Billboard On The Record
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 part...
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How Sampling Changed the Music Industry w/ Questlove
<p>Sampling has shaped some of the most influential music of the last 50 years — and Questlove has been there for much of its evolution. The musician and music historian joins Billboard’s Kristin Robinson on Billboard On The Record for a conversation about his Earth, Wind & Fire documentary — Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World) — the history of sampling and his work as a music historian. From the lawsuit against Biz Markie, which made sampling more difficult and expensive, to AI-generated crate digging and the surge of catalog sales, Questlove shares his insight into sampl...
How to Become The Music Industry's Most Sought After Collaborator w/ Aaron Dessner
<p>From Taylor Swift to Noah Kahan and Gracie Abrams, Aaron Dessner is one of the industry’s most sought-after collaborators. The musician, producer and record label owner has built a career across many different corners of the music industry, from his work with The National to producing and writing with some of today’s biggest artists to launching a studio, record label and a number of music festivals. Dessner joins Billboard’s Kristin Robinson on this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record to talk through his music industry journey, the art of collaboration, and how his experimentation with fou...
How Nostalgia Took Over the Music Industry w/ Rob Jonas
<p>Nostalgia is shaping what listeners stream. On this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record, Luminate CEO Rob Jonas sits down with Billboard’s Kristin Robinson to unpack the data behind the resurgence of catalog music and what it says about the way people discover and engage with their favorite songs today. From the rise of ’90s and 2000s hits to the growing influence of film and television placements, Jonas explains how streaming has transformed the music business into a data-driven industry where catalog listening continues to climb and algorithms are shaping the way artists and songs break throug...
How a Music Director Shapes the Biggest Live TV Moments w/ Ray Chew
<p>Behind television’s biggest live moments is a music director meticulously planning every detail from start to finish, and for many of today’s biggest live broadcasts, that man is Ray Chew. As he enters his 17th season as music director of “Dancing with the Stars,” Chew sits down with host Kristin Robinson for a behind-the-scenes look at everything that goes into bringing the show’s weekly live performances to life. From collaborating with choreographers and his 14-person band to navigating the last-minute changes that come with live television, Chew shares what it truly takes to make the show a success...
How Suno Built Its Latest AI Models w/ Mikey Shulman
<p>Breaking news in the AI music world: Suno CEO and co-founder Mikey Shulman sits down with Billboard’s Kristin Robinson for the launch of Suno’s new V6 models, which he says were made “in partnership with the industry” for the first time. Though Suno is actively being sued by a number of music companies, like Universal, Sony, SOCAN, Koda and more, for copyright infringement, the AI music company has also announced three partnerships in the music biz — Warner Music Group, Believe and BMG — and V6 marks the first time Suno is sharing its revenue with industry partners. Shulman also shares...
How to Survive Virality w/ Rebecca Black
<p>Is there a bad way for songs to go viral? Fifteen years after the release of “Friday,” singer-songwriter Rebecca Black sits down with Billboard’s Kristin Robinson to explore whether artists can go viral before they’re able to capitalize on it — a question Black knows better than almost anyone after becoming an internet phenomenon at just 13 years old. With today’s TikTok algorithms creating more opportunities for virality, Black and Robinson discuss how the internet has evolved from a more unified “monoculture” to a hyper-personalized algorithmic experience. Black walks listeners through the aftermath of her viral moment, how she reclaimed “F...
How the Music Business Is Looking Halfway Through 2026 w/ Dan Rys, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall & Bill Donahue
<p>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 fi...
How Today’s Top Singers Are Trained w/ Eric Vetro
<p>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 indust...
How the Role of the Record Producer Has Evolved w/ Finneas
<p>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 ser...
How A Swiftie Turned Superfandom Into Big Business w/ Olivia Levin
<p>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 sh...
