Rephonic
Artwork for You Wanted a Hit!
Alternative Rock
Harvey Danger
Flagpole Sitta
Music Industry
Jill Sobule
I Kissed a Girl
LGBTQ+ Representation
Shawn Mullins
1990s Music
Cultural Impact
Macarthur Park
Lullaby
Barriers In Music
The 90s
Tubular Bells
Jazz
Pop Punk
Indie Rock
Seattle
Supermodel

A discussion of unlikely, perplexing, and positively bizarre hit songs that swept the nation, and often the world. Have you ever heard a classic song and thought, "why on Earth was this popular?" Or "How did this even get played on the radio?" Well, we're here to answer these questions for you. Each episode we will explore the backstory, creation, and success of one unlikely smash hit. The catch? ... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes104Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicMusic CommentaryMusic History

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Artwork for You Wanted a Hit!

Latest Episodes

Theo tells the story of the Philadelphia singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer’s 1983 movie soundtrack smash.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded in front of a live audience at Get Tight Lounge in Richmond VA, Theo tells the story of the Hattiesburg-via-Los Angeles rapper and singer’s token, tokin’ 2000 hit in our 100th episode. [Warning: This episode contains explicit language and su... more

Michael tells the story of the Alaska alternative rock band’s inescapable, politically subversive 2017 smash. Writer/podcaster/activist Spencer Dukoff joins the conversation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Theo tells the story of the Leeds synth-pop duo’s 1981 cover of the multiple-versioned Northern Soul tune. Peter Leonard of Little Amps Coffee joins the conversation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Spencer Dukoff
Forbes Vetted podcast host and music journalist
Forbes Vetted
Episode: Portugal. The Man “Feel It Still” (w/ Spencer Dukoff)
Peter Leonard
Runs Central Pennsylvania's finest coffee purveyor Little Amps
Little Amps Coffee
Episode: Soft Cell “Tainted Love” (w/ Peter Leonard of Little Amps Coffee)
Tawny Newsome
Actor, comedian, podcaster, songwriter, singer, musician
Special guest on episode
Episode: The Juliana Hatfield Three “My Sister” (w/ Tawny Newsome)
Adam Weiner
Front man of Low Cut Connie
Low Cut Connie
Episode: Re-Hit: Arlo Guthrie "Alice's Restaurant" (w/ Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie)
Steve Sladkowski
Lead guitarist and vocalist for the band Pup
Pup
Episode: Dire Straits "Sultans of Swing" (w/ Steve Sladkowski of PUP)
Matt Gudernatch
Guest who discusses his experiences and insights
Author and comedian
Episode: Harvey Danger "Flagpole Sitta" Part 2 (w/ Matt Gudernatch)
Eliza Thorn
Singer-songwriter and guest on the podcast
Episode: Frank & Moon Zappa "Valley Girl" (w/ Eliza Thorn)
Sofia Loporcaro
Host of the podcast Before the Chorus, focusing on deep dive interviews with artists about their music.
Before the Chorus
Episode: Nada Surf "Popular" (w/ Sofia Loporcaro)
Deniece Williams
Grammy-winning R&B singer known for hits like 'Let's Hear It For The Boy' and 'Too Much, Too Little, Too Late.'
Episode: Deniece Williams "Let's Hear It for the Boy"

Hosts

Michael Smith
Cohost of You Wanted a Hit, with a penchant for deep dives and witty storytelling.
Theo Beidler
Cohost of You Wanted a Hit, known for engaging analysis and pop culture insights.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 63 ratings
  • This podcast is a really interesting deep dive into the history of one hit song per episode. It's great for music history, but unfortunately, the format is "two buddies talk" in an unscripted and unedited way. The result is too long, a little bit dumb, and very draggy.

    Podchaser
    3
    Sarah B
    a year ago
  • Always a hoot!

    Always well researched and presented - it’s all the stuff you never thought you needed to know about songs that are somehow in the cultural memory, but also somehow weird. Seriously, you don’t neeed to know all this, but this show repeatedly proves that real (show biz) life has the best stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    moishelichtfuss
    Germanya year ago
  • Excellent Podcast

    Love the presenters and all the guests have been great.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sir Pick 'N' Mix-A-Lot
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • The best podcast!

    I’ve had more drive time in my schedule recently and I’ve been listening to more YWAH. As a disclaimer, I am a good friend of the makers of this show. But, they are so good!! I listen not only because I’m a music fan, but I feel like I’m in the conversation with the hosts. It feels like old friends having beers and talking about music in the hallowed halls of an old pub, or a dilapidated bar after a great night out. I love the details, I love the backstories, and it feels like a natural extensio... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shiv1600
    United States3 years ago
  • Straight Bangerz

    I found this podcast when my friend Alex was a guest on it recently and I’ve never been more excited to discover a podcast, it’s my dream theme. I love the commentary and the deep dives on the artists themselves. Hilarious, often heartwarming, and definitely makes you watch a lot of really ridiculous old music videos. Being around the same age as the hosts makes for a lot of great nostalgic references. I’m wracking my brain now for suggestions!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    alexagk
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the chemistry between hosts and the nostalgia-driven yet informative angles.
Guests and topics are seen as engaging, credible, and entertaining for music nerds and casual fans alike.
Overall, the show is praised for research, banter, and storytelling, with high regard for in-depth backstories.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#75
Canada/Music/Music Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#207
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#116
Australia/Music/Music Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#48
Denmark/Music/Music Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#105
Sweden/Music/Music Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#244
Denmark/Music

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per EpisodeGender SkewLocation
InterestsProfessionsAge Range
Household IncomeSocial Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About You Wanted a Hit!

What is You Wanted a Hit! about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show that unpacks unlikely smash hits by digging into their backstories, creation, and cultural ride. Each episode centers on a single song, with a focus on how and why it became a nationwide (often surprising) phenomenon, textured by deep-dive storytelling, pop culture context, and humorous banter between two music-obsessed hosts. The format blends music history, culture, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, making it valuable for listeners who love curious legends, production trivia, and the era-spanning impact of popular songs. A standout trait is the dynamic chemistry between the hosts, plus guests who bring fresh perspectives on tracks that seem unlikely to endure, which can be especially appealing for marketing and sponsorship opportuni... more

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How many listeners does You Wanted a Hit! get?

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Which podcasts are similar to You Wanted a Hit!?

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1. If Books Could Kill
2. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
3. Pod Save America
4. The Rest Is History
5. Stuff You Should Know

How many episodes of You Wanted a Hit! are there?

You Wanted a Hit! launched 5 years ago and published 104 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 You Wanted a Hit!?

Recent guests on You Wanted a Hit! include:

1. Spencer Dukoff
2. Peter Leonard
3. Tawny Newsome
4. Adam Weiner
5. Steve Sladkowski
6. Matt Gudernatch
7. Eliza Thorn
8. Sofia Loporcaro

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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