Live From Mars

• 2026 Grammy Predictions: Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish & More

  We’re heading into August, which means the Grammy eligibility deadline is just around the corner. On this episode of Live From Mars, I’m breaking down the state of the 2026 Grammy race across the Big Four categories: Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.From frontrunners like Kendrick Lamar’s GNX and Lady Gaga’s Mayhem to under-the-radar picks like Miley Cyrus and Ravyn Lenae, I walk through who’s favored to win, who deserves to be in the conversation, and who might get snubbed. I also explain the confusing eligibility rules, talk about late entries like Sabrina Carpenter’s upcoming Man’s Best Friend, and yes — I address the Alex Warren situation.Topics covered:Grammy eligibility window explainedAlbum of the Year: Kendrick vs Gaga vs the fieldRecord of the Year: Why “Luther” might sweepSong of the Year: Could Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower” surprise?Best New Artist: Is it Rosé’s year — or will someone else break through?My personal picks, hot takes, and what to watch for nextTimestamps:00:00 - Intro + Grammy eligibility timing04:20 - Album of the Year: frontrunners, dark horses, and my pick14:44 - Record of the Year: Kendrick, Gaga, Billie, and "APT"19:35 - The Alex Warren beef explained21:06 - Song of the Year: “Wildflower,” “Abracadabra,” and what’s eligible24:47 - Best New Artist: Rosé, Addison Rae, Ravyn Lenae, and moreIf you're into pop music, artist narratives, or just want to sound smart come Grammy night, this one’s for you.Follow Mars:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymarsInstagram: http://instagram.com/vinylbymarsYouTube: https://youtube.com/@vinylbymars/Live From Mars: https://linktr.ee/livefrommarspodTo provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Justin Bieber’s "SWAG" Is a Vibe, But Is It Any Good? (w/ Nick Palmai)

  This week on Live From Mars, Alex is joined by returning guest Nick Palmai to unpack Justin Bieber’s surprise new album SWAG. From the rollout and first impressions to the features, lyrical content (or lack of it), and how this record fits into Bieber’s larger discography, they dive into everything. The album is cohesive, moody, and full of bold choices... some of which work, and some that definitely don’t.Alex and Nick debate whether SWAG is a Journals spiritual sequel, a SZA-inspired vibe album, or just a chaotic mixtape in disguise. They also get into THAT Sexyy Red feature, the confusing interludes, the Michael Jackson and Usher comparisons, and why this era of Bieber might be his most interesting yet -- even if it's not his best.Topics covered:The surprise SWAG rollout and how it caught fans off guardIs this Bieber’s Journals 2.0? Or something else entirely?The influence of SZA, Daniel Caesar, Dijon, and Carter LangStrong tracks (“Daisies,” “Walking Away,” “Devotion”) vs. weak onesSexyy Red’s feature on “Sweet Spot”Album structure: interludes, voice memos, and the overstuffed tracklistLyrical repetition and why Bieber still feels emotionally guardedThe Michael Jackson/The Weeknd comparisonsWhere this album fits in Bieber’s career and male pop in 2025Timestamps:00:00 – Intro01:28 – Welcoming Back Nick08:50 – First Impressions of SWAG16:50 – The Songwriting of SWAG21:16 – Interludes, voice notes & filler tracks28:59 – Today's Male Pop Stars34:47 – Our Favorite Tracks40:32 – SWAG's Lasting ImpactFollow me:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymars Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymarsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymarsNew Music Friday playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7fbLRhODukVyre2zTFMQG0?si=e9fcd379355647aeTo provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-surveyTo provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Glastonbury Was Chaos: Charli XCX Burns, The 1975 Returns, Lorde’s "Virgin" & Beyoncé’s Floating Car Disaster

