Sam here! Dropping in to introduce my new daily podcast The Pop Pod, which covers all things pop music from artist interviews to album deep dives. Here is a quick preview. Fear not! This is not a Flopstars replacement. Flopstars is returning. Nic and I have been plotting the return and will hopefully have news for you within the month. Follow or Subscribe to The Pop Pod here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/popsamcampoppod
Mar 25, 2025•23 min
It's the Pop In and our agenda this week is: The Grammys Justin Timberlake vs. Britney Spears Megan Thee Stallion vs. Nicki Minaj The new Ice Spice song 'Fart' TikTok vs. Universal Music
Feb 03, 2024•39 min
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Our wrapped Best albums/songs of the year Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Billboard Taylor Swift Time Person of the Year Charli XCX has finished her new album
Dec 10, 2023•29 min
WELCOME BACK TO THE POP IN! What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up The rise and rise of Tate McRae - could she clinch a Billboard #1? Spotify Wrapped is out - unpacking the global Top 5 songs and artists Dua Lipa's Houdini - our 4 week late review Nicki Minaj album next week same week as Tate McRae and SZA deluxe what a time Quick unpack of what the rest of the year looks like on the pod...
Nov 30, 2023•35 min
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Dua Lipa wipes Instagram for new era - what do we know, who’s involved, and all that jazz Charli's BACK BABY Troye album's coming this week & Nic interviewed him - hear the full thing here Sam saw RAYE live in New York and it was one of the most lucid shows he's ever seen Tems is selling out huge venues & releases a triumphant single Omar Apollo's new single The Pop In now gets a game: YEAR OF THE SONG!...
Oct 11, 2023•33 min
Billie Eilish's second album 'Happier Than Ever' was a big turning point for her. Her first album was a streaming giant but this album marked a pointed move to establish herself as an artist without worrying about the hits. The result was a cohesive, mature and startingly honest album that's both wildly experimental while also being classic. In this episode, we talk about how important this album was for positioning her as an artist and also why it perhaps didn't garner the same success as her d...
Oct 07, 2023•54 min•Season 8Ep. 7
This week on The Pop In: Beyoncé is bringing the Renaissance World Tour to cinemas *NSYNC are back with a song for the Trollz soundtrack Ed Sheeran's new album is lacklustre Doja Cat is struggling to pull the numbers she deserves Jorja Smith's new album is bliss PinkPantheress nails the vibes on her new song...
Oct 06, 2023•35 min
Ariana Grande makes her Flopstars debut with her divisive fourth album which came after a traumatic time and signalled the start of a creatively fluid period for her. It's an important album in her discography, one that sees her stepping into her own and learning to react to very personal situations in real-time. It wasn't for everyone but it was for us and we explore that on this week's pod.
Sep 22, 2023•58 min•Season 8Ep. 5
This week on the Pop In: Kim Petras drops Problematique - why now? Kylie Minogue and Doja Cat release two of the most anticipated albums of the year this week Let’s talk about Madison Beer Drake/SZA - Slime You Out Tate McRae is having a huge time on streaming with Greedy, but has she had her proper mega hit yet?
Sep 19, 2023•27 min
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Sam went to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Mexico City Nicki Minaj teasing new single ‘Last Time I Saw You’ Ashnikko album out. What happened to her popularity? ELTON JOHN HAD A FALL (HE'S OK) THEY CANCELLED THE IDOL Bop or Flop Selena Gomez - Single Soon Miley Cyrus - Used To Be Young Conan Gray - Winner Omar Apollo - Ice Slippin Alright - Victoria Monet Ashnikko - dying star (feat. Ethel Cain) Joel Corry & Rita Ora with MK - Drinkin...
Aug 30, 2023•39 min
Selena Gomez's 'Rare' came after a period of experimentation for one of the most popular people on earth. She had collaborated with dance producers and had a string of excellent standalone releases so 'Rare' could've been anything. 'Lose You To Love Me' instantly became her first #1 - a startingly honest ballad unlike anything she's ever done before - and the bar for 'Rare' was set high. Was it met? Probably not but we get into it all here.
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 8Ep. 5
Welcome back to The Pop In! The adjacent podcast to Flopstars running through the big releases and music stories of the last 7 days. Coming Up Miley Cyrus is teasing a new single on the 10th anniversary of Wrecking Ball Oliver Anthony - who??? We're doing our first ever live show at Beyond The Valley Festival Joel Corry & Rita Ora have a song coming out this week which feels very our brand Addison Rae EP unpacked Bop or Flop Addison Rae - 2 die 4 Charlie Puth - Lipstick Doechiii - Booty Drop...
