Music Popcast

Jazz in 2017: The Music Is Thriving, Though Support Is in Peril 07.04.2017 39:28 ↓

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.

Drake Changed Hip-Hop’s Sound. Can He Change the Business? 27.03.2017 57:45 ↓

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.

How Chuck Berry Became a Rock ’n’ Roll Mastermind 22.03.2017 23:48 ↓

He wrote the guitar licks, told the clever stories, duckwalked across the stage and forever changed popular music

The Billboard Charts Are Wackier Than Ever: What’s Going On? 17.03.2017 57:01 ↓

Streaming figures into chart positions now, a fact that has started yielding some very odd results.

The Greatest Trick Ed Sheeran Ever Pulled Was Convincing the World He’s an Underdog 10.03.2017 44:44 ↓

The British singer/songwriter is a record-smashing superstar, but he still plays the spurned lover. How does he do it?

Atlanta Has a Firm Grip on the Future of Hip-Hop 03.03.2017 59:23 ↓

A panel discusses Migos, Lil Yachty and more of the city’s budding stars on Popcast.

What Happens When Nashville Outsiders Become Country’s Big Stars? 24.02.2017 1:10:46 ↓

The city synonymous with the country music business is in transition. How is it dealing with rapid change, and the Trump era? A panel discusses on Popcast.

Were There Any Real Winners at the Grammys? 14.02.2017 57:27 ↓

It was an awards show filled with flubs, tear, apologies and protests. The New York Times pop music writers discuss Adele, Beyoncé, Chance the Rapper and more on Popcast.

Will the Grammy Awards End With a Big Surprise? 10.02.2017 37:50 ↓

The New York Times pop team debates whether Sturgill Simpson will pull out a surprise victory in a night stacked with Adele vs. Beyoncé face-offs.

Punk Rock Is Alive and Well, No Politics Required 03.02.2017 44:39 ↓

The current political climate doesn’t come up even once during the latest Popcast, a conversation about Japandroids, the Menzingers and the state of rock.

The War Over ‘La La Land’: Gotta Hear Both Sides 27.01.2017 49:57 ↓

The toast of Hollywood has divided our culture writers. Two of the movie’s boosters go to battle with two of its critics in this week’s Popcast.

The Crooner in Chief: Barack Obama’s Musical Legacy 20.01.2017 53:57 ↓

He brought soul and hip-hop into the White House like no president before him. A discussion of Mr. Obama’s most powerful musical moments, on this week’s Popcast.

Hip-Hop’s Elders and Youth Go to Battle (Again) 13.01.2017 52:00 ↓

Should rap’s young stars have more reverence for the genre’s pioneers, and vice versa? A conversation about hip-hop’s latest generation-gap struggles.

Mariah Carey and New Year’s Eve: Is the Fantasy Over? 06.01.2017 52:20 ↓

A panel discusses Ms. Carey's recent New Year's Eve performance and career.

10 Songs That Tell the Story of 2016 30.12.2016 58:27 ↓

A round table of pop experts discuss the year in tracks, from Maren Morris's "Rich" to Twenty One Pilots' "Ride" to Rihanna's "Sex With Me."

The Year in Jazz Music 23.12.2016 42:35 ↓

A roundtable of writers discuss trends and notable moments of the year.

Pop Music Trends in 2016 16.12.2016 38:10 ↓

The pop music team discusses news themes and what may shape it for years to come.

The Best Albums of 2016 09.12.2016 54:32 ↓

The New York Times music team discuss albums of note this year.

For Bruno Mars and the Weeknd, the Past as Muse 02.12.2016 43:17 ↓

This week, a discussion of new releases by both artists who have more in common than it may appear.

Revisiting Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo' 25.11.2016 53:28 ↓

After a series of bizarre shows, Kanye West canceled the remainder of his "Saint Pablo" tour last week. This weekend, we're listening back to the conversation Jon Caramanica led at the time of the album's release.

Mourning the Greats: Leonard Cohen, Leon Russell and Mose Allison 18.11.2016 29:26 ↓

This year has seen the loss of Prince, David Bowie, Merle Haggard, and, now, three more towering figures have died. A look at their legacies.

Popcast: Division and Unity in Pop, and Beyond 11.11.2016 52:30 ↓

Can the cultural events of the last couple of weeks connect to macro political realities?

Popcast: A Tribe Called Quest Returns 04.11.2016 42:31 ↓

A discussion of the group’s legacy and how it fits into the current hip-hop landscape

Pocast: What’s Next for Kesha? 29.10.2016 29:11 ↓

The pop star has been locked in an ugly contract dispute with Dr. Luke; two writers who have examined her case break down the pop star’s situation.

Popcast: Nu-Dance Rises With Help From Streaming 21.10.2016 37:06 ↓

This week, Jon Caramanica and guests discuss club music.