Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

Annie and Nick catch up on a busy and divisive week in music. New Stevie Wonder music has been unanimously welcomed, while the VMAs have split opinion – and inspired Annie and Nick to ask: does anyone care about them anymore?

Other questions raised this week: why do Irish people make fun of Bono so much? Why are some people being mean about Madonna on the internet? Should the VMAs have rethought the George Michael tribute? And why are many Taylor Swift fans disappointed by the bonus Life of a Showgirl tracks?

Plus, Nick has been talking football and Oasis tickets with Noel Gallagher.

You can send in a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And don’t forget you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

Stevie Wonder – My Life Story of Love

U2 – One

Dolly Parton – I Will Always Love You

Troye Sivan – Party

Taylor Swift – Patient Zero

Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

GENER8ION – Storm starring Yung Lean

Justin Bieber – Yukon

ALBUMS

Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life

U2 – Rattle and Hum

Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl

Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl: Encore

BAFTA winning writer, and pop culture afficionado, Jack Rooke joins Annie to discuss the week in music.

In a week that saw Ed Sheeran continue his US tour after all his support acts pulled out in solidarity with Macklemore, Annie and Jack discuss his on-stage statements, and they look at how other artists have dealt with politics and activism in the past.

Elsewhere, Céline Dion has won the hearts of the world just by being herself outside her Paris hotel, Madonna and Charli have finally confirmed their collab, and MNEK is back with an album that Jack loves.

Plus, MPs are going to scrutinise the UK's "dismal" record in selecting songs and acts for Eurovision – but does anyone care?

You can send in a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And don’t forget you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

Melanie C & Bryan Adams - When You're Gone

Melanie C - I Turn to You

Madonna & Charli XCX - Danceteria(Afterhours)

Solange - Losing You

Tiesto – Business

MNEK & Joel Corry – Head & Heart

Zara Larsson & MNEK - Never Forget You

The Saturdays - All Fired Up

Troye Sivan – Party

Troye Sivan – One Of Your Girls

ALBUMS

Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor

Charli XCX - brat

Solange - A Seat at the Table

Solange - When I Get Home

Empress Of - Dream House

MNEK – BULLDOZER!!

This episode was recorded over the course of 2 days, as the main story changed drastically in the space of 24 hours.

In a week that saw Ed Sheeran's tour become global news, after Macklemore was dropped as a support act, Annie and Nick discuss the ramifications of the different decisions and events of the past few days. What does this mean for artists, venues and fans? And will it change the way artists and their teams respond to similar situations in the future?

Elsewhere, Oasis have announced a huge new tour for 2027, Charli XCX has explained why 6 Europe dates is enough for her, and Harry Styles has alluded to a break from the usual cycle of album, tour, another tour, another album.

Plus Glastonbury tickets will go on sale in two weeks, Annie's reached new highs as a DJ, and Nick retells Pandora's Box for a contemporary audience.

You can send in a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And don’t forget you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

SILVERWINGKILLER - WORLDSTAR

The War on Drugs - Who's That

Shygirl - Alyse

Shygirl - Lucky

Madonna - Like a Prayer

Los del Río - Macarena

Macklemore - HIND'S HALL

ALBUMS

beabadoobee - pylon

Shygirl - Swallow

Floating Points - Mere Mortals

Annie and Nick are reunited, and there's a lot to get into. Oasis are having a busy time with a new documentary film about to be released, cryptic videos hinting at 2027 shows, and Noel's daughter Anaïs casually telling/reminding people that he's banned from China in a YouTube Q&A.

Elsewhere, Miley Cyrus is now just Miley and Annie explains why she thinks that makes so much sense – but she and Nick disagree about the new single. And Madonna has reignited the rumours that she and Charli XCX have recorded a song together.

Plus, the biggest story of the week/year: Stevie Wonder is doing a tour for the 50th Anniversary of Songs in the Key of Life – and they don't clash with Ian's birthday this time.

