In 1995, Björk was a phenomenon without a genre, a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter who mixed dance beats with rock attitude and pop flair and became a near-household name without scoring any major hits. In this first episode of our Vintage Almost-Pop Stardom series — a spin on our usual Vintage Pop Stardom, with four episodes this month looking at close-but-not-quite pop stars during their biggest years — Lina Morgan of the Song vs. Song podcast helps us look back at Iceland's greatest musical export during her crossover peak, including her classic 'Post' album, unforgettable videos for "Army of Me" and "It's Oh So Quiet" and even a freelance gig writing for Madonna.

1995 Björk YouTube Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMZyxKrrsXZ6643UOa2BnB1b

Follow Lina on Bluesky:

https://bsky.app/profile/alinaisyou.bsky.social

And if you enjoy the pod, please consider donating to the following causes:

Transgender Law Center

https://transgenderlawcenter.org/

Trans Lifeline

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Destination Tomorrow

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Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe

https://www.gofundme.com/c/gender-confirmation-surgery-fundraising

Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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After a brief break at the beginning of 2025, Taylor Swift is back with what after just a few days of release is already proving to (somehow) be her biggest album yet. For this Rollout Report Card, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers and Swifties Meghan Mahar and Danielle Pascual as we look at everything surrounding the breathlessly anticipated release of 'The Life of a Showgirl' — including the accompanying movie and new music video, the many alternate album covers, the deluge of press and critics' takes and of course, the 12 new songs on the actual album.

Find our Taylor Swift 'The Life of a Showgirl Rollout YouTube playlist here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMad1_FNKvdy1hWrvBko_QnQ&si=Ei4ersT-aEi_seya

See all our other Rollout Report Card episodes here:

https://www.billboard.com/t/rollout-report-card/

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

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/

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On this week's episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Eric Renner Brown and Eric Frankenberg to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who got their last big pop star moments in for September 2025 — before Taylor Swift inevitably takes over shortly into October. 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 in the months to come.

If you enjoy the pod, check out out the rest of our 2025 Who Won the Month recaps 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

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/

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It's been seven years since Cardi B aced her debut album rollout with 2018's rapturously received 'Invasion of Privacy' — and at long last, she's finally back with album two, 'Am I the Drama?' For this Rollout Report Card, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Kyle Denis and Emily Fuentes as we look at everything surrounding the wait-and-hurry-up promotion of Cardi's long, long-anticipated second album, grading everything from the music videos and live performances to the album's new songs and overall "albuminess."

Find our Cardi B 'Am I the Drama?' Rollout YouTube playlist here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMZIe88ZSgVzfM9jQhnFGoGT&si=HUwKfTxIwdgt6T-l

See all our other Rollout Report Card episodes here:

https://www.billboard.com/t/rollout-report-card/

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

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/

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In the mid-'90s, TLC were on top of the world, with a game-changing year of hit singles, unavoidable videos and culture-shifting moments — though behind the scenes, everything that could be going wrong for the trio was. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by NYU professor and social media legend Naima Cochrane to talk about 1995 TLC — the year of "Creep," "Waterfalls," "Red Light Special," and one of the greatest nights ever at the VMAs, all of which raised the bar for R&B crossover stardom during one of the great eras in girl-group history.

1995 TLC YouTube Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMatWmGtjnNN1VzeaiyVUyJd&si=Y9krtUF3cpXUECRr

Follow Naima on Bluesky:

https://bsky.app/profile/stillnaima.bsky.social

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

Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠5Calls.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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It's been a fascinating few months for Sabrina Carpenter, who had barely started to wind down her blockbuster 'Short n' Sweet' album era before announcing an entirely new album in 'Man's Best Friend,' which dropped on Aug. 29. For this Rollout Report Card, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Michael Saponara and Eric Frankenberg as we look at everything surrounding the lead-up and post-release promotion of Carpenter's second album as a pop superstar, grading everything from the music videos and live performances to the album's new songs and overall "albuminess."

Find our Sabrina Carpenter's 'Man's Best Friend' Rollout YouTube playlist here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFs58D1XAMaRMMroHHBTWPREhQ3kkTRd&si=dqSBgkutiUZKOZnM

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

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/

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We weren't positive they'd make it, but Oasis has arrived on U.S. shores as conquering heroes on its universally acclaimed Live '25 tour. On this bonus Pop Star Performance Review episode of Greatest Pop Stars, host Andrew Unterberger is rejoined by his longtime partner Lisa Ebe to talk about the two shows on this tour they saw together — one overseas, one stateside — as well as the differences between them, and their overall conclusions about what has made this tour such a special experience (and a pop superstar-level success ).

Also check out our 1996 Oasis Vintage Pop Stardom discussion here:

https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/oasis-1996-greatest-pop-stars-podcast-1236023704/

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

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

On this week's episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard staffers Stephen Daw and Danielle Pascual to discuss the big pop stars, rising prospects and veteran greats who dominated August 2025 in pop stardom. 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 in the months to come.

If you enjoy the pod, check out out the rest of our 2025 Who Won the Month recaps 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

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

We've seen plenty of pop stars and plenty of movie stars in our lifetime, but only one entertainer who has ever been one of the very biggest stars in both mediums at the same time. On this Vintage Pop Stardom episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by YouTube star and Song vs. Song podcast co-host Todd in the Shadows to talk about 1998 Will Smith — the year of "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It," "Just the Two of Us," "Miami," 'Enemy of the State' and a period of across-the-board dominance that made him an idol to suburban 12-year-olds worldwide.

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

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

Taylor Swift had every excuse to take 2025 off — but as of last week's 'New Heights' podcast, she is once again back in full effect. On this extended Pop Star Preview episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard executive director of music Jason Lipshutz to look ahead to the 'Life of a Showgirl' era and beyond, discussing everything from the album's tracklist to sound to collaborators and making some forecasts about the rest of Swift's 2025 — and if she can still end up the year's No. 1 Greatest Pop Star.

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

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