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Greatest Pop Stars

Billboard
Pop Music
Music Industry
Kanye West
Ariana Grande
R&B
Britney Spears
Billboard
Taylor Swift
Bruno Mars
Justin Bieber
Latin Music
College Dropout
One Direction
Bad Bunny
Lil Wayne
BTS
The Weeknd
Adele
Soul Music
Thank U, Next

Billboard's weekly deep dive into the past, present and future of pop stardom. New episodes every Thursday.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes105Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music HistoryMusic CommentaryMusic

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Artwork for Greatest Pop Stars

Latest Episodes

After confirming his solo superstardom with 2002's 'Justified' and finding himself in the middle of a cultural firestorm at the 2004 Super Bowl, Justin Timberlake returned in 2006 with an album that raised the bar not only for himself but for all of ... more

It's 2006 Week on Billboard.com, which means it's time to flash back to all the biggest artists, songs, albums and stories of 20 weeks ago. We start off with a look at our editorial staff's list of the year's 100 best songs, including classics from B... more

Last weekend, the music world was taken over by the return of BTS, who ended a four-year hiatus on Friday with 'Arirang,' the group's first new album since 2020 — and then just a day later, with a live show at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, livestreame... more

After a full decade out of the spotlight in the U.S., Neil Sedaka embarked upon a stateside revival in 1975 — with a valuable assist from a longtime fan in Sir Elton John — and ended up bigger than he'd ever been as a teen idol in the early '60s. On ... more

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Recent Guests

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)
Denise Warner
Former boss at Billboard and a passionate Swiftie
Billboard
Episode: Greatest Pop Stars of 2025: No. 2, Taylor Swift
Lina Morgan
Single biggest Sabrina Carpenter fan.
Host of Song vs. Song
Episode: Greatest Pop Stars of 2025: No. 5, Sabrina Carpenter (with Lina Morgan)
Melinda Newman
Billboard's executive editor, West Coast in Nashville
Billboard
Episode: Greatest Pop Stars of 2025: No. 8, Morgan Wallen
AJ Marks
Pop culture commentator and member of R slash Popheads
Episode: Greatest Pop Stars of 2025: No. 9, Doechii (with AJ Marks)
Sophie Williams
Billboard UK contributor and music journalist
Billboard
Episode: Greatest Pop Stars of 2025: Olivia Dean, Rookie of the Year
Chris Dalla Riva
Author and music industry professional focusing on Billboard charts
Episode: 1978 Bee Gees: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Chris Dalla Riva)
Abby Webster
Billboard's new KPop correspondent and full-time protector of the honeymoon
Billboard
Episode: KPop Demon Hunters: HUNTR/X & Saja Boys Fictional Pop Star Review

Host

Andrew Unterberger
Host with a focus on pop stardom history and current culture.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 122 ratings
  • 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 States2 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 States2 months ago
  • The Greatest Pop Stars in the world

    Ohmy god

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mear family
    South Africa4 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 States5 months ago
  • One of my favorite podcasts!

    This pod is so much fun and informative to listen to! I love the mix of current popstar coverage and historical lookbacks. Andrew is an excellent host and the guests are always 👌👌

    Protect trans rights 🏳️‍⚧️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KRNYC222
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate the mix of current relevance and vintage pop focus.
Listeners praise the host's industry insight and nostalgic depth.
Some episodes spark heated debate around guest selections and specific artists.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Greatest Pop Stars of 2025: No. 1, Bad Bunny
Q: How do you think he did in these two movies, and is there one that you prefer to the other one?
Isabela expresses her enjoyment of Happy Gilmore 2, describing Bad Bunny as charming, particularly in his physical comedy.
Greatest Pop Stars of 2025: No. 1, Bad Bunny
Q: What do you look at first and foremost when you think of why he should be number one on this list?
Isabela discusses Bad Bunny's artistic work, showcasing his well-crafted album as a love letter to Puerto Rico and his ability to capture Latin identity.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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 delivers a deep, argument-driven look at pop stardom, blending historical retrospectives with contemporary chart culture and industry dynamics. Episodes commonly dissect rollout strategies, visual campaigns, award-season moments, and the evolving careers of top stars, often through panel discussions and expert guest insights. A standout feature is the nuanced mix of nostalgia and forward-looking analysis, plus candid takes on how media, branding, and fan culture shape stardom today. Listeners who want sharp pop culture IQ, industry context, and thoughtful debates about who counts as a “greatest” will likely find it compelling, with frequent guest perspectives enriching the conversation and occasional provocative takes keeping the ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Greatest Pop Stars?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Greatest Pop Stars:

1. Song Vs. Song
2. Critics at Large | The New Yorker
3. Pop Culture Happy Hour
4. Pop Pantheon
5. Switched on Pop

How many episodes of Greatest Pop Stars are there?

Greatest Pop Stars launched 2 years ago and published 105 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. Fred Bronson
2. Chris Molanphy
3. Denise Warner
4. Lina Morgan
5. Melinda Newman
6. AJ Marks
7. Sophie Williams
8. Chris Dalla Riva

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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