  This week on Live From Mars, Alex unpacks a massive week in pop music—from Lorde’s industrial new album Virgin, to wild moments at Glastonbury, Olivia Rodrigo album rumors, Beyoncé's floating car scare, and more. This episode combines a full review of Virgin with New Music Friday highlights and a breakdown of the week’s biggest music news.Topics covered:New Music Friday picks: Lorde’s Virgin, Jessie Murph’s “Heroin,” and RAYE & Mark Ronson’s “Grandma Calls The Boys Bad News”Full review of Lorde’s Virgin album: top tracks, themes, standout lyrics, and how it compares to Solar PowerGlastonbury moments: Charli XCX sets the Brat curtain on fire, Matty Healy takes jabs at Taylor Swift, and Lewis Capaldi returns to the stageOlivia Rodrigo’s next album: what we know (and don’t) about OR3 so farTaylor Swift’s surprise “Shake It Off” performance in NashvilleBeyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour scare in HoustonSabrina Carpenter’s album cover controversy and why she’s a marketing geniusTimestamps:00:00 – Intro01:31 – Lorde's Virgin Review14:21 – New Music Friday Highlights18:37 – Glastonbury 2025 Recap25:41 – Olivia Rodrigo's 3rd Album29:21 - Taylor Swift's Surprise Performance31:14 – Beyoncé's "16 Carriages" Car Accident32:15 – Sabrina Carpenter's New Album Cover Follow me:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymarsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymarsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymarsNew Music Friday playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7fbLRhODukVyre2zTFMQG0?si=e9fcd379355647aeTo provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The 10 Best Pop Songs of 2025 (So Far)

  This week on Live From Mars, Alex shares his picks for the best songs of 2025 (so far)—including bangers from Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, SZA, Ariana Grande, and more. Plus, a quick New Music Friday recap and the chaotic rollout of Sabrina Carpenter’s surprise new album Man's Best Friend.Topics covered:Quick hits from a quiet New Music Friday: Kehlani, Mark Ronson & RAYE, Hannah JadaguSabrina Carpenter's surprise album announcement + the internet’s meltdown over the cover artAlex’s full list of the 10 best songs of 2025 (plus a bonus!)Why Abracadabra and Something Beautiful are tied for song of the yearThe comeback of fun Drake? (Yes, I'm shocked too)A case for Addison Rae and a deep cut from DjoTaylor Swift similarities, Ariana, SZA, The Weeknd, HAIM, Selena Gomez, and moreTimestamps:00:00 — Intro + Catch Up01:31 — New Music Friday Highlights06:59 — Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend Controversy13:15 — The Best Pop Songs of 2025 (So Far)Follow & support the show:Life on Mars (New Music Friday Playlist): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7fbLRhODukVyre2zTFMQG0?si=f39baf34c7754f2fListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0V8opmfEyH3U7MJSTrsHH6Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-from-mars/id1717556594Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymarsFollow Alex on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymarsFollow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymarsTo provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Inside the Music Industry with Thomas Krottinger: Olivia Rodrigo, Publishing, Survivor 48 & My Week With Miley Cyrus and Joe Jonas

  This week on Live From Mars, Alex shares one of the wildest weeks in his pop music life: going record shopping with Joe Jonas, meeting Miley Cyrus, and seeing The Weeknd’s After Hours 'Til Dawn tour. Plus, a full breakdown of Addison Rae’s surprisingly strong debut album Addison, Sabrina Carpenter’s new single “Manchild,” and an in-depth conversation with Sony Music Publishing’s SVP of A&R and Survivor 48 castaway Thomas Krottinger. From Olivia Rodrigo’s publishing journey to how artists actually get paid, this episode covers it all.Topics covered:• Addison Rae’s debut album Addison — standout tracks and whether it lives up to the hype• Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” — is this another hit or just a viral detour?• Behind the scenes of Alex’s interview and record store hang with Joe Jonas• Meeting Miley Cyrus and the story behind “Pretend You’re God”• Full concert recap of The Weeknd’s After Hours 'Til Dawn stadium tour• Interview with Thomas Krottinger: Olivia Rodrigo’s early songwriting talent, how music publishing works, why the song is the most important part of the industry, how artist deals are structured, the importance of finding a good publishing partner, and how the business has shifted post-TikTokTimestamps:00:00 - Intro & Wildest Week Ever01:29 - Addison Rae Album Reaction02:16 - Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild”04:00 - Record Shopping w/ Joe Jonas06:23 - Meeting Miley Cyrus07:43 - The Weeknd Stadium Tour Recap10:23 - Introducing Thomas Krottinger14:36 - Music Publishing 10120:14 - Signing Olivia Rodrigo26:21 - The Future of the Music Industry37:50 - Thomas' Survivor ExperienceFollow & support the show:• Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0V8opmfEyH3U7MJSTrsHH6• Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-from-mars/id1721474129• Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vinylbymars• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymars• Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymarsTo provide feedback, please fill out this survey: http://bit.ly/livefrommars-survey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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