Take a step inside the music business every week with unfiltered conversations with the executives, artists, and innovators shaping the industry, brought to you by Billboard's very own senior correspondent, Kristin Robinson. From billion-dollar catalog acquisitions to the next wave of music tech to the marketing moves driving headlines, "On the Record" cuts through the noise to uncover how boardroom decisions shape the music fans stream, buy, and experience live. Clear, sharp, and accessible, this is the podcast that explains not just what’s happening in music — but why it matters. "On the Record" is a Billboard original podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.
How the Music Business Is Looking Halfway Through 2026 w/ Dan Rys, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall & Bill Donahue
We’re halfway through 2026, and the music industry has already had its fair share of headline-making moments. From Spotify's AI remix plans and Drake's surprise three-album drop to company mergers and antitrust battles, Billboard's business editorial team breaks down the biggest stories shaping the industry so far this year. They also revisit the predictions they made at the start of 2026 in an earlier episode of Billboard On The Record, revealing which have already come true, which surprised them and what they expect to happen next. Host Kristin Robinson is joined by Billboard executive editor of business Dan Rys, senior finance correspondent Elizabeth Dilts Marshall and senior legal correspondent Bill Donahue to unpack what these developments mean for artists, executives and the future of the music business. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Today’s Top Singers Are Trained w/ Eric Vetro
From coaching superstars like Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes and ROSÉ to training actors like Timothée Chalamet, Angelina Jolie and Austin Butler, Eric Vetro has become one of the most in-demand vocal coaches in the entertainment industry. Vetro sits down on this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record for a look inside his process of keeping today’s biggest stars performance-ready and helping actors transform into music legends for film. He breaks down what makes a great singer, how artists can protect their voices throughout their careers and how his coaching sessions help shape some of the industry's most memorable performances. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How the Role of the Record Producer Has Evolved w/ Finneas
Finneas is known for producing some of the biggest records of the past decade — and his career also reflects how dramatically the record producer's role has evolved. He sits down on this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record to give listeners a peek inside his production process—from working with artists he knows closely, like his sister Billie Eilish, to collaborators he’s meeting for the first time—breaking down why he values the natural push-and-pull that shapes great songs. Finneas also explains how the job of a producer has evolved alongside technology, how he scores a hit TV series like ‘Beef,’ and why he still believes in the power of shorter albums. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How a Swiftie Turned Superfandom Into Big Business w/ Olivia Levin
Taylor Swift is among the most powerful artists of her generation — and her fans, the Swifties, are among the most powerful fandoms. On this week's episode of Billboard On the Record, host Kristin Robinson explores the nature and business of superfandom with Olivia Levin, the New York Times best-selling author and founder of social media page @swiftiesforeternity. Levin shares how she turned her page into a six-figure income, spanning ticketing, social media management, writing and brand deals. She also explains why Taylor Swift continues to inspire such loyalty with her listeners, why her re-recordings changed the game and what she thinks the music business gets wrong about superfans like her. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to Build a Setlist for the FIFA World Cup w/ Grayson Repp
Ever wondered how the soundtrack to the world’s biggest sporting events gets made? On this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record, sports DJ and music curator Grayson Repp shares how he found himself at the intersection of sports and music — and what it takes to build the perfect setlist for events like FIFA, the Olympics, the NBA and the NFL. From playing local clubs to stadiums packed with tens of thousands of fans, Repp breaks down how every match, crowd and city requires its own approach, especially when top global leaders are watching. He also explains his World Cup playlist prep and how he turned his love of sports and music into a career as one of the world’s biggest sports DJs. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to Build a Dance Music Empire w/ John Summit
Is dance music coming back to the mainstream? On this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record, John Summit — DJ, producer and founder of Experts Only — discusses what makes the dance music industry unique, how DJs went from underground clubs to arena shows and festival headliner slots and why he decided to launch his own label. With his own discography evolving from singles to full album releases, Summit walks through how he laid the foundation for his upcoming arena tour while losing $1 million in the process — and yes, what led to him lighting a Rimowa suitcase on fire. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How to Create the Perfect Film & TV Soundtrack w/ Jen Malone
