Popcast
482 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★ - 1.3K ratingsThe 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.
Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp
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Episodes
Beyoncé, ‘Cowboy Carter’ and Filling in History’s Gaps
April 09, 2024 03:33 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBA conversation about how the pop superstar’s genre experiments explore race and power, and the implicit politics that come with them. Guests: Marcus K. Dowling and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd.
Popcast (Deluxe): Listening to Beyoncé & Future (and the Discourse)
April 03, 2024 19:41 - 1 hour - 76 MBHow conversation about very specific aspects of the new albums “Cowboy Carter” and “We Don’t Trust You” can obscure talk of their musical quality.
Lil Jon: The Popcast (Deluxe) Interview
March 27, 2024 21:58 - 1 hour - 96 MBAn in-depth interview with the Atlanta hip-hop and EDM legend, tracing his path through punk, skateboarding and crunk music on the way to this year’s Super Bowl.
The Justin Timberlake Conundrum
March 26, 2024 20:16 - 59 minutes - 54.4 MBHis sixth solo album, “Everything I Thought It Was,” has been met with critical dismissal and weaker sales. Where can the onetime pop superstar turn next? Guests: Steven J. Horowitz and Joshunda Sanders.
Popcast (Deluxe): Is Reality TV in a New Golden Age?
March 21, 2024 15:11 - 1 hour - 73.8 MBCatching up on recent hit shows like “Love Is Blind,” “The Traitors” and “Survivor,” including how social media has added another layer of reality.
Popcast (Deluxe): What’s an Industry Plant Anyway? Plus: Ariana Grande
March 14, 2024 18:48 - 1 hour - 61.3 MBDiscussing the quick ascent of the downtempo R&B singer 4batz, the new Ariana Grande album, “eternal sunshine,” music at the Oscars and more.
Tate McRae, Dua Lipa and the Fight to Be ‘Main Pop Girl’
March 13, 2024 19:09 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MBA conversation about a title that emerged from stan communities, and how it’s played a role in pop singers’ careers. Guests: Vulture's Jason P. Frank and Rolling Stone's Larisha Paul.
girl in red: The Popcast (Deluxe) Interview
March 06, 2024 17:43 - 1 hour - 68.4 MBAn interview with the Norwegian singer girl in red (Marie Ulven) about her second album, “I’m Doing It Again Baby!,” opening for Taylor Swift and more.
Popcast (Deluxe): Is TikTok Done? 4 Crises Holding the App Back
February 28, 2024 21:19 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBOnce addictive and effective, TikTok is struggling with commercialization, a shifting relationship with the music industry and more.
Remembering Toby Keith and His Complexities
February 27, 2024 23:30 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBA conversation about his loudest (and quieter) moments, and how patriotism has played into country music. Guest: David Cantwell.
Popcast (Deluxe): Pop Stars vs. the Attention Economy
February 22, 2024 14:59 - 1 hour - 58 MBJennifer Lopez’s new film and album, “This Is Me … Now,” plus other confusing recent rollouts for pop stars including Dua Lipa, Justin Timberlake and Camila Cabello.
Covering the Rise of Tracy Chapman
February 21, 2024 20:23 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBIn 1988, “Fast Car” turned the singer-songwriter into a star. She was skeptical of the spotlight, and learning to wield her power. Guest: Steve Pond.
Popcast (Deluxe): Usher, Beyoncé and Ye Lead a Busy Week in Pop
February 15, 2024 23:33 - 1 hour - 64 MBRecapping the Super Bowl halftime show, two new singles from Beyoncé, Ye’s “Vultures 1” album and more.
How Usher Arrived at the Super Bowl Halftime Show
February 08, 2024 13:44 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBA conversation about his long career path through several generations of R&B, and what he might do on such a big stage. Guests: Thomas Hobbs and Danielle Amir Jackson.
2024 Grammys, Dissected: Taylor, Miley, SZA, Tracy, Joni and More
February 07, 2024 00:40 - 52 minutes - 48.5 MBWas this the year the awards got it correct? Guests: Caryn Ganz, Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz.
Popcast (Deluxe): Will Taylor, SZA or Olivia Win Big at the Grammys?
