sabrina Carpenter's new single "Manchild" and her forthcoming album 'Man's Best Friend' (22:49), before previewing the ... Show More
57m 37s
Oct 5
'The Life of a Showgirl' | Every Single Album: Taylor Swift
Lights, camera, showtime! It's time to talk about Taylor Swift's newest album: 'The Life of a Showgirl.' Nora and Nathan talk about their initial reactions to the record and why this is an album you should just have fun with (1:00), how Swift's reunion with Max Martin and Shellba ... Show More
2h 26m