Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
Slate PodcastsWhat 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
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 254 | Founded | 9 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Music | |||
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Latest Episodes
Céline Dion is set to emerge from her career dormancy into a sold-out Paris residency—a triumph over a rare neurological illness that, until recently, prevented her from singing. Her silence seemed unimaginable. Only a few decades ago, a precocious D... more
Jay-Z recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut Reasonable Doubt with a three-night residency at Yankee Stadium featuring superstar guests like Pharrell, Nas, Alicia Keys and, of course, Beyoncé. The marathon event was a tribute to one of... more
Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon is one of the most played, purchased and praised albums of all time. Yet its enduring legacy might be its supernatural chart longevity. Officially, the 1973 long-player has spent nearly a thousand weeks on the B... more
We’re all familiar with the concept of a one-hit wonder, but what about artists who hit it big a second time—and never again? This week on Hit Parade, Chris Molanphy lays out the ground rules for one of pop's most misunderstood chart distinctions and... more
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Reviews
- Racist. Unsubscribed after almost a decade.
Calling an artist a “windbag” for being against apartheid and hate crimes is disgusting. This was my all time favorite podcast. Unsubbed.
Apple Podcasts1melodie-c
United Statesa month ago - I love this pod
It’s 99% perfect because The Flame by Cheap Tricks wasn’t mentioned in the ballad episode. 😜
Apple Podcasts5Marilyse Hamelin
Canada2 months ago - If you love music - listen
Hit Parade is my favorite podcast. I listened to it initially when on longer drives. I end up listening to many of the artists featured between podcasts. Its reintroduced me to forgotten favorites and its interesting plus ive discovered new artistS. I still cant get over the fact CCR never had a number 1 - that early episode was a good one - “Why has this band never had a number 1 hit.” Thanks Chris!
Apple Podcasts5Phonics NonnaCanada2 months ago - Hitting the Hits
Chris does an amazing job of taking all the cool context elements and music trivia that surrounds a specific theme and turns it into fun story telling that makes you feel like you were there.
The themes themselves are almost always both currently relevant and timeless. His ability to focus on either a specific musician, music genre, or obscure factoid and then turn them into something novel, approachable, and surprising is nothing short of spectacular.
Apple Podcasts5DJ GoodwordCanada3 months ago - Don’t listen to the consultants
I don’t know why y’all felt the need to have consultants. Tell you how to run your show, but you need to lose those notes they gave you. Changing your tone to “more conversational” has taken away one of the things I enjoy the most about listening to you. Frankly, I also like the two part episodes. Not sure it will continue to hold my interest, but I’ll give this new form out a chance, but please go back to your former speaking style.
Apple Podcasts3schwitzeUnited States3 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #63 | United States/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #80 | Canada/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #212 |  United Kingdom/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #33 |  Australia/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #160 |  Germany/Music |
Apple Podcasts | #64 |  Argentina/Music |
Talking Points
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Audience Metrics
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hit Parade
What is Hit Parade about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A data-driven deep dive into music history, chart dynamics, and cultural moments, blending storytelling with trivia, song clips, and archival context. Episodes commonly unpack how artists, producers, and industry shifts intersected with Billboard and radio-era storytelling, revealing why certain tracks or genres became enduring touchstones and how chart rules and technology shaped longevity. Noteworthy strengths include rigorous research, clear narrative voice, and a knack for connecting behind-the-scenes decisions to lasting cultural impact. The show often highlights cross-genre confusions, pivotal collaborations, and the enduring appeal of countdown culture, making it especially compelling for listeners who love music history, data-driven... more
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. Decoder Ring
3. A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
4. Song Exploder
5. Culture Gabfest
How many episodes of Hit Parade are there?
Hit Parade launched 9 years ago and published 254 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?
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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.
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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.