January 31, 2024 17:31 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBA breakdown of the major categories and most interesting competitions at the 66th annual awards on Sunday.
Popcast (Deluxe): Playboi Carti, Waxahatchee and 12 More to Watch
January 24, 2024 23:23 - 52 minutes - 47.6 MBA breakdown of new albums and songs for 2024 (and a handful of possible but dubious releases).
Pitchfork, the Early Years
January 24, 2024 13:47 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBWith the music website’s future uncertain, Ryan Schreiber and Chris Kaskie look back at its start.
An Elastic and Impressive Moment in Jazz
January 19, 2024 16:38 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MBA rundown of impressive recent releases and a look at who benefits (and suffers) when artists working outside formal jazz idioms are lumped into conversations about the genre. Guests: Marcus J. Moore and Giovanni Russonello.
Popcast (Deluxe): Lil Nas X, Ariana Grande and 21 Savage Kick Off 2024
January 17, 2024 20:29 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBPop’s premier troll returns while one of its biggest voices turns her attention to gossip, and the first blockbuster rap album of the year arrives.
Popcast (Deluxe): ‘Saltburn,’ Jacob Elordi and the New Heartthrob Era
January 11, 2024 21:25 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBPlus: Barry Keoghan’s “Murder on the Dancefloor,” Jeremy Allen White’s stripped-down moment and Nathan Fielder’s “The Curse” wraps up.
What Did We Learn From a Year in Live Shows?
January 10, 2024 20:33 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBConcerts paused during the height of the pandemic, and returned at full power in 2023. Our pop music editor saw a lot of them. Guest: Caryn Ganz
Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and the Sphere: The Year in Live Music
December 23, 2023 15:11 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBThe touring business saw record revenue in 2023 and major tours made news, but fans still struggle with ticket prices and access — and political leaders are watching. Guest: Ben Sisario.
Popcast (Deluxe): The Kid Mero on the Viral Characters of 2023
December 20, 2023 17:11 - 1 hour - 62.2 MBThe comedian and podcaster known as the Kid Mero on the year in internet domination, including Ice Spice, Keith Lee, the Weeknd, Kai Cenat and more.
Chatting About the Best Songs of 2023
December 15, 2023 15:56 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBThe most impactful tracks of the year come from different genres and generations — and not all of them are traditional songs. Guests: Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz.
Jelly Roll: The Popcast (Deluxe) Interview
December 13, 2023 20:04 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBAn emotional conversation with one of the year’s biggest breakout stars about turning his life around and transitioning from Southern rap to country hitmaking.
The Albums That Defined 2023? Let’s Discuss.
December 09, 2023 20:46 - 53 minutes - 48.9 MBOur critics debate their year-end lists (and agree on SZA, Olivia Rodrigo and 100 gecs!) in a wrap-up of the year in LPs. Guests: Jon Pareles and Lindsay Zoladz.
Popcast (Deluxe): Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ Movie Shows All the Work
December 06, 2023 18:10 - 1 hour - 62.5 MBDiscussing the singer’s new concert film that documents the Renaissance World Tour, interspersed with behind-the-scenes looks at how it came to be.
Jung Kook, BTS and English Language K-Pop
December 01, 2023 14:39 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBA conversation about K-pop’s long march to American awareness, and the potential risks of that embrace. Guest: Kara.
Popcast (Deluxe): Can Rap Bridge Its Generation Gap?
November 29, 2023 18:35 - 1 hour - 66.9 MBIs it possible for rappers to age gracefully? Where are the new stars? A discussion on the state of the genre and where it may be heading.
André 3000’s Experiments With Flutes and Fame
November 25, 2023 15:45 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBThe acclaimed rapper’s first solo album contains no rapping. What does this sharp creative turn reveal about its maker? Guests: GQ's Zach Baron, and Sadie Sartini Garner.
Popcast (Deluxe): Mailbag! The Beatles, Taylor Swift and More
November 22, 2023 19:33 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBTaking viewer and listener questions on hot topics in pop music.
Popcast (Deluxe): What Is Going On With the Grammy Nominations?
November 15, 2023 23:50 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBDissecting the contenders for the 2024 Grammy Awards, including top nominations for SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, boygenius, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Jon Batiste. Plus: Nathan Fielder's "The Curse."
