Flopstars

It's the Pop In and our agenda this week is:

What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Our wrapped Best albums/songs of the year Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Billboard Taylor Swift Time Person of the Year Charli XCX has finished her new album

WELCOME BACK TO THE POP IN! What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up The rise and rise of Tate McRae - could she clinch a Billboard #1? Spotify Wrapped is out - unpacking the global Top 5 songs and artists Dua Lipa's Houdini - our 4 week late review Nicki Minaj album next week same week as Tate McRae and SZA deluxe what a time Quick unpack of what the rest of the year looks like on the pod

What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Dua Lipa wipes Instagram for new era - what do we know, who’s involved, and all that jazz Charli's BACK BABY Troye album's coming this week & Nic interviewed him - hear the full thing here Sam saw RAYE live in New York and it was one of the most lucid shows he's ever seen Tems is selling out huge venues & releases a triumphant single Omar Apollo's new single The Pop In now gets a game: YEAR OF THE SONG!

Billie Eilish's second album 'Happier Than Ever' was a big turning point for her. Her first album was a streaming giant but this album marked a pointed move to establish herself as an artist without worrying about the hits. The result was a cohesive, mature and startingly honest album that's both wildly experimental while also being classic. In this episode, we talk about how important this album was for positioning her as an artist and also why it perhaps didn't garner the same success as her debut.

This week on The Pop In: Beyoncé is bringing the Renaissance World Tour to cinemas*NSYNC are back with a song for the Trollz soundtrackEd Sheeran's new album is lacklustreDoja Cat is struggling to pull the numbers she deservesJorja Smith's new album is blissPinkPantheress nails the vibes on her new song

Ariana Grande makes her Flopstars debut with her divisive fourth album which came after a traumatic time and signalled the start of a creatively fluid period for her. It's an important album in her discography, one that sees her stepping into her own and learning to react to very personal situations in real-time. It wasn't for everyone but it was for us and we explore that on this week's pod.

This week on the Pop In: Kim Petras drops Problematique - why now? Kylie Minogue and Doja Cat release two of the most anticipated albums of the year this week Let’s talk about Madison Beer Drake/SZA - Slime You Out Tate McRae is having a huge time on streaming with Greedy, but has she had her proper mega hit yet?

What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Sam went to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Mexico City Nicki Minaj teasing new single ‘Last Time I Saw You’ Ashnikko album out. What happened to her popularity? ELTON JOHN HAD A FALL (HE'S OK) THEY CANCELLED THE IDOL Bop or Flop Selena Gomez - Single Soon Miley Cyrus - Used To Be Young Conan Gray - Winner Omar Apollo - Ice Slippin Alright - Victoria Monet Ashnikko - dying star (feat. Ethel Cain) Joel Corry & Rita Ora with MK - Drinkin

Selena Gomez's 'Rare' came after a period of experimentation for one of the most popular people on earth. She had collaborated with dance producers and had a string of excellent standalone releases so 'Rare' could've been anything. 'Lose You To Love Me' instantly became her first #1 - a startingly honest ballad unlike anything she's ever done before - and the bar for 'Rare' was set high. Was it met? Probably not but we get into it all here.

Welcome back to The Pop In! The adjacent podcast to Flopstars running through the big releases and music stories of the last 7 days. Coming Up Miley Cyrus is teasing a new single on the 10th anniversary of Wrecking Ball Oliver Anthony - who??? We're doing our first ever live show at Beyond The Valley Festival Joel Corry & Rita Ora have a song coming out this week which feels very our brand Addison Rae EP unpacked Bop or Flop Addison Rae - 2 die 4 Charlie Puth - Lipstick Doechiii - Booty Drop Renee Rapp - Pretty Girls HEMLOCKE Springs - enknee1 Olivia Rodrigo - bad idea right Fred again - adore u Chappell Roan - Hot To Go also sam saw lana in mexico

Ryan Beatty is someone we've needed to talk about for a while. 'Boy In Jeans' is one of Nic's favourite records of all time and it's an important jumping block to discuss a really interesting career. It's a record about embracing queerness and joy while also unpacking trauma from the past and it's done so in a nuanced masterful way. If you're not already on the Ryan Beatty train, this is your invitation.

