This week on Live From Mars, Alex shares one of the wildest weeks in his pop music life: going record shopping with Joe Jonas, meeting Miley Cyrus, and seeing The Weeknd’s After Hours 'Til Dawn tour. Plus, a full breakdown of Addison Rae’s surprisingly strong debut album Addison, Sabrina Carpenter’s new single “Manchild,” and an in-depth conversation with Sony Music Publishing’s SVP of A&R and Survivor 48 castaway Thomas Krottinger. From Olivia Rodrigo’s publishing journey to how artists actually get paid, this episode covers it all.

Topics covered:

• Addison Rae’s debut album Addison — standout tracks and whether it lives up to the hype

• Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” — is this another hit or just a viral detour?

• Behind the scenes of Alex’s interview and record store hang with Joe Jonas

• Meeting Miley Cyrus and the story behind “Pretend You’re God”

• Full concert recap of The Weeknd’s After Hours 'Til Dawn stadium tour

• Interview with Thomas Krottinger: Olivia Rodrigo’s early songwriting talent, how music publishing works, why the song is the most important part of the industry, how artist deals are structured, the importance of finding a good publishing partner, and how the business has shifted post-TikTok

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Wildest Week Ever

01:29 - Addison Rae Album Reaction

02:16 - Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild”

04:00 - Record Shopping w/ Joe Jonas

06:23 - Meeting Miley Cyrus

07:43 - The Weeknd Stadium Tour Recap

10:23 - Introducing Thomas Krottinger

14:36 - Music Publishing 101

20:14 - Signing Olivia Rodrigo

26:21 - The Future of the Music Industry

37:50 - Thomas' Survivor Experience

Follow & support the show:

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This was one of the biggest music weeks in a long time. Taylor Swift now officially owns her masters—her first six albums are finally hers—and Miley Cyrus just dropped what I truly believe is the best album of her career. I break it all down in this week’s episode.

We get into the full Taylor masters timeline, the $360M deal, what this means for the re-records, and whether Reputation (TV) is actually off the table. Plus: my review of Something Beautiful, Lorde’s raw return, and Addison Rae proving she’s more than a TikTok star.

In this episode:

• Taylor Swift’s masters: full backstory + what happens next
• Miley Cyrus Something Beautiful review + top 3 tracks
• Lorde’s “Man of the Year” breakdown
• Addison Rae’s comeback with “Fame is a Gun”

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Welcome to Live From Mars
• 02:01 - Miley Cyrus' Something Beautiful
• 12:44 - Addison Rae's "Fame is a Gun"
• 17:51 - Lorde's "Man of the Year"
• 20:00 - Taylor Swift Buys Back Her Masters
• 33:39 - Next Week's Sneak Peek

Find me on:

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0V8opmfEyH3U7MJSTrsHH6
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-from-mars/id1720430294
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymars
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymars
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymars
• X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/vinylbymars

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This week on Live From Mars, Alex (still recovering from a cold!) shares a full breakdown of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour stop in NYC — from the visuals to the vocals, the weather chaos, and why Blue Ivy might’ve stolen the show. Plus, New Music Friday highlights from Renee Rapp, Joe Jonas, and Julia Michaels.

Topics covered:

• Renee Rapp’s bold new single “Leave Me Alone” and upcoming album Bite Me
• Joe Jonas’ first solo album in 14 years (Music for People Who Believe in Love) — is it worth the wait?
• Julia Michaels’ comeback EP Second Self and her signature clever songwriting
• A full review of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter stadium show, including standout moments, surprises, and why it’s a must-see tour

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & Welcome Back

01:22 - Reneé Rapp's "Leave Me Alone"

04:19 - Joe Jonas' Return

07:15 - Julia Michaels' New EP

09:34 - Cowboy Carter Dominates

17:22 - Wrap Up & Sneak Peek

Follow & support the show:

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5QjD6rq8H6XnF4BvMFlYVb

🍎 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-from-mars/id1714282199

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymars

📸 Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymars

🎵 Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymars

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This week on Live From Mars, I’m diving into a packed New Music Friday featuring Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd, and Calvin Harris — plus, I take you inside the Something Beautiful visual album premiere hosted by Miley and Spotify.