SONGS

Olivia Dean – Man I Need

Madonna – Vogue

George Michael – Freedom

Ol' Dirty Bastard – Shimmy Shimmy Ya

Miley Cyrus – Bass Persuades

Miley Cyrus – Flowers

Miley Cyrus – Mother's Daughter

Stevie Wonder – Pastime Paradise

Stevie Wonder – I Wish

Stevie Wonder – Sir Duke

Stevie Wonder – Isn't She Lovely

Stevie Wonder – As

Stevie Wonder – Another Star

Oasis – Don't Look Back in Anger

Jay-Z – Empire State of Mind

Jay-Z - Ni**as In Paris

Madonna – L.E.S. Girl

Adéla – Ain't in LA

Dolly Parton – Early Morning Breeze

Dolly Parton – Jolene

ALBUMS

Stevie Wonder – Songs in the Key of Life

Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt

Adéla – Prima

Massive Attack – Blue Lines

Leftfield – Leftism

Goldie – Timeless

Oasis – Definitely Maybe

Alanis Morissette – Jagged Little Pill

The xx – The xx

Dolly Parton – Coat of Many Colors

Dolly Parton – Jolene

Floating Points – Mere Mortals

Femi Koleoso sits in for Nick, to discuss the week in music with Annie. Femi is the bandleader/drummer for the BRIT Award and Mercury Prize winning jazz quintet Ezra Collective, and he's also a DJ, Producer, Youth Leader and now a 6 Music Presenter.

With the help of Sidetracked listeners, Femi and Annie discuss Dolly Parton and how she'll be remembered as one of the kindest and most generous musicians of all time. From Eminem to children all over the world, whose life hasn't been impacted by Dolly?

Elsewhere, the summer festival season has drawn to a close – what can we learn from this year? Femi was inspired by the message RAYE delivered at her Reading headline set, and he and Annie explain why Notting Hill Carnival 2026 was even more magical than usual.

Ezra Collective's fourth studio album, Here Because of Hope, is due for release on 11th September.

SONGS

Ezra Collective & Lila Iké - Well Organised

Spice Girls - Wannabe

The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men

Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - Rain On Me

N-Trance - Set You Free

Dolly Parton - Jolene

Dolly Parton - Coat of Many Colours

Annie and Nick are reunited after four weeks apart, and there's a lot to catch up on.

As they recall their separate summer holiday adventures – Annie's was rustic, Nick’s involved a medical emergency that required intervention from Charli XCX – they discover a mutual summer theme of heatwaves, football and steroid injections.

The pair finally discuss all the biggest album releases, what it’s like to watch football in a pub with Olivia Dean, why Annie might have levitated while listening to the new Phoebe Bridgers album, and what they both thought of the World Cup halftime show after having weeks to think about it.

Elsewhere, Kacey Musgraves keeps her promise about giant mirror balls, Madonna dominates the VMAs with 11 nominations, and Reading & Leeds have dropped the BBC Introducing stage, which leads to valid questions about nepo babies in music – can they escape the shadow of famous parents?

Annie provides listeners with her guide to surviving Notting Hill Carnival, and both Annie and Nick begin to wonder if the Sidetracked studio is haunted.

Contains strong language.

Given the recent sad news about Dolly Parton, Annie and Nick are asking for your personal tributes to the musical legend to include in next week’s episode. We’d love to give you a chance to send in your thoughts, voice notes, tributes, favourite Dolly memories, reactions, anything to say what Dolly meant to you.

You can send in Sidetracked a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And don’t forget you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

Phoebe Bridgers - Bobby

Florence + The Machine - Dog Days are Over

Charli XCX – No One Lasts Forever

Justin Bieber – Everything Hallelujah

Shygirl - Alyse

ALBUMS

Confessions II – Madonna

Music, Fashion, Film – Charli XCX

Brat – Charli XCX

Romance – Fontaines D.C.

Never Enough – Turnstile

Knats – A Great Day in Newcastle

Phoebe Bridgers – Lost Weekend

Nick is joined by singer, DJ, rapper and Sidetracked favourite, Shygirl, to discuss the week in music, and her new single ‘Alyse’.

This week was a big one for new music releases: Phoebe Bridgers brought out her new album – and although Annie’s on holiday, Nick shares her thoughts on the record.

Troye Sivan released a beautiful new single, and the video has generated some online discourse about the male gaze; Shygirl has some thoughts on the aesthetic choices and how much they tell us about an artist’s intention.

