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. Listen to this podcast in New York Times Audio, our new iOS app for news subscribers. Download now at nytimes.com/audioapp
Zach Bryan Begins Building His Village
A conversation about the singer-songwriter’s post-politics approach to stardom, his dogged work ethic and his artistic coalition with fellow dissidents.
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59:05 | 9/29/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Doja Cat’s Rap Renaissance + Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce
Breaking down Doja Cat’s surprising new album, “Scarlet,” plus: Swift’s foray into football and Hasan Minhaj’s fibs.
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64:34 | 9/27/23 | |
Remembering Jimmy Buffett, Beach Bum Bard
A 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
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39:00 | 9/21/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Ice Spice’s Munchkin Drink + Jann Wenner Backlash
Plus: what it’s like in Sean Combs’s sauna.
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60:50 | 9/20/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Breaking Down Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Guts,’ Part 2
A deep dive into whom the singer’s new songs might be about — and if it matters. Plus: Zach Bryan’s breakthrough and recent arrest.
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71:19 | 9/13/23 | |
Olivia Rodrigo’s Songs About Growing Pains
The 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.
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51:35 | 9/12/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): ‘Bottoms,’ ‘Hard Knocks’ & Uncovering Rap History
What we watched (and read!) this summer.
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68:21 | 9/6/23 | |
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Speed Round, Part 2
A conversation about Swift’s relationship to celebrity, the tour date as destination event and how fans dressed up for the show. Guests: Caryn Ganz, Vrinda Jagota and Josh Duboff.
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75:32 | 9/5/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe) Mailbag: Selena Gomez, BTS and Doja Cat!
Listener (and viewer!) questions on some recent releases, also including Renee Rapp, Earl Sweatshirt and Zach Bryan.
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67:10 | 8/30/23 | |
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Speed Round, Part 1
A conversation about how the concert relates to Beyoncé’s stadium show, the role of dance in Swift’s spectacular and more. Guests: Wesley Morris, Brian Seibert and Bandsplain's Yasi Salek.
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64:30 | 8/29/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): A Shocking No. 1 Hit and Addison Rae’s New EP
The rapid rise of Oliver Anthony Music’s “Rich Men North of Richmond,” plus: the playful pop of the TikTok star Addison Rae.
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64:59 | 8/23/23 | |
Dead & Company Said Farewell, but the Scene Is Very Alive
One of jam’s most definitive bands is still attracting new recruits, and younger generations are finding comfort in its community. Guests: JamBase's Scott Bernstein; and Marc Tracy.
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57:47 | 8/22/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Is There Such a Thing as the Song of the Summer?
Tracks by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and more have dominated this summer — or at least attempted to.
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67:47 | 8/16/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Lizzo, Travis Scott and the Limits of Persona
What can pop stars get away with? Plus: the deaths of Sinead O’Connor and Angus Cloud.
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66:08 | 8/9/23 | |
The Raw Art and Life of Sinead O’Connor
A conversation about her unlikely pop fame, complex relationship to stardom and powerful, signature music. Guests: Alfred Soto and Amanda Hess.
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60:18 | 8/3/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Our Favorite Albums of the Year So Far
Peso Pluma, Ice Spice, Skrillex, 100 gecs and more.
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61:06 | 8/2/23 | |
Jason Aldean’s Culture War Hit
After the country star’s “Try That in a Small Town” video was criticized as offensive, right-wing support sent the song to No. 2 on the singles chart. Guests: The Tennessean's Marcus K. Dowling; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Amanda Marie Martinez
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46:38 | 7/28/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): ‘Barbie,’ Jason Aldean’s Culture War and Drake’s Tour
Plus: Violent J in our 50 Rappers, 50 Stories project, new songs and new snacks.
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76:44 | 7/26/23 | |
50 Rappers, 50 Stories: Behind the Scenes
A look at how we assembled a sweeping collection of personal narratives, and the threads that tie them together. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Elena Bergeron and Keith Murphy.
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57:32 | 7/23/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Fans Misbehaving at Concerts, and Pinkydoll’s NPC TikTok
Plus: Music from Troye Sivan and Militarie Gun (as performed by Post Malone).
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68:51 | 7/19/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Britney Spears’s Wembanyama Run-In and Taylor Swift’s ‘Revenge’
Plus: Lil Uzi Vert’s new No. 1 “Pink Tape,” and Wes Anderson’s “Asteroid City.”
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62:46 | 7/12/23 | |
The Many Lives of Lil Durk
How the Chicago rap veteran reinvented himself, and became a star largely in the shadows. Guest: Fake Shore Drive's Andrew Barber.
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52:31 | 7/11/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Olivia Rodrigo Returns, Fall Out Boy Denies History
Plus: “Barbie” memes and the Grimace Shake attacks.
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53:44 | 7/5/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Kim Petras’s New LP and Jennifer Lawrence’s Return
Up for discussion this week: “The Idol” approaches its finale, the conclusion of Kesha and Dr. Luke’s legal battle and more.
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69:56 | 6/29/23 | |
Kylie Minogue’s ‘Padam Padam’ and the Queer Club-Pop Canon
The global star’s single has become the soundtrack of Pride this year, opening fresh conversations about pop divas and their gay fans. Guest: Vulture's Jason P. Frank
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51:20 | 6/27/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Pharrell Williams at Louis Vuitton and Gunna’s New LP
What’s the role of global celebrity in high fashion? Why hasn’t hip-hop penetrated the charts this year? And what’s the snack of the week?
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77:36 | 6/21/23 | |
The Joni Mitchell Renaissance
A conversation about how the singer-songwriter was received during her career peak, and how she is remaking her own music in her later years. Guest: Lindsay Zoladz.
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42:06 | 6/17/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): The Rise of the A.I. Pop Star, Luke Combs’s ‘Fast Car’
Dissecting the recent wave of songs ‘by’ Drake and others, plus your questions about band reunions, a rundown of new songs and more.
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59:48 | 6/14/23 | |
Popcast Mailbag! Frank Ocean, Peso Pluma, A.I. Grimes and More
You asked, we answered your questions about the weight of following a smash single and the persistence of genre. Guests: Jon Pareles, Joe Coscarelli, Lindsay Zoladz and Caryn Ganz.
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61:07 | 6/9/23 | |
Popcast (Deluxe): Taylor Swift and Matty Healy, Plus ‘The Idol’
Breaking down Ice Spice’s new feature on Swift’s “Karma” remix, the explosion in pop music documentaries and more.
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62:32 | 6/7/23 |