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Artwork for Hit Parade

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

Slate Podcasts
Pop Music
Alternative Rock
David Bowie
Billboard Hot 100
Rihanna
Nirvana
Aretha Franklin
Madonna
Grammy Awards
Songs Of the Summer
Taylor Swift
Girl Groups
R&B
Bob Dylan
Live
Michael Jackson
Disco
Lil Nas X
Respect
Motown

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. Ge... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes245Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

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Artwork for Hit Parade

Latest Episodes

Hit Parade is on a brief break, but if you need a daily dose of fascinating stories, check out History Daily. Host Lindsay Graham (the history guy! not the senator!) explores what happened "on this day in history," with a broad mix of politics, sport... more

Donna Summer was a hit-maker for two decades and a dance floor deity for more than three. Her collaborations with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte were formative in dance, electronic, and rock music, influencing everyone from David Bowie and Blondie... more

Donna Summer was a hit-maker for two decades and a dance floor deity for more than three. Her collaborations with Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte were formative in dance, electronic, and rock music, influencing everyone from David Bowie and Blondie... more

The 100th episode of Hit Parade has put host Chris Molanphy in a reflective mood. So in Part 2, he unfurls the story of the late, great American Top 40 host Casey Kasem—a perennial inspiration for this podcast and the chart king that Chris calls “the... more

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Recent Guests

Christian John Wykane
Critic, historian, and R&B and dance music expert
Episode: The Queen of Disco Edition Part 2 (Encore)
Giovanni Giorgio Moroder
Italian-American musician and producer, key collaborator with Donna Summer
Moroder & Bellotte (producer/label partnerships)
Episode: The Queen of Disco Edition Part 1 (Encore)
Brian Eno
Musician/producer noted for early influence on post-punk/new wave
Various including collaborations with artists in the era
Episode: The Queen of Disco Edition Part 1 (Encore)
Julianne Escobedo Shepherd
Writer, editor, and co-founder of Hearing Things
Hearing Things
Episode: The Bridge: Slate’s Music Club 2025
Lindsay Zoladz
Pop music critic at the New York Times
New York Times
Episode: The Bridge: Slate’s Music Club 2025
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. Known for his deep research and engaging storytelling, he brings insights into the history of pop music and its charts.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.3k ratings
  • Sincere nerdery of the highest order

    It’s the earnest fandom, the sincere nerdery, and utter lack of pretentiousness that does it for me. This is one of my “refuge” podcasts where I can escape from the news for a little bit. Like hanging out at a friend’s house listening to records and reading the liner notes. It’s very comforting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LP Sound System
    United Statesa month ago
  • Right up my alley

    Such a good podcast. Amazingly researched, well-written, and calmly delivered. I have been a fan of top 40 countdowns since my childhood in the 90s, and I still enjoy following pop music. I really appreciate Chris’s scholarly take on countdowns and music history, and each episode is fascinating. Even episodes that feature genres that aren’t my favorites are great. I especially enjoyed the Point of No Return episode for a deep dive into Freestyle music. The 100th episode made me get choked up. It... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ebidebby
    United Statesa month ago
  • My all time favorite podcast

    If you like music, listen to this podcast! Chris Molanphy explores genres, moments in time, and specific artists all through the lens of the billboard charts. It’s brilliant. You’ll hear bits of songs you remember, songs you’ve forgotten, and songs you’ve never heard before. I love listening to them all, even artists I don’t like or know much about; he looks at their influences, their contemporaries, what they were competing against on the charts and I always learn something or find a song to ad... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pisces in the Desert
    United States2 months ago
  • Bowie Episodes are a MASTERPIECE

    Chris. (Insert applause). Sitting on the bus fighting back tears. Your telling of the inimitable history of on of the most remarkable artists to ever walk the earth is nothing short of phenomenal. Any person who does not know about David Bowie and his interstellar career should start here. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AlexisPThornton
    United States2 months ago
  • Nikki 44

    Amazing pod, thank you so much for this engaging, fun, informative way for my to while away the hours.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Love lover4
    Australia3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, the storytelling quality and song snippets are frequently highlighted as key features that enhance the experience.
Listeners appreciate the depth and thoroughness of Chris Molanphy's research on music history.
Some listeners express a wish for less political commentary, preferring a focus purely on music.
The show balances entertainment with informative content, often filled with nostalgia and fun trivia.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#104
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#182
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#245
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#207
France/Music
Apple Podcasts
#231
Australia/Music
Apple Podcasts
#88
Finland/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Queen of Disco Edition Part 2 (Encore)
Q: Where do you feel you stand now?
I hope to be seen with legitimacy and respect for my choices, not limited by past expectations, and I want listeners to understand that I create because I choose to, not due to perceived limitations.
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
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Hit Parade

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

The content centers on the historical and analytical journey through popular music and its chart performance over the decades. Noteworthy topics include in-depth explorations of influential artists like David Bowie, John Denver, and Remastering familiar hits, along with themes of music production, soundtrack history, and the evolution of genres, like the crossover of pop and country. The podcast often blends storytelling with trivia, offering unique insights into how music has shaped societal moments and collective memories. A distinctive element is the use of music snippets that enhance the narrative, making it an engaging and educational experience for music enthusiasts.

Where can I find podcast stats for Hit Parade?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Hit Parade. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Hit Parade and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Hit Parade get?

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What are the audience demographics for Hit Parade?

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How many subscribers and views does Hit Parade have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Hit Parade has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Hit Parade?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hit Parade:

1. Switched on Pop
2. Culture Gabfest
3. One Song
4. Song Exploder
5. Decoder Ring

How many episodes of Hit Parade are there?

Hit Parade launched 9 years ago and published 245 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Hit Parade?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Hit Parade?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Hit Parade from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Hit Parade?

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What guests have appeared on Hit Parade?

Recent guests on Hit Parade include:

1. Christian John Wykane
2. Giovanni Giorgio Moroder
3. Brian Eno
4. Julianne Escobedo Shepherd
5. Lindsay Zoladz
6. Norah Jones
7. 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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