And Fontaines D.C have dropped a new single and announced the release date of their fifth album, Nick and Shy share their thoughts on ‘Marianne’.

Plus, what it’s like to work with Madonna, Reading Festival nostalgia, and Nick recounts an awkward experience at Charli XCX’s London brat show.

You can send Sidetracked a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

The film Shygirl mentions is Bird.

SONGS

Shygirl - Alyse

Shygirl - Altar

Phoebe Bridgers - Bobby

Fontaines D.C. - Marianne

ALBUMS

Shygirl - Nymph

Madonna - Confessions II

Fontaines D.C. - Dopamine Chamber

Fontaines D.C. - Romance

Rosalía - Motomami

It’s the Sidetracked mid-year review, in which Annie and Nick look back on the biggest moments of 2026 so far. Back in January, they made some predictions for the year in music and it's time to find out - do they possess psychic abilities or wishful dispositions?

From Harry Styles’ return to Rosalía’s LUX tour, which moments define 2026 so far?

Featuring Mark Savage, Jessie Ware, Elmiene, and CMAT.

SONGS

Mary J. Blige - I'm Goin’ Down

Harry Styles - Aperture

Rosalía - Magnolias

Oasis - Wonderwall

Justin Bieber - DAISIES

Justin Bieber – Beauty and a Beat

Taylor Swift – I Knew It, I Knew You

Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai

ALBUMS

Rosalía - LUX

Harry Styles – Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.

Madonna – Confessions II

Justin Bieber - SWAG

Nick is joined by the Emotional Junglist and record-breaking music artist, Nia Archives, to discuss the week in music. Nia made headlines herself after being shortlisted for the Mercury Prize for the second time - she explains to Nick why the announcement came at a difficult time.

Elsewhere, Nick and Nia have both recently seen Grace Jones perform and discuss the many reasons why no contemporary artist could ever emulate Grace’s artistry or her perfectly curated rider.

Plus, Sam Fender and Olivia Dean have broken chart records with their single ‘Rein Me In’, but what is it about the two of them that has sent the track into the history books?

Plus, Charli XCX’s Lollapalooza performance has fans excited for more live shows; Nia’s big plans for Japan’s convenience stores, and what’s it like to work with James Ellis Ford?

You can send Sidetracked a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

Nia Archives – Sober Feels

Nia Archives – Boys in Blue

Kettama – Comes and Goes

Tricky feat. Mitch Sanders - I’m Yours

ALBUMS

Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist

Nia Archives – Silence is Loud

Madonna – American Life

Madonna - Music

Madonna – Ray of Light

Knats – A Great Day in Newcastle

War Child Records- Help(2)

Arca – XXXXX

Charli XCX – brat

Charli XCX – Wuthering Heights

Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film

Nick reacts to the Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist with Knats, a jazz collective who are one of the most exciting bands in the UK music scene right now - and whose latest album ‘A Great Day in Newcastle’ has been described as “the best thing to come out of the North East since Andy Carroll.”

In a year of great albums from the UK and Ireland, which artists have made it on to the most prestigious shortlist in music?

SONGS

Knats – Bowling Ball

Knats – Wor Jackie

Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?

Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine?

Olivia Dean – Man I Need

JADE – Angel of My Dreams

Kojey Radical & Planet Giza – Expensive

Ezra Collective & Kojey Radical – No Confusion

This week’s episode will be dropping later than usual as Nick - and some very special guests - await the much-anticipated Mercury Prize Shortlist.

Annie and Nick discuss a myriad of topics chosen by Sidetracked listeners, answering questions such as: what’s it like to be backstage at big music festivals? Why were Geese accused of being an industry plant? What songs remind them each of each other?

Elsewhere, Spotify has some new proposed features, but Annie and Nick have mixed feelings about their merit. Plus, memories of the Beckhams partying late into the night at Glastonbury, how artists get paid for the many parts of their job, and who would Nick rather be - Beyoncé or Lady Gaga?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

Feeder - Buck Rogers

Olive - You're Not Alone

Justin Bieber – Boyfriend

John Lennon – Imagine

Beyoncé - Deja Vu ALBUMS

Geese – Getting Killed

The one and only CMAT fills in for Nick this week - joining Annie to put the world to rights. With the World Cup Final imminent, they delve into the details of the half-time show which promises performances from Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy...and the Muppets. With only 11 minutes allocated for the entire half-time show, will it be a disaster or a masterclass?

