About the show

A podcast about the making and meaning of popular music hosted by musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding.

Chatting with leading artists, songwriters and producers, Switched On Pop breaks down pop songs to figure out what makes a hit and what is its place in culture. Listeners will come away finding “a-ha” moments in their favorite music.

A co-production of Rock Ridge Productions, Vox Media Podcast Network and New York Magazine and Vulture.

“Music appreciation at a higher level — The New Yorker

Team

Abby Barr

Community Manager

Reanna Cruz

Producer

Jolie Myers

Editor

Iris Gottlieb

Illustrator

Nate Sloan

Co-host

Bear

Cat

Deepen your appreciation of even the most familiar Top 40 hits — The New York Times

Featured guests

The Jonas Brothers

The Jonas Brothers

Keith Urban

Keith Urban

Rina Sawayama

Rina Sawayama

Carly Rae Jepsen

Carly Rae Jepsen

Oak Felder

Oak Felder

Caroline Polachek

FINNEAS

FINNEAS

Seal

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell Ndegeocello

Daveed Diggs

 

Daveed Diggs

Mickey Guyton

Mickey Guyton

Disclosure

Disclosure

What people say about the show

Music theory class was never this fun or addictive.” Rolling Stone

“Insanely fascinating because they break music down into component parts and really get into why some songs are so addictive and how so much of music is related and created.” BuzzFeed, 22 Podcasts That’ll Make You A More Interesting Person

“Insanely fascinating because they break music down into component parts and really get into why some songs are so addictive and how so much of music is related and created.” BuzzFeed, 22 Podcasts That’ll Make You A More Interesting Person

“A fascinating deep-dive into how vast teams of talented people channel their knowledge of melody, diminished chords and syncopated snares into making truly terrible slush pop.” The Guardian, Best Podcasts of 2018

“A fascinating deep-dive into how vast teams of talented people channel their knowledge of melody, diminished chords and syncopated snares into making truly terrible slush pop.” The Guardian, Best Podcasts of 2018

“[Switched On Pop] treats the songs, artists and trends most would think of as flotsam with high-minded enthusiasm, and its break-it-down-to-basics approach never patronises and always illuminates.” Esquire (UK), best podcasts of 2019

“[Switched On Pop] treats the songs, artists and trends most would think of as flotsam with high-minded enthusiasm, and its break-it-down-to-basics approach never patronises and always illuminates.” Esquire (UK), best podcasts of 2019

“Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding have an uncanny way of making the fleeting, unknowable parts of pop music something to be understood, not just appreciated.” IndieWire, Best Podcast Episodes of 2019 (So Far)

“Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding have an uncanny way of making the fleeting, unknowable parts of pop music something to be understood, not just appreciated.” IndieWire, Best Podcast Episodes of 2019 (So Far)

“Musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding talk the craft and business of pop music – how it’s written, how it’s Auto-Tuned, how it’s streamed – with rigor and charm.” Vulture, 100 Great Podcasts Worth Listening To

“Musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding talk the craft and business of pop music – how it’s written, how it’s Auto-Tuned, how it’s streamed – with rigor and charm.” Vulture, 100 Great Podcasts Worth Listening To

“Musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding have highbrow discourse on the Top 40.” Entertainment Weekly, Best Music Podcasts

“Musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding have highbrow discourse on the Top 40.” Entertainment Weekly, Best Music Podcasts