What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Dua Lipa teases her new era's sound and release date Olivia Rodrigo single coming Friday - what sound can we expect? Doja Cat is headed for a great chart moment this week - but is she really not doing pop? Bop or Flop Halle - Angel David Guetta & Bebe Rexha - One In A Million Doja Cat - Paint The Town Red Jorja Smith - GO GO GO Gretta Ray - Dont date The Teenager Nao - Balance

We finally talk about an artist that we’ve been fascinated by for a while on this episode. Bebe Rexha’s third album ‘Bebe’ is the focus. A cohesive, strong pop album that is overshadowed by a behemoth hit that is bigger than the artist herself. We discuss what needs to happen for Bebe to be finally given her flowers and much more on this week’s episode.

Welcome back to The Pop In! What’s been happening this week? Halle's debut single coming Friday called ‘Angel’ - what can we expect? Huge numbers for Travis Scott's UTOPIA - where are we at with him? Kylie's Vegas residency announced Bop or Flop Carly Rae Jepsen - Psychedelic Switch Travis Scott & Beyonce - Delestro (Echoes) Sam Smith & Calvin Harris - Desire Post Malone - Enough Is Enough Tkay Maidza - Ring-A-Ling Holly Humberstone - Superbloodmoon Tori Kelly - Cut ADDITIONAL VIEWING Calvin Harris with Roman, Sian & Chris on Capital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLfL9nrqX5A Vice Australia with Tkay Maidza: https://www.instagram.com/p/CvWg1X2pZRz/

We turn to Kelly Clarkson's fourth album 'All I Ever Wanted' in this episode, a record that was a chart hit but perhaps a personal defeat. After 'My December' this saw Clarko back on the charts but giving up some of the intimacy of the previous record. It's a varied but ultimately triumphant album.

What’s been happening this week? Britney & Will.i.am is happening and Sam makes a discovery about will.i.am's name New Zayn and Tinashe on the way this week - does time heal everything? Carly Rae Jepsen's new album is coming Troye is doing some of his all time best numbers, but do we need to talk about the bodies in the video for Rush? Bop or Flop (featuring our First Ever Guest, Friend Of The Show Jono) Troye Sivan - Rush Billie - What Was I Made For Pinkpantheress & Destroy Lonely - Turn Ya Phone Off Disclosure - Talk On The Phone Jung Kook & Latto - Seven Joel Corry, Icona Pop & Rain Radio - Desire Blusher - Limelight Post Malone - Overdrive

What’s been happening this week? / Coming Up Speak Now Taylor's Version chart records & first reactions New Britney and will.i.am coming this month? Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry (Rock Version)” featuring SLASH is coming this Friday Ava Max proves she's the perfect popstar on the Barbie pink carpet & Nicki Minaj reviews Barbie (Part 1) Bop or Flop Taylor Swift - I Can See You Fifty Fifty & Kaliii - Barbie Dreams Anne-Marie - TRAINWRECK Tkay Maidza & Flume - Silent Assassin Dominic Fike & Weezer - think fast TXT & Jonas Brothers - Do It Like That Kamille, Tamera & Bellah - Options NewJeans - Super Shy

We're back for season 8 and we're tapping in with a legend. Mariah Carey's 'E=MC2' came after a massive return to form with 'The Emancipation Of Mimi'. The follow-up didn't achieve the same success but it did nab a huge record with 'Touch My Body' and it's become a late fan favourite. It's a freeing R&B record that has only gotten better with age. Dive in with us.

ON THE SHOW THIS WEEK! (1.40) Nicki Minaj’s album has been pushed back for “some really exciting news” - what is the news? (2.50) The Idol Season Finale reviewed and unpacked (6.15) Troye Sivan’s Rush AND Olivia Rodrigo’s Vampire makes us unpack the whole ‘teasing songs for ages’ thing (13.58) Zayn Malik is on the comeback trail & who is the bigger 1D member - Zayn or Niall? Bop or Flop Olivia Rodrigo - Vampire (18.40) Charli XCX - Speed Drive (23.35) Rita Ora - Don’t Think Twice (27.44) BENEE / Mallrat - Do It Again (30.11) Alok & Ava Max - Car Keys (Ayla) (32.33) Holly Humberstone - Antichrist (32.38) Mae Muller - Me, Myself & I (35.29) PANIA - BURNA FONE (37.28) Issey Cross - Bittersweet Goodbye (39.37)