Elsewhere, CMAT and Annie discuss Charli XCX’s album campaign, Rose Gray’s brilliant new single, and Kelela’s dreamy collaboration with PinkPantheress. Plus, Rihanna joined Jay Z on stage but why, apart from the conversation about her new music, is this culturally significant?

Other highlights include: a breakdown of Taylor Swift’s best work, the truth about the crowd at Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter at Coachella, shocking insight into a possible lip-syncing epidemic, and CMAT’s burgeoning friendship with Robbie Williams.

Annie’s books for CMAT:

Rozie Kelly - Kingfisher

Addie E. Citchens - Dominion

Brendan Behan - Borstal Boy

SONGS

CMAT - When a Good Man Cries

CMAT - Stay For Something

CMAT - Jamie Oliver Petrol Station

CMAT – Lord, Let That Tesla Crash

Robbie Williams - Angels

Justin Bieber – DAISIES

Justin Bieber – Beauty and a Beat

Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai

Rose Gray - Club to Your Arms

Kelela ft. PinkPantheress - The Bridge

Madonna – Vogue

Madonna – Like a Prayer

Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love

Madonna – Fragile

Charli XCX – SuperLove

Taylor Swift - Opalite

Taylor Swift - Anti-Hero

Taylor Swift - Bejeweled

Taylor Swift - So High School

Rihanna ft. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Run This Town

Rihanna - Bitch Better Have My Money

ALBUMS

CMAT - Euro Country

CMAT – Crazymad, for Me

CMAT - If My Wife New I'd Be Dead

Rihanna - ANTI

Rose Gray - Louder, Please

Kelela – new avatar

Madonna - Confessions Part II

Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor

Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia

Dua Lipa - Radical Optimism

Taylor Swift - Folklore

Taylor Swift – Evermore

Taylor Swift – Midnights

Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department

Taylor Swift – Life of a Showgirl

In a monumental week for music news, Annie and Nick sit down to discuss their thoughts on Madonna’s long-awaited Confessions II – after months of worrying it might be anticlimactic, what do they think about the album?

And Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce had one of the most musically relevant weddings of all time but what should we learn from their rumoured choice of first dance song? And are there any rules we should stick to for wedding playlists?

Plus, Wonderwall is having a moment in the 2026 World Cup, could Oasis get involved if England make the Final?

Annie and Nick also speak to the incredible producer and musician, James Ellis Ford, about his upcoming album. James has produced albums for Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, Florence and the Machine, Jessie Ware, Fontaines D.C., Carly Rae Jepsen, the Pet Shop Boys, and so many more. He talks to Annie and Nick about how he works with artists to create truly brilliant music, and how it was to make this latest solo album in a completely isolated and daunting environment – a hospital room. Plus, is James worried about how AI will change the way music producers have to work?

Lost in Another World is out on 14th August (Nick’s birthday)

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

Oasis – Wonderwall

Tina Turner - Simply the Best

Madonna – Danceteria

Madonna - One Step Away

Madonna – L.E.S Girl

Lil Louis - French Kiss

Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free

Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved

Womack & Womack – Teardrops

Janet Jackson - That's the Way Love Goes

ALBUMS

Madonna - Confessions II

Madonna – Confessions on a Dance Floor

James Ellis Ford - Lost in Another World

War Child Records- Help(2)

Charli XCX - brat

Bad Bunny came to London and Nick may never be the same again. What is it about Benito that makes his music and live performances so impactful? Nick tells Annie why the show made him cry – and confesses to one embarrassing detail.

Elsewhere, Charli XCX came on the 6 Music Breakfast Show and Sidetracked investigates whether she told a big fat lie. Plus, why is Noah Kahan talking about poo at gigs? This - on top of Olivia Rodrigo’s previous comments about people wearing nappies to her shows - prompts Annie and Nick to give a stern talking-to to front row fans.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

Luther Vandross - Never Too Much

Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song

Charli XCX – Wink Wink

Madonna - Hollywood

Noah Kahan - Stick Season

Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor

Fugees – Ready or Not

Daft Punk - Voyager

PJ Harvey - Voyager

earthsignchels - Daddy Died [we recommend you watch the video]

Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend

ALBUMS

Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film

Bad Bunny - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

Alewya - Zero

Beth Orton – The Ground Above

Annie and Nick discuss rumours of Adele returning to music, after she was seen attending one of Lola Young’s London shows. What might a new Adele album sound like? And what is it about her that means any record is guaranteed to be brilliant?

