Girl Groups Were the Original Punk Icons
What if we told you that early 1960s girl groups were punk before punk music existed? This week we’re going on a wild ride to uncover the true history behind how girl groups
Minority Voices in Music: The Asian American Conundrum
When it comes to Asian Americans in music, who comes to mind? It’s no coincidence that the biggest Asian American stars – Bruno Mars, Olivia Rodrigo, Anderson Paak, Saweetie, H
Ariana Grande: How a TV Sidekick Became a World Sensation
Miley Cyrus transitioned from teen TV star to A-list music celebrity seemingly overnight. And while Ariana Grande also got her start as a teen tv star, it took 5 years of releasing
Blackfishing, Cultural Appropriation and the Jesy Nelson Situation
Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus… and now Jesy Nelson. A growing list of female pop artists who have used black culture as aesthetics for a song or an al
Halsey: The Pop Star that Refuses to Fit Your Stereotype
As we’ve explored throughout the podcast, the music industry loves to put people in a box. For pop stars, the expectations are strict – be a sexy, womanly figure that men will
BONUS! Olivia Rodrigo and the Theft of a Concept
Olivia Rodrigo has been accused by Courtney Love and others of stealing concept ideas for her album artwork and promotional photos. But is it really theft if the concept isn’
Pete Wentz To Harry Styles: How Assumed Queerness Has Changed
Harry Styles is not the first straight man assumed to be queer. Years before Harry Styles was praised for carrying a rainbow flag around on stage and ignoring questions about his s
When Record Labels Take Advantage of Artists
Why do labels sign artists but not allow them to release an album for years? Why do labels control an artists’ image or ghost them when they’re ready to drop music? Record lab
The Gamification of Music: History of the Billboard Charts
What’s all this talk about fans “gaming” the Billboard Charts? In recent months, music critics have argued that BTS’ “Butter” is not the biggest song in America, despit
The Fight for Women to Own Their Sexuality: Objectification vs Empowerment
Can women ever truly own their sexuality? How do we empower ourselves in the face of objectification? What does empowerment even look like? The fight for women to own their sexuali