Podcast appearances and mentions of brittany spanos

Taylor Swift got her masters back — we break down her strategic victory, the best vault tracks, speculation about her next album, her revelations about Reputation and her debut, and much more, with Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield joining host Brian Hiatt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield join host Brian Hiatt for a look at some of the latest developments in pop, from Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's collaborative album to Lady Gaga's Mayhem Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, I had the opportunity to chat with Brittany Spanos, a Senior Writer at Rolling Stone, about her knowledge of music, fandom, and what it's like to have a career covering some of the biggest artists in the world. Her cover stories have featured Dua Lipa, Chappell Roan, Adele, Cardi B, and many more. Brittany also teaches NYU's first-ever course on Taylor Swift's cultural and musical influence. Brittany curated a playlist with this episode that is a must-listen, which you can find in the episode show notes.Thanks so much for listening, and be sure to follow along on Instagram at @uhadtobetherepod. Catch you next time.

We dig into Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show, and try to figure out why a great performance got some mixed reactions, with Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield joining host Brian Hiatt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob Sheffield breaks down his new book, Heartbreak Is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music, in a conversation with Brittany Spanos and host Brian Hiatt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The annual United Nations summit known as COP29 kicks off Monday in Azerbaijan. The summit is when nearly 200 countries gather for about two weeks to work on strategies to slow global warming. CBS News national environmental correspondent David Schechter joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss the summit and how the U.S. presidential election could impact the talks.Jury deliberations resume Monday in the Delphi murders trial. The accused killer in the case, Richard Allen, pleaded not guilty. In 2017, Abby Williams, 13, and Libby German, 14, disappeared near this hometown of Delphi, Indiana. Their bodies were found the next day near a hiking trail.Catherine Kate, the Princess of Wales, attended a memorial service for Britain's military veterans over the weekend. This was her first high-profile event since ending cancer treatment earlier this year.In this Veterans Day edition of "Beg-Knows America," CBS News' David Begnaud tells the story of two men whose deep respect for the American flag brought them togetherThe 2025 Grammy nominations are here with Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Kendrick Lamar among the artists slated to compete for the biggest prizes next year. Brittany Spanos, senior writer at Rolling Stone, joins "CBS Mornings" to talk about the nominees in the biggest categories and also highlight this year's most notable snubs.Maroon 5's PJ Morton joins "CBS Mornings" to talk about his journey from gospel roots to Grammy-winning success.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Katy Perry's latest album 143 lit the internet ablaze for all the wrong reasons when it dropped earlier this year, mostly because of how wrong it got nearly everything and how hard it underperformed as a result. 143 was a capital-F flop in the classic sense of the term. But what exactly does the moniker "flop" mean when it comes to pop music? What constitutes a true flop? How do pop fans use it? Where did it originate and how has it morphed over time into a term of endearment for diehards, especially queer ones? All that and more in this fascinating conversation. Buy tickets to Pop Pantheon: Best Pop Of 2024 LIVE IN NYC on Dec. 2 AND Dec. 3Join Pop Pantheon: All Access, Our Patreon Channel, for Exclusive Content and MoreShop Merch in Pop Pantheon's StoreCome to Gorgeous Gorgeous Halloween in NYC (11/1)Follow DJ Louie XIV on InstagramFollow DJ Louie XIV on TwitterFollow Pop Pantheon on Instagram

It's been an incredibly fun year for pop music, and the same can be said about the fashion that's come along with it. This week, Alyssa sits down with Brittany Spanos, a senior writer at Rolling Stone and pop connoisseur, to discuss how the newest names on the scene are using aesthetics strategically to brand themselves and introduce their personas to the world. The ladies touch on the biggest breakout talents of 2024, particularly Sabrina Carpenter, Addison Rae, Chappell Roan, Tate McRae, and brat-era Charli XCX, and how they all (like the pop stars who came before them) use fashion to build their identities and create their narratives. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on this and much more, including Brittany's thoughts on the smart ways that Carpenter, Rae, and Olivia Rodrigo are subtly introducing retro pop culture references to a new generation; why Rae's slightly weird creative direction led by Mel Ottenberg is so genius; who are the best pop star/stylist pairings in the game right now; how we've reached Peak Britney Spears reference over the past year and why it's getting out of hand; why the best pop stars are embracing pastiche at a time when fans are exhausted by repetitive references; what the future might hold for pop acts designing collections with luxury fashion brands, like Harry Styles for Gucci or Dua Lipa for Versace; and what could be the next big avant-garde pop star/fashion designer partnership on the level of Lady Gaga and Alexander McQueen.This episode was recorded in the podcast studio at The SQ @ 205 Hudson. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewgarde.substack.com

