Podcasts
Here’s How Darren Criss Convinced Mark Hamill to Sing a Song About Giant Genitalia on Quibi
It “was just total serendipity” getting Hamill to appear on the new Quibi series “Royalties,” show creator Criss tells the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast. Never in Darren Criss’ wildest dreams did he think he’d be able to cast Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, in his new musical comedy series Royalties. And not only that – be able to get the Star Wars icon to sing about King Kong’s… wait for it… penis. “I could not believe he said yes,” Criss says. “I could not believe he showed up. I could not believe I was vocal producing, with my buddies, Mark Hamill in the (recording) booth, getting him to say the word penis several times to get the right tone.” Hamill’s performance of “Mighty As Kong” (watch the music video, below) is one of the many zany musica...
After Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande’s ‘Rain On Me,’ Which Other Superstars Still Need to Team Up?
Plus: In an era of wall-to-wall collaborations, why “Rain On Me” is an event record that breaks through the pop culture noise. Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s new single “Rain On Me,” and its dance-filled video, not only operates as the latest offering from Gaga’s upcoming Chromatica album, but also as a pop event record. As Billboard previously wrote, the clip is a “superstar video summit,” while the song is a “full-on diva showcase” and a “huge dance record” that “captures the enormity of these two voices.” In a time of wall-to-wall collaborations, where artists frequently team-up, what makes certain pairings break through the pop culture noise and elevate to an event record? On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast (listen below), the team discusses why a song like “Rain On Me” has event-rec...
Doja Cat’s ‘Say So’ Success & A Brief History of Remix-Boosted No. 1s
“Say So” is the latest hit to get a lift to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks in part to a remix. When Doja Cat’s “Say So” jumped to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it not only gave the rising star her first chart-topper, but it also marked the latest in a line of singles that got a boost to the top thanks in part to a fresh remix. Nicki Minaj joined Doja Cat for a new reworking of “Say So,” which was released on May 1, and the combined forces of the original version and the remix helped lift the song to No. 1. And, because of the power of the remix, Minaj got credit on the chart as the tune’s featured artist — giving Minaj her first No. 1 on the Hot 100. Considering the news of the “Say So” remix aiding in the No. 1 rise, the Billboard Pop Shop Podcast is taking a stroll d...
Annie Mac Is Launching a New Podcast About Overcoming Challenges and Navigating Change
Iconic Irish DJ and BBC Radio 1 host Annie Mac has announced the launch of a new podcast called “Changes With Annie Mac.” Mac, whose eponymous radio show has grown to be one of the most esteemed in all of dance music since its 2004 inception, is set to debut the podcast this Monday, May 4th, 2020. “Changes With Annie Mac” will examine the central motif of change, and its overarching effect on the way we choose to embrace it. Change can either define you or derail you, and the dichotomy between the two represents an absorbing topic of dialogue considering the harrowing times contrived by the COVID-19 pandemic. The show will feature in-depth conversations with illustrious singer Robyn, Syrian activist and filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab, and aut...
