How the Music Business Is Looking Halfway Through 2026 w/ Dan Rys, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall & Bill Donahue

How the Music Business Is Looking Halfway Through 2026 w/ Dan Rys, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall & Bill Donahue

We’re halfway through 2026, and the music industry has already had its fair share of headline-making moments. From Spotify's AI remix plans and Drake's surprise three-album drop to company mergers and antitrust battles, Billboard's business editorial team breaks down the biggest stories shaping the industry so far this year. They also revisit the predictions they made at the start of 2026 in an earlier episode of Billboard On The Record, revealing which have already come true, which surprised them and what they expect to happen next. Host Kristin Robinson is joined by Billboard executive editor of business Dan Rys, senior finance correspondent Elizabeth Dilts Marshall and senior legal correspondent Bill Donahue to unpack what these developments mean for artists, executives and the future of the music business. 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 [https://www.instagram.com/billboardontherecord/], TikTok @billboardontherecord [https://www.tiktok.com/@billboardontherecord] and @wordsbykristin [https://www.instagram.com/wordsbykristin/?hl=en]. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How Today’s Top Singers Are Trained w/ Eric Vetro

From coaching superstars like Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes and ROSÉ to training actors like Timothée Chalamet, Angelina Jolie and Austin Butler, Eric Vetro has become one of the most in-demand vocal coaches in the entertainment industry. Vetro sits down on this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record for a look inside his process of keeping today’s biggest stars performance-ready and helping actors transform into music legends for film. He breaks down what makes a great singer, how artists can protect their voices throughout their careers and how his coaching sessions help shape some of the industry's most memorable performances. 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 [https://www.instagram.com/billboardontherecord/], TikTok @billboardontherecord [https://www.tiktok.com/@billboardontherecord] and @wordsbykristin [https://www.instagram.com/wordsbykristin/?hl=en]. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How the Role of the Record Producer Has Evolved w/ Finneas

Finneas is known for producing some of the biggest records of the past decade — and his career also reflects how dramatically the record producer's role has evolved. He sits down on this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record to give listeners a peek inside his production process—from working with artists he knows closely, like his sister Billie Eilish, to collaborators he’s meeting for the first time—breaking down why he values the natural push-and-pull that shapes great songs. Finneas also explains how the job of a producer has evolved alongside technology, how he scores a hit TV series like ‘Beef,’ and why he still believes in the power of shorter albums. 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 [https://www.instagram.com/billboardontherecord/], TikTok @billboardontherecord [https://www.tiktok.com/@billboardontherecord] and @wordsbykristin [https://www.instagram.com/wordsbykristin/?hl=en]. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How A Swiftie Turned Superfandom Into Big Business w/ Olivia Levin

Taylor Swift is among the most powerful artists of her generation — and her fans, the Swifties, are among the most powerful fandoms. On this week's episode of Billboard On the Record, host Kristin Robinson explores the nature and business of superfandom with Olivia Levin, the New York Times best-selling author and founder of social media page @swiftiesforeternity [https://www.instagram.com/swiftiesforeternity/?hl=en]. Levin shares how she turned her page into a six-figure income, spanning ticketing, social media management, writing and brand deals. She also explains why Taylor Swift continues to inspire such loyalty with her listeners, why her re-recordings changed the game and what she thinks the music business gets wrong about superfans like her. 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 [https://www.instagram.com/billboardontherecord/], TikTok @billboardontherecord [https://www.tiktok.com/@billboardontherecord] and @wordsbykristin [https://www.instagram.com/wordsbykristin/?hl=en]. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

How To Build A Setlist For The FIFA World Cup w/ Grayson Repp

Ever wondered how the soundtrack to the world’s biggest sporting events gets made? On this week’s episode of Billboard On The Record, sports DJ and music curator Grayson Repp shares how he found himself at the intersection of sports and music — and what it takes to build the perfect setlist for events like FIFA, the Olympics, the NBA and the NFL. From playing local clubs to stadiums packed with tens of thousands of fans, Repp breaks down how every match, crowd and city requires its own approach, especially when top global leaders are watching. He also explains his World Cup playlist prep and how he turned his love of sports and music into a career as one of the world’s biggest sports DJs. 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 [https://www.instagram.com/billboardontherecord/], TikTok @billboardontherecord [https://www.tiktok.com/@billboardontherecord] and @wordsbykristin [https://www.instagram.com/wordsbykristin/?hl=en]. Billboard On The Record is a podcast in partnership with SickBird Productions.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]