Popcast - podcast cover

Popcast

The New York Timeswww.nytimes.com
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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp

Episodes

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? Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jan 30, 201858 minEp. 164

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jan 26, 20181 hr 7 minEp. 163

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 Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jan 19, 201853 minEp. 162

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jan 12, 20181 hr 3 minEp. 161

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jan 05, 20181 hr 5 minEp. 160

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? Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Dec 22, 201754 minEp. 159

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 Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Dec 18, 20171 hr 5 minEp. 158

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Dec 08, 20171 hr 14 minEp. 157

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Dec 02, 201734 minEp. 156

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Nov 22, 201758 minEp. 155

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Nov 14, 20171 hr 12 minEp. 154

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Nov 09, 201748 minEp. 153

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Nov 03, 201741 minEp. 152

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? Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Oct 27, 201748 minEp. 151

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? Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Oct 20, 201755 minEp. 150

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Oct 13, 201747 minEp. 149

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Oct 04, 201734 minEp. 148

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Sep 29, 201748 minEp. 147

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? Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Sep 22, 20171 hr 3 minEp. 146

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Sep 15, 201755 minEp. 145

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Sep 11, 201756 minEp. 144

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Aug 25, 201731 minEp. 142

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Aug 18, 201745 minEp. 141

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Aug 11, 201742 minEp. 140

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Aug 04, 201736 minEp. 139

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 Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jul 28, 201759 minEp. 138

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 Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jul 21, 201747 minEp. 137

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 Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jul 14, 20171 hr 14 minEp. 136

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 Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jun 30, 201756 minEp. 135

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. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Jun 23, 20171 hr 5 minEp. 134
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