Popcast
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.
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.
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Duration
Release Date
glaive and Hyperpop’s Breakthrough Moment
A conversation about one teen’s rapid ascent, and what the future might hold for a singer and sound evolving in real time. Guest: The Fader's Alex Robert Ross.
19 Oct 2021
48 MINS
48:12
19 Oct 2021
The Music Lost to Coronavirus, Part 3
Remembering Jacob Desvarieux, John Davis and Chucky Thompson. Guests: The New Yorker's Doreen St. Felix; Billboard's Gil Kaufman; Jeff Mao.
12 Oct 2021
56 MINS
56:57
12 Oct 2021
The Reporters Who Covered R. Kelly on His Trial and Conviction
A conversation about the testimony, the meaning of the verdict and the long quest for proper recompense for the singer’s victims. Guests: Troy Closson and Jim DeRogatis.
05 Oct 2021
44 MINS
44:56
05 Oct 2021
Bringing Aaliyah Into the Streaming Era
A conversation about the tug of war over her musical legacy, and how her songs — even without a digital presence — impacted the evolution of contemporary R&B. Guests: Naima Cochrane; Billboard's Gail Mitchell and Dan Rys.
28 Sep 2021
58 MINS
58:18
28 Sep 2021
Kacey Musgraves, Country Music Chameleon
The singer and songwriter’s “Star-Crossed” documents the end of her marriage. But reports of her divorce from Nashville have been greatly exaggerated. Guests: Amanda Hess and The Guardian's Laura Snapes.
21 Sep 2021
55 MINS
55:08
21 Sep 2021
Is Drake Tired of Drake?
“Certified Lover Boy” dominated the charts, but something seems to have shifted in the most influential pop star of the past decade. Guests: The Ringer's Charles Holmes and Rolling Stone's Jeff Ihaza.
14 Sep 2021
1 HR 00 MINS
1:00:54
14 Sep 2021
Miss the Old Kanye? Try the New Kanye.
West has always been dreaming big, speaking loudly, courting controversy and channeling all of that into music. But one thing has changed. Guests: Vibe's Datwon Thomas and The Ringer's Justin Charity.
07 Sep 2021
1 HR 01 MINS
1:01:12
07 Sep 2021
Lorde Steals Her Sunshine Back
How successful is a sunny new phase of her career, and what does it mean to choose to move away from the expectations of superstardom? Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Lindsay Zoladz.
30 Aug 2021
54 MINS
54:51
30 Aug 2021
The Style of Kanye West’s ‘Donda’ Era
How West has used fashion to signify musical evolution, how he’s been regarded by the fashion industry and how other musicians are following in his footsteps. Guests: GQ's Rachel Tashjian and Vogue's Steff Yotka.
24 Aug 2021
47 MINS
47:45
24 Aug 2021
The Lox, Triumphant at Verzuz
A conversation about New York hip-hop in the 1990s and early 2000s, and a night that brought the spirit of battle back to the pandemic-era staple. Guests: Jayson Rodriguez and Jayson Buford.
16 Aug 2021
56 MINS
56:53
16 Aug 2021
Billie Eilish’s New Pop Perspective
How has the teenage phenomenon’s songwriting, and her relationship to the larger music machine, evolved between albums? Guests: Joe Coscarelli and Lindsay Zoladz.
09 Aug 2021
58 MINS
58:16
09 Aug 2021
Lil Nas X in the Pop Stratosphere
A conversation about his unconventional path to success, his unconventional methods of maintaining it and his possible futures beyond it. Guest: Jazmine Hughes.
23 Jul 2021
39 MINS
39:12
23 Jul 2021
When Pop Music Trolls Grow Up
New albums from Doja Cat and Tyler, the Creator place their makers — children of the internet with a taste for friction — in a new light. Guest: The Ringer's Justin Charity.
19 Jul 2021
50 MINS
50:01
19 Jul 2021
The (Not So?) Tentative Return of Live Music
A look at the challenges touring musicians faced over the last year, and how the industry is adjusting to the new normal. Guest: Ben Sisario.
12 Jul 2021
30 MINS
30:34
12 Jul 2021
Britney Spears Takes On Her Conservatorship
An exploration of how the arrangement has intersected with her work, the latest legal updates and what might come next. Guests: Joe Coscarelli, Liz Day and Samantha Stark.
