Best Stereogum Podcasts (2024)

1
MICHAEL JACKSON PT. 3: THRILLER (with Stereogum's Tom Breihan) 2:12:17

1h ago2:12:17

2:12:17

There are albums. And then there’s Thriller. For the third installment of our four-part series on the King of Pop, Stereogum’s Tom Breihan returns for Pop Pantheon’s first ever A-Side devoted to a single album: Michael Jackson’s definitive 1982 pop blockbuster, Thriller. DJ Louie and Tom dig into every aspect of the best-selling album of all time, …

1
MICHAEL JACKSON PT. 4: LEGACY (with Dr. Fredara Hadley) 2:25:22

1h ago2:25:22

2:25:22

Professor of Ethnomusicology at Julliard Dr. Fredara Hadley joins Pop Pantheon for the culmination of our four-part series on the King of Pop. In the final installment, DJ Louie and Dr. Hadley tackle Michael Jackson’s music post-Thriller, starting with the signature ‘80s blockbuster Bad (1987) and 1991’s successful pivot toward New Jack Swing, Dang…

1
Ice Spice's Y2K Is Surprisingly 2024 Coded (with Nadirah Simmons) (Patreon Preview) 10:03

1h ago10:03

10:03

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Ice Spice just dropped her debut record Y2K, an under 25 minute tour through drill beats, Jersey club and Ice's signature puerile humor and nonchalant flow. How does it work as her first official album statement? Who is this music playing to? And does it sound like 2000 at all? Writer Na…

1
Episode 404 Justin Roth's First Episode! 40:53

8d ago40:53

40:53

Join us for Justin Roth's debut as Co-Host alongside Curtis! In this episode, they delve into the delicate art of addressing controversial topics as a band. They explore the pros and cons, share personal insights, and discuss how such decisions can impact your band's image and fanbase. Don't miss this engaging conversation on navigating the tricky …

1
Revisiting Chappell Roan's The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (with Olivia Horn) (Patreon Preview) 11:10

8d ago11:10

11:10

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Olivia Horn reviewed Chappell Roan's debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, in Pitchfork when it dropped last September. Back then, she was a fringy pop upstart with some nice critical notices and a small cult audience. Now, she's one of the biggest new pop superstars of t…

1
MICHAEL JACKSON PT. 2: THE KING OF POP RISES (with Joseph Vogel) 1:52:40

14m ago1:52:40

1:52:40

Joe Vogel, author of Man in the Music: The Creative Life of Michael Jackson, joins Pop Pantheon for the second in our four-part series on the King of Pop. DJ Louie and Joe dig into MJ’s early solo work, from his 1972 debut Got to Be There to his first solo number one, “Ben,” his changing voice as grew older and his final Motown album, 1975’s Foreve…

1
Katy Perry's Not So Grand Return + Kesha, Lana Del Rey & More (Patreon Preview) 11:31

1h ago11:31

11:31

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Katy Perry's much anticipated new single, the Dr. Luke-produced "Woman's World", finally dropped on Friday along with it's music video and the response has been.... not so great. Louie and Russ talk all things Katy before pivoting to new songs from Kesha, Lana and Tinashe and a Taylor Sw…

1
MICHAEL JACKSON PT. 1: THE JACKSON 5 (with Emily Lordi) 2:01:03

20d ago2:01:03

2:01:03

For the first of our four-part series on the King of Pop, writer, professor and critic Emily Lordi joins Pop Pantheon to help us begin to untangle one of the most knotty legacies in pop history: the story of Michael Jackson. Emily and DJ Louie discuss Michael’s extremely strict upbringing, sadistic abuse at the hands of his father Joe, and the crea…

1
Megan Thee Stallion Reps for the South— and Herself— on Megan (with Taylor Crumpton) (Patreon Preview) 10:48

5d ago10:48

10:48

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Megan Thee Stallion's third studio album, Megan, her first as an independent artist and since her infamous beef with Nicki Minaj, dropped last week. Taylor Crumpton is here to help Louie and Russ break down the record's inherent regionality, Megan's new and old poses and themes and what …

1
The Winners and Losers of the Touring Boom (with Matthew Perpetua, Zach Schonfeld & Emily Stewart) 58:32

29d ago58:32

58:32

After the pandemic, fans wanted to see their favs (and even their less favs) so much that the concert touring industry boomed, breaking records and culminating in astronomically expensive blockbuster stadium treks from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. But more recently, the live show gambit has gone bust for superstars like Jennifer Lopez, The Black Keys,…