We tell the entire story of Chappell Roan's wild rise — and explain why her current controversies won't end up defining her career. Brittany Spanos — who wrote Rolling Stone's recent Chappell Roan cover story — joins host Brian Hiatt for the discussion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brittany Spanos is a senior writer for Rolling Stone Magazine who has taught a course at NYU called Topics in Recorded Music: Taylor Swift, which analyzes "the culture and politics of teen girlhood in pop music, fandom, media studies, whiteness and power as it relates to her image." Today we are talking about conspiracy theories that come from within the hardcore Swiftie fanbase, and the ones that come from outside, often via the right wing media. Follow Brittany Spanos on Twitter and Instagram Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus content Or subscribe to American Hysteria on Apple Podcasts Find us on Instagram @americanhysteriapodcast Leave us a message on our Urban Legends Hotline or get your mitts on some merch at americanhysteria.com Producer and Editor: Miranda Zickler Associate Producer: Riley Swedelius-Smith Hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join @thebuzzknight for this classic replay with Brittany Spanos from Rolling Stone Magazine. She is a senior writer for the magazine and also the co-host Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs Podcast. For suggestions or comments write Buzz at buzz@buzzknightmedia.com Connect with Buzz on Twitter @TheBuzzKnight and Instagram @takinawalkpodcast. Like the show? Leave us a review here. ReviewSupport the show: https://takinawalk.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Donna Summer was recording her album I Remember Yesterday, she wanted each song to evoke a different decade. "I Feel Love" was meant to represent the future of music, and as time has gone on, that label has been proven to be a prophecy. Co-produced by Giorgio Moroder and Peter Bellotte, "I Feel Love" is a hypnotic, ethereal piece of synth music that's left an incomparable mark on music that still lingers to this day. From the house and techno movement to pop and R&B, Summer's song opened new doors and is still wildly beloved and popular on the dancefloor. On this week's episode, hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos celebrate Donna Summer's massive impact on pop, R&B, electronic music and beyond and are joined by Bruce Sudano, Summer's husband, who began dating Summer around the time she recorded the song.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When OutKast dropped “Ms. Jackson” in the fall of 2000, the world was stunned. Nobody had ever heard a hip-hop song that sounded anything like this. But there's never been anybody like OutKast before. On this week's episode, hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss “Ms. Jackson,” and how it fits into the long illustrious OutKast story. They're joined by their brilliant Rolling Stone colleague Simon Vozick-Levinson as they break down this song, its timeless appeal and the mighty legacy of OutKast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One thing Cher's career has never been is predictable.This week, hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos celebrate Cher's incredible legacy with her 1998 hit and best-selling song "Believe" as the focal point. They are joined by artist and DJ Bright Light Bright Light who opened for Cher on tour several years ago and has been a lifelong fan of the legend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Only a few rare songs ever turn into pop classics. But this one turned into a classic twice. “Killing Me Softly” not only made Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time with the 1973 Roberta Flack hit at Number 273, but also with the 1996 Fugees hit which comes in at Number 359. It's the only song on the list that appears in two different versions. On this week's episode, hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss the long-running story of “Killing Me Softly,” and how both these different versions just keep growing in stature over the years. They're joined by their brilliant Rolling Stone colleague David Browne, breaking down how a Seventies pop ballad became a Nineties hip-hop smash, and why both versions remain universally beloved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're celebrating Brat summer by discussing the art of album rollouts with a roundtable of Rolling Stone Senior Editor Brittany Spanos, Billboard Executive Digital Director Katie Atkinson and freelance journalist Rachel Brodsky! We cover all the big pop releases of this year and former years through the different stages of an album rollout.