Elsewhere, Madonna has revealed why the planned biopic of her life was canned, James Blake has called out the growing fakery of the music industry, and Bad Bunny is coming to London.

Plus, why can’t Annie and Nick remember if they’ve met Solange?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram

SONGS

Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Adele - Hometown Glory

Adele – Daydreamer

SZA - Saturn

Cher - Believe

ALBUMS

Madonna - Veronica Electronica

Madonna – Confessions II

Adele - 19

Olivia Rodrigo - Guts

Annie and Nick dissect Olivia Rodrigo’s new album and analyse the online theories that Taylor Swift might be jealous. What is it about Olivia that speaks to such a vast and diverse audience? And what does she have to do with the England football team?

Elsewhere, Annie has conflicting feelings about embracing AI; it’s never been easier to make music with it but at what cost? And Phoebe Bridgers is planning for her next tour to be a phones free experience – does the backlash that ensued prove how problematic our relationships to our phones are? And why Nick thinks the UK government should extend the social media ban to all under-45s.

Plus, Nick’s mum is worried about Harry Styles, a Primavera round up, and Jeff Goldblum weighs in on the bird song debate.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

Olivia Rodrigo & Robert Smith – what's wrong with me

Olivia Rodrigo – vampire

Madonna – Ray of Light

Madonna – Don’t Tell Me

Madonna - Music

ALBUMS

Olivia Rodrigo – you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love

Kamasi Washington - Fearless Movement

Madonna – Confessions II

Madonna – Ray of Light

Madonna – Music

Jeff Goldblum – Night Blooms

For this instalment of the Sidetracked Album Club, Annie and Nick venture back to 2009 and revisit the debut album from the xx. Why did this record stand out so much at the time, and does it hold up 17 years later? And why did the band make Annie and Nick so nervous?

Plus, how the BBC handled the death of Michael Jackson, La Roux nostalgia, and one listener grapples with cringe GCSE Drama memories.

And what if the Rolling Stones had been managed like the Sugababes were in the noughties?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

The xx - Crystallised

The xx - Intro

The xx - Infinity

Paolo Nutini - New Shoes

Lady Gaga - Poker Face

Beyoncé - Single Ladies

ALBUMS

The xx – xx

Michael Jackson – The Collection Beyoncé - I Am... Sasha Fierce

Black Eyed Peas - The E.N.D.

Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up

The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

Florence + The Machine - Lungs

La Roux - La Roux

Lady Gaga - The Fame

Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts

Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem

Annie and Nick welcome one of their dream guests to the studio to talk all things nature and music. horsegiirL is the world’s first half horse, half human singer-songwriter, DJ, and producer, and she’s about to release her debut album. In this episode, she gets sidetracked by birdsong, mushrooms...and birth stories.

Elsewhere, Annie and Nick need to discuss CMAT speaking out about horrible online trolls, and why she truly is a gorgeous genius. And Charli XCX has revealed the details and artwork for her new album but how did she book Martin Scorsese? Plus, electrolytes for trees, Jane McDonald, and Arsenal.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

Charli XCX - SS26

Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom

Charli XCX - Rock Music

CMAT - Take a Sexy Picture of Me

Whitney Houston - Queen of the Night

horsegiirL - rivers run free

horsegiirL - an apple a day

horsegiirL - nature is healing

ALBUMS

Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film

Charli XCX - brat

horsegiirL - NATURE IS HEALING

The xx - xx

Annie and Nick try their very best not to get sidetracked, as they focus on just one topic - streaming, and how it’s shaped the musical landscape in 2026.

From iPod mania to agentic AI, the world of music has changed a lot since the early 2000s. Have these changes made things better or worse for artists and music fans? And what does the future have in store for streaming and music consumption?