PinkPantheress Leaves the Bedroom for the Wider Pop World
November 10, 2023 22:32 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBA conversation about the 22-year-old singer, songwriter and producer’s new album and the art of sampling. Guests: Kemi Alemoru and Lindsay Zoladz.
Popcast (Deluxe): ‘Priscilla’ and ‘The Golden Bachelor’ Plumb Heartbreak
November 08, 2023 17:51 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBBreaking down Sofia Coppola’s new film, an impressionistic take on Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s relationship, plus: the surprising depth of a reality TV spinoff.
Noah Kahan’s Rootsy Rock Revival
November 03, 2023 13:49 - 47 minutes - 43.6 MBRevisiting the rustic mainstream sound of the early 2010s, the Vermont singer-songwriter has broken through with “Stick Season.” Guests: Vox's Rebecca Jennings and Billboard's Jason Lipshutz.
Popcast (Deluxe): Is the Pop Music Machine Stuck in Place?
November 01, 2023 19:22 - 1 hour - 62 MBWith certain headliners hogging up space, where are the new stars? We checked in on recent hits from the radio, streaming services and TikTok.
Who Is Troye Sivan Now?
October 27, 2023 16:34 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBA conversation about the pop star’s evolution on his new album, “Something to Give Each Other,” and the ceilings he may still face as an openly gay male performer. Guests: Harry Tafoya and Shaad D’Souza.
Popcast (Deluxe): The Britney Spears Memoir + ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’
October 25, 2023 18:09 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBReacting to “The Woman in Me,” the new book by Spears, and Martin Scorsese’s latest film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone.
Drake Takes On All Comers
October 20, 2023 16:38 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MBThe rapper’s new album, “For All the Dogs,” has stirred debate about maturity and misogyny, and led to questions about the next phase of his career. Guests: The Ringer's Justin Charity and Pitchfork's Dylan Green.
Popcast (Deluxe): Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Movie + Bad Bunny Returns
October 18, 2023 15:41 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBA conversation about Swift’s concert film documenting her summer stadium sojourn. Plus: The new album “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana.”
Do We Need Album Reviews Anymore?
October 12, 2023 18:53 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBA conversation about the history — and future — of album reviews in an increasingly fraught environment for music journalism and criticism.
Popcast (Deluxe): Drake’s New Album Courts New Enemies
October 11, 2023 14:45 - 1 hour - 61.9 MBA discussion about “For All the Dogs” and the fever-pitch online discourse around Drake, his career and his public persona. Plus: reality TV drama.
Maren Morris: The (Deluxe) Interview
October 04, 2023 14:24 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBIn a guest appearance, the country-pop singer discusses her recent decision to step back from country music because of Nashville’s poor track record of tolerance and diversity.
Zach Bryan Begins Building His Village
September 29, 2023 13:33 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBA conversation about the singer-songwriter’s post-politics approach to stardom, his dogged work ethic and his artistic coalition with fellow dissidents.
Popcast (Deluxe): Doja Cat’s Rap Renaissance + Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce
September 27, 2023 14:36 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBBreaking down Doja Cat’s surprising new album, “Scarlet,” plus: Swift’s foray into football and Hasan Minhaj’s fibs.
Remembering Jimmy Buffett, Beach Bum Bard
September 21, 2023 19:01 - 39 minutes - 35.7 MBA conversation about how the musician, who died this month at 76, turned a way of life into a song — and that song back into a very profitable way of life. Guest: Jon Pareles
Popcast (Deluxe): Ice Spice’s Munchkin Drink + Jann Wenner Backlash
September 20, 2023 17:34 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBPlus: what it’s like in Sean Combs’s sauna.
Popcast (Deluxe): Breaking Down Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Guts,’ Part 2
September 13, 2023 19:33 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBA deep dive into whom the singer’s new songs might be about — and if it matters. Plus: Zach Bryan’s breakthrough and recent arrest.
Olivia Rodrigo’s Songs About Growing Pains
September 12, 2023 23:42 - 51 minutes - 47.2 MBThe 20-year-old singer-songwriter returns with “Guts,” an album informed by the opportunities and costs of her rapid rise. Guests: Caryn Ganz and Lindsay Zoladz.