Episodes
It's the Pop In and our agenda this week is:
The Grammys
Justin Timberlake vs. Britney Spears
Megan Thee Stallion vs. Nicki Minaj
The new Ice Spice song 'Fart'
TikTok vs. Universal Music
Published 02/03/24
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Our wrapped
Best albums/songs of the year Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Billboard
Taylor Swift Time Person of the Year
Charli XCX has finished her new album
Published 12/10/23
WELCOME BACK TO THE POP IN!
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
The rise and rise of Tate McRae - could she clinch a Billboard #1?
Spotify Wrapped is out - unpacking the global Top 5 songs and artists
Dua Lipa's Houdini - our 4 week late review
Nicki Minaj album next week same week as Tate McRae and SZA deluxe what a time
Quick unpack of what the rest of the year looks like on the pod
Published 11/30/23
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Dua Lipa wipes Instagram for new era - what do we know, who’s involved, and all that jazz
Charli's BACK BABY
Troye album's coming this week & Nic interviewed him - hear the full thing here
Sam saw RAYE live in New York and it was one of the most lucid shows he's ever seen
Tems is selling out huge venues & releases a triumphant single
Omar Apollo's new single
The Pop In now gets a game: YEAR OF THE SONG!
Published 10/11/23
Billie Eilish's second album 'Happier Than Ever' was a big turning point for her. Her first album was a streaming giant but this album marked a pointed move to establish herself as an artist without worrying about the hits. The result was a cohesive, mature and startingly honest album that's both wildly experimental while also being classic.
In this episode, we talk about how important this album was for positioning her as an artist and also why it perhaps didn't garner the same success as...
Published 10/07/23
This week on The Pop In:
Beyoncé is bringing the Renaissance World Tour to cinemas
*NSYNC are back with a song for the Trollz soundtrack
Ed Sheeran's new album is lacklustre
Doja Cat is struggling to pull the numbers she deserves
Jorja Smith's new album is bliss
PinkPantheress nails the vibes on her new song
Published 10/06/23
Ariana Grande makes her Flopstars debut with her divisive fourth album which came after a traumatic time and signalled the start of a creatively fluid period for her. It's an important album in her discography, one that sees her stepping into her own and learning to react to very personal situations in real-time. It wasn't for everyone but it was for us and we explore that on this week's pod.
Published 09/22/23
This week on the Pop In:
Kim Petras drops Problematique - why now?
Kylie Minogue and Doja Cat release two of the most anticipated albums of the year this week
Let’s talk about Madison Beer
Drake/SZA - Slime You Out
Tate McRae is having a huge time on streaming with Greedy, but has she had her proper mega hit yet?
Published 09/19/23
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Sam went to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Mexico City
Nicki Minaj teasing new single ‘Last Time I Saw You’
Ashnikko album out. What happened to her popularity?
ELTON JOHN HAD A FALL (HE'S OK)
THEY CANCELLED THE IDOL
Bop or Flop
Selena Gomez - Single Soon
Miley Cyrus - Used To Be Young
Conan Gray - Winner
Omar Apollo - Ice Slippin
Alright - Victoria Monet
Ashnikko - dying star (feat. Ethel Cain)
Joel Corry &...
Published 08/30/23
Selena Gomez's 'Rare' came after a period of experimentation for one of the most popular people on earth. She had collaborated with dance producers and had a string of excellent standalone releases so 'Rare' could've been anything. 'Lose You To Love Me' instantly became her first #1 - a startingly honest ballad unlike anything she's ever done before - and the bar for 'Rare' was set high. Was it met? Probably not but we get into it all here.
Published 08/28/23
Welcome back to The Pop In! The adjacent podcast to Flopstars running through the big releases and music stories of the last 7 days.
Coming Up
Miley Cyrus is teasing a new single on the 10th anniversary of Wrecking Ball
Oliver Anthony - who???
We're doing our first ever live show at Beyond The Valley Festival
Joel Corry & Rita Ora have a song coming out this week which feels very our brand
Addison Rae EP unpacked
Bop or Flop
Addison Rae - 2 die 4
Charlie...
Published 08/23/23
Ryan Beatty is someone we've needed to talk about for a while. 'Boy In Jeans' is one of Nic's favourite records of all time and it's an important jumping block to discuss a really interesting career. It's a record about embracing queerness and joy while also unpacking trauma from the past and it's done so in a nuanced masterful way. If you're not already on the Ryan Beatty train, this is your invitation.
Published 08/10/23
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Dua Lipa teases her new era's sound and release date
Olivia Rodrigo single coming Friday - what sound can we expect?
Doja Cat is headed for a great chart moment this week - but is she really not doing pop?
Bop or Flop
Halle - Angel
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha - One In A Million
Doja Cat - Paint The Town Red
Jorja Smith - GO GO GO
Gretta Ray - Dont date The Teenager
Nao - Balance
Published 08/09/23
We finally talk about an artist that we’ve been fascinated by for a while on this episode. Bebe Rexha’s third album ‘Bebe’ is the focus. A cohesive, strong pop album that is overshadowed by a behemoth hit that is bigger than the artist herself. We discuss what needs to happen for Bebe to be finally given her flowers and much more on this week’s episode.
