Free Daily Podcast Summary
Greatest Pop Stars: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Billboard
Billboard's weekly deep dive into the past, present and future of pop stardom, hosted by deputy editor Andrew Unterberger. New episodes every Thursday.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 days ago1h 20m
The 2016 VMAs With Beyoncé, Rihanna & Drake: Great Moments in Pop Star History
The MTV Video Music Awards of 2016 represented the culmination of an era of pop music and culture, with career-apex-type performances from Beyoncé and Rihanna and huge moments for Drake and Kanye West, among plenty of other on-stage appearances from some of the biggest names of the period. On this Great Moments in Pop Star History episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard's Katie Atkinson to look at one of the most memorable Video Music Awards in the show's history, with moments that continue to delight, fascinate and confuse 10 years on. And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign – In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 1 weeks ago1h 12m
Which Pop Stars Won August 2026? Olivia Rodrigo, Karol G, Stella Lefty & More
On this Who Won the Month episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Danielle Pascual and Eric Frankenberg to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who were heard from loudest in July 2026 — who closed out the summer season in pop stardom in style. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from by the end of the summer of 2026. (Content warning: We talk about Ariana Grande from about 2:40-16:40, including some talk of what's been going on with her physically and the discussion around that. And if you are struggling with disordered eating, please contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at (866) 662-1235.) If you enjoy the pod, check out out our Who Won the Month recaps for the first two months of 2026 and all 2025 here: https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign – In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago1h 5m
Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chain Fields Festival: Pop Star Performance Review
The Daisy Chain Fields festival debuted at Great Park in Irvine, Calif. on Saturday (Aug. 29), with an 11-hour lineup of all female artists and female-led groups, capped by a headlining set from the festival's founder and curator: Olivia Rodrigo. On this Pop Star Performance Review episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard deputy editor Lyndsey Havens — who was in attendance for the full-day festival — to discuss the history being made by Daisy Chain Fields, and what it means for one of our current greatest pop stars to be able to present it to the world. Read Lyndsey's recap of the festival here: https://www.billboard.com/lists/olivia-rodrigo-daisy-chain-fields-music-festival-recap/ And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago1h 50m
2006 Nelly Furtado: Vintage Pop Stardom (with Todd in the Shadows)
Nobody was waiting for the big Nelly Furtado comeback in 2006, but with some help from superproducer Timbaland, Furtado pivoted to a big new pop sound that very briefly made her one of the biggest — and 20 years later, most fondly remembered — pop hitmakers of her era. This episode of Vintage Pop Stardom sees host Andrew Unterberger joined by Song vs. Song podcast co-host and YouTube star Todd in the Shadows as we discuss how Nelly Furtado absolutely took over with her 'Loose' album and big hits "Promiscuous," "Maneater" and "Say It Right," and then disappeared from the mainstream almost immediately afterwards. Check out a YouTube playlist of the biggest Nelly Furtado moments of 2006, all of which are discussed in the episode, here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdMepuBX1TTM&si=CMfcMBN491BNfl4X Listen and subscribe to Song vs. Song here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZPOSfyq3NwIsGGTPY1I10 Watch Todd in the Shadows' YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ToddintheShadows And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Aug 20, 20261h 9m
Megan Moroney & Ella Langley Live in Texas: Pop Star Performance Review
The Greatest Pop Stars podcast was choosin' Texas last weekend, as two of the biggest artists in country were playing back-to-back sold-out shows in the northern parts of the Lone Star State: Megan Moroney headlining the American Airlines Arena in Dallas on Friday night (Aug. 14), and Ella Langley topping the bill at Dickies Arena in Texas on Saturday (Aug. 15). Host Andrew Unterberger was there with this week's guest, Billboard contributor and Don't Rock the Inbox co-founder Natalie Weiner — and on this Pop Star Performance Review episode, they talk about the things these two breakout stars have in common (or not), and what their joint success says about country and pop music in 2026. Read Natalie's article about the two concerts: https://www.billboard.com/music/country/megan-moroney-ella-langley-texas-concerts-pop-crossover-1236318803/ Subscribe to Don't Rock the Inbox here: https://www.dontrocktheinbox.com/ And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign - In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Aug 13, 20261h 17m
The 100 Best No. 2 Hits: What Do They Say About the Art of the No. 2 Hit?
This week, we're paying tribute to all the greatest and weirdest runner-up finishers in Billboard Hot 100 history, first and foremost with our staff's list of our 100 favorite No. 2 hits of all time. This week on the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by regular guest Eric Frankenberg to discuss our list — and whether the right pop star topped it (or finished second yet again) — and to share our feelings on what it means to be a No. 2 hit, and whether that meaning has changed over the years as the charts and pop music in general have transformed so significantly. See our staff's 100 Best No. 2 Hits list here: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Aug 6, 202656 min
Which Pop Stars Won July 2026? Charli xcx, Ariana Grande, Madonna & 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 Emily Fuentes to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who were heard from loudest in July 2026 — who got the second half of the year underway already in high gear. We each choose our top fives for the month that was, then we talk some disappointing recent performances, and look ahead to who we're most anticipating hearing more from by the end of the summer of 2026. (Content warning: We talk about Ariana Grande from about 2:40-16:40, including some talk of what's been going on with her physically and the discussion around that. And if you are struggling with disordered eating, please contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at (866) 662-1235.) If you enjoy the pod, check out out our Who Won the Month recaps for the first two months of 2026 and all 2025 here: https://www.billboard.com/t/who-won-the-month/ And please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising Human Rights Campaign – In Your Area https://www.hrc.org/in-your-area Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jul 30, 202653 min
Charli xcx's 'Music, Fashion, Film': Rollout Report Card
It's been two years since 'Brat' Summer took over the culture and brought Charli xcx to a new level of celebrity and ubiquity — but as of last weekend, Charli is officially onto a new era with her latest LP 'Music, Fashion, Film.' For this Rollout Report Card, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Christine Werthman and Eric Renner Brown as we look at everything surrounding the much-anticipated release of 'Music, Fashion, Film' — including the divisive lead single and the accompanying 'MFF' mini-movie, as well as Charli's spate of podcast interviews and her (arguable, winking) pivot to rock music. Find our Charli xcx 'Music, Fashion, Film' Rollout YouTube playlist here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNg0uNfAYz7s&si=Q44SQ9itaWP8Cbgv And see all our other Rollout Report Card episodes here: https://www.billboard.com/t/rollout-report-card/ Finally, please consider donating to the following causes: Transgender Law Center https://transgenderlawcenter.org/ Trans Lifeline https://translifeline.org/ Destination Tomorrow https://secure.givelively.org/donate/destination-tomorrow-inc Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising And please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org. https://5calls.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
About Greatest Pop Stars
Billboard's weekly deep dive into the past, present and future of pop stardom, hosted by deputy editor Andrew Unterberger. New episodes every Thursday.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Greatest Pop Stars in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Greatest Pop Stars daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Greatest Pop Stars as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Greatest Pop Stars podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Greatest Pop Stars product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Billboard.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Greatest Pop Stars release new episodes?
Greatest Pop Stars publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Greatest Pop Stars cover?
Greatest Pop Stars covers topics including Music. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Greatest Pop Stars summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.