Aug 23, 2023•31 min
Ryan Beatty is someone we've needed to talk about for a while. 'Boy In Jeans' is one of Nic's favourite records of all time and it's an important jumping block to discuss a really interesting career. It's a record about embracing queerness and joy while also unpacking trauma from the past and it's done so in a nuanced masterful way. If you're not already on the Ryan Beatty train, this is your invitation.
Aug 10, 2023•59 min•Season 8Ep. 4
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Dua Lipa teases her new era's sound and release date Olivia Rodrigo single coming Friday - what sound can we expect? Doja Cat is headed for a great chart moment this week - but is she really not doing pop? Bop or Flop Halle - Angel David Guetta & Bebe Rexha - One In A Million Doja Cat - Paint The Town Red Jorja Smith - GO GO GO Gretta Ray - Dont date The Teenager Nao - Balance...
Aug 09, 2023•29 min
We finally talk about an artist that we’ve been fascinated by for a while on this episode. Bebe Rexha’s third album ‘Bebe’ is the focus. A cohesive, strong pop album that is overshadowed by a behemoth hit that is bigger than the artist herself. We discuss what needs to happen for Bebe to be finally given her flowers and much more on this week’s episode.
Aug 04, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 8Ep. 3
Welcome back to The Pop In! What’s been happening this week? Halle's debut single coming Friday called ‘Angel’ - what can we expect? Huge numbers for Travis Scott's UTOPIA - where are we at with him? Kylie's Vegas residency announced Bop or Flop Carly Rae Jepsen - Psychedelic Switch Travis Scott & Beyonce - Delestro (Echoes) Sam Smith & Calvin Harris - Desire Post Malone - Enough Is Enough Tkay Maidza - Ring-A-Ling Holly Humberstone - Superbloodmoon Tori Kelly - Cut ADDITIONAL VIEWING Ca...
Aug 01, 2023•29 min
We turn to Kelly Clarkson's fourth album 'All I Ever Wanted' in this episode, a record that was a chart hit but perhaps a personal defeat. After 'My December' this saw Clarko back on the charts but giving up some of the intimacy of the previous record. It's a varied but ultimately triumphant album.
Jul 21, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 8Ep. 2
What’s been happening this week? Britney & Will.i.am is happening and Sam makes a discovery about will.i.am's name New Zayn and Tinashe on the way this week - does time heal everything? Carly Rae Jepsen's new album is coming Troye is doing some of his all time best numbers, but do we need to talk about the bodies in the video for Rush? Bop or Flop (featuring our First Ever Guest, Friend Of The Show Jono) Troye Sivan - Rush Billie - What Was I Made For Pinkpantheress & Destroy Lonely - Tu...
Jul 19, 2023•47 min
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Speak Now Taylor's Version chart records & first reactions New Britney and will.i.am coming this month? Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)” featuring SLASH is coming this Friday Ava Max proves she's the perfect popstar on the Barbie pink carpet & Nicki Minaj reviews Barbie (Part 1) Bop or Flop Taylor Swift - I Can See You Fifty Fifty & Kaliii - Barbie Dreams Anne-Marie - TRAINWRECK Tkay Maidza & Flume - Silent Assassin Domin...
Jul 12, 2023•33 min
We're back for season 8 and we're tapping in with a legend. Mariah Carey's 'E=MC2' came after a massive return to form with 'The Emancipation Of Mimi'. The follow-up didn't achieve the same success but it did nab a huge record with 'Touch My Body' and it's become a late fan favourite. It's a freeing R&B record that has only gotten better with age. Dive in with us.
Jul 05, 2023•59 min•Season 8Ep. 1
ON THE SHOW THIS WEEK! (1.40) Nicki Minaj’s album has been pushed back for “some really exciting news” - what is the news? (2.50) The Idol Season Finale reviewed and unpacked (6.15) Troye Sivan’s Rush AND Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampire makes us unpack the whole ‘teasing songs for ages’ thing (13.58) Zayn Malik is on the comeback trail & who is the bigger 1D member - Zayn or Niall? Bop or Flop Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire (18.40) Charli XCX - Speed Drive (23.35) Rita Ora - Don’t Think Twice (27.44) BEN...