Then I’m joined by fellow music content creator Nick Fry (@nicksmusictaste) for a chaotic and honest deep dive into the albums you called 10/10. We’re reviewing your favorite “no-skip” records and deciding which ones truly deserve the title.

Episode Highlights:

• Miley Cyrus’ new single More to Lose + a behind-the-scenes look at her visual album event
• First reactions to new tracks from The Weeknd, Calvin Harris, and more
• Music news: Lorde’s Ultrasound Tour, Renee Rapp’s new era, and Miley’s commercial moment
• Guest segment: Reviewing fan-submitted 10/10 albums — from Folklore and Melodrama to Blackout, ANTI, Renaissance, and more

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome + New Music Friday rundown

03:08 - Miley Cyrus Something Beautiful visual album experience & "More to Lose" reaction

06:55 - New music from Calvin Harris and The Weeknd

10:50 - Music news from Lorde and Renee Rapp

12:00 - Guest Nick Fry joins: Reviewing Your No-Skip, 10/10 Albums

44:15 - Final thoughts + where to find Nick online

💬 What’s your 10/10 album? Drop a comment or tag me on TikTok/IG @vinylbymars.

—

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This week on Live From Mars, I’m breaking down Ed Sheeran’s nostalgic new single “Old Phone,” the issue with his long promo campaign, and why Maroon 5’s “Priceless” featuring LISA left me completely underwhelmed. Plus, Jorja Smith enters her rave era, and I share thoughts on the final leg of Charli XCX’s Brat Tour in Brooklyn—my first time seeing her live.

I also unpack the deluxe edition of Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s I Said I Loved You First, Lorde’s Virgin album reveal and streaming stats for “What Was That,” and why the Song of the Summer race feels unusually stale in 2025.

For the deep dive, we talk everything Lady Gaga and her record-breaking Copacabana Beach performance: the setlist, Brazilian cultural tributes, her evolving confidence since Coachella, and the massive post-show spike across her entire catalog.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Ed Sheeran’s “Old Phone” + Play rollout breakdown
• Maroon 5’s “Priceless” ft. LISA + the problem with empty K-pop collabs
• Jorja Smith’s “The Way I Love You” rave moment
• Charli XCX’s Brat Tour finale review
• Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s deluxe: standout tracks + what’s working
• Lorde’s new album Virgin + early success of “What Was That”
• Song of the Summer 2025: Why it’s wide open
• Deep Dive: Gaga’s Copacabana concert — impact, scale, and streaming lift

Chapters/Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + What’s Coming This Episode

02:05 – Ed Sheeran’s “Old Phone” + Album Rollout

06:20 – Maroon 5’s “Priceless” ft. LISA

09:35 – Jorja Smith’s “The Way I Love You”

12:45 – Charli XCX’s BRAT Tour Finale (Brooklyn)

15:20 – Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco Deluxe Reactions

19:05 – Lorde’s “What Was That” + VIRGIN Announcement

21:30 – Song of the Summer 2025 Rundown

23:50 – Deep Dive: Lady Gaga at Copacabana Beach

26:10 – Final Thoughts + What’s Coming Next Week

Follow Live From Mars: https://linktr.ee/livefrommarspod

Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymars

Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/vinylbymars

Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/abm0896

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This week on Live From Mars, we’re breaking down Lorde’s long-awaited return with her new single What Was That — how it fits into her discography, its early success, and why it has fans divided. Plus, I’m sharing quick reactions to other New Music Friday standouts including Benson Boone, Samia, and Joe Jonas.

Then for our deep dive, we explore how the touring landscape has shifted post-Eras Tour, including the early controversy around Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour, Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa’s evolving strategies, and a critical look at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour launch.

