Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

Sound the Glastonbury siren as Annie and Nick react to the lineup for this year’s festival. Has Charli XCX been booked for the right stage? What sort of crowd will Olivia Rodrigo pull? Why is Busta Rhymes one of the most exciting names on the poster? Plus, they share exclusive details on who will be playing on which stage across the weekend.

Annie and Nick are joined by James Blake to discuss the week in music. He’s a Grammy award winning singer and producer, who’s worked with everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Beyoncé and last year, he walked away from his record deal to become an independent artist. After last week’s depressing look into the state of British music, does James have some solutions? Elsewhere, inspired by Chrissie Hynde s...

Recorded in the back of a cab on the way from The O2 to an afterparty, Nick and CMAT have all the goss from this year’s BRIT Awards.

Do the charts have the same relevance they once did? Annie and Nick discuss the potential reasons why there are no UK artists in the annual global top 10 for the first time since 2003. Elsewhere, Kate Bush is one of a thousand musicians behind a silent album to protest the government's proposed changes to copyright law. Should we be worried about artists having their identities stolen, or should w...

Electronic music is more popular than ever before but is the government doing enough to support its continued growth? Singer and producer Kelly Lee Owens joins Nick to discuss her relationship with the genre, the role of small venues in sustaining club culture and what the future holds for DJs. Elsewhere, Chappell Roan’s call to action has been heard by UMG as they announce a new mental health fun...

What is the reality of signing a record deal? With 13 years of skin in the game, Mahalia joins Annie to discuss Chappell Roan’s Grammy speech, the power of putting her money where her mouth is, and the measures labels should be taking to protect their artists. Elsewhere, Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show was a display of intelligence and artistry – and marked the return of bootcut jeans. Plus, Elton...

How has music influenced fashion, which gigs would you go back in time to see and where have all the bands gone? Annie and Nick answer your questions. Plus, is ‘Eusexua’ the perfect presidential walk-on song? SONGS Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) Patrice Rushen – Forget Me Nots Patrice Rushen – Haven't You Heard? Gwen McCrae – Keep the Fire Burning Lola Young – Messy Ricky Desktop – The...

Why does seeing live music give you a natural endorphin hit? Annie and Nick discuss the collective experience of going to a gig and why the benefits are essential to our human experience. Elsewhere, Gracie Abrams fans have started a petition to remove support act Dora Jar from her European tour, but what does it say about fan entitlement? Plus, Bruno Mars and Sexyy Red have made WAP for dads, Cent...

From Charli XCX and Ezra Collective to The Cure and Dua Lipa – this year’s BRIT Awards nominations have been revealed. In this bonus episode, Annie and Nick share their predictions, unpack the biggest takeaways and explore why the BRITs still matter in 2025. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

What do Timothée Chalamet, Spandau Ballet and peanut butter sandwiches all have in common? Annie and Nick debrief their trip to the premiere of A Complete Unknown, including the sense of defiance that defines Bob Dylan’s musical legacy and whether artists like Chappell Roan embody that quality today. Elsewhere, Drake is taking his rap beef with Kendrick to court – but what impact will this have on...

Ever wondered how the songs are picked to soundtrack your favourite television shows? Music supervisor, Ciara Elwis, joins Annie and Nick to talk about working with PJ Harvey, curating endless playlists and the lengths she’s gone to to get a song cleared. Elsewhere, it’s been a good week for new music - Ethel Cain’s new album has prompted both confusion and admiration while Bad Bunny’s has made th...

As she continues her meteoric rise to fame, Annie and Nick share why Doechii should be your new favourite artist. Elsewhere, The Traitor’s has returned to our screens along with its iconic soundtrack – but who chooses the songs? Plus, we officially have our first Glastonbury headliner for 2025, SZA might be solely making children’s music from now on and Nick’s losing faith in Rihanna ever releasin...

From hotly tipped artists to unmissable live music moments - Annie, Nick and BBC News Correspondent Mark Savage look forward to 2025’s musical offerings, including the return of both Oasis and (hopefully) Madonna. Elsewhere, America is facing a ban on TikTok – but what impact could that have on the wider music industry? Plus, the rise and rise of Doechii, the changing sound of pop music and more G...

