Rephonic
Artwork for Hit Parade

Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

Slate Podcasts
Old Town Road
Lil Nas X
Barbra Streisand
Grammy Awards
Taylor Swift
Billboard Hot 100
Pop Music
Disco
Bee Gees
Guilty
Eric Clapton
SZA
The Way We Were
Respect
Blondie
The Ramones
Talking Heads
1980s Music
American Gigolo
CBGB

What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more. Chris Molanphy, pop-chart analyst and author of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series, tells tales from a half-century of chart history. Through storytelling, trivia and song snippets, Chris dissects how that song you love—or hate—dominated the airwaves, made its way to the top of the charts and shaped your memories forever. Ge... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes221Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicMusic CommentaryMusic History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Hit Parade

Latest Episodes

If you need confirmation of Hollywood’s vast influence on mass culture, look no further than the pop charts. From the 1937 classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs through this year’s KPop Demon Hunters, soundtracks have launched hits, defined genres—... more

When you hear the term “superproducer,” names like George Martin, Quincy Jones, Max Martin, Pharrell Williams or Missy Elliott might come to mind. But … Robert “Mutt” Lange? Probably not. Yet Lange was by some measures the biggest hitmaker—the produc... more

When you hear the term “superproducer,” names like George Martin, Quincy Jones, Max Martin, Pharrell Williams or Missy Elliott might come to mind. But … Robert “Mutt” Lange? Probably not. Yet Lange was by some measures the biggest hitmaker—the produc... more

Hark, the holiday season is upon us—and with it, the most solemn of festive traditions: a gift guide! In this video and podcast special, Slate hosts Dana Stevens, Chris Molanphy, and Willa Paskin beam in from their collective hearths to deliver unto ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Culture Gabfest
Culture GabfestSlate Podcasts
Slate Culture
Slate CultureSlate Podcasts
Decoder Ring
Decoder RingSlate Podcasts

Recent Guests

Norah Jones
Singer-songwriter, renowned for her debut album Come Away With Me.
Blue Note Records
Episode: Introducing Broken Record: "Norah Jones Begins Again"
Dan Charnas
Author of the New York Times bestseller 'Dilla Time, The Life and Afterlife of J. Dilla' and 'The Big Payback, The History of the Business of Hip-Hop'
Episode: The Bridge: Can’t Tell Me Nothin’

Host

Chris Molanphy
Chart analyst, pop critic, and host known for his deep analysis and storytelling about music history, particularly focusing on the impact of songs and artists on cultural trends.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.3k ratings
  • Unlikely fan

    There’s nothing like good writing to grab and keep your interest. I like a fun memorable song, but honestly wouldn’t seek out music history. Then my husband pulled up an episode of Hit Parade for a long car ride. We were both entranced! Chris Mulanphy is a master writer and storyteller AND the man knows his subject. We especially like how a clip of every song ( and there are so many ) is played immediately after it gets mentioned. Now this is my favorite workout listen. Thank you Mr Mula... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JLK78gr
    United States17 days ago
  • The best podcast

    I love this podcast, and the stories it gives behind the music. My favorite episodes were the ones about freestyle, and the 1984 ones. But so many amazing episodes- a must for any music buff.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hey Grrrl Hey!
    United Statesa month ago
  • Wish he’d leave his political comments at home.

    I appreciate the research Chris puts into the music and the charts. But leave your liberal bias at home.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Mindy from the Mitten
    United States2 months ago
  • Beyond yacht rock

    Good job on beyond yacht rock. You are obviously a super fan of theirs. Unfortunately only Steve seemed to be a super fan of yours

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bxn5
    United States3 months ago
  • Great show!

    Love the show and I don’t mind waiting until the end of the month to hear the full episode since I listen to them on longer car trips and those are not every week.

    That being said, why is part 2 of “ I’d Like to Teach the World to Buy” still subscription only? It says in part one that it will be available at the end of the month (of December).

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    l8udden
    Canada4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the deep dives into music history and the entertaining narratives that accompany them.
Overall, the host's expertise and ability to communicate complex topics in an entertaining way are frequently praised.
Many find the content engaging and educational, enhancing their understanding of popular music and its impact on culture.
Some reviews express a desire for less political commentary and more focus on music itself, suggesting a divide in audience expectations.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#7
United States/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#59
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#7
Canada/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#17
United Kingdom/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#64
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#152
United Kingdom/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Introducing Broken Record: "Norah Jones Begins Again"
Q: How did your upbringing influence your career?
Norah shares anecdotes from her childhood, including her musical influences and experiences that shaped her artistic journey.
Introducing Broken Record: "Norah Jones Begins Again"
Q: What was it like striking big on your very first album?
Norah discussed the sudden fame after the success of her debut album, expressing both excitement and the challenges that came with it.
The Bridge: Can’t Tell Me Nothin’
Q: What do you feel are the takeaways for us as an industry from Old Town Road?
Trust the audience and follow where they go. The music business is unpredictable, and you must rely on artists and audience feedback to identify hits.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Hit Parade

What is Hit Parade about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast offers an insightful exploration into the intricate world of music history, focusing on the factors that lead to a song's commercial success. Through engaging storytelling and a rich mix of trivia, listeners are drawn into an analytical journey that examines the evolution of music and the cultural phenomena surrounding chart-topping hits. By weaving together personal anecdotes, industry shifts, and the influence of notable artists, the content not only entertains but also educates fans about their favorite songs and the historical context behind them. This podcast stands out for its detailed analysis of music trends over the decades, providing a unique and informative perspective on both popular and niche musical works.

Where can I find podcast stats for Hit Parade?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Hit Parade. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Hit Parade and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Hit Parade get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Hit Parade, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Hit Parade?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Hit Parade, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Hit Parade have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Hit Parade has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Hit Parade?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hit Parade:

1. Switched on Pop
2. Culture Gabfest
3. Slate Culture
4. Pop Culture Happy Hour
5. Decoder Ring

How many episodes of Hit Parade are there?

Hit Parade launched 8 years ago and published 221 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Hit Parade?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Hit Parade?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Hit Parade from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Hit Parade?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Hit Parade. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Hit Parade?

Recent guests on Hit Parade include:

1. Norah Jones
2. Dan Charnas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days