Greatest Pop Stars

4.4 (32)
Music History
Updated Weekly

Billboard's weekly deep dive into the past, present and future of pop stardom, hosted by deputy editor Andrew Unterberger. New episodes every Thursday.

4d ago

2006 Arctic Monkeys: Vintage Almost-Pop Stardom (with Thomas Smith)

In 2006, Arctic Monkeys served as the culmination of a half-decade worth of much-hyped U.K. buzz bands, and finally experienced the biggest breakthrough any group had in its home country since Oasis a decade before — although it took them nearly a decade to make anywhere near the same impact stateside. In this second half of our 2026 kickoff to our annual Vintage Almost-Pop Stardom mini-series, looking at close-but-not-quite pop stars during their biggest years — also be sure to check out part one about 2006 Lily Allen— Thomas Smith of Billboard UK joins to dive into Arctic Monkeys during the group's once-in-a-generation year of 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' setting records and trends, even though the band couldn't avoid backlash even for the full year. 2006 Lily Allen Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQcYuiBTg6VU&si=95K_2zIBEqVgCTM3 And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4d ago

2006 Lily Allen: Vintage Almost-Pop Stardom (with Sophie Williams)

In 2006, Lily Allen was a much-needed breath of fresh air during a period in pop music that had gotten a little static and stale — although we didn't really get it in the U.S. until the next year, and then never to the same level as in her home country. In this first half of our 2026 kickoff to our annual Vintage Almost-Pop Stardom mini-series, looking at close-but-not-quite pop stars during their biggest years — be sure to also check out part two about 2006 Arctic Monkeys — Sophie Williams of Billboard UK joins to dive into all things Lily Allen during her singular breakout season, the year of "Smile," "LDN," 'Alright, Still,' and mini-feuds with just about the entire pop scene of 2006. 2006 Lily Allen Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK_vydQf1SVg&si=uBjBw3GBS8gzgJ7o And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 1

Which Pop Stars Won September 2026? Adéla, Ella Langley & Tinashe

On this Who Won the Month episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Trevor Anderson and Kyle Denis to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who were heard from loudest in September 2026 — who closed out the summer season in pop stardom in style. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from in the final months of 2026. If you enjoy the pod, check out out our Who Won the Month recaps for the first two months of 2026 and all 2025 here: https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign – In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 24

2012 One Direction: Vintage Pop Stardom (With Jason Lipshutz)

In 2012, boy bands hadn't been a major part of the American pop marketplace in a decade — but by the end of the year, not only had X Factor alums One Direction (Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Niall Horan) crashed onto U.S. shores, they had absolutely taken the country over, releasing two Billboard 200-topping albums full of pop-rock bangers, swarming all of pop culture and marking a new era in social media and musical fandom. This episode of Vintage Pop Stardom sees host Andrew Unterberger joined by Billboard co-chief content officer (and author of the upcoming 1D book 'A Whole Lotta History') to remember the year that One Direction became One Direction, creating the closest thing to Beatlemania we saw in in the 2010s. Check out a YouTube playlist of the biggest One Direction moments of 2012, all of which are discussed in the episode, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFsrDcNsyDPk&si=R6jeXLev0oV__3QD Pre-order Jason's 'A Whole Lotta History' here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/A-Whole-Lotta-History/Jason-Lipshutz/9781668205846 And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17

The 2016 VMAs With Beyoncé, Rihanna & Drake: Great Moments in Pop Star History

The MTV Video Music Awards of 2016 represented the culmination of an era of pop music and culture, with career-apex-type performances from Beyoncé and Rihanna and huge moments for Drake and Kanye West, among plenty of other on-stage appearances from some of the biggest names of the period. On this Great Moments in Pop Star History episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Katie Atkinson to look at one of the most memorable Video Music Awards in the show's history, with moments that continue to delight, fascinate and confuse 10 years on. And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign – In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 10

