Was Ashlee Simpson Underappreciated? Discuss
In the mid-2000s, the pop singer had platinum albums and an MTV reality show. Hear the first of two conversations about Ms. Simpson’s misunderstood career.
1hr 14m Mar 09, 2018
1hr 14m
Lucy Dacus, Soccer Mommy, the Breeders and the Future of Indie Rock
A conversation about carefully considered creative paths — and how pristine voices with powerful messages are amplified — as three strong new albums arrive
57m Mar 02, 2018
57m
In Defense of Soundtracks. And Fergie.
What’s responsible for the recent soundtrack renaissance that brought albums from “Black Panther” and “The Greatest Showman” to the top of the charts?
1hr 13m Feb 24, 2018
1hr 13m
The Complex Intersection Where Rap and the Legal System Collide
A conversation with a criminal lawyer about the racial politics of legal representation, the Meek Mill saga and the future prospects of incarcerated would-be stars.
46m Feb 16, 2018
46m
Justin Timberlake Down, Meek Mill Up: How Twitter Swings Public Opinion
The internet’s response to the two musicians after the Super Bowl shows how criticism works these days. Rapid-fire groupthink online can be strong enough to have real-world impact.
1hr 18m Feb 09, 2018
1hr 18m
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?
58m Jan 30, 2018
58m
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.
1hr 7m Jan 26, 2018
1hr 7m
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
53m Jan 19, 2018
53m
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.
1hr 2m Jan 12, 2018
1hr 2m
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.
1hr 5m Jan 05, 2018
1hr 5m
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?
54m Dec 22, 2017
54m
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
1hr 5m Dec 18, 2017
1hr 5m
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.
1hr 13m Dec 08, 2017
1hr 13m
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.
42m Dec 02, 2017
42m
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.
58m Nov 22, 2017
58m
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.
1hr 11m Nov 14, 2017
1hr 11m
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.
48m Nov 09, 2017
48m
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.
41m Nov 03, 2017
41m
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?
54m Oct 27, 2017
54m
The Persistence of Pink and Kelly Clarkson, Outspoken Pop Survivors
Two of the music world’s biggest voices and brassiest personalities are back. Deep into successful careers, where have their paths diverged?
55m Oct 20, 2017
55m
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.
47m Oct 13, 2017
47m
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.
34m Oct 04, 2017
34m
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.
48m Sep 29, 2017
48m
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?
1hr 3m Sep 22, 2017
1hr 3m
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.
55m Sep 15, 2017
55m
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.
56m Sep 11, 2017
56m
The Popcast Answers Your Questions About Beyoncé, Music Videos and More
On this week’s episode, our readers picked the topics of conversation, which include Lil Wayne, merchandise and Camila Cabello.
1hr 8m Sep 02, 2017
1hr 8m
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.
33m Aug 25, 2017
33m
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.
47m Aug 18, 2017
47m
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.
43m Aug 11, 2017
43m
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.
37m Aug 04, 2017
37m
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
59m Jul 28, 2017
59m
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
47m Jul 21, 2017
47m
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
1hr 14m Jul 14, 2017
1hr 14m
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
57m Jun 30, 2017
57m
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.
1hr 6m Jun 23, 2017
1hr 6m
Katy Perry, Lorde and Halsey: How to Make a Pop Album in 2017
Three female pop stars, three different approaches: a conversation about their new albums, on Popcast.
56m Jun 16, 2017
56m
Why We’re Still Listening to the Beatles’ ‘Sgt. Pepper’
Our pop music critics are not fans of record anniversaries, but 50 years after the creation of “Sgt. Pepper,” there are still lessons to be learned from the album.
31m Jun 09, 2017
31m
Latin Pop Thrives, No Bieber Required
“Despacito” is the first Spanish-language song to top the chart since “Macarena,” but there are many more interesting shifts in Latin pop today.
48m Jun 02, 2017
48m
Festivals That Inspire Awe, and Festivals That Lead to Criminal Investigations
Music fests are ubiquitous, but only some are curated well enough to be thrilling. And there’s the Fyre Festival.
48m May 26, 2017
48m
Harry Styles and John Mayer, Teardrops on Their Guitars
The One Direction member and the pop-blues poster boy have a few things in common.
40m May 19, 2017
40m
Paramore Returns, Headed Straight For the 1980s
One of the most impressive rock bands working in the mainstream has taken a left turn. Where is Paramore headed, and how did it inspire scores of artists?
32m May 12, 2017
32m
Finding Feist’s Pleasure and Pain
The singer-songwriter’s new album is a low-fi exploration of extreme emotions. How does it relate to her earlier hits, and how did she get here?
27m May 05, 2017
27m
How Lil Uzi Vert Turned Rap Into Rock and Became a Pop Star
He’s a rapper, a social media phenomenon, the guy yelling “ya” on Migos’s hit “Bad and Boujee.” What’s the secret of Uzi’s success?
48m Apr 28, 2017
48m
A Deep Dig on Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole’s Hip-Hop’s Values
The two rappers recall an earlier time in the genre’s history, in terms of aesthetics and politics. How do they fit in today?
55m Apr 21, 2017
55m
How Do You Solve a Problem Like the Chainsmokers?
In three years, the duo has had several hits while offending all sorts of people. What does its sound say about EDM?
50m Apr 14, 2017
50m
Jazz in 2017: The Music Is Thriving, Though Support Is in Peril
Kamasi Washington and some Los Angeles musicians are producing vital recordings, but N.E.A. funding is uncertain. A conversation about the state of jazz.
39m Apr 07, 2017
39m
Drake Changed Hip-Hop’s Sound. Can He Change the Business?
His release isn’t an album or a mixtape, but a playlist — a move that could position him to shift the music industry once again.
58m Mar 27, 2017
58m
How Chuck Berry Became a Rock ’n’ Roll Mastermind
He wrote the guitar licks, told the clever stories, duckwalked across the stage and forever changed popular music
24m Mar 22, 2017
24m
The Billboard Charts Are Wackier Than Ever: What’s Going On?
Streaming figures into chart positions now, a fact that has started yielding some very odd results.
57m Mar 17, 2017
57m