1
The Chaos and Calculations of Camila Cabello's C,XOXO (with Omri Rolan) (Patreon Preview) 9:37

1M ago9:37

9:37

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Is Camila Cabello's fourth studio album, C, XOXO, a cold-hearted Single White Female-ing of other, cooler pop stars? Or is it an earnest— if chaotic— attempt by the former girl group star to find her authentic voice as a grown up pop diva? Louie, Russ and Friend of the Pod Omri Rolan are…

1
KATE BUSH (with Mic the Snare) 2:02:15

26d ago2:02:15

2:02:15

Mic The Snare joins Pop Pantheon to unpack the wild, unbridled genius of pop’s ultimate enigma, Kate Bush. Louie & Mic The Snare dig into Kate’s teenage record deal and her debut single, 1978’s “Wuthering Heights.” From there they discuss her debut album The Kick Inside, her legendary first – and only – full live tour and her early, pre-MTV adoptio…

1
Ranking the Main Pop Girl Albums of 2024 (So Far) (with Ira Madison III) 1:14:44

23d ago1:14:44

1:14:44

It seems like every single Main Pop Girl has dropped an album this year: Ariana, Kacey, Beyoncé, Taylor, Dua, Billie and Charli. And we're only six months in! It's been a whole lot of new music to process but now that we've had a minute to sit with these records, Keep It's Ira Madison III joins DJ Louie to reflect on all of these records, what they…

1
Normani's Album is Good. Now What? (with Rolling Stone's Larisha Paul) (Patreon Preview) 11:01

25d ago11:01

11:01

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Normani's debut solo album has been over five years in the making. Now that Dopamine is finally here, was it worth the wait? And with the heat having died down on her career, does it matter? Rolling Stone's Larisha Paul joins the show to help break it all down. To hear the rest of the th…

1
FRANK OCEAN (with Tre Johnson) 2:05:27

2M ago2:05:27

2:05:27

Tre Johnson returns to Pop Pantheon for a special Pride episode about one of pop's greatest disruptors, Frank Ocean. Louie and Tre discuss Frank’s first foray into the industry, writing for artists like Brandy and Justin Bieber and his rapturous breakthrough mixtape, 2011’s Nostalgia Ultra, which instantly turned Frank into a critical darling and r…

1
Charli XCX Breaks New Ground on Brat (Patreon Preview) 8:51

1M ago8:51

8:51

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Charli XCX's sixth studio album Brat, which dropped Friday, was posited as a dance album. What we actually got was something quite a bit more complicated. On this week's episode, Louie and Russ break the whole thing down. To hear the rest of the this episode plus receive weekly bonus epi…

1
Queer Women are Taking Over Pop (with Trish Bendix & Mel Woods) 55:59

1M ago55:59

55:59

To kick off Pride Month, Freelance Music Writer Trish Bendix and Senior Editor at Xtra Magazine Mel Woods join Louie to track the conspicuous rise of sapphic-ness in mainstream pop. From BoyGenius to Chappell Roan to Billie Eilish, girls who like girls and make that a huge feature in the music are crossing over onto the top of the Billboard charts.…

1
403 Aliyah's Final Episode: Finding Balance in a Hustling World 31:36

1M ago31:36

31:36

Our host Aliyah steps away from the podcast, and introduces you to your new host, Justin Roth of WAR CURSE. Join them, Curtis, and Cori in a discussion about balance, priorities, and sacrifice. Interested in our services? C-Squared is a multinational team specializing in music PR and marketing of all kinds including album campaigns, tour promotion,…

1
PINK (with Molly Mary O'Brien) 1:51:26

2M ago1:51:26

1:51:26

Molly Mary O’Brien returns to Pop Pantheon to unpack the unlikely longevity of Pink. Louie and Molly chart Pink’s emergence in Philadelphia clubs as a teenager through to her brief girl group career and her pop debut as a blue-eyed R&B product at the turn of the millennium with 2000’s Can’t Take Me Home. From there they discuss “Lady Marmalade,” Pi…

1
402 Pedro of A&P Reacts: Moral Posturing Impacts Integrity 41:21

2M ago41:21

41:21

Virtue signaling, hypocrisy, double standards, holier-than-thou morality, whatever you call it, Pedro argues it has an impact on your personal integrity. Join us for a rather philosophical discussion on how it does. Interested in our services? C-Squared is a multinational team specializing in music PR and marketing of all kinds including album camp…

