Pop Shop Podcast

Billboard's Keith Caulfield (Managing Director, Charts and Data Operations) and Katie Atkinson (Executive Digital Director, West Coast) offer weekly Billboard chart breakdowns, discuss the hottest music news and cover the year’s biggest musical events. Casual pop fans, chart junkies and everyone in between are invited to this weekly half-hour discussion.

Music
Music Commentary
Music Interviews
251
Previewing the MTV VMAs and The Impact of BTS’ ...
On the new Pop Shop Podcast, the team previews the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards (Aug. 30) and wonders what to expect from the socially distanced show. Plus, the Pop Shoppers discuss BTS’ new single “Dynamite,” and if this could be the track that not only gives the act its first huge U.S. radio hit, but also some Grammy Awards attention and a possible first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
24 min
252
How Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘WAP’ Notch...
On the new Pop Shop Podcast: How Cardi B’s “WAP,” featuring Megan Thee Stallion, broke the record for the biggest debut streaming week ever in the U.S. for a song. Plus, a breakdown of new singles and videos from Drake (“Laugh Now Cry Later,” featuring Lil Durk), Dua Lipa (“Levitating” remix featuring Madonna and Missy Elliott), Miley Cyrus (“Midnight Sky”) and Katy Perry (“Smile”).
25 min
253
How Harry Styles' 'Watermelon Sugar' Hit No. 1,...
On the latest Pop Shop Podcast, the team reviews Harry Styles’ ascent to his first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with “Watermelon Sugar,” while Pentatonix’s Kirstin Maldonado and Kevin Olusola join the show to discuss the group’s recent covers EP "At Home," their upcoming new original songs, and a forthcoming holiday album.
27 min
254
Unpacking Taylor Swift's Huge 'Folklore' Debut,...
The latest Pop Shop Podcast breaks down Taylor Swift's big chart debut with "Folklore" and how it could factor into the album of the year race at the Grammy Awards. Plus, the episode features an interview Alessia Cara about her new album "This Summer: Live off the Floor."
26 min
255
Jessie Ware Shares Her Dream Scenario For Playi...
Jessie Ware discusses her new “sophisticated” dance album “What’s Your Pleasure?” on the latest Billboard Pop Shop Podcast. “It was intentionally cinematic,” Ware says of the project, which was inspired by scandalous nightclubs like New York’s famed Studio 54 and Berlin’s Berghain. Plus, Ware discusses her dream scenario for playing the album live.
25 min
256
Ellie Goulding Explains How Bjork (And a Vodka ...
Ellie Goulding joins the Pop Shop Podcast to discuss her new album “Brightest Blue” and how it’s about “finding love for myself,” working with Juice WRLD on the album’s “Hate Me,” and what “pivotal” moment involving Björk (and a bit of vodka) made her believe she could be a singer.
26 min
257
Why Pop Smoke & Juice WRLD’s Posthumous Albums ...
On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, the team takes a closer look at Pop Smoke’s "Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon" and Juice WRLD’s "Legends Never Die" albums, why the two posthumous projects have connected with fans, and discuss the complications and concerns involved with releasing albums by artists who are no longer with us. Plus, chart news about the "Hamilton" cast album surging to a new peak on the Billboard 200, and The Weeknd's sustained success with "Blinding Lights" on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
26 min
258
How Big Will the ‘Hamilton’ Bump Be?
Following the Disney+ premiere of “Hamilton: An American Musical” on July 3, could the show’s cast album soar back up the Billboard 200 chart? And if so, just how big will that post-premiere bump be? On the latest Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, hosts Jason and Keith dive into a discussion about the blockbuster musical’s Disney+ premiere, their experiences watching the show (both on Disney+ and live on stage), and just what kind of surge the cast album will get on the Billboard 200 chart. Plus: chart news on Lil Baby, Jack Harlow and Harry Styles.
26 min
259
Song of the Summer 2020: Which Hit is the Early...
Which hit single is the early favorite to take home the crown of Song of the Summer 2020? On the latest Pop Shop Podcast, that's the point of discussion, plus, the team also revisits the top song of the summer for each year over the past decade.
25 min
260
Here's How Darren Criss Convinced Mark Hamill t...
Darren Criss joins the Pop Shop Podcast to discuss his new musical comedy series “Royalties,” in which he stars as one-half of a struggling songwriting duo trying to make it big in the music industry. Plus, we talk about how he got Mark Hamill to guest star on the show (and getting him to sing a song about King Kong's penis), why last year was “one of the most difficult, complicated, most fulfilling, and concurrently frustrating years” of his life, and an update on the status of his COVID-19-delayed Broadway show “American Buffalo.”
25 min
261
Early Best New Artist Grammys Contenders: Megan...
On the latest Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, some possible best new artist nominees for the upcoming Grammy Awards are discussed – including Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tones and I, Summer Walker and SuperM.
23 min
262
Lady Gaga’s ‘Chromatica’ Breaks Male Monopoly a...