BTS were already massive in their native South Korea in 2017 when they scored one of their defining hits, the emotional ballad “Spring Day.” It was a poignant tale of grief and loss. Three years later, “Dynamite” showed a totally different extreme of their music, going for dance-floor kicks. The Chic-style disco rush of “Dynamite” was a blast of sunshine, during the bleak days of the pandemic in the summer of 2020. But different as they are, both songs show how BTS became international superstars, breaking beyond the world of K-pop and conquering the planet. On this week's episode, hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss “Dynamite” and “Spring Day,” and how they display different sides of BTS' music. They're joined by journalist Michelle Hyun Kim to break down the BTS phenomenon: how it began, how it grew, how it spread worldwide, and how these songs play different—but complementary—roles in the group's story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We look at Katy Perry's unbelievably awful "Woman's World," and look back at other disastrous would-be comebacks, from Guns N' Roses to Robin Thicke, with host Brian Hiatt joined by Brittany Spanos and Andy Greene. PLUS: Author Steven Hyden on his new book, There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's “Born In The U.S.A.” and the End of the Heartland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coming in at #91 on Rolling Stone's Greatest Songs of All Time list, this week hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss "Int'l Players Anthem" with special guest Bun B. The surviving member of UGK details the fateful way the song came together with OutKast including how their iconic video almost didn't happen. Bun B sings the praises of his UGK partner Pimp C, who died six months after "Int'l Players Anthem" was released as a single. He credits Pimp C's musical intuition with seeing the potential for the song's sample, which ended up being an accurate prediction. Plus, the rapper notes how impactful the video has been on the song's legacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long live the song of the summer with Today Explained. But wait! Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding disagrees. And Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos says maybe it never existed at all. This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Be sure to subscribe to Today Explained. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Long live the song of the summer. But wait! Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding disagrees. And Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos says maybe it never existed at all. This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast Support Today, Explained by becoming a Vox Member today: http://www.vox.com/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a fantastic summer for pop, we look at the rise of Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and Shaboozey — and the triumphant returns of Charli XCX and Tinashe, with Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield joining host Brian Hiatt for the discussion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are all other songwriters, and then there is Carole King. Nobody's ever had an epic career quite like the Brooklyn girl who spent the Sixties writing classic hits for other artists—then spent the Seventies writing her own.    With her 1971 solo classic Tapestry, she set the standards that all young singer-songwriters still aspire to reach. She's always gone her own way as a performer, a composer, and an environmental activist. When Taylor Swift inducted King into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, she simply called her “the greatest songwriter of all time.”    On this week's special episode, hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield are joined by the queen herself: Carole King. She tells the story of how she got started in songwriting, how she fell in love with making music, and how her artistry changed over the years as her life did. Our hosts also discuss the legend that is Carole King, why they idolize her, and how she changed all the rules of pop music with Tapestry and “It's Too Late.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daddy Yankee's original plan was to become a baseball player. However when a stray bullet hit him at age 17, he pivoted to focusing on his other passion: music. The Puerto Rican star ended up becoming an integral part of the creation and explosion of reggaeton, a Spanish-language genre that fuses dancehall and soca with hip-hop.  It was his 2004 breakout hit “Gasolina” and album Barrio Fino that helped bring reggaeton worldwide, breaking the seal for it to become the most popular genre of music in the world and for Daddy Yankee to become its most influential artist. “Gasolina” was just the start for Daddy Yankee, who has gone on to create many more decades of innovative, fresh and extremely popular music for every club and block party around the world. On this week's episode hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss the success of “Gasolina” and are joined by their Rolling Stone colleague, Julyssa Lopez, who wrote a 2022 cover story on Daddy Yankee. Together they dive into Daddy Yankee's career and the evolution of reggaeton, highlighting its rise to global dominance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Kinks were heading into uncharted territory in the Sixties. The London rockers blew up in the early days of the British invasion, topping the charts with violently rowdy bangers like “You Really Got Me.” But Ray Davies began to explore a new kind of introspective songwriting, telling stories of everyday heartbreak. “Waterloo Sunset” is his artistic triumph: the delicate 1967 ballad of a lonely man by a train station, watching lovers from his window.  