01 Jul 2021
48 MINS
48:40
01 Jul 2021
In the Weeds of ‘In the Heights’
A conversation about bringing musicals to the big screen, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s artistic choices and the critical blowback to the film’s casting. Guests: Sandra Garcia, Isabelia Herrera and Lena Wilson.
18 Jun 2021
52 MINS
52:10
18 Jun 2021
Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Sour’ Breakthrough
Few artists making pop music have risen to the top in the past several years. What made this Disney star click with listeners? Guests: Olivia Horn and Lindsay Zoladz.
04 Jun 2021
56 MINS
56:51
04 Jun 2021
J. Cole, Triumphant (at His Own Pace)
The rapper’s sixth No. 1 album is here. Listen to a conversation about his career, and the long exchange between hip-hop and basketball. Guests: The New York Times's Elena Bergeron and Rap Portraits' Yoh Phillips.
29 May 2021
1 HR 00 MINS
1:00:25
29 May 2021
The Beatific Re-emergence of Beverly Glenn-Copeland
A conversation about his winding path to a receptive, ready audience — and how music can be a bulwark against cynicism and trauma. Guests: Taja Cheek and Mina Tavakoli.
14 May 2021
47 MINS
47:04
14 May 2021
Where Is Country Music Making Room for Women?
Nashville remains challenging for women artists. But some rising performers are breaking through on radio — and TikTok. Guests: Marissa Moss and Natalie Weiner of the Don’t Rock the Inbox newsletter.
09 May 2021
52 MINS
52:10
09 May 2021
The Sing-Rap Generation Branches Out
How melody has continued to reshape hip-hop via the work of Polo G, Rod Wave, Lil Tjay and more rising artists. Guest: Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre.
26 Apr 2021
51 MINS
51:54
26 Apr 2021
When a TikTok Influencer Dances, Who Gets Credit?
Addison Rae’s appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s show sparked conversations about appropriation and how dance has been central to the platform. Guest: Taylor Lorenz.
16 Apr 2021
39 MINS
39:57
16 Apr 2021
The Telling of DMX’s Life Story
A conversation about the intense potency of the rapper’s music and religious fervor, and what it was like to interview him. Guest: Smokey Fontaine, the co-author of the 2002 book “E.A.R.L.: The Autobiography of DMX.”
11 Apr 2021
58 MINS
58:04
11 Apr 2021
Taylor, Billie, Demi, Blackpink: The Pop Star Documentary Boom
A conversation about the influx of films made about (and by) current stars and its implications for the format. Guests: The Observer's Simran Hans; and Caryn Ganz.
02 Apr 2021
59 MINS
59:30
02 Apr 2021
The Grammys, Improbably, Made It Work
The show navigated a year of crisis, minted a new generation of stars and didn’t fixate on boomers. Guests: Jon Pareles, Joe Coscarelli, Ben Sisario, Lindsay Zoladz and Caryn Ganz.
16 Mar 2021
1 HR 03 MINS
1:03:25
16 Mar 2021
TikTok and the Pop Music Rough Draft
The wildly popular platform has reshaped pop during the coronavirus pandemic, and changed how record labels grapple with unpredictable virality. Guest: Caryn Ganz.
13 Mar 2021
50 MINS
50:08
13 Mar 2021
New Jazz That Agitates for Change
A conversation about strong recent debuts, and how canon and community can be in tension. Guests: Giovanni Russonello and Marcus J. Moore.
02 Mar 2021
49 MINS
49:55
02 Mar 2021
Remembering Sophie, Architect of Future Pop
Exploring the legacy of a producer and performer who imagined an approach to music without borders. Guests: Sasha Geffen and Pitchfork's Philip Sherburne.
15 Feb 2021
53 MINS
53:41
15 Feb 2021
The Music Lost to Coronavirus, Part 2
Remembering Fred the Godson, Adam Schlesinger and Cristina. Guests: Kurt B. Reighley; Complex's Shawn Setaro; and Ben Sisario.
05 Feb 2021
1 HR 06 MINS
1:06:32
05 Feb 2021
Olivia Rodrigo and ‘Drivers License’ Aren’t Going Anywhere
A conversation about the year’s first genuine pop phenomenon, and the long arc of the Disney machine. Guests: Joe Coscarelli; Vulture's Justin Curto; and Larisha Paul.
31 Jan 2021
1 HR 03 MINS
1:03:55
31 Jan 2021