Hit Parade

What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more.

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About the Show

Chris Molanphy, a 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.

Host

  • Chris Molanphy is a feature writer and critic who writes widely about music and the pop charts.

The Bridge: Tuesday Night Trivia Club

Chris Molanphy hosts a remote pop quiz about pop, exclusively for Slate Plus members.

Don’t Know Much About History Edition

Sam Cooke was a hit-maker, soul pioneer, label boss … and a social activist, well before that One Night in Miami.

The Bridge: Another Saturday Night in Miami

Chris Molanphy talks to Slate’s own Jack Hamilton about misunderstood soul legend Sam Cooke.

The AC/DC Rule Edition

From Back in Black to Born This Way, follow-up albums often do better on the charts than more-loved classics.

The Bridge: Sampler’s Delight

Chris Molanphy talks to hip-hop journalist Mosi Reeves about Chic, the Sugarhill Gang, and disco and rap’s parallel histories.

These Are the Good Times Edition

How the sleek disco group Chic spawned hip-hop and new wave and shaped acts from Diana Ross to Duran Duran.

The Bridge: Radio-Friendly Unit Shifters

Chris Molanphy talks to veteran Billboard analyst Geoff Mayfield about the Billboard charts in the early SoundScan era.

Smells Like Christmas Spirit Edition

How Christmas brought about Nirvana’s chart victory over Michael Jackson—and invented a holiday sales strategy.

The Bridge: Ropin’ the Charts

Chris Molanphy talks to Billboard’s Melinda Newman, frequent Garth Brooks interviewer, about the country king’s career.

Friends in Low Places Edition

How Garth Brooks became the biggest-selling musician of the ’90s, making pop fans come to his side of the fence.

The Bridge: Producer by the Dashboard Light

Chris Molanphy talks to Todd Rundgren biographer Paul Myers about Todd’s work on a smash Jim Steinman–Meat Loaf LP.

Turn Around, Bright Eyes Edition

How Jim Steinman brought pomp, thunder and a whole lot of Meat Loaf to the top of the charts.

The Bridge: Some Popstars That We Used to Know

Chris Molanphy talks to Billboard’s Jason Lipshutz about one-hit wonders from the last century through the TikTok era.

One and Done Edition

Why A-ha and Dexys Midnight Runners are one-hit wonders—but Vanilla Ice and Men Without Hats aren’t.

The Bridge: Yacht Or Nyacht?

Chris Molanphy talks to the coiners of Yacht Rock about how they define the genre they invented.

Wednesday Night Live: Music Trivia

Slate staffers go head-to-head with Hit Parade host Chris Molanphy for the ultimate chart-trivia roundup.

What a Fool Believes Edition

How Yacht Rock, a genre invented in the ’00s, gave a name to the smooth West Coast music of the ’70s and ’80s.

The Bridge: Lilith’s Winding Road

Chris Molanphy talks to critic Jessica Hopper about how the all-women ’90s festival beat the live-music odds.

Building a Herstory Edition

Lilith Fair broke through music’s glass ceiling and affirmed women’s command of ’90s rock, pop and hip-hop.

The Bridge: Many Ways to be OutKasted

Chris Molanphy talks to OutKast expert Regina Bradley about what they meant to Southern hip-hop.