With special thanks to our contributors: The Guardian’s Deputy Music Editor, Laura Snapes; and The New York Times critic, Jon Caramanica, and New York Times culture reporter, Joe Coscarelli. Jon and Joe host the NYT’s Popcast, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts.

And thanks to The Grove, whose self-titled EP is out now. Their most recent single is Amongst the Noise.

SONGS

Dido – White Flag

Dido – Thank You

Rosalía - Divinize

Frankie Valli – Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You

ALBUMS

Dido – Life for Rent

Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving

Annie and Nick discuss one of the busiest weeks in music ever with Drake dropping 3 albums at the same time, Lauryn Hill getting candid about her lack of albums, and Harry Styles starting his much-anticipated world residencies.

Plus, Jack Antonoff has made his thoughts about AI in music extremely clear – does he have a point? And Madonna has finally done something that’s truly shocked Nick.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

Dry Cleaning - Sliced by a Fingernail

Harry Styles - As It Was

Madonna - I Feel So Free (Peggy Gou Energy Mix)

ALBUMS

Drake – Iceman

Drake - Habibti

Drake - Maid of Honor

Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill - MTV Unplugged No. 2.0

Fugees - The Score

Jill Scott – To Whom This May Concern

Amy Winehouse – Frank

Amy Winehouse – Back to Black

Madonna - Confessions II

Kendrick Lamar – GNX

Harry Styles - Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.

The xx - xx

Chaka Khan joins Annie and Nick to discuss her life, legacy and new music. She reveals the very personal reason behind her strong work ethic, her feelings about awards, and why she continues to grow as a musician.

What does Chaka’s life look like when she’s not on stage? She tells Annie and Nick about breathing fresh air for the first time in years, not telling people her address, and feeding her free-range chickens.

And it’s been a decade since her close friend, Prince, died; Chaka reminisces about working with him - and the unusual way in which he paid her.

Plus, why the Queen of Funk isn’t a fair title, the dangers of not following your dreams, and stage fright solutions from Carlos Santana.

Chaka’s new song ‘Chakzilla’ is out now.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

Chaka Khan – Chakzilla

Chaka Khan – I Feel For You

Chaka Khan – Tell Me Something Good

It’s the moment they’ve been waiting for since November 2025: Rosalía bringing LUX to London’s O2 Arena. Annie and Nick report back on what might be the best live show they’ve ever experienced. Elsewhere, Madonna’s released a new single with Sabrina Carpenter and it hasn’t totally lived up to their expectations of Confessions II; but will everything make sense when the album comes out? Plus, the Pussycat Dolls have cancelled their North American tour dates and instead of making up an excuse, they’ve chosen honesty – should more artists take note?

Also discussed in the episode: Kid Cudi has fired M.I.A from his tour after fans’ complaints, Zara Larsson is having a moment, and Annie and Nick reminisce about their chat with Rod Stewart after Shakira’s concert on Copacabana Beach.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

HOMEWORK: Listen to the end of this episode to find out the next pick for the Sidetracked Album Club.

SONGS

Shy One and George Riley – I Can Tell

TYSON – CHAOS

Rosalía – Magnolia

Rosalía - Mio Cristo

Pigeon – Miami

Pigeon – Black James Dean

Genesis Owusu – Life Keeps Going

Genesis Owusu – Stampede

Tara Clerkin Trio – Somewhere Good

Nia Archives – Boys in Blue

GENER8ION – STORM

Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love

Madonna – Hung Up

Madonna and Britney Spears – Me Against the Music

The Pussycat Dolls – Club Song

The Pussycat Dolls – Don’t Cha

M.I.A. – Illygal

ALBUMS

Rosalía – Motomami

Rosalía – Lux

Shy One – Mali

Pigeon – OUTTANATIONAL

Robyn – Sexistential

Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun: Girls Trip

Madonna – Confessions on a Dance Floor

Madonna – Ray of Light

Madonna – Confessions II

LCD Soundsystem – LCD Soundsystem

Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist

PJ Harvey – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea

CMAT – If My Wife New I’d Be Dead

Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not

Jeff Buckley – Grace

Frank Ocean – Blonde

The Strokes – Is This It

Sinéad O’Connor – The Lion and the Cobra

Laura Marling – Once I Was an Eagle

Various Artists