Star Quality - the popstar podcast

I kept delaying the release of this episode in case the remixed Hello Goodbye materialised but it’s time to just accept the world as it is. Today on Star Quality, Kat McKenna and I draft the Brat remixes, assessing whether the guests who hopped on add something or whether we preferred the original.

Star Quality is a podcast about the 360 business of being a popstar. Charli xcx has smashed it with her most recent album Brat. A marketing supersweep and songs that carved out a new clubpop niche, plus the song that finally made me take an interest in Billie Eilish.

Popstars mentioned: Taylor Swift, Matty Healy, Bladee, Tinashe, Kesha, Julian Casablancas, Addison Rae, One Direction, Billie Eilish, Sophie, Ariana Grande.

A sad week for us as we discuss the passing of Liam Payne. A celebrity very much of the digital era whose life, death and career post-1D open up a lot of topics, ranging from how to grieve a celebrity to the complexities of loving artists who harm others. This conversation is between Satu, who is a Liam girl, and fandom writer Kat McKenna. Respectful comments are welcome below.

We also discuss the announcement of Taylor Swift’s “book”.

Popstars mentioned: Liam Payne, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, the One Direction boys, Matty Healy.

I am joined today by Kat McKenna, author of the book “Look What You Made Me Do”, and therefore my hated enemy and rival. Kat brought her pop music knowledge and experience as a marketing professional to a discussion of Katy Perry’s 7th album 143. Universally panned by the press and ignored by the public, can we poptimism this record into something worth listening to?

Kat says that if people like our deep dive, she’ll come back and discuss Gaga 6.5 with me so please like and comment, even if you’re a Katy Cat and completely disagree, so I can lure her back for more conversations on pop.

Popstars mentioned: Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Tate McRae, BlackPink, Rina Sawayama, Rita Ora, Bebe Rexha, Britney Spears, Sabrina Carpenter, Little Mix, Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, and Jade.

Today’s episode of Star Quality compares and contrasts Paris Hilton’s 2006 album Paris and her new record Infinite Icon. Has Paris changed? Has the pop landscape fundamentally altered? And how much has white pop-reggae evolved since 2006?

Also: Travis Kelce and his brethren do harm to a cherished monocultural memory, the Britney/P!nk'/Beyoncé Gladiator-themed Pepsi ad.

Popstars mentioned: Taylor Swift, Bey, Pink, Britney multiple times, Megan Thee Stallion, Christina Aguilera, Meghan Trainor, Sia, Rina Sawayama, Lindsay Lohan arguably, Chappell Roan, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry in passing

Popstars mentioned: Sabrina Carpenter, Shawn Mendes, Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bassett, Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, Amy Allen, Julia Michaels, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Zendaya, Katy Perry, Jack Antonoff, Harry Styles, Normani, Britney Spears, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, BTS, Paris Hilton, Chappell Roan, Lisa, Anitta, Camila Cabello and Beyonce.