This one-time cult favorite has become The Kinks' most beloved classic, setting a standard that all kinds of songwriters aspire to reach. On this week's episode hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos are joined by their Rolling Stone colleague Kory Grow, to explore the mystery of how such a quiet song has just kept growing more beloved and influential over the years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Base never thought “It Takes Two” would become a massive hit. He and DJ E-Z Rock were just aiming to make a neighborhood party record, straight from the streets of Harlem, to get bodies moving in their local clubs and skating rinks. But “It Takes Two” blew up into a monster hit around the world, forever changing hip-hop. The music business was shocked when this raw rap anthem crashed into the U.S. Top 40, with zero crossover or compromise. “It Takes Two” transformed history, yet it's also a dance-floor banger that never fails to light up a wedding or party. This song changed the way people thought about hip-hop, at a time when it was still considered a fad; it also altered the way people thought about sampling, reviving James Brown for a new era. On this week's episode hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss how “It Takes Two” changed pop history, and why it lives on. They're also joined by a special guest: Rob Base himself, as he tells the story of how the song came together. But like everyone else, Base was stunned when their street beats conquered the world.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2003, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were not only emerging as one of the most stellar bands in a particularly thrilling New York rock scene, but also as one of the most exciting bands in the world. Their breakout hit "Maps" would be a major pop crossover moment, joining the lexicon of great and timeless rock and roll love songs. At the band's helm was Karen O, the firecracker of a lead vocalist whose songwriting, style and stage presence has influenced an ever-growing list of rock and pop stars in her wake. She met drummer Brian Chase while attending Oberlin and later connected with guitarist Nick Zinner at NYU. When the three combined forces in 2000, it would lead to the arty-punk tour de force that was their debut album Fever to Tell and some of the most talked about gigs around NYC during the Meet Me in the Bathroom era. On this week's episode hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and are  joined by their brilliant colleague Julyssa Lopez to meditate on what makes the song (and its legendary video) so iconic, while also breaking down Karen O's legacy as one of the great vocalists and frontpeople in rock history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drake has always been a magnet for attention. His strange journey has taken him from teen fame on Degrassi to blockbuster rap stardom. In 2024, his beef with Kendrick Lamar has blown up into one of the all-time biggest hip-hop beefs. They went from zero to 100 real quick, sending deadly insults and accusations back and forth. Yet he's also still Drake, the pop icon and the certified loverboy who sings emo ballads like the 2015 classic “Hotline Bling.” When “Hotline Bling” dropped, it felt like a victory lap—after a year of hip-hop flexes, he felt confident enough to sing his most vulnerable soul ballad, pining over an ex who's doing fine without him. Obviously, in 2024 Drake is in a totally different place. He hasn't been in his feelings over his exes' vacation photos lately. Instead, he's caught up in a rap beef of historic proportions. On this week's episode hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss Drake's career, “Hotline Bling,” and the Kendrick beef. They're joined by their brilliant colleague Jeff Ihaza to talk about “Hotline Bling” and its place in the Drake story. Jeff also helps us break down the context of Drake's hip-hop status in 2015, and how that influenced how the world heard “Hotline Bling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield break down Jeff Buckley's "Grace" as well as his much-too-short career due to his tragic passing at age 30. The pair are joined by Rolling Stone senior writer David Browne, who penned the 2001 biography about Jeff and his father Tim Buckley titled Dream Brother: The Life and Music of Jeff and Tim Buckley. Browne had been an early fan of the younger Buckley, having been one of the singer's first interviews. In the early Aughts, Buckley's heartbreaking cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" became a radio staple and minor hit for the singer. Upon the release of his debut album however, Grace performed poorly and received mixed reviews, with Buckley's emotional intensity being a turn-off to some critics and listeners. When Buckley died it felt like a young singer-songwriter's promising, burgeoning career was cut much too short. At the time of his death, Buckley's place in music was still unclear. No one could have anticipated that three decades on, Buckley would more famous than ever. Thanks to the internet, millennial and now Gen Z fans have emerged as a massive audience for Buckley's music. His sweeping romanticism mixed with the lore surrounding his passing has made him a tragic hero of sorts, on par with Kurt Cobain, Elliott Smith and River Phoenix. Buckley not only showed incredible promise as a songwriter but also as an interpreter of great music, and there was so much more he was working to showcase on his sophomore album, which ended up being released posthumously.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BRITTANY SPANOS, Senior Writer at Rolling Stone and co-host of podcast ROLLING STONE'S 500 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME spoke to Bill about This exclusive podcast from Rolling Stone tells the stories behind the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time." Hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield dissect Rolling Stone's iconic list and explore the magic and mythology behind the songs on this in-depth new series. From classics like Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" to The Ronettes' "Be My Baby," and modern-era hits like The Killers' "Mr. Brightside," and Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time," we talk to artists and insiders about what makes these the greatest songs of all time.