1
Why are Music Biopics so Bad? (with Keith Phipps) 52:25

2M ago52:25

52:25

The most recent in a long lineage of music biopics, Back to Black, which purports to chronicle the life of the late great Amy Winehouse came out in the US last week. The film received mostly negative reviews and underperformed at the box office. So why are these movies, generally speaking, so unsuccessful and why do we keep making then? Movie Criti…

1
401 - Top 3 Tips for Maximizing Your Next Campaign - WIth Ian Chainey (STEREOGUM) 45:54

2M ago45:54

45:54

Join us in our discussion on how to maximize 3 aspects of your next album campaign - interviews, video content, and social media content. Including a deep dive into well-known independent bands' campaigns. Interested in our services? C-Squared is a multinational team specializing in music PR and marketing of all kinds including album campaigns, tou…

1
Love Hits Hard, Soft & Everything in Between on Billie Eilish's New Album (with the LA Times' Mikael Wood) (Patreon Preview) 9:43

2M ago9:43

9:43

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Billie Eilish released her third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, last Friday. The LA Times' Mikael Wood joins DJ Louie to chronicle the latest evolution in Billie and Finneas' ongoing collaboration and how it fits into the broader glut of Main Pop Girl releases in 2024. To hear the rest of …

1
TINA TURNER (with Yale University's Dr. Daphne Brooks) 1:42:27

2M ago1:42:27

1:42:27

Yale University’s Dr. Daphne Brooks returns to Pop Pantheon to unpack one of the foundational blueprints for pop stardom as we know it, Tina Turner. Dr. Brooks and Louie trace Tina’s roots in Tennessee, her debut as a nightclub act in St. Louis and her early work with Ike Turner, from their hit single “A Fool in Love” to their string of R&B hits, f…

1
400 - Justin Norton (Music Journalist) - Writing Captivating Stories for Music Publications 43:53

2M ago43:53

43:53

Justin has written for virtually every metal publication, including Rolling Stone, STEREOGUM, and currently, DECIBEL. Beyond hearing his story of how he got into metal journalism, we also discuss a range of topics relating to journalism, tips for getting started, how to keep your pieces engaging, and how AI is affecting the field. Interested in our…

1
Anitta's Global Pop Takeover (with Julianne Escobedo Shepherd) (Patreon Preview) 11:14

3M ago11:14

11:14

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Brazilian pop sensation Anitta's most recent recored, Funk Generation, dropped a few weeks ago. Julianne Escobedo Shepherd joins Louie and Russ to break down her rise to global stardom, this record's celebration of Brazilian Baile Funk and put us all on to a couple more rising Brazilian …

1
Mariah, Nirvana & The Story of MTV Unplugged (with Rob Tannenbaum & Craig Marks) 55:15

2M ago55:15

55:15

After recent episodes on Mariah and Nirvana, two artists who had massive career-defining moments on MTV's iconic live showcase Unplugged, Louie invited authors of the book I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution, Craig Marks and Rob Tannenbaum to chronicle the history of the series: how it started, why it was important, an…

1
Dua Lipa Disappears on Radical Optimism (with Owen Myers) (Patreon Preview) 13:16

2M ago13:16

13:16

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Dua Lipa returned with her much anticipated third album Radical Optimism on Friday. Music writer Owen Myers joins Louie and Russ to parse out the messy rollout and framing, underperforming singles and, after so much hype, how this music actually sounds and who exactly Dua Lipa is on it. …

1
399 - Death Metal Mum - Tips for Bands, DIY, Promo, Networking + More 29:25

3M ago29:25

29:25

Fae Scott-Dench (aka Death Metal Mum) chats with us about PR, tips for bands doing self-promo, social media, networking and more! Also get into the debate about pineapple on pizza and chip butties! Follow Fae @deathmetalmum on all platforms Listen to her podcase with Brian Slagel: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0V1pBymWLXyOSzRbOVrL16?si=8c04c2216…

1
HILARY DUFF (with Legends Only's T. Kyle) 1:39:49

2M ago1:39:49

1:39:49

Legends Only co-host T. Kyle makes his Pop Pantheon debut to discuss Hilary Duff’s brief ascension from Disney starlet to massive pop diva. Louie and T. Kyle discuss Hilary’s origins via the Disney assembly line with the early 2000s juggernaut The Lizzie McGuire Show and how it helped launch her pop career, from her debut album of holiday songs to …

