WKRP in Cincinnati: A Music Analysis

The music on America's favorite fake radio station was very much real. How realistic was WKRP's music format?

May 21 • Matt Bailey

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The Crest and Crash of New Wave

Why did the genre that defines Eighties music seemingly appear out of nowhere? And when will the next new wave arrive?

May 7 • Matt Bailey

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April 2026

How Morgan Wallen Brought Country Fans to Streaming

Country finally achieved parity with Pop and Hip Hop on streaming platforms in 2024--but what Country fans stream and what they hear on the radio are…

Apr 23 • Matt Bailey

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Why are Young Adults Suddenly So Nostalgic?

The #BringBack2016 trend comes ten years before nostalgia typically invades. You can thank collective trauma for The Chainsmokers and Fetty Wap’s sudden…

Apr 9 • Matt Bailey

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March 2026

Old Songs Young Folks Just Discovered

Mar 26 • Matt Bailey

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Yacht Rock: How Big is the Boat?

A specific sound of smooth soft rock from the late 70s and early 80s is suddenly popular again. It isn't what you think. Its newfound fans aren't who…

Mar 12 • Matt Bailey

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February 2026

The Hits Radio Ignored in 2025 (and the Stiffs they Played Instead)

The type of songs that are huge on streaming, but AWOL on Contemporary Hit Radio, have changed dramatically in recent years. Why ignoring these songs…

Feb 26 • Matt Bailey

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Bad Bunny Won Big

The artist some pundits suggested wasn't popular among enough of America just became the biggest halftime performer of all time.

Feb 12 • Matt Bailey

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Um Actually... Bad Bunny is a Big Freakin’ Deal

How does the star of this year's Super bowl halftime show stack up with other big-name artists? And why outrage about Puerto-Rican musicians at sports…

Feb 5 • Matt Bailey

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January 2026

No, Hip Hop Didn’t Die in 2025 (But it Did Lose its Dominance on Streaming in 2022)

When Hip hop fans used Spotify, Pop fans bought iTunes, and Country fans relied on radio, comparing genre popularity was tricky, even for Billboard. Why…

Jan 22 • Matt Bailey

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Did 2025’s Hits Sound Just Like 2024’s Hits? That’s Because They Were.

Only one of the Top 10 songs from 2025 was actually released in 2025. Why was it such a stagnantly lousy year for new music?

Jan 8 • Matt Bailey

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December 2025

In the Streaming Era, these 12 Christmas Classics are Disappearing

You’ve heard them forever. Many are still on your radio. As we move into the streaming era, however, these longtime staples no longer make the cut for…

Dec 18, 2025 • Matt Bailey

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