Anyone who's heard The Killers' "Mr. Brightside" has an almost Pavlovian response to the song's opening lines. It's hard to go anywhere in the world without watching a room or crowd immediately sing along to the synth-rock classic. First released in 2003, the group's unique sound mixed with Brandon Flowers' New Wave vocal delivery helped make this song about jealousy, deception and calling a cab one of the most irresistibly catchy hits in pop history. On this week's episode, hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield discuss the story of “Mr. Brightside,” breaking down the song's gargantuan global success. From the Eighties pastiche of Hot Fuss to the song's entry into the pantheon of wedding DJ must-plays, the hosts unpack what it is about this single that has kept it charting in the UK for over 400 weeks. Later in the episode Rob and Brittany are joined by mixing engineer Mark Needham, who was working with members of Fleetwood Mac when he got the call to work with this burgeoning Las Vegas band. Needham was instrumental in developing the band and shares technical details about the recording process, the song's distinctive sound, and anecdotes about working with The Killers during their early days.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs, hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield discuss the story of “Be My Baby,” breaking down the song's massive impact on pop history. The song comes in at #22 on Rolling Stone's list and is as universal as a pop song can be. It's the song that made Ronnie Spector a timeless rock & roll legend, a teenage girl from Spanish Harlem who packed a lifetime of raw power into three minutes. Ever since Ronnie belted “Be My Baby” in 1963, it's been the classic that sums up the whole Sixties girl-group era, with Phil Spector's lavish Wall of Sound production – but it's never left the airwaves. It's been the foundation for artists from Brian Wilson to Bruce Springsteen to Lana Del Rey. You hear it everywhere, from Scorsese movies to goth clubs to hair metal, from the Ramones to Beyoncé. This week Rob and Brittany are joined by a true legend: Jeff Barry, who co-wrote “Be My Baby.” The Barry/Greenwich team cranked out a host of Sixties girl-group smashes for stars like the Crystals (“Then He Kissed Me”), the Dixie Cups (“Chapel of Love”), the Chiffons (“I Have a Boyfriend”), and the Shangri-Las (“Leader of the Pack”). Barry discusses the making of “Be My Baby,” the early Brill Building songwriting days, and his long career from pop to soul to country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taylor Swift has, since the pandemic began, ascended from precedent-shattering pop superstardom to something even grander. She's released four full-fledged (and long) new albums; re-recorded and expanded the tracklists for four of her previous albums; captivated global audiences with the massive-scale Eras Tour and accompanying blockbuster film; picked up two more Album of the Year Grammys; weathered a breakup from a rebound; rebounded from the previous rebound; gained a new appreciation for Football Culture ("seemingly ranch," anyone?); played a supporting role in the film Amsterdam (lol); and announced her intention to write and direct a full-length feature film. If you're exhausted just reading that list of accomplishments, imagine how she must feel pulling them off. The Tortured Poets Department, her latest album, gave Mark and Devin an opportunity to imagine just that, and to ponder how they feel about Taylor Swift's stratospheric omnipresence. They're joined by Erin Vail, a beloved returning guest and self-proclamed "medium- to high-level Swiftie." Further Listening: Swiftology (Podcast hosted by Erin Vail and her friend Alexa) Pop Pantheon Live! Tortured Poets & the State of Taylor Mania (with Brittany Spanos, Nora Princiotti & Hunter Harris) (hosted by DJ Louie XIV) Further Reading: Why Taylor Swift Is the Reigning Queen of Pop (Jody Rosen, New York Magazine, 2013!!!) Taylor Swift: Folklore review – bombastic pop makes way for emotional acuity (Laura Snapes, The Guardian, 2020) Taylor Swift, 30-Something, Is Revising Her Own Love Stories (Lindsay Zoladz, New York Times, 2022) Movie Review: Look What We Made Her Do (Wesley Morris, New York Times, 2023) Person of the Year: Taylor Swift (Sam Lansky, Time, 2023) How Taylor Swift Won Back the Public (Nate Jones, Vulture, 2024)  

