Stephen Thompson
Stories
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Taylor Swift uses some slick marketing strategies to keep her album No. 1
The album --- “The Tortured Poets Department" -- has now spent 15 weeks at No. 1. Swift’s hold on the top spot is as much about marketing magic as it is music.
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Taylor Swift stays at No. 1, and foils Ye in the process
In terms of chart success, The Tortured Poets Department is the most charmed album of the pop star's career. This week it spends its 14th week at No. 1, holding off a new album by one-time nemesis Ye.
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Country music is having an awfully big summer
Country music has been all over the pop charts this summer.
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Taylor Swift is back at No. 1, for her lucky 13th week
After a short vacation from the pinnacle of the albums chart, Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department reclaims the throne in a week filled with names and sounds that are awfully familiar.
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How the U-S is handling TV coverage of these Olympic Games
Stephen Thompson, host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, talks about the TV coverage of the Olympic games and the value of a good sports commentator.
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This week's new albums, including the 'Twisters' soundtrack
NPR's Music team breaks down this week's new music, plus how the impact of movie soundtracks has changed.
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Ingrid Andress, whose national anthem went viral, says she was drunk
The country star says she intends to check herself in to rehab.
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Megan Thee Stallion and Omar Apollo lead the pack in a busy week of new music
NPR Music's Anamaria Sayre and Stephen Thompson round up the week's newest music, from artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Omar Apollo and more.
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With 2 hit songs, ex-Disney Channel star Sabrina Carpenter is having quite a summer
Sabrina Carpenter currently holds down both the No. 2 and No. 3 songs in the nation according to Billboard Magazine. That puts her in rare company.
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20 Years Of Cher's 'Believe' And Its Auto-Tune Legacy
Cher's 1998 hit "Believe" turned 20 this year. There's a long history of artists using vocal modifications, but this song brings the Auto-Tune front and center.
