NY Times Critics Unpack Their Controversial Songwriters List

This week on the Track Star Podcast, we’re joined by New York Times music reporters Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli following the publication of the NYT’s “The 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters.”

As the hosts of the popular music podcast “Popcast,” Jon and Joe are no strangers to passionate debate. Their work often explores contemporary music through both a critical and historical lens, helping listeners make sense of today’s artists in the broader context of popular music.

Although we only have time to dive into a handful of names from the list, Jon and Joe unpack the thinking behind their selections, discuss the challenges of being music critics and reporters in the modern media landscape, and share what continues to inspire their curiosity about music far beyond their own tastes and expertise.

This Episode’s Tracklist:
00:00 - Intro
1:03 - This Is What You Came For - Calvin Harris, Rihanna
10:26 - Digits - Young Thug
18:47 - I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
27:19 - The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields
32:23 - Obsesión - Aventura, Judy Santos
47:29 - The Rising - Bruce Springsteen