We take a deep-dive look at the second half of Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, with Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield joining host Brian Hiatt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Even before Beyoncé kicked off her solo career, it was clear that she was a legend-in-the-making. As the de facto leader of Destiny's Child, she was a guiding light for the girl group and helped shepherd them to stardom in both the pop and R&B spaces. The group was at their height (and still very much together) as she launched her solo career, first with "Work It Out" for the Austin Powers in Goldmember soundtrack but with more gusto on "Crazy in Love. "Crazy in Love" served as the lead single for Beyoncé's debut solo album Dangerously in Love. The song was written in two hours and became a Number One hit the same week Dangerously in Love topped the albums chart. Beyoncé has developed significantly as an artist since then with her last two albums, Renaissance and Cowboy Carter, being prime examples of how she's still growing and finding new ways to master her artistry even two decades after the world first got a taste of who Beyoncé was on her own. On this week's episode hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss Beyoncé's career trajectory and how the superstar ended up being the youngest artist with the most entries on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time List. Later in the episode, they are joined by their Rolling Stone colleague Mankaprr Conteh to dig into the star's artistry and appreciation for Black music history, which she continues to embed in all her work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brittany is a Senior Writer for Rolling Stone Magazine and has interview superstars like Taylor Swift, Adele, Stevie Nicks and many more.  She co-hosts the podcast with Rob Sheffield.Support the show: https://takinawalk.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brittany talked with Len Berman and Michael Riedel about her podcast that will cover the top 500 songs.

Today on the show: the latest on the campus protests. Robert Berger live in Jerusalem. Mike McKee from Bloomberg News on The Fed and interest rates. Erick Erickson live on The Supreme Court and Campaign 2024. Brittany Spanos from Rolling Stone Magazin on the Top 500 songs. Plus, we celebrate Jerry Seinfeld's 70th birthday! 9am-noon on 95.5 WSB.

We go ultra-deep on every song on the first half of Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, with Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield joining host Brian Hiatt for the discussion  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kate Bush has always been a fiercely original art-pop icon. But with “Running Up That Hill,” she achieved a new kind of feat. “Running Up That Hill” was a massive Top Ten hit, dominating U.S. radio all over the summer of 2022—even though it was a song she released back in 1985. Her classic synth-goth anthem sounded ahead of its time in the Eighties, but only Kate Bush could make it a song that STILL sounds ahead of its time nearly 40 years later. In this week's episode of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs, hosts Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield discuss the long, incredible legacy of Kate Bush and “Running Up That Hill.” They're joined by their brilliant Rolling Stone colleague Julyssa Lopez, a Kate Bush expert and longtime hardcore fan, to discuss why “Running Up That Hill” speaks to our moment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a preview of this week's Pop Pantheon: All Access episode, last night in front of a live audience at The Bell House in Brooklyn, Pop Pantheon gathered Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos, Every Single Album's Nora Princiotti and Hung Up's Hunter Harris to discuss Taylor Swift's 11th studio album(s?) The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. Louie and the crew dissect the new music from every angle: major themes, aesthetics, writing styles, the Jack Antonoff of it all and more. Next, they dig into Taylor's current Imperial Phase: how it happened, how long it can last and whether there's a backlash brewing before discussing Taylor's Pantheon ranking and sharing their updated Taylor album rankings. To hear the rest of the this episode plus receive weekly bonus episodes of Pop Pantheon, gain access to our Discord channel and so much more, subscribe to Pop Pantheon: All Access at the Icon Tier. You can also subscribe for the audio only directly in the Apple Podcasts app. 