Which Pop Stars Won August 2026? Olivia Rodrigo, Karol G, Stella Lefty & More

On this Who Won the Month episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Danielle Pascual and Eric Frankenberg to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who were heard from loudest in July 2026 — who closed out the summer season in pop stardom in style. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from by the end of the summer of 2026. If you enjoy the pod, check out out our Who Won the Month recaps for the first two months of 2026 and all 2025 here: https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign – In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 3

Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields Festival: Pop Star Performance Review

The Daisy Chain Fields festival debuted at Great Park in Irvine, Calif. on Saturday (Aug. 29), with an 11-hour lineup of all female artists and female-led groups, capped by a headlining set from the festival's founder and curator: Olivia Rodrigo. On this Pop Star Performance Review episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard deputy editor Lyndsey Havens — who was in attendance for the full-day festival — to discuss the history being made by Daisy Chain Fields, and what it means for one of our current greatest pop stars to be able to present it to the world. Read Lyndsey's recap of the festival here: https://www.billboard.com/lists/olivia-rodrigo-daisy-chain-fields-music-festival-recap/ And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 27

2006 Nelly Furtado: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Todd in the Shadows)

Nobody was waiting for the big Nelly Furtado comeback in 2006, but with some help from superproducer Timbaland, Furtado pivoted to a big new pop sound that very briefly made her one of the biggest — and 20 years later, most fondly remembered — pop hitmakers of her era. This episode of Vintage Pop Stardom sees host Andrew Unterberger joined by Song vs. Song podcast co-host and YouTube star Todd in the Shadows as we discuss how Nelly Furtado absolutely took over with her 'Loose' album and big hits "Promiscuous," "Maneater" and "Say It Right," and then disappeared from the mainstream almost immediately afterwards. Check out a YouTube playlist of the biggest Nelly Furtado moments of 2006, all of which are discussed in the episode, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdMepuBX1TTM&si=CMfcMBN491BNfl4X Listen and subscribe to Song vs. Song here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZPOSfyq3NwIsGGTPY1I10 Watch Todd in the Shadows' YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddintheShadows And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Trailer

ANNOUNCEMENT: Janet Jackson Week on Vintage Pop Stardom!

No new podcast this week due to a last-minute cancellation — so instead we're going to look forward to something we're very excited to have coming up on Greatest Pop Stars: a full Janet Jackson Week of Vintage Pop Stardom! In honor of one of the greatest pop stars of all time turning 60 in May, we're going to be celebrating Ms. Janet with deep dives into five of her greatest pop star years — 1986, 1990, 1993, 1998 and 2001 — starting on May 11, and going one a day right up until her birthday on May 16. Listen for more of what to expect here, and see you back here for some top-level Vintage Pop Stardom in a couple weeks! And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4.4

out of 5

32 Ratings

MADONNA!

Jul 9

Tommee Boom

obsessed. Confessions II has already slid into my Top 3 Madonna albums….right behind Eroticaand Ray of Light. Early standouts for me are “Bizarre,” “Good for the Soul,” “School,” and “Love Without Words.” 45 years into her career, and she’s still creating music that makes me feel like i did when i heard her music at 6..or 10….or 13….. What a gift 👑
Lina

May 19

mryassdaddy

Love this podcast. Lina on the Janet 1998 show was awful. She sounded bored and uninterested. It was painful to listen to. Please don’t have her back. Great Janet week otherwise.
Incredible show, past and present

Feb 19

scoompman

Love this podcast. Andrew’s love for music and the history of the industry really translates well on the mic, feels genuine. I really appreciate the vintage episodes giving nuggets on the years surrounding iconic years in music. Love the drafts, the lists and the rankings as well. Become a huge fan over the past few months, keep this show going 🔥
The Taylor Swift Guest was a Psycho

Feb 4

Cheesebub

For the Taylor 2025 episode, the woman you had on was completely insane and ruined the entire discussion. Her inability to acknowledge even a single piece of criticism of Taylor or the album and instead mindlessly write off everyone who didn’t like the album as “bots” or “haters” was genuinely mind blowing. Wish you could’ve gotten someone even a little more objective and not completely delusional

Billboard's weekly deep dive into the past, present and future of pop stardom, hosted by deputy editor Andrew Unterberger. New episodes every Thursday.