Billboard On The Record cover art

Billboard On The Record

Billboard On The Record

Written by: SickBird Productions
Listen for free

About this listen

 Take a step inside the music business every week with unfiltered conversations with the executives, artists, and innovators shaping the industry, brought to you by Billboard's very own senior correspondent, Kristin Robinson. From billion-dollar catalog acquisitions to the next wave of music tech to the marketing moves driving headlines, "On the Record" cuts through the noise to uncover how boardroom decisions shape the music fans stream, buy, and experience live. Clear, sharp, and accessible, this is the podcast that explains not just what’s happening in music — but why it matters. "On the Record" is a Billboard original podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Art Economics Music
Episodes
  • How UMG Is Navigating AI, TikTok and the Music Industry’s Next Major Disruption w/ Michael Nash

    How UMG Is Navigating AI, TikTok and the Music Industry’s Next Major Disruption w/ Michael Nash
    Jan 29 2026
    What does it take to steer the world’s largest music company through one of the most disruptive eras in music history? Michael Nash, Chief Digital Officer and executive VP, Universal Music Group, joins Kristin Robinson on Billboard On The Record to discuss how UMG is navigating AI, platform power and artist rights at a critical turning point for the industry. Nash reflects on when generative AI first landed on his radar and revisits the pivotal Grammy Week moment two years ago when Universal pulled its catalog from TikTok, following a company-wide stance led by CEO Lucian Grainge. He breaks down the negotiations, the risks of AI-generated content diluting artist royalties and why UMG drew a hard line that reshaped its platform deals. The conversation expands to AI-driven fraud, discovery overload, copyright challenges and how Universal is working to embrace innovation, offering listeners a rare inside look at how one of music’s most powerful companies is helping define the rules for the industry’s next era. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • How Billboard Is Predicting the Biggest Music Industry Moves Ahead for 2026 w/ Dan Rys, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall & Bill Donahue

    How Billboard Is Predicting the Biggest Music Industry Moves Ahead for 2026 w/ Dan Rys, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall & Bill Donahue
    Jan 22 2026
    What does it really take to cover, analyze and predict the biggest moves in the music industry at Billboard? Dan Rys, executive editor of business, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, senior finance correspondent, and Bill Donahue, senior legal correspondent, sit down with Kristin Robinson on Billboard On The Record to give listeners a peek inside the newsroom that tracks the stories shaping music today. They share their biggest coverage moments of 2025, from Taylor Swift reclaiming her catalog and Shaboozy tying the Hot 100 record to Diddy’s legal battles and leadership changes at Island Records. The team also weighs in on what’s next for the industry in 2026, including AI’s role in songwriting, major catalog sales, evolving marketing strategies and predictions for lawsuits, acquisitions and chart-topping hits. Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at how Billboard decides what matters, what’s trending and how the team interprets the moves that will define music in 2026. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @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
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • How Christmas Music Sounds So Christmas-y w/ Charlie Puth

    How Christmas Music Sounds So Christmas-y w/ Charlie Puth
    Dec 22 2025
    What does it really take to write a Christmas song that lasts forever? Singer, songwriter and producer Charlie Puth sits down with Kristin Robinson on Billboard On The Record to unpack the magic behind holiday hits, from the one chord that seems to appear in nearly every classic to the ’60s influences that continue to shape today’s festive favorites. Puth shares how he once wrote a Christmas song in just an hour, why some tracks become seasonal standards almost by accident and how artists balance tradition with originality when creating holiday music. He also takes listeners inside piano sessions, highlights his favorite Christmas albums and songs, answers rapid-fire holiday questions and reflects on how the craft of songwriting has evolved, all while offering a sneak peek at what’s next for his own music. Love what you hear? Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Billboard On The Record. Keep up with us on IG @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
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
No reviews yet