The Bridge: They Must Be Our Lucky Stars

In this Slate Plus exclusive, Hit Parade host Chris Molanphy welcomes DJ Louie XIV, host of the Pop Pantheon podcast, for a deep dive into imperial phases and the elite status that accompanies such success. Louie breaks down the multi-tier system he uses to rank pop stars from Mariah Carey to Beyoncé. (Only one of whom had a major Imperial phase!) And Chris and Louie also explore Madonna’s imperial reign in the ’80s as well as her equally regal post-peak evolution. Also: Chris tests a Slate Plus listener’s music knowledge, gives him a chance to turn the tables with a question of his own—and previews the next episode of Hit Parade. Slate Plus members can sign up for a chance to be our trivia contestant on a future episode here.