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Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

Slate Podcasts
Old Town Road
Lil Nas X
Barbra Streisand
Grammy Awards
Boy Bands
Taylor Swift
Billboard Hot 100
Pop Music
Disco
Guilty
Bee Gees
Eric Clapton
SZA
The Way We Were
Respect
Blondie
Talking Heads
The Ramones
1980S Music
American Gigolo

What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more. Chris Molanphy, pop-chart analyst and author of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series, tells tales from a half-century of chart history. Through storytelling, trivia and song snippets, Chris dissects how that song you love—or hate—dominated the airwaves, made its way to the top of the charts and shaped your memories forever. Wa... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes194Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusic CommentaryMusic

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Artwork for Hit Parade

Latest Episodes

When you think of music in the 1960s, some groundbreaking artists probably come to mind: Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and the Jefferson Airplane, for example. But the pop charts paint a very different picture of that decade, which embraced easy listening,... more

In the late 1980s, the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys dominated the U.K. pop charts and staged an invasion of the American charts. Years later, founding member Neil Tennant dubbed this streak of creative and commercial supremacy the group’s “imp... more

In the late 1980s, the English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys dominated the U.K. pop charts and staged an invasion of the American charts. Years later, founding member Neil Tennant dubbed this streak of creative and commercial supremacy the group’s “imp... more

At the movies, A Complete Unknown depicts Bob Dylan as a 1960s “it” boy—played by a 2020s “it” boy, Timothée Chalamet. But the film ends in 1965. What happened in the six decades after that?

Dylan not only kept recording. He actually started topping... more

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Recent Guests

Norah Jones
Singer-songwriter, renowned for her debut album Come Away With Me.
Blue Note Records
Episode: Introducing Broken Record: "Norah Jones Begins Again"
Dan Charnas
Author of the New York Times bestseller 'Dilla Time, The Life and Afterlife of J. Dilla' and 'The Big Payback, The History of the Business of Hip-Hop'
Episode: The Bridge: Can’t Tell Me Nothin’

Host

Chris Molanphy
Chart analyst, pop critic, and writer of Slate's Why Is This Song No. 1? series. Host of the podcast focusing on music history and trivia, bringing extensive knowledge and storytelling experience to the content.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.2k ratings
  • 60s episode 1

    I love this podcast and am a boomer in my 70s. I remember pretty much all of the songs played here, some fondly and some not so fondly (not an Archies fan!). I hope you will one of these days get into some of the "alternative" FM stations that many of us really loved in the late 60s (in Seattle it was KOL-FM, vastly different from KOL-AM). They played some of the best songs of our generation, including from Blind Faith, the Yardbirds, Them, Jethro Tull, and others. Harder to find and keep the si... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IMHO18
    United States8 days ago
  • Hit Parade is a Hit!

    Are we really concerned with the private, intimate and social context of which the music in a program relates to the podcaster?

    Do we actually need to hear pitiful ramblings and diatribes describing the highly subjective personal and emotional value a podcaster places on specific songs? Many would argue no.

    That is why it’s very enjoyable to listen to Hit Parade: it’s a painstakingly researched, fact-based podcast about music, whose sole purpose is to extract and illuminate for the listener... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stevie Brook
    Sweden10 days ago
  • All time favorite podcast

    If you are a music fan, this podcast is the best. Deep dive into the archive for some

    classic episodes. I often relisten to them, they are packed with information and highly entertaining. Has helped me expand my music tastes and find new favorites. Chris and this podcast are a treasure.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Twitterless
    United States2 months ago
  • So fun!

    Literally my #1 podcast! I love music/songs so finding out details about songs and artists is the best! I just discovered HP last year and started at episode 1. I hope it never ends.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dezignerjs
    United States3 months ago
  • A Revelation

    This is some thoughtful natter on pop music. Could listen to this endlessly. Chris has a truly keen ear.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BigDaddyVandy
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the detailed and engaging storytelling that makes music history accessible and enjoyable.
Many find the episodes rich with trivia and nostalgia, often sparking a deeper appreciation for the songs and artists discussed.
There is some critique regarding the frequency of episodes and the podcast's political references, which may detract from its music-centered focus.
The host is praised for his knowledgeable and charismatic delivery, although some prefer a more laid-back presentation style.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#11
United States/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#56
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#13
United Kingdom/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#19
Canada/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#146
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#159
United Kingdom/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Introducing Broken Record: "Norah Jones Begins Again"
Q: How did your upbringing influence your career?
Norah shares anecdotes from her childhood, including her musical influences and experiences that shaped her artistic journey.
Introducing Broken Record: "Norah Jones Begins Again"
Q: What was it like striking big on your very first album?
Norah discussed the sudden fame after the success of her debut album, expressing both excitement and the challenges that came with it.
The Bridge: Can’t Tell Me Nothin’
Q: What do you feel are the takeaways for us as an industry from Old Town Road?
Trust the audience and follow where they go. The music business is unpredictable, and you must rely on artists and audience feedback to identify hits.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hit Parade

What is Hit Parade about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast explores the intricate relationship between popular music and its cultural impact over the decades. Focusing on chart history, it presents engaging stories and analyses of how certain songs achieved mainstream success, revealing the factors of talent, timing, and broader societal influences that contributed to their rise. With an emphasis on notable artists and pivotal years in music history, listeners can expect a mix of trivia, anecdotes, and song snippets that enrich their understanding of the musical landscape.

Notably, discussions often delve into the evolution of specific genres and highlight the crossover of music with advertising and social movements. The insights provided not only inform about the artists and songs bu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Hit Parade?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hit Parade:

1. Switched on Pop
2. Rolling Stone Music Now
3. Culture Gabfest
4. Slate Culture
5. Song Exploder

How many episodes of Hit Parade are there?

Hit Parade launched 7 years ago and published 194 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Hit Parade?

Recent guests on Hit Parade include:

1. Norah Jones
2. Dan Charnas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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