Annie and Nick reflect on some of their favourite moments with Sidetracked guest co-hosts, from Charli XCX defining Brat for the first time to Robert Smith revealing his genius music filing system. Or what about the time JADE revealed her most awkward onstage crisis? Plus, CMAT’s strong takedown of the Country music industry, SELF ESTEEM’s notes app entries and Kylie’s clubbing stories. Get in tou...

Annie and Nick are joined by Robert Smith to review the year in music. He’s the lead singer of The Cure, one of the UK’s most influential bands ever - they’ve headlined Glastonbury 4 times, sold over 35 million albums, and their 2024 album, Songs of a Lost World, was one of the most talked about records on Sidetracked this year. 2024 was the year of the pop girlies, with Charli XCX and Chappell Ro...

For Sidetracked’s first ever Christmas party, Annie and Nick are joined by singer SELF ESTEEM, Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso, comedian Joanne McNally and BBC Music Correspondent Mark Savage, at their favourite Irish pub. With the festive season in full swing, Annie and Nick ask their guests why music and Christmas are so intrinsically linked. And although it’s full of joy, why does Christmas musi...

As Kneecap win their discrimination case against the UK government, Annie and Nick discuss the relationship between music and politics – but how much freedom do artists really have? Elsewhere, Massive Attack are leading the charge on low carbon gigging and demonstrating how live music can become more sustainable. Plus, Liam Gallagher’s plaque has gone missing from Lidl, Solange might have new musi...

Having spent their formative years in clubs around the UK, Annie and Nick unpack why club culture is disappearing and what can be done to save it. Elsewhere, Kendrick Lamar is taking a victory lap with his new album GNX and proving why he is the ultimate winner of this year’s biggest rap beef. Plus, Kate Nash has found a savvy way of raising money for her next tour, Rod Stewart is officially a leg...

Is the art of the music video dead? Following last week’s discussion about the MTV EMA’s, Annie and Nick share some of your comments about the relevancy of music videos. Elsewhere, Beyoncé has announced that she will play an NFL half time show on Christmas Day, but which artist would you abandon Christmas dinner for? Plus, Bjork is recreating the sounds of extinct animals, Ed Sheeran wishes he was...

Grammy nominations and the EMAs have welcomed us back into awards season, but are they still relevant and should we even care? BBC Music Correspondent Mark Savage gives his analysis. Elsewhere, Pharrell Williams is challenging our mind’s eye with his new Lego film, Busta Rhymes reveals that Benny Hill is the rapper’s comedian and Nick explains why he’s not friends with Frank Ocean. Plus, Annie and...

Does UK Rap need fixing? With 20 years of skin in the game, Ghetts joins Annie to discuss the current state of the UK Rap scene, the importance of championing artist authenticity and who he looks to for inspiration. Elsewhere, what is it about certain songs that keeps us coming back? Annie shares the science behind what makes music so addictive. Plus, Tyler, The Creator proves why risks are worth...

Annie and Nick dress up as two musical icons for a spooky special - but what makes up the perfect Halloween song? Elsewhere, Laura Marling has released her new album to critical acclaim, and it acts as a perfect example of why an artist’s agency and authenticity are so important in the age of streaming. Plus, Kate Bush has us all gagged with the announcement that she’s ready to start making new mu...

Olly Alexander joins Nick to discuss meeting Rihanna, the highs and lows of Eurovision and why he wants to ‘do a Kate Bush’. They also pay tribute to Liam Payne and reflect on the legacy he has left behind. Elsewhere, Tyler, The Creator is bucking the trend by releasing new music on Mondays - should other artist’s lean into this or does New Music Friday serve a purpose? Plus, Charli XCX’s Brat has...

How much influence do music reviews have in 2024? Annie and Nick chat to The Guardian’s Laura Snapes about the role of the music critic, what it’s like to give a scathing review and why professional critique should always be valued. Elsewhere, Glastonbury tickets go on sale next month at their highest ever price - but what should festival-goers be getting for their money? Plus, new albums from Ken...

Is breaking America worth the cost? Annie and Nick discuss why artists are struggling to take their tours across the pond and the impact this could have on British music. Elsewhere, the world is clearly still not over Brat, as Charli XCX reveals the tracklist for her remix album – but what does it tell us about the rise in pop collaborations? Plus, misinterpreted lyrics, Robbie Williams as a CGI m...