Live From Mars

This week’s Live From Mars is packed! Alex (aka Mars, aka @vinylbymars on TikTok and Instagram) dives into the latest New Music Friday releases, breaks down the perfect release timing for a potential Song of the Summer, and answers your AMA questions in celebration of hitting 100,000 followers on TikTok!  In this episode:Miley Cyrus returns with Prelude, Something Beautiful, and End of the World—is she entering another avant-garde era?Joe Keery (yes, Steve Harrington from Stranger Things) drops a stunning new album under Djo—why The Crux feels like his most emotional work yet.Ed Sheeran's back with Azizam and a brand new concept era—what we think of “Play” so farIs April the best month to drop a Song of the Summer? A deep dive into past hits, new contenders (Drake, Sabrina Carpenter, Miley), and streaming trends.Your ultimate Record Store Day 2025 guide—what to know, how to prep, and the top releases to hunt for.A special Ask Me Anything segment tackling his most anticipated concerts of 2025, the truth about VinylTok in 2025, no-skip albums, what's next for Taylor Swift in 2025, and more!Whether you're here for chart talk, new releases, or getting to know Alex better, this episode is your one-stop shop for all things pop.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:58 - Record Store Day Tips & Tricks05:27 - When to Release a Song of the Summer Contender10:31 - Miley Cyrus' "Something Beautiful"15:23 - Ed Sheeran's "Azizam"18:12 - Djo's "The Crux"21:15 - Ask Mars Anything26:01 - The State of VinylTok in 202529:00 - Two No-Skip Albums34:08 - Taylor Swift's 2025 ReleasesChime in! What’s your pick for 2025’s song of the summer? What are you planning to grab on Record Store Day? Drop a comment and let Alex know.Follow Alex: TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

We did it — 100,000 followers on TikTok. A huge milestone, a huge thank you, and a huge episode to match.This week on Live From Mars, Alex reflects on the journey from faceless vinyl recs to full-blown music commentary, the wildness of hitting six figures in followers, and what’s coming next for the show (spoiler: it’s an AMA — so send those questions in!).Then we dive into a chart update packed with surprises — including a historic week for Kendrick & SZA, massive first-week numbers for Playboi Carti, and unexpected success from Gaga and Chappell Roan.But the real star of the episode? Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead. With five brand-new songs and one extended version, this release just might solidify Eternal Sunshine as the best album of her career. From “Twilight Zone” to “Dandelion,” Alex unpacks every moment — vocally, emotionally, and sonically.In this episode, we cover:Hitting 100K followers & Alex's view on the journey to Mars so far5 years of Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia + the surprise release of the “Physical” Remix ft. Troye SivanLana Del Rey teasing her mysterious 10th studio album The Right Person Will StaySelena Gomez & Benny Blanco’s chart battle vs. Playboi Carti (and what their last-minute sales push says about the industry)Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine deluxe: brighter days ahead – track-by-track breakdown, production details, emotional growth, and why “Twilight Zone” strikes such emotional and nostalgic chords with listeners📲 Follow me for more:TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymarsInstagram: www.instagram.com/vinylbymarsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/abm0896 💬 Drop your AMA questions via IG poll, broadcast channel, or comments!

In this episode of Live from Mars, I’m breaking down the biggest stories in pop this week — from Kendrick Lamar dominating the charts to Lady Gaga’s Mayhem debuting at No. 1. But the spotlight is on Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s new album I Said I Love You First, and we’ve got a lot to unpack.We explore:• Billboard Chart Highlights – Why Kendrick is the name all over the Hot 100 and how Gaga just tied Janet Jackson for most No. 1 albums.• Mayhem by Lady Gaga – A breakdown of the album’s chart success, the Grammy conversation, and why “Abracadabra” might be her ticket to Record and Song of the Year nominations.• New Music Friday Picks – Jack Harlow & Doja Cat, Jonas Brothers, and Jon Bellion — the tracks worth your time.• Selena & Benny’s Joint Album – A deep dive into I Said I Love You First: the love story, vocal production issues, and whether it lives up to the hype.• Top Tracks from the Album – Why “Bluest Flame” and “Don’t Wanna Cry” are the standouts and what Charli XCX’s involvement adds to the mix.• The Vision Debate – Why this album plays it a little too safe and what it tells us about Selena’s current artistic confidence.• What’s Next in Pop – Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead and the rising buzz around Miley Cyrus’ Something Beautiful.From personal milestones to massive releases, we’re diving into it all. Is I Said I Love You First a step forward for Selena Gomez? Or is she still playing it too safe? Let’s get into it.💬 Drop your thoughts in the comments! Did I Said I Love You First surprise you — or were the singles a red flag?👉 Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives on the biggest new releases in pop music!📲 Follow me for more: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@vinylbymars Instagram: www.instagram.com/vinylbymars Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/abm0896