Is music supervision the most misunderstood job in film and television? Jen Malone, music supervisor and founder of Black and White Music, sits down on Billboard On The Record to break down the art of building musical soundtracks. From her work on shows like Atlanta, Euphoria, Love Story and more, Malone explains how music supervisors shape a project from pre-production through post-production, collaborating closely with showrunners to build a series’ musical identity. She also breaks down the difference between composers and music supervisors, the process of clearing songs and how she approaches crafting each character’s sound. This episode of Billboard On The Record is presented by KOSIGN. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How So Much Music Ended Up Online w/ Milana Lewis
With over 100,000 songs hitting streaming platforms every day, according to Luminate, is the music industry struggling to keep up? Milana Lewis, co-founder and CEO of Stem, sits down on Billboard On The Record to break down what this fast-growing number of daily uploads means for artists, discoverability and the future of music making itself. Lewis explores whether AI songs and white noise should be given the same royalty as human-made songs, how social media has rewritten the path to success and why artists today have more tools than ever to make music — but less clarity on how they can actually break through. This episode of Billboard On The Record is presented by KOSIGN. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Country Music Took Over Pop Culture w/ Seth England
Country music has taken over the charts, and Nashville is no longer just a country town. Seth England, CEO of Big Loud, sits down with Billboard On The Record host Kristin Robinson for a conversation about how his label has helped shape the modern country landscape and how artists like Morgan Wallen, Florida Georgia Line and HARDY have driven the genre’s rise. England breaks down how Nashville has become a hub for songwriters across genres, what actually drives hit-making today and why artist development remains one of the most important pillars at Big Loud. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Music Superfans Are Cashing In on Kalshi w/ Luana Lopes Lara
Prediction markets have become mainstream and are changing the way fans engage with music and pop culture. Kalshi COO and co-founder Luana Lopes Lara joins Billboard On The Record to discuss how the platform is expanding into new categories and giving music superfans the ability to put money behind their favorite artists and predictions. She breaks down why she believes it was essential for Kalshi to be fully government regulated, how the company views insider trading and why she sees music and entertainment as essential to the platform's future. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Apple Music Is Redefining Streaming w/ Oliver Schusser
Music streaming is a crowded market where platforms offer most of the same content, so how does Apple Music differentiate itself? Oliver Schusser, vp of Apple Music and international content, Apple, joins Billboard On The Record to break down how the service has transitioned from its early Beats Music roots into one of the world’s leading streaming platforms. He explains Apple Music’s focus on a curated, high-quality listening experience built around editorial expertise, artist relationships and product integration rather than scale alone. Schusser also discusses Apple’s stance on maintaining a paid-only model, how the platform uses AI in discovery and fraud prevention and the importance of its partnerships with artists and labels. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Christian Music Became Big Business w/ Lecrae
Christian and Gospel music are having a major moment. According to Luminate, Christian and Gospel has risen by 25% from 2024 to 2025 — making it the second fastest growing genre in America behind Rock. Lecrae, four-time Grammy-winning Christian artist and founder of Reach Records, joins Billboard On The Record to break down the genre’s rapid growth, how it’s attracting younger fans and the nuances of combining faith with business. From building his own independent label to staying tapped in with rising artists, Lecrae shares his journey creating a career outside the traditional system, why speaking out matters and what makes Christian music a uniquely powerful and complex space. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Coachella Became America’s Biggest Music Festival w/ Katie Bain
Coachella has become the biggest festival in America — and it rewrote the live music playbook in the process. Katie Bain, Billboard's senior music correspondent, director of Billboard Dance, joins Billboard On The Record to break down how a scrappy desert show founded by then-local promoter Goldenvoice turned into a global cultural force, from the early Pearl Jam experiment to era-defining performances by Beyoncé, Daft Punk and Frank Ocean. She dives into the high-stakes gamble of booking a lineup, the business behind ticketing, sponsorships and livestreams. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. To purchase a copy of 'Desert Dreams: The Music, Style and Allure of Coachella' by Katie Bain, click here. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Music Catalogs Became the Smartest Investments in Entertainment w/ Golnar Khosrowshahi
Music catalogs have quietly become one of the most valuable assets in entertainment — so who’s really shaping the future of music ownership? Golnar Khosrowshahi, founder and CEO of Reservoir Media, joins Billboard On The Record to break down how she built a music catalog powerhouse before the space became crowded, why music rights offer long-term, reliable value and how her team approaches acquisitions with artists, estates and families. She also discusses preserving legacy while driving cultural relevance for new generations, how licensing, film/TV and biopics impact catalog value, the role of sampling in today’s music economy and how generative AI could reshape valuations across the industry. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How the Founders of Chaotic Good Make Songs Go Viral on TikTok — Live at SXSW
