Billboard On The Record

Boy bands may be built on fandom, but behind the music is a business that shapes everything from how groups are formed to how they make money. On this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record, Jason Lipshutz, Billboard’s co-chief content officer, joins host Kristin Robinson to discuss his new book, A Whole Lot of History: One Direction and the Music That Defined a Generation. Lipshutz breaks down how boy bands are formed, how One Direction rose to stardom and what the future holds for boy bands. From One Direction to BTS and New Kids on the Block, Lipshutz and Robinson explore the evolution of fandom, the business behind boy bands and what it takes for a group to stand the test of time.

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Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.
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From restructuring at Universal Music Group to legal disputes between Summer Walker and her label and the landmark court ruling about termination rights, October 2026 shaped up to be a busy month in the music industry. On this special bonus episode of Billboard On The Record, host Kristin Robinson sits down with Billboard executive editor of business Dan Rys to break down some of the month’s biggest headlines.

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Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From crafting hit songs to leading one of the music industry’s most storied labels, Epic Records’ newly appointed CEO/chairman is bringing a songwriter’s perspective to the future of artist development. Ezekiel Lewis joins Billboard On The Record host Kristin Robinson this week in his first-ever interview as the leader of Epic to discuss his career, from writing and producing hits like Justin Bieber’s “One Less Lonely Girl” to helming a label with some of the industry’s top talent, including Travis Scott, Future, 21 Savage, Tyla, Madison Beer, Meghan Trainer and Giveon. Lewis shares his perspective on A&R, how Epic Records signed Tyla and developed her into a global star and the importance of building trust between artists and their teams.

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Keep up with us on IG @billboardontherecord, TikTok @billboardontherecord and @wordsbykristin.

Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.

This episode is sponsored by ASCAP.
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Global music has expanded far beyond its borders, with genres like Latin and Afrobeats reaching audiences around the world at a rate like never before. Live from Billboard Latin Music Week, Billboard On the Record host Kristin Robinson is joined by Ghazi, CEO/founder of EMPIRE, to discuss how he has grown the label from a hip-hop-focused company into a global music powerhouse with signings ranging from Latin America, Southeast Asia and North Africa. They explore why Ghazi invested in certain genres before they were fully monetized, and how visa and immigration issues in the U.S. are affecting Latin artists’ touring schedules.

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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

There are more independent artists than ever today — but does that actually mean being independent has gotten easier? Molly Neuman, president of CD Baby, sits down with Billboard On The Record host Kristin Robinson for an episode about the evolution of being an independent artist, from the ’90s, when Neuman started her punk band Bratmobile, to today. They chat through how Napster, digital distribution and streaming transformed the industry, while diving into how artists have more leverage and options now than ever before. With that leverage, though, come new challenges, from an overwhelming volume of songs to rising marketing costs.

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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