Swift Mania and McCartney's Surprise Gig: Billboard Pop Shop Podcast Recap

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith are dissecting the latest buzz in the music world. This week, the spotlight shines on Taylor Swift's monumental success at the iHeartRadio Music Awards and Paul McCartney's surprise performance at the Fonda Theater.

Swift reigned supreme at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards, snagging seven awards and solidifying her position as the most-awarded artist in the show's history. The event also marked her awards show debut with fiancé Travis Kelce. Following her iHeartRadio triumph, Swift made an appearance at the Fonda Theater for one of McCartney's exclusive underplay concerts, accompanied by the HAIM sisters.

The podcast also explores the star-studded guest list at McCartney's phone-free shows, which celebrated the announcement of his upcoming album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane. While McCartney didn't perform the lead single "Days We Left Behind," the atmosphere was electric.

Here's the full podcast episode:

In other news, BTS has stormed the charts, landing at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with ARIRANG, achieving their seventh No. 1 album. To add to their success, BTS also claimed the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart with "SWIM," securing their seventh No. 1 single. (Coincidentally, there are seven members of BTS!)

TheBillboardPop Shop Podcast is your go-to source for all things pop onBillboard's weekly charts. JoinBillboard's executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson andBillboard's managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield, for lively discussions on the latest pop news, chart analysis, new music, and interviews with music stars. Tune in every week onBillboard.com, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred podcast platform.

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