How do songs go viral in today’s music landscape? And why has making it as an artist never been more strategic? Jesse Coren and Andrew Spelman, co-founders of Chaotic Good, joined Billboard On The Record for a live episode at SXSW to break it all down. Speaking from their experience building one of the leading viral marketing agencies in music, they explain how TikTok trends, niche audiences and volume-driven campaigns shape which songs take off. Coren and Spelman share how they simulate trends, optimize placements and use data to help artists reach the right listeners while freeing them to focus on their art. From algorithm insights to creative strategy, they reveal what it really takes to turn a song into a hit and navigate the fast-changing world of music discovery. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Mark Cuban Sees the Music Business — Live at SXSW
Mark Cuban joined Billboard On The Record for the first-ever live taping of the podcast at SXSW to share his take on the music industry — and why breaking through as an artist has never been harder. Speaking from his perspective as an investor, Cuban explains how the industry has shifted, with music now treated as an asset class and algorithms shaping what becomes a hit. He reflects on why Spotify succeeded, where new music tech could create opportunities and how fans might respond to AI-generated songs. Cuban also emphasizes the importance of artists thinking like entrepreneurs, leveraging the right tools and securing placement in legacy media. In the conversation, he highlights why music is “recession-proof” and what it really takes to succeed in today’s ever-changing music landscape. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Suno's AI Is Disrupting the Music Industry w/ Mikey Shulman
Suno is now generating 7 million songs a day — how will that change the music industry? Mikey Shulman, CEO and co-founder of Suno, joins Billboard On The Record to explain how he built the popular — but controversial — AI music company which can generate new songs in seconds. In the interview, Shulman explains how Suno is being adopted by "Grammy winners" and "grandmothers" alike. He discusses the songwriting camps the company has been putting on, its private VIP program, new features like Hooks — its TikTok-like social media feed — and why he doesn't see himself selling the start-up to an AI giant down the line. Shulman also talks about Suno's new deal with Warner Music Group, why he feels training on music without a license is legal and why he believes record labels still matter. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Middle Class Songwriters Disappeared w/ Ryan Tedder & David Israelite
Why is it so hard to earn a living as a songwriter today? Ryan Tedder — artist, songwriter, producer and founder of Runner Music — and David Israelite — president & CEO of NMPA — join Billboard On The Record to talk through the many economic pressures facing modern songwriters. Tedder and Israelite discuss how social media and streaming has impacted the way songs are written, and how the growth of writing rooms, sampling and courtesy credits for non-writing artists has led to less money for the average working class songwriter. Israelite explains why radio's decline threatens crucial income for songwriters, and Tedder opens up about his creative process and how embracing collaboration has become his key to crafting hits for artists like Tate McRae, Beyonce, Jonas Brothers and Maroon 5 in recent years. Additionally, the two talk about creative opportunities with emerging AI tools, like Suno, and why K-pop has become a particularly lucrative genre for songwriters today. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How the Super Bowl Halftime Show Comes to Life w/ Bozoma Saint John
The Super Bowl Halftime Show has become one of the most watched and culturally iconic stages in live entertainment— now it's time to find out what it really takes to make it happen. Marketing executive Bozoma Saint John joins Kristin Robinson on Billboard On The Record to pull back the curtain on the Super Bowl Halftime Show, from booking superstar talent like Beyoncé and negotiating with artists and brands to coordinating with the NFL and Roc Nation. Saint John shares how she convinced Beyoncé to take the stage and reflects on her experience blending music, sports and culture to create unforgettable moments. She breaks down the logistics and precision required to deliver those 13 unforgettable minutes—from rehearsals and stage builds to balancing sponsorships and artist priorities — offering a rare inside look at what it takes to make the Super Bowl Halftime show a spectacle of music, culture and strategy. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How UMG Is Navigating AI, TikTok and the Music Industry’s Next Major Disruption w/ Michael Nash
What does it take to steer the world’s largest music company through one of the most disruptive eras in music history? Michael Nash, Chief Digital Officer and executive VP, Universal Music Group, joins Kristin Robinson on Billboard On The Record to discuss how UMG is navigating AI, platform power and artist rights at a critical turning point for the industry. Nash reflects on when generative AI first landed on his radar and revisits the pivotal Grammy Week moment two years ago when Universal pulled its catalog from TikTok, following a company-wide stance led by CEO Lucian Grainge. He breaks down the negotiations, the risks of AI-generated content diluting artist royalties and why UMG drew a hard line that reshaped its platform deals. The conversation expands to AI-driven fraud, discovery overload, copyright challenges and how Universal is working to embrace innovation, offering listeners a rare inside look at how one of music’s most powerful companies is helping define the rules for the industry’s next era. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