Where do pop concerts go from here — and is Beyoncé too legendary to be relatable?

Topics covered in this episode:

• Lorde's What Was That review + lead single ranking
• Streaming performance of Lorde’s new single so far
• New Music Friday picks: Benson Boone’s Mystical Magical, Samia’s Carousel, Joe Jonas’ Heart by Heart
• The Katy Perry Lifetimes Tour controversy and execution critiques
• Sabrina Carpenter’s mini-Eras energy on tour
• Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour: what low ticket sales tell us about the future of pop icons
• The future of live touring after the Eras Tour phenomenon

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Personal Intro (100K celebration)

01:30 – New Music Friday Intro

02:00 – Lorde’s What Was That Review

09:00 – Ranking Lorde’s Lead Singles

12:30 – New Music Friday Highlights (Joe Jonas, Benson Boone, Samia)

17:30 – Deep Dive: Touring After the Eras Tour

19:30 – Katy Perry’s Lifetimes Tour Critiques

22:00 – Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa Touring Strategies

25:00 – Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour and Touring Reflection

Like what you hear?

Make sure you’re following Live From Mars on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen!

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a 5-star rating or review — it helps the show grow and keeps the conversations going.

Stay connected:

TikTok: @vinylbymars

Instagram: @vinylbymars

YouTube: VinylByMars

Spotify Playlists: Follow here

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One year later, we’re revisiting Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department in an unfiltered deep dive into its rollout, reception, and legacy. Was the double album drop a mistake? Which songs still hit hardest? And how does it stack up in Taylor’s discography today?

I’m joined by viral Swiftie and returning guest Nick Palmai (@nickpalmai) to break it all down — from our dream rollout (with trailers + music video concepts) to the songs we’ve grown to love (or skip). Whether you’re a die-hard Swiftie or still on the fence about TTPD, this episode has something for you.

We discuss:

• The one-year anniversary of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department
• Why the 31-song release may have hurt the album’s impact
• Jack Antonoff vs. Aaron Dessner: who delivered the better production?
• What songs have aged well… and which we’ve forgotten
• Fan-submitted questions: Grammy nominations, visuals, and more

Chapters:

00:00 — Intro & Nick returns

03:00 — What the release night felt like

06:30 — Has the album aged well?

10:15 — Our dream rollout strategy (and a music video multiverse)

18:45 — Jack Antonoff vs. Aaron Dessner moments

24:00 — What songs grew on us most

27:45 — Should TTPD have been nominated for AOTY?

31:30 — Cut one track from the album

34:30 — Best/Worst/Fave picks

39:30 — Final thoughts: what’s stuck with us after a year

LISTENER QUESTION:

What’s your Best/Worst/Fav song picks on The Tortured Poets Department? Has your opinion changed in the past year?

Follow Alex:

• TikTok
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Spotify

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Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, and Bon Iver—oh my. This week on Live From Mars, Alex (aka Mars, aka @vinylbymars) dives into the biggest moments from Coachella 2025 and the best of New Music Friday. From Lana’s orchestral country pivot to Gaga’s career-defining headlining set, it’s a full-on pop culture breakdown you don’t want to miss.

In this episode:

• Lana Del Rey’s “Henry, come on” — a sweeping, poetic Americana ballad and the mysterious unraveling of her next album.

• Bon Iver returns with SABLE, fABLE — a two-part album that blends indie folk with R&B, and is a worthwhile return to the Bon Iver we all fell in love with.

• Lady Gaga’s Coachella set stuns the world — theatrical, gothic, unhinged in the best way. Is this her best performance in over a decade?

• Charli XCX brings Brat to the desert with surprise guests Billie Eilish, Lorde, and Troye Sivan — and ends her set with a powerful, vulnerable message.

• Plus, underrated song picks from Humble the Great, Talia Rae, and a Crux check-in with Djo.