How much do artists really make from streaming? Spotify just paid out $10 billion in 2024, but where does that money go—and is streaming actually sustainable for artists? In this episode of Live From Mars, Alex (@vinylbymars) sits down with Sam Duboff, Spotify for Artists’ Global Head of Marketing & Policy, to break down the newly released 2024 Loud&Clear report and what it means for artists, streaming, and the music industry.In this episode, we cover:The Truth About Streaming Royalties – How artists actually get paid (no, there’s no fixed per-stream rate)The Rise of Independent Artists – Why 50% of Spotify’s payouts go to indie and DIY musiciansSuperfans Are the Future – The 2% of listeners who generate 50% of merch salesThe Globalization of Music – How international collaborations are reshaping the industryWhat’s Next for Streaming? – The comeback of music videos, new artist tools, and morePlus, we dive into Lady Gaga’s Mayhem, the magic of Charli xcx and Lorde’s “Girl, so confusing remix,” and play Best, Worst, Fav with Lorde’s Melodrama.Read the full Loud&Clear report: spotify.com/loudandclearFollow Me:TikTok & Instagram: @vinylbymars | https://www.instagram.com/vinylbymarsListen to Live From Mars on Apple PodcastsListen to Live From Mars on SpotifySubscribe on YouTubeSubscribe, rate, and follow for more deep dives into music, streaming, and the industry’s biggest topics.

Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Album Review & Track-by-Track BreakdownLady Gaga’s new album Mayhem is here, and we’re breaking it all down! In this episode of Live From Mars, I’m joined by Seth Betzler for a deep dive into Lady Gaga’s 2025 return to pop.We dive into the road to this moment—how Chromatica left its mark, Gaga’s jazz era with Tony Bennett, the fallout from Joker 2, and the unexpected smash success of Die with a Smile. Plus, we unpack the Mayhem rollout: Did Disease truly serve as the “lead” single? How did Abracadabra’s massive Grammy premiere change the game? And why does the album’s grunge-inspired aesthetic not quite match the genre-blending sound Gaga delivered?Then, it’s time for a track-by-track breakdown—analyzing every song, from the industrial grit of Disease and Perfect Celebrity to the euphoric highs of Vanish Into You and Zombie Boy. And of course, we wrap things up with Best, Worst, Fav—choosing the best song, the weakest track, and our personal favorites from Mayhem.Is Mayhem a defining moment in Lady Gaga’s career, or just another unexpected pivot? Let’s talk about it.🎧 Listen now and let us know your thoughts on Mayhem!📲 Follow Alex: @vinylbymars on TikTok | Instagram📲 Follow Seth: @dramakingvinyl on TikTok | Instagram, @dramakingbooks on TikTok | Instagram

In this episode of Live from Mars, I’m joined by my dear friend Amanda (@amandasplaylist) to break down Tate McRae’s new album So Close to What. After my initial reaction stirred up some strong opinions, we’re diving deep into what makes this album work, where it falls short, and how Tate’s evolution as an artist impacts her place in pop music today.We explore:• Tate McRae’s Career Evolution – From You Broke Me First to Greedy and So Close to What, has she finally found her sound?• Best & Worst Songs – Why Sports Car, Two Hands, and Purple Lace Bra stand out, and which tracks miss the mark.• Tate as a Performer First – How her strength in dance and live performance shapes her music choices.• Production & Songwriting – Does So Close to What push pop forward, or does it play it too safe?• Where She Stands Among Pop’s Biggest Names – How Tate compares to Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Dua Lipa, and more.• Hot Takes & Fan Reactions – What the album means to different listeners and why pop music hits differently for everyone.From viral TikTok hits to her future in pop, we’re unpacking it all. Did So Close to What live up to the hype? Or is Tate still searching for her signature sound? Let’s discuss.👉 Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for more deep dives on the biggest new releases in pop music!📲 Follow me for more:TikTok | Instagram | YouTube → @vinylbymarsAmanda: @amandasplaylist on TikTok & Instagram