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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
Ariana Grande
Music Industry
Grammy Awards
Grammys
Beyoncé
Janet Jackson
Oasis
MTV

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes138Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusicMusic Commentary

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Artwork for Greatest Pop Stars

Latest Episodes

In 1995, other alt-rock bands had bigger albums and bigger hits than Hole, but none dominated media and pop culture in quite the same way — mostly due to the increasingly high profile of explosive frontwoman Courtney Love, who became a celebrity than... more

In 2006, Arctic Monkeys served as the culmination of a half-decade worth of much-hyped U.K. buzz bands, and finally experienced the biggest breakthrough any group had in its home country since Oasis a decade before — although it took them nearly a de... more

In 2006, Lily Allen was a much-needed breath of fresh air during a period in pop music that had gotten a little static and stale — although we didn't really get it in the U.S. until the next year, and then never to the same level as in her home count... more

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

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Recent Guests

Thomas Smith
Billboard UK contributor commenting on 2006 Arctic Monkeys
Billboard UK
Episode: 2006 Arctic Monkeys: Vintage Almost-Pop Stardom (with Thomas Smith)
Sophie Williams
Music writer/critic discussing Lily Allen and 2006 UK pop scene
Billboard UK / Billboard
Episode: 2006 Lily Allen: Vintage Almost-Pop Stardom (with Sophie Williams)
Jason Lifshitz
Former Billboard writer and author of A Whole Lotta History
Billboard / Atria Books
Episode: 2012 One Direction: Vintage Pop Stardom (With Jason Lipshutz)
Katie Atkinson
Pop culture journalist and co-host of the episode
Pop Shop Podcast / Billboard
Episode: The 2016 VMAs With Beyoncé, Rihanna & Drake: Great Moments in Pop Star History
Lyndsey Havens
Billboard staff writer and fellow journalist who covered the festival
Billboard
Episode: Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields Festival: Pop Star Performance Review
Angel Diaz
Billboard hip-hop writer and Jersey representation for Billboard
Billboard
Episode: 1996 Fugees: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Angel Diaz)
Xander Zellner
First-time guest on Who Won the Month
Billboard
Episode: Which Pop Stars Won June 2026? Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande & More
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

Hosts

Andrew Unterberger
Host and Billboard deputy editor, central figure in historical pop context and rollout analysis.
Emily Fuentes
Recurring guest and contributor bringing ranking perspectives and industry insights.
Eric Frankenberg
Billboard staff member contributing to rollout discussion.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 140 ratings
  • MADONNA!

    obsessed. Confessions II has already slid into my Top 3 Madonna albums….right behind Eroticaand Ray of Light. Early standouts for me are “Bizarre,” “Good for the Soul,” “School,” and “Love Without Words.” 45 years into her career, and she’s still creating music that makes me feel like i did when i heard her music at 6..or 10….or 13…..

    What a gift 👑

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tommee Boom
    United States3 months ago
  • 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 States5 months 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 States8 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 States8 months ago
  • The Greatest Pop Stars in the world

    Ohmy god

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mear family
    South Africa10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are generally well-versed and bring diverse expertise across charts, production, and pop culture; occasionally tone- and bias-related critiques appear in listener reviews.
A few listeners wish for more objective analysis and less fandom, but many praise the nostalgic and data-driven approach.
Sometimes discussions can polarize when guests take strong stances, but overall the format is respected for depth and breadth of coverage.
The host shows passion for music history and industry context, making conversations engaging for fans and industry folks alike.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

2006 Lily Allen: Vintage Almost-Pop Stardom (with Sophie Williams)
Q: Was Lily Allen the greatest UK pop star of 2006?
Yes, in terms of cultural impact and instant visibility, Lily embodied the moment and influenced a generation of artists and fashion, even if other artists had bigger long-term pop careers.
2012 One Direction: Vintage Pop Stardom (With Jason Lipshutz)
Q: How do you view their impact in the long term beyond 2012?
The year set a template for how a global pop act can dominate across media, tours, and branding in a short period, and it influenced later generations of guitar-forward pop and the ongoing live-arena model that many acts adopted afterward.
2012 One Direction: Vintage Pop Stardom (With Jason Lipshutz)
Q: What was the secret sauce that gave them the edge over peers?
It started with the boys and evolved with a thoughtful collaboration with Swedish writers and producers who found a sound that was both classic boy-band and distinctly modern, anchored by strong songs like What Makes You Beautiful and a refreshingly five-lead dynamic that differentiated them from earlier groups.
2012 One Direction: Vintage Pop Stardom (With Jason Lipshutz)
Q: Why did you want to write about One Direction for your second book?
I loved their career arc and wanted to move away from another rock-focused project, while also having a band I personally followed from the X Factor through their solo paths. The breadth of their story—rise, hiatus, and solo ventures—made for a rich, music-centered narrative.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Greatest Pop Stars

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

This show offers a data-informed, opinionated look at pop stardom across eras, blending deep historical context with current chart and rollout analysis. Episodes routinely dissect legacy artists, notable rollouts, and the business of pop, often featuring industry insiders and music critics who provide practical takeaways for marketers, sponsors, and talent. A standout is the panel format that combines long-form nostalgia with fresh, ranking-driven debates, plus guest experts who illuminate chart dynamics, branding, and era-defining moments. This mix makes it especially useful for listeners who want actionable industry context, trend insights, and behind-the-scenes perspectives on how pop icons rise and sustain influence over years or even d... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Greatest Pop Stars?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Greatest Pop Stars:

1. Pop Pantheon
2. Popcast
3. Song Vs. Song
4. Every Single Album
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 138 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. Thomas Smith
2. Sophie Williams
3. Jason Lifshitz
4. Katie Atkinson
5. Lyndsey Havens
6. Angel Diaz
7. Xander Zellner
8. Alejandro Rose-Garcia

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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