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Greatest Pop Stars

Billboard
Pop Music
Taylor Swift
Billboard
Kendrick Lamar
Lady Gaga
Drake
Bad Bunny
Sabrina Carpenter
Kanye West
R&B
Morgan Wallen
Justin Bieber
Music Industry
Grammy Awards
Grammys
Ariana Grande
Janet Jackson
Oasis
MTV
Beyoncé

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes121Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusicMusic Commentary

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Artwork for Greatest Pop Stars

Latest Episodes

No full episode of Greatest Pop Stars this week: It's host Andrew Unterberger's 40th birthday, so he's taking it a little easy. Instead, he's just taking a minute today to express his gratitude to still be able to do Greatest Pop Stars — and to still... more

Three years after releasing her sophomore album 'Guts,' pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo has officially returned with her new wave-influenced, chronicling new album, 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love.' For this Rollout Report Card, host Andrew ... more

When the Spice Girls hit U.S. shores in 1997, they detonated on impact, with best-selling albums, chart-topping singles and even a box office-topping movie — a movement that was too phenomenal to last, but one that still transformed the entire decade... more

On this Who Won the Month episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Kyle Denis and Rebecca Milzoff to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who were heard from loudest ... more

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Recent Guests

Alejandro Rose-Garcia
Shakey Graves, folk/Americana singer-songwriter
Shakey Graves
Episode: 1997 Spice Girls: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Shakey Graves)
Rebecca Milzoff
Guest on this episode, invited to discuss May 2026 pop stars
Reuters / Yahoo? (as introduced in episode)
Episode: Which Pop Stars Won May 2026? Drake, Ella Langley, Noah Kahan & More
Christine Werthman
President of the Billboard chapter of the Rhythm Nation
Billboard
Episode: 1990 Janet Jackson: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Christine Werthman)
Gail Mitchell
Queen of R&B and hip hop journalist at Billboard for 27 years
Billboard
Episode: 1986 Janet Jackson: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Gail Mitchell)
Steven J. Horowitz
Former Billboard, current Variety editor
Variety (formerly Billboard)
Episode: Coachella 2026 With Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter & More: Pop Star Performance Review
Fred Bronson
Billboard historian, author of The Billboard Hot 100 book
Billboard
Episode: 1975 Neil Sedaka: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Fred Bronson)
Chris Molanphy
A legend of the Billboard charts and a pop culture commentator.
Slate
Episode: 1983 David Bowie: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Chris Molanphy)
Isabela Raygoza
Music journalist and commentator who contributed to Bad Bunny's essay and discussion
Billboard
Episode: Greatest Pop Stars of 2025: No. 1, Bad Bunny
Denise Warner
Former boss at Billboard and a passionate Swiftie
Billboard
Episode: Greatest Pop Stars of 2025: No. 2, Taylor Swift

Host

Andrew Unterberger
Host of Greatest Pop Stars; Billboard/Greater Pop Stars veteran

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 132 ratings
  • Lina

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mryassdaddy
    United Statesa month ago
  • Incredible show, past and present

    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 🔥

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    scoompman
    United States4 months ago
  • The Taylor Swift Guest was a Psycho

    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

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Cheesebub
    United States5 months ago
  • The Greatest Pop Stars in the world

    Ohmy god

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mear family
    South Africa7 months ago
  • high quality

    some really bright people giving genuinely engaging insight into the pop stars we all know and love/hate!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    packer fan 75
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners value the host's historical knowledge and clear passion for pop history.
Some episodes polarize audiences when controversial opinions appear during debates.
Mix of nostalgia and data-driven takes keeps long-time fans engaged.
Guests bring strong industry insight and fresh perspectives on rankings.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

1986 Janet Jackson: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Gail Mitchell)
Q: How did Jam and Lewis approach Janet to unlock a more personal, empowered direction for her music?
They listened to her, engaged with what she wanted to say, and then helped translate that into songs that reflected her life and feelings, creating a collaborative environment that allowed Janet to become a more clearly defined artist.
1986 Janet Jackson: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Gail Mitchell)
Q: Why do you think What Have You Done For Me Lately served as the right lead single to launch this era?
It introduced a harder, more assertive Janet voice and vibe, signaling a deliberate shift away from the earlier, softer material and directly setting up the control-driven narrative of the album.
BTS' Comeback Weekend: Pop Star Performance Review
Q: Does the album reflect BTS's four-year gap and solo work, and what does the documentary reveal about production choices?
The hosts discuss how the album blends evolution from solo projects with a unified statement, and the documentary shows the conflict between label direction and artist intent, particularly around the Arirang sample and English-language content.
BTS' Comeback Weekend: Pop Star Performance Review
Q: How did RM's ankle injury influence the performance and staging?
RM's injury led to his partial on-stage presence from a side-stage chair, with the group adjusting choreography and staging to integrate him while preserving the concert's flow.
How'd Bad Bunny Do at the Super Bowl? Greatest Pop Stars Instant Reaction
Q: How do you think Bad Bunny did, Emily? Did he live up to expectations?
I think this was a great performance that really showcased Bad Bunny's artistry, but it took a couple of viewings to fully appreciate all the nuances.

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 Greatest Pop Stars

What is Greatest Pop Stars about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly deep dive into pop stardom, blending historical retrospectives with contemporary rankings, chart analyses, and behind-the-scenes storytelling. Episodes commonly center on iconic artists, era-defining eras, and the cultural impact of pop music across decades, with a penchant for data-informed debates, roundtables, and guest expertise. Notable strengths include accessible, nostalgia-driven discourse combined with industry insight from seasoned music journalists and guests who bring insider perspective. The format often features roundtable discussions, historical context, and forward-looking takes on how past eras shape today's pop landscape, making it appealing to listeners who love both chart lore and deep dives into artistic evolut... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Greatest Pop Stars?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Greatest Pop Stars:

1. Switched on Pop
2. Pop Pantheon
3. Song Vs. Song
4. Popcast
5. 安住紳一郎の日曜天国

How many episodes of Greatest Pop Stars are there?

Greatest Pop Stars launched 2 years ago and published 121 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 Greatest Pop Stars?

Recent guests on Greatest Pop Stars include:

1. Alejandro Rose-Garcia
2. Rebecca Milzoff
3. Christine Werthman
4. Gail Mitchell
5. Steven J. Horowitz
6. Fred Bronson
7. Chris Molanphy
8. Isabela Raygoza

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