Published 08/04/23
Welcome back to The Pop In!
What’s been happening this week?
Halle's debut single coming Friday called ‘Angel’ - what can we expect?
Huge numbers for Travis Scott's UTOPIA - where are we at with him?
Kylie's Vegas residency announced
Bop or Flop
Carly Rae Jepsen - Psychedelic Switch
Travis Scott & Beyonce - Delestro (Echoes)
Sam Smith & Calvin Harris - Desire
Post Malone - Enough Is Enough
Tkay Maidza - Ring-A-Ling
Holly Humberstone - Superbloodmoon
Tori Kelly...
Published 08/01/23
We turn to Kelly Clarkson's fourth album 'All I Ever Wanted' in this episode, a record that was a chart hit but perhaps a personal defeat. After 'My December' this saw Clarko back on the charts but giving up some of the intimacy of the previous record. It's a varied but ultimately triumphant album.
Published 07/21/23
What’s been happening this week?
Britney & Will.i.am is happening and Sam makes a discovery about will.i.am's name
New Zayn and Tinashe on the way this week - does time heal everything?
Carly Rae Jepsen's new album is coming
Troye is doing some of his all time best numbers, but do we need to talk about the bodies in the video for Rush?
Bop or Flop (featuring our First Ever Guest, Friend Of The Show Jono)
Troye Sivan - Rush
Billie - What Was I Made For
Pinkpantheress...
Published 07/19/23
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Speak Now Taylor's Version chart records & first reactions
New Britney and will.i.am coming this month?
Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)” featuring SLASH is coming this Friday
Ava Max proves she's the perfect popstar on the Barbie pink carpet & Nicki Minaj reviews Barbie (Part 1)
Bop or Flop
Taylor Swift - I Can See You
Fifty Fifty & Kaliii - Barbie Dreams
Anne-Marie - TRAINWRECK
Tkay Maidza & Flume...
Published 07/12/23
We're back for season 8 and we're tapping in with a legend. Mariah Carey's 'E=MC2' came after a massive return to form with 'The Emancipation Of Mimi'. The follow-up didn't achieve the same success but it did nab a huge record with 'Touch My Body' and it's become a late fan favourite. It's a freeing R&B record that has only gotten better with age. Dive in with us.
Published 07/05/23
ON THE SHOW THIS WEEK!
(1.40) Nicki Minaj’s album has been pushed back for “some really exciting news” - what is the news?
(2.50) The Idol Season Finale reviewed and unpacked
(6.15) Troye Sivan’s Rush AND Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampire makes us unpack the whole ‘teasing songs for ages’ thing
(13.58) Zayn Malik is on the comeback trail & who is the bigger 1D member - Zayn or Niall?
Bop or Flop
Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire (18.40)
Charli XCX - Speed Drive (23.35)
Rita Ora - Don’t...
Published 07/04/23
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Kim Petras gets a 4.1 from Pitchfork - why?
Olivia Rodrigo announces new album Guts - how does she follow up the first?
Taylor Swift tells the crowd not to bully John Mayer
Kylie's Vegas residency confirmed... by Kelly Clarkson
Glastonbury - Elton's special guests, Lewis Capaldi, and Rick Astley's most iconic moment
Bop or Flop
Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj - Barbie World
Carly Rae Jepsen - Shy Boy
Kim Petras - King Of...
Published 06/27/23
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
Bebe has phone thrown at her by fan
Why is Taylor Swift's Lover finally getting its flowers - and is Taylor headed for overexposure again?
The Idol - has it jumped the shark?
Bop or Flop
Doja Cat - Attention
Peggy Gou - It Goes Like (Nanana)
Rosalia - TUYA
PinkPantheress - Angel
Leigh Anne - Don’t Say Love
Dagny - Same Again (for love)
Hemlocke Springs - Heavun
Victoria Monet - On My Mama
Coi Leray - Run it up
Hit us...
Published 06/21/23
What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up
The Idol - our review
Padam Padam is doing the Padamn thing
Romy announces debut album
Bop or Flop
Popular - The Weeknd & Madonna
Madison Beer - Home To Another One
Bizarrap, Peso Pluma - Bzrp Music Sessions 55
Dom Dolla, Nelly Furtado - Eat Your Man
Ty Dolla $ign - Motion
Kelly Clarkson - i hate love
Rose Gray - Happiness
Ed Sheeran - A Beautiful Game
Published 06/09/23
We'll be back with a new season proper in mid June!
In the meantime... Welcome to The Pop In the adjacent podcast to Flopstars where we run through the big new music releases and stories of the week!
What’s been happening this week?
The whole Matty Healy drama unpacked
The Weeknd The Idol debuting this week and the critics despise it already - but we're very ready for it
Sam Smith x Madonna
Taylor Swift Cruel Summer and Miley Cyrus Angels Like You becoming hits
Bop or...
Published 06/02/23