1
Is the Music Video Dead? (with Michael Cragg) 56:02

3M ago56:02

56:02

In the past few years, we've seen a serious decline in the centrality of and views for music videos across the board, even for the biggest pop stars. Journalist Michael Cragg recently chronicled this phenomenon in his piece for The Guardian, "'This is an Art Form— and We're Losing it': Is the Music Video Dying?" and today, he joins DJ Louie to disc…

1
Pop Pantheon Live! Tortured Poets & the State of Taylor Mania (with Brittany Spanos, Nora Princiotti & Hunter Harris) (Patreon Preview) 14:39

3M ago14:39

14:39

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, last night in front of a live audience at The Bell House in Brooklyn, Pop Pantheon gathered Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos, Every Single Album's Nora Princiotti and Hung Up's Hunter Harris to discuss Taylor Swift's 11th studio album(s?) The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. Loui…

1
NIRVANA (with Bandsplain's Yasi Salek) 1:35:39

3M ago1:35:39

1:35:39

Bandsplain’s Yasi Salek joins DJ Louie to trace Nirvana's brief, iconoclastic trail through pop's mainstream in the early 1990s. Louie and Yasi unpack the group's origins in Aberdeen, Washington, their time on famed indie label Sub Pop, known for popularizing the "grunge" sound, and their bleak, sparse debut in 1989, Bleach, which garnered them a c…

1
398- Cori Westbrook #4 - Harmonizing PR Expectations 24:01

3M ago24:01

24:01

Cori talks about navigating your first music PR campaign for long-term success Read the full blog here: https://csquared.info/harmonizing-expectations-navigating-your-first-music-pr-campaign-for-long-term-success/ Interested in our services? C-Squared is a multinational team specializing in music PR and marketing of all kinds including album campai…

1
Listener Mailbag! Taylor, Pop Pet Peeves & a Very Special Guest 1:03:48

3M ago1:03:48

1:03:48

It's listener mailbag time! Louie and Russ are answering all your questions about their expectations for Taylor's The Tortured Poets Department, their personal pop pet peeves, the formula for following up a blockbuster album, why there are no more male pop stars and so much more. Plus, stay tuned until the end of the episode for a very special surp…

1
397 - Justin Roth (WAR CURSE) - ALL THINGS MERCH: Design, Printing, Selling Etc. 52:08

3M ago52:08

52:08

Nerding out about MERCH! Justin has 10-15 years of experience in graphic design (for OBITUARY, EXODUS and more) and merch creation (Screenprinting, embroidery, DTG) - Tune in to hear us go through a LAUNDRY LIST of merch concerns and pro tips. Interested in our services? C-Squared is a multinational team specializing in music PR and marketing of al…

1
BRANDY (with Naomi Zeichner) 2:00:57

3M ago2:00:57

2:00:57

Critic and writer Naomi Zeichner joins Pop Pantheon to explore the career of the “vocal bible,” Brandy. Louie and Naomi unpacked Brandy’s self-titled 1994 debut, released when she was just 15, her landmark acting roles as Moesha and Cinderella, and 1998’s Darkchild-assisted Never Say Never, which reimagined her at the vanguard of R&B futurism and b…

1
396 - Greg Kennelty (Metal Injection, Embalmer Records): Successful Metal Journalism & Starting a Label 39:36

4M ago39:36

39:36

Greg Kennelty joins Cori and Aliyah to talk about his new label, Embalmer Records - "a record label focused on unearthing and preserving classics from across the metal genre." We also chat about what keeps a site like Metal Injection going strong, when we see many other metal sites folding. Interested in our services? C-Squared is a multinational t…

1
Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter is a Genre Explosion (with Danielle Amir Jackson) (Patreon Preview) 10:58

3M ago10:58

10:58

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Beyoncé eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter, dropped last Friday. Once perceived as a foray into country music, this sprawling 80 (!!) minute epic turned out to be so much more than that and, as with any Bey project, begs for some serious unpacking. DJ Louie, Russ and Oxford American's Da…

1
Beyoncé, Black Country & the Long Road to Cowboy Carter (With Dr. Francesca Royster & Taylor Crumpton) 1:06:40

4M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

Tonight, Beyoncé will drop her eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter, her first explicit full-length foray into country music. As with every Bey project, there's a ton of meaning and history to unpack. DePaul University professor and author of Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions, Dr. Francesca Royster, and writer and editor Taylor Crumpton,…