On the latest Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, with Lady Gaga’s “Chromatica” marking just the second album by a woman to be No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2020, the team discusses why there have been so few leading ladies atop the chart this year, some near misses from some notable women, and which upcoming projects might turn the tide for female artists at No. 1.
22 min
263
After Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande’s ‘Rain On Me,’...
On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, the team discusses why -- in an era of wall-to-wall music collaborations -- Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande's "Rain On Me" has broken through the pop culture noise as an event record. Plus, the Pop Shoppers pontificate on what superstars they’d like to see team-up for a fantasy pairing.
24 min
264
Charli XCX Explains Why She's Loving Lady Gaga,...
Charli XCX joins the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast to discuss her new made-in-quarantine album "How I'm Feeling Now," and how "it felt like a very ripe time" for her to write new music. Plus, she discusses the upswing in popularity of disco-tinged "happy" pop music from the likes of Lady Gaga and Dua Lipa.
23 min
265
Doja Cat’s ‘Say So’ Success & A Brief History o...
Doja Cat’s “Say So,” featuring Nicki Minaj, is the latest remix to help a single jump to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The new Pop Shop Podcast takes a look at some of the other hits of yesteryear that have climbed to the top in part thanks to a remix – including tunes by Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Rihanna and more. Plus: Chart news about Drake tying Madonna’s record for the most top 10s on the Hot 100 chart.
23 min
266
Beastie Boys on What’s ‘Bittersweet’ About New ...
Beastie Boys talk about their new documentary film "Beastie Boys Story," and what's been "bittersweet" about its rollout. Plus, the guys advocate for the haircut-meets-vacuum device the Flowbee to make a comeback during this time of social distancing. In addition, there's chart chat about Travis Scott and Kid Cudi's "The Scotts," Drake's new album, and a chart stat of the week throwback to 25 years ago, when Live's "Throwing Copper" album topped the Billboard 200 chart.
26 min
267
What Will Awards Shows Look Like When They Return?
In the latest episode of the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Keith & Katie discuss all the moving pieces of the delayed, rescheduled and altogether-canceled 2020 awards shows that have fallen victim to the global pandemic, and what the future of those shows could look like.
25 min
268
Dua Lipa Talks Promoting 'Future Nostalgia' in ...
Dua Lipa is the latest guest on the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, talking about soundtracking kitchen dance parties with her latest album, "Future Nostalgia," and what it's like to promote an album in quarantine.
25 min
269
Why Lady Gaga's 'Chromatica' Gets Delayed, But ...
On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, the team discusses the likely reasons why the release of a number of big albums (including Lady Gaga's "Chromatica") have been postponed in the era of COVID-19, while some others (including singer-rapper Rod Wave's "Pray 4 Love") held to their release date.
25 min
270
Why Dua Lipa, Post Malone & Harry Styles Could ...
Let's take an early look at the Big Four categories for next year -- album, record and song of the year, plus best new artist -- where we think Dua Lipa, Post Malone and Harry Styles all look poised to dominate the 2021 conversation.
24 min
271
Adam Lambert On 'Playful' New 'Velvet' Album: '...
Adam Lambert stops by the Pop Shop Podcast to chat about his new album “Velvet,” how he didn’t want to get sucked into the “hustle” of making a “trendy” album, if he thought about delaying the album’s release due to coronavirus concerns, and how he hopes the album wraps up fans like a “warm velvety hug.”
26 min
272
Lauren Jauregui on the 'Sensual Energy' of 'Len...
Lauren Jauregui discusses her latest single "Lento," featuring Tainy, the status of her solo debut album, how the coronavirus quarantine is fueling her creativity, and why Fifth Harmony's "Work From Home" is the "gift that keeps on giving."
26 min
273
Diplo on Why His 'Heartless' Hit Is 'Threatenin...
Diplo joins the Pop Shop Podcast to chat about his upcoming "country-fusion" album "Thomas Wesley," and why he thinks country radio stations have mostly ignored his hit country-pop single "Heartless," featuring Morgan Wallen. Plus, Diplo gives us updates on the next Major Lazer and Silk City projects, how he’s up for collaborating with both Enya and Barbra Streisand, if he has any unreleased collaborations with Madonna in the vault, and why fans should tweet him photos from Shawn Mendes’ Calvin Klein underwear campaign.
26 min
274
Robbie Williams on Crafting the Perfect Las Veg...
Robbie Williams has a pretty simple goal heading into his 2020 Las Vegas residency: to please absolutely everyone. On the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, we talk about his return to Sin City, the possibility of new music, scoring his 13th No. 1 album in his native U.K. and more.
24 min
275
Why Pop Music Needs Lady Gaga & ‘Stupid Love’ R...
On the new Pop Shop Podcast, hosts Keith and Katie dive into a discussion about why it was important for Lady Gaga to drop a new single right now — specifically "Stupid Love" — and how its pure dance-pop sound fits into the current pop radio landscape.
25 min