Jul 04, 2023•43 min
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Kim Petras gets a 4.1 from Pitchfork - why? Olivia Rodrigo announces new album Guts - how does she follow up the first? Taylor Swift tells the crowd not to bully John Mayer Kylie's Vegas residency confirmed... by Kelly Clarkson Glastonbury - Elton's special guests, Lewis Capaldi, and Rick Astley's most iconic moment Bop or Flop Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj - Barbie World Carly Rae Jepsen - Shy Boy Kim Petras - King Of Hearts Coi Leray - Make My Day Dip...
Jun 27, 2023•56 min
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Bebe has phone thrown at her by fan Why is Taylor Swift's Lover finally getting its flowers - and is Taylor headed for overexposure again? The Idol - has it jumped the shark? Bop or Flop Doja Cat - Attention Peggy Gou - It Goes Like (Nanana) Rosalia - TUYA PinkPantheress - Angel Leigh Anne - Don’t Say Love Dagny - Same Again (for love) Hemlocke Springs - Heavun Victoria Monet - On My Mama Coi Leray - Run it up Hit us @flopstarspodcast on Instagram and...
Jun 21, 2023•36 min
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up The Idol - our review Padam Padam is doing the Padamn thing Romy announces debut album Bop or Flop Popular - The Weeknd & Madonna Madison Beer - Home To Another One Bizarrap, Peso Pluma - Bzrp Music Sessions 55 Dom Dolla, Nelly Furtado - Eat Your Man Ty Dolla $ign - Motion Kelly Clarkson - i hate love Rose Gray - Happiness Ed Sheeran - A Beautiful Game...
Jun 09, 2023•45 min
We'll be back with a new season proper in mid June! In the meantime... Welcome to The Pop In the adjacent podcast to Flopstars where we run through the big new music releases and stories of the week! What’s been happening this week? The whole Matty Healy drama unpacked The Weeknd The Idol debuting this week and the critics despise it already - but we're very ready for it Sam Smith x Madonna Taylor Swift Cruel Summer and Miley Cyrus Angels Like You becoming hits Bop or Flop Dua Lipa - Dance The N...
Jun 02, 2023•35 min
Robyn's 'Honey' is our focus for the season finale and what a record to end on. 'Honey' came 8 years after the groundbreaking 'Body Talk' and after a tumultuous personal time for Robyn. It took time but she found joy in music once again and converted it into a tender, spacious record that walks a tightrope between pop and electronica. On this episode, we discuss the impact of the record, the commercial shortcomings and Robyn's overall influence on pop music.
May 25, 2023•59 min•Season 7Ep. 12
Welcome to The Pop In the adjacent podcast to Flopstars where we run through the big new music releases and stories of the week! Coming Up: Sam saw Caroline Polachek America Has A Problem got a Kendrick remix Let’s talk about Peso Pluma - officially one of the biggest artists in the world right now Bop or Flop Bad Bunny - Where She Goes Zara Larsson - End Of Time Post Malone - Mourning Conan Gray - Never Ending Song Chappell Roan - Red Wine Supernova Kelly Clarkson - Favorite Kind Of High Anne-M...
May 24, 2023•36 min
Hello and welcome to The Pop In the adjacent podcast to Flopstars where we run through the big music news stories & song releases of the week! Coming Up: The Renaissance tour has started Lana Del Rey releases 10 year old song Say Yes To Heaven Kylie returns and announces new album Tension Bop or Flop: Jorja Smith - Little Things Janelle Monae - Lipstick Lover G Flip - Be Your Man Remi Wolf - Prescription PNAU, Bebe Rexha, Ozuna - Stars Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam Roisin Murphy - The Universe...
May 19, 2023•40 min
Ava Max has had an interesting run. She broke through with her single 'Sweet But Psycho' at a time when the charts were shunning pure pop. Now they're embracing it though, her star has faded somewhat. 'Diamonds & Dancefloors' was plagued by leaks and delays but despite that it presents as a pretty perfect pop record. It's bold, unapologetic, and escapist. On this episode, we talk all things Ava and give 'D&D' its flowers.
May 19, 2023•39 min•Season 7Ep. 11
Hello and welcome to The Pop In the adjacent podcast to Flopstars where we run through the big music news stories & song releases of the week! Coming Up: Beyoncé tour starts tomorrow - what will she and won't she perform? Ed Sheeran album - turning the critics (and the Sams) Daft Punk Random Access Memories 10 year anniversary - has it aged well beyond the song Zara Larsson used as a sample? Jonas Brothers album coming out - do we care? The Weeknd to kill off the moniker - what will his new ...
May 10, 2023•45 min