1
Finding Bliss in Existentialism on Kacey Musgraves' Deeper Well (with Jewly Hight) (Patreon Preview) 10:29

4M ago10:29

10:29

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, music critic Jewly Hight joins DJ Louie for a wide-ranging discussion about Kacey Musgraves' fifth studio album, Deeper Well, which dropped last week. Louie and Jewly discuss how this record fits in the broader narrative arc of Kacey's music and career trajectory, her influences from acr…

1
395 - Top 5 Music Industry Scams with Ian Chainey (STEREOGUM) 28:42

4M ago28:42

28:42

Keep your eye out for these notorious music industry scams! Ian helps identify how to sift through the red flags and identify the legitimate opportunities Read Ian's Column: The Black Market: The Month In Metal - Stereogum Interested in our services? C-Squared is a multinational team specializing in music PR and marketing of all kinds including alb…

1
CALVIN HARRIS & DAVID GUETTA (with Lina Abascal) 2:11:50

4M ago2:11:50

2:11:50

Culture writer and author Lina Abascal returns to Pop Pantheon to revisit the fleeting early 2010s moment when EDM DJs utterly consumed American popular music via two of the genre’s most emblematic figures, David Guetta and Calvin Harris. Louie and Lina trace David’s roots in the Paris club scene through to his breakthrough in the U.S. with hits li…

1
Britney and Janet Aren’t Justin Timberlake’s Only Problem (with Vox's Kyndall Cunningham) (Patreon Preview) 10:25

4M ago10:25

10:25

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, Justin Timberlake put out his sixth studio album, Everything I Thought It Was, last Friday. But is it possible to hear this music— or appreciate Justin's talents— outside of the narrative nosedive his career has taken in the last decade? Vox's Kyndall Cunningham joins Louie and Russ to d…

1
394 - Belgian Jasper: Discussing AI's Role in Art and Music 51:53

4M ago51:53

51:53

Is AI something we should try to keep out of art and music, or is it just one more of many tools being used in art and music today? From working in technology for many years, Jasper brings nuanced thoughts and rationale to the conversation. Check out Jasper's YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/c/belgianjasper Interested in our services? C-Squ…

1
Do You Still Listen to Kanye West and Michael Jackson? (with Tre Johnson & Kemi Olivia Alemoru) 1:26:48

4M ago1:26:48

1:26:48

Host and culture writer for Dazed, Vogue and more, Kemi Olivia Alemoru, and writer on race, culture and politics and author of the upcoming book Black Genius, Tre Johnson, join the show to discuss how we as critics and the public interface with the work of famous pop stars who have done awful things. Kemi, Tre and Louie dig into the complex legacie…

1
393 - Cori Westbrook #3: Beyond Paid Ads: Why Emerging Musicians Should Focus on Organic Growth 28:55

4M ago28:55

28:55

Specific examples, explanations of ROI and why ads cost so much, and even MORE if you don't have some key pieces in place. And also, sourdough tips. Expounding on this blog article: https://csquared.info/beyond-paid-ads-why-emerging-musicians-should-focus-on-organic-growth/ Interested in our services? C-Squared is a multinational team specializing …

1
The Novel & Familiar Thrills of Ariana Grande's Eternal Sunshine (with Bustle's Nolan Feeney) (Patreon Preview) 11:23

5M ago11:23

11:23

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode and as a capstone to our latest series on Ariana Grande, Bustle's Nolan Feeney joins DJ Louie to discuss Ari's seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, which dropped on Friday. Louie and Nolan dig into all the record's themes, aesthetics, how it toys with her public narrative, the impact o…

1
ARIANA GRANDE: PART 2 (with Pitchfork's Anna Gaca) 1:55:38

4M ago1:55:38

1:55:38

For part two of our Ariana Grande series, Pitchfork senior editor Anna Gaca is here to discuss the aesthetic pivot of 2018’s Sweetener, the superstar's first album following the horrific bombing of her Manchester concert and which found her reaching for light amidst unthinkable darkness. From there, Louie and Anna tackle the tabloid frenzy of Ari's…

1
392 - Duncan Evans: DIY Albums, Tours, Promo + More! 33:33

5M ago33:33

33:33

UK-Based musician Duncan Evans chatted with us about his upcoming release strategies. Tune in to see what tips you can pick up for your next release. Check out Duncan Evans https://www.duncanevans-music.co.uk/ Interested in our services? C-Squared is a multinational team specializing in music PR and marketing of all kinds including album campaigns,…

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