If you’re a pop fan, festival lover, or just here for the cultural tea, this is your recap of the week!

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to Live from Mars and Coachella Highlights

00:57 - New Music Friday: Lana Del Rey’s “Henry, come on”

06:55 - Bon Iver’s Return: SABLE, fABLE Review

10:30 - Coachella Highlights: Lady Gaga & Charli XCX

13:04 - Lady Gaga’s Career-Best Performance?

20:32 - Charli XCX’s Raw Minimalist Power

Next week: A special Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department anniversary episode is coming, and Alex wants your voice memos. Got a hot take or burning question? Email [email protected] and be part of the show.

Follow Alex:

• TikTok
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Spotify

To provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-survey

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This week’s Live From Mars is packed! Alex (aka Mars, aka @vinylbymars on TikTok and Instagram) dives into the latest New Music Friday releases, breaks down the perfect release timing for a potential Song of the Summer, and answers your AMA questions in celebration of hitting 100,000 followers on TikTok! 

• Miley Cyrus returns with Prelude, Something Beautiful, and End of the World—is she entering another avant-garde era?
• Joe Keery (yes, Steve Harrington from Stranger Things) drops a stunning new album under Djo—why The Crux feels like his most emotional work yet.
• Ed Sheeran's back with Azizam and a brand new concept era—what we think of “Play” so far
• Is April the best month to drop a Song of the Summer? A deep dive into past hits, new contenders (Drake, Sabrina Carpenter, Miley), and streaming trends.
• Your ultimate Record Store Day 2025 guide—what to know, how to prep, and the top releases to hunt for.
• A special Ask Me Anything segment tackling his most anticipated concerts of 2025, the truth about VinylTok in 2025, no-skip albums, what's next for Taylor Swift in 2025, and more!

Whether you're here for chart talk, new releases, or getting to know Alex better, this episode is your one-stop shop for all things pop.

00:00 - Introduction

01:58 - Record Store Day Tips & Tricks

05:27 - When to Release a Song of the Summer Contender

10:31 - Miley Cyrus' "Something Beautiful"

15:23 - Ed Sheeran's "Azizam"

18:12 - Djo's "The Crux"

21:15 - Ask Mars Anything

26:01 - The State of VinylTok in 2025

29:00 - Two No-Skip Albums

34:08 - Taylor Swift's 2025 Releases

Chime in! What’s your pick for 2025’s song of the summer? What are you planning to grab on Record Store Day? Drop a comment and let Alex know.

To provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-survey

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We did it — 100,000 followers on TikTok. A huge milestone, a huge thank you, and a huge episode to match.

This week on Live From Mars, Alex reflects on the journey from faceless vinyl recs to full-blown music commentary, the wildness of hitting six figures in followers, and what’s coming next for the show (spoiler: it’s an AMA — so send those questions in!).

Then we dive into a chart update packed with surprises — including a historic week for Kendrick & SZA, massive first-week numbers for Playboi Carti, and unexpected success from Gaga and Chappell Roan.

But the real star of the episode? Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead. With five brand-new songs and one extended version, this release just might solidify Eternal Sunshine as the best album of her career. From “Twilight Zone” to “Dandelion,” Alex unpacks every moment — vocally, emotionally, and sonically.

In this episode, we cover:

• Hitting 100K followers & Alex's view on the journey to Mars so far
• 5 years of Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia + the surprise release of the “Physical” Remix ft. Troye Sivan
• Lana Del Rey teasing her mysterious 10th studio album The Right Person Will Stay
• Selena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s chart battle vs. Playboi Carti (and what their last-minute sales push says about the industry)
• Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead – track-by-track breakdown, production details, emotional growth, and why “Twilight Zone” strikes such emotional and nostalgic chords with listeners

📲 Follow me for more:

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymars

Instagram: www.instagram.com/vinylbymars

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/abm0896

 💬 Drop your AMA questions via IG poll, broadcast channel, or comments!

To provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-survey

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