A podcast all about the making and meaning of popular music. Musicologist Nate Sloan & songwriter Charlie Harding pull back the curtain... more
For decades, hip hop has been the most successful genre on the charts. Then, in 2023, a shift occurred. For... more
The Verge's Nilay Patel and David Pierce chat with Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding about the RIAA lawsuit against Al... more
The synthesizer was invented in the 1890s. But for people to really start using it, it took half a century,... more
Long live the song of the summer with Today Explained. But wait! Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding disagrees. And Rolling... more
In today’s volatile music industry, many artists struggle to navigate the pitfalls of touring, the whims of social media, and... more
The first half of 2024 has been for the “pop girlie.” It seems like every major artist who’s dominated the... more
There’s many things to love about Los Angeles: low-rider cars, roadside taco stands, and, come awards season, the omnipresent “For... more
Bootsy Collins is, perhaps, the funkiest man of all time. Over the course of his nearly six decade career, Collins... more
There is no contemporary pop music without Nile Rodgers. Born in 1952, Rodgers grew up playing classical music on flute and... more
There's no music writer like the essayist and poet Hanif Abdurraqib: whether he's narrating the beautiful awkwardness of a Carly... more