Taylor Swift knows a thing or two about swerving when her listeners and detractors least expect it, but nothing could prepare anyone for her total abandonment of country music on her 2014 album 1989. Sure, she had teased some Max Martin-assisted pop hits on her previous album Red, but 1989 was a total 180 from the country starlet's past, trading her teardrop-soaked guitar for sassier synths instead. On this week's episode of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs, hosts Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discuss the crown jewel of the 1989 album, "Blank Space".  While lead single "Shake It Off" was an empowering kiss-off to the haters, its follow up was an unexpected satirization of Swift's public image at the time as a "maneater" for her romances with famous men and ensuing songs about their times spent together. Swift fits back against sexist criticism of her writing "too many break-up songs" and her dating habits with this ferociously catchy track that highlights her sense of humor and wit, all while helping break free a bit more from her "girl next door" image. Later in this episode our hosts are joined by their colleague and Rolling Stone Music Now host Brian Hiatt to dig into just how big of a risk her pop pivot had been, as well as explore what makes this song so great and how it shifted Swift's sound and lyricism for the better.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speculate wildly about one of the most anticipated albums of the year, and ponder burning questions, with Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield joining host Brian Hiatt for the discussion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ariana Grande has updated, matured, and maybe perfected her pop formula on Eternal Sunshine. We go deep into her first album in four years and look back at her whole career, with Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield joining host Brian Hiatt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When was the last time a single pop star dominated culture like Taylor Swift? From her blockbuster re-recordings, which brought a new generation of fans into the Swiftie fold, to her world-conquering Eras Tour, record-breaking 4th Album of the Year Grammy for 2022's Midnights and the endless fascination with her personal life and new relationship with Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift has become the biggest music superstar of the millennium. In the wake of her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, Pop Pantheon's DJ Louie XIV will be joined by Every Single Album's Nora Princiotti, writer Hunter Harris and Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos to break down Taylor's latest record, dissect her place atop the current pop firmament and ponder how long this blazing hot streak can possibly last. Get Your Tickets Here!

This episode will be released for free on December 28, 2023. Taylor reemerges after the Kanye incident with her hard-hitting album Reputation. The reception is mixed, but Taylor's made a big statement: she's not just a little girl anymore. Vanessa, Natalie, and Rolling Stone senior writer Brittany Spanos take a close look at Taylor's redemption arc. Click ‘Subscribe' at the top of the Infamous show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Campside Media & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode will be released for free on December 21, 2023. After Vanessa finished writing about Taylor in 2009, Natalie would start following Taylor's career while working at Forbes, and would discover not only a talented artist, but a savvy businesswoman. Brittany Spanos, senior writer at Rolling Stone, joins the conversation to talk about the various feuds Taylor has had — including Kanye's infamous VMA interruption and her artistic differences with Scott Borchetta. As the once bullied middle school girl immortalizes each fight and breakup in chart-topping songs, has Taylor gone from bullied to bully? Click ‘Subscribe' at the top of the Infamous show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Campside Media & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Britney Spears' 'The Woman In Me' is one of the most wrenching music memoirs ever. We take a deep look at its revelations, with Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield joining host Brian Hiatt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We go deep on the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie, with Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield joining host Brian Hiatt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's a lot to learn from polarizing pop star Taylor Swift. I speak to two Swifties who have infiltrated academia, teaching two very different college courses based around Swift — her catalog, her business savvy and what she represents. Senior Rolling Stone writer Brittany Spanos, who says “Taylor Swift is a loaded phrase,” created and teaches Topics in Music: Taylor Swift at NYU's Clive Davis School of Music at the Tisch School of the Arts. She speaks to what Taylor represents, her fandom, and how and why Taylor has been dismissed and discredited over the years.  Dr. Elly McCausland teaches Literature: Taylor's Version, which draws parallels between Taylor's lyrics and some of the literary greats. She speaks to the backlash she's received after her course was announced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices