Some summers are just hotter and poppier than others — and summer 2024 is turning out to be a wild one, with way more than its share of pop breakthroughs. Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter are conquering the world, Shaboozey hit Number One with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” and two longer-running artists, Tinashe and Charli XCX, are having the biggest moments of their careers.

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In the new episode of Rolling Stone Music Now, we take a deep look at a summer of pop magic, with Brittany Spanos and Rob Sheffield joining host Brian Hiatt for the discussion. We examine how TikTok and key opening slots (for Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift, respectively) played a part in the rise of Roan and Carpenter, look back at Charli XCX’s unique career, ponder if the music industry has learned how to make stars again, marvel at the rise of the Tinashe-invented “match my freak” meme, and much more. To hear the whole episode, go here for the podcast provider of your choice, listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or just press play above.

Download and subscribe to Rolling Stone‘s weekly podcast, Rolling Stone Music Now, hosted by Brian Hiatt, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts). Check out six years’ worth of episodes in the archive, including in-depth interviews with Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, Questlove, Halsey, Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Rick Ross, Alicia Keys, the National, Ice Cube, Taylor Hawkins, Willow, Keith Richards, Robert Plant, Dua Lipa, Killer Mike, Julian Casablancas, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Marr, Scott Weiland, Darius Rucker, Liam Gallagher, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello, John Legend, Donald Fagen, Charlie Puth, Phil Collins, Justin Townes Earle, Stephen Malkmus, Sebastian Bach, Tom Petty, Eddie Van Halen, Kelly Clarkson, Pete Townshend, Bob Seger, the Zombies, and Gary Clark Jr. And look for dozens of episodes featuring genre-spanning discussions, debates, and explainers with Rolling Stone’s critics and reporters.