On the Record with Poppy Reid podcast | Listen online for free

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Missy Higgins Reveals How Music Industry Power Has Flipped
Welcome to On The Record, where we revisit a momentous album with the master of its creation — the artist.As one of Australia’s most celebrated songwriters, Missy Higgins has spent the last 12 months being immortalised in music history. From celebrating the 20th anniversary of her debut album The Sound of White to being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, the spotlight has rightfully returned to one of the highest-selling debut albums by an Australian artist.But what happened after the release of The Sound of White is even more fascinating. On Valentine’s Day 2007, Missy released the Steer EP — a four-track follow-up featuring a lead single, two studio outtakes, and a raw home-recorded demo. More than just a bridge between her debut and On A Clear Night, it was a bold statement of intent: that she would always carve her own path, no matter the industry pressures.This is Missy Higgins… On The Record.
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Brutal Truths about the Music Industry with What So Not
Poppy Reid sits down in Australia with one of the most innovative names in electronic music: What So Not.With over 1.3 billion streams, collaborations with Skrillex, RL Grime, Toto, and Daniel Johns, and headline sets at Coachella and Lollapalooza, What So Not’s career has been built on fearless sonic experimentation. In this candid conversation, he opens up about the decade since his groundbreaking debut album Not All The Beautiful Things, the realities of the streaming era, and the creative discipline that’s kept him pushing boundaries for 15 years.We also dive into:- The economics of albums in today’s streaming landscape- Why he records unexpected sounds — from drift car engines to foot stomps — for his music- Collaborating with legends like Toto and Daniel Johns- The impact of TikTok culture on artist careers- His near-death big wave surfing experience in Tasmania- The discipline and solitude behind finishing a recordFrom wild tour stories to deeply personal creative philosophies, this episode is a rare, unfiltered look at the mind of a sonic adventurer.
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VASSY: From ‘Wrong Voice’ to EDM Icon: The Untold Story Behind “Bad” with David Guetta and “Secrets” with Tiesto
Poppy Reid is in LA with one of the most groundbreaking artists in dance music: VASSY. Kicked out of her school choir for not having the “right voice”, VASSY went on to defy expectations, clocking over 3 billion streams and becoming the first woman to win the EDM Icon Award.In this intimate and wide-ranging chat, we revisit the decade-defining hits she wrote and sang, including “Bad” with David Guetta and “Secrets” with Tiësto, and unpack the real stories behind their creation.We also dive into:Why VASSY stepped away from EDM to return to her jazz rootsThe hidden costs of success and early exploitation in LAWhat it means to be a female artist in a male-dominated genreHow generative AI threatens songwriter incomes, and what can be doneHer role as an advocate, mentor, and voice for creators’ rightsMulti-platinum artist VASSY joins us to go On The Record about the decade-defining EDM hits she created, including “Bad” with David Guetta and “Secrets” with Tiësto, her jazz roots, and the real-life challenges behind global success. 📌 Episode Highlights 00:01:00 – Kicked out of school choir: turning rejection into fuel00:10:00 – Starting from scratch in LA: surviving the hustle00:18:00 – The making of “Bad”: meeting David Guetta00:23:00 – “Secrets” and touring with Tiësto00:33:00 – From EDM queen to BossAcoustics: returning to her roots00:40:00 – How AI is threatening songwriters’ livelihoods00:52:00 – Advocacy, inspiration, and defining success on her own terms
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Rag’n’Bone Man on ‘Human’: It Doesn’t Feel Like An Album To Me
In 2017, a bearded baritone from East Sussex released a debut album that would catapult him into global superstardom. That album was Human — a raw, genre-defying collection of tracks that gave us one of the most streamed songs of all time.Fast-forward to 2025: Rag’n’Bone Man (aka Rory Graham) is three albums in, a global touring powerhouse, and a father. But what was it like living through the explosion of Human? Did he see it coming? And how did he navigate the intense spotlight that followed?In this episode of On The Record, Rory revisits the making of Human, the stories behind songs like the title track (which is now been streamed over 5 billion times), “Skin” and “Giant,” the hip hop roots he nearly followed, and how becoming a dad during peak fame shaped his worldview.He opens up about industry pressures, his refusal to mime on TV, and how emotional vulnerability has made him a better artist. Plus, he teases his new single with Danger Mouse and hints at a long-awaited guitar album.This is an honest, nostalgic, and at times, funny, look back at a milestone moment, from the artist who lived it.⸻Episode Tags (Spotify/SEO)Rag’n’Bone Man, Human, Rory Graham, Poppy Reid, On The Record, debut album, UK soul, hip hop, pop music, music industry, artist interview, podcast, 2025, Calvin Harris, Jamie Hartman, Danger Mouse, music podcast, album retrospective, artist evolution⸻Podcast Show NotesFeatured topics: • Revisiting Human: The writing process and why it didn’t feel like a true debut album • Behind the scenes of “Human” and “Skin” with Jamie Hartman • The early impact of European radio and global chart success • Balancing fatherhood with sudden fame • Hip hop beginnings, the Wolves record, and almost making a rap album • Navigating the music industry: fame, false starts, and staying true to yourself • Accusations of cultural appropriation and paying homage to Black music • Unreleased collaborations, freestyling lyrics, and new music with Danger Mouse • The beauty of artistic evolution and hinting at a guitar-driven futureGuest: Rag’n’Bone ManHost: Poppy ReidProduced by: Curious MediaRecorded in: Sydney, Australia
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Tommy Brown (TBHits) On Making Hits With Ariana Grande, BLACKPINK & The Business Of Pop
He’s the sonic architect behind some of the biggest global hits of the last decade. On this episode of On The Record, we sit down with GRAMMY-nominated, ASCAP Award-winning producer and entrepreneur Tommy Brown, known professionally as TBHits.From Pittsburgh to the peak of pop culture, Brown’s production fingerprints are on game-changing records with Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, BTS, John Legend, Bad Bunny, Drake, and more. But one record in particular broke new ground in K-pop crossover history—“Ice Cream” by BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez. Tommy didn’t just produce the track—he co-wrote, arranged and composed it, setting new streaming records and solidifying his place as a cross-genre hitmaker.In this conversation, Tommy opens up about:0:00 – His journey from Pittsburgh to global pop hits03:00 – The making of “Ice Cream” and its cultural impact08:30 – What producing in Korea taught him about K-pop13:15 – Stepping back to build Champagne Therapy the right way18:00 – Why royalties are broken and how he uses humor to raise awareness23:00 – Fixing collaboration in music, TV, and film28:00 – ADHD, family, and what’s next for his global collaborationsThis is Tommy Brown. On The Record.Timestamps0:00 – Introduction: Tommy Brown’s journey from Pittsburgh to global pop hits03:00 – The making of BLACKPINK & Selena Gomez’s “Ice Cream” and Ariana Grande’s surprise involvement08:30 – What Tommy learned about K-pop while producing in Korea13:15 – Building Champagne Therapy and why he stepped back to go bigger18:00 – The truth about royalties, songwriting credits, and why he uses humor to call out industry issues23:00 – Why collaboration is broken—and what needs to change in music and film28:00 – ADHD as a creative strength, his brother’s influence, and what’s next for Tommy globallyGuest bioTommy Brown (aka TBHits) is a multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated record producer and songwriter from Pittsburgh. He is the founder of Champagne Therapy Music Group & Publishing, in partnership with Universal Music Group chairman Sir Lucian Grainge. Known for his genre-blending sound and longtime collaboration with Ariana Grande, Brown has also worked with BLACKPINK, Justin Bieber, BTS, The Weeknd, Selena Gomez, John Legend, Bad Bunny, and more. His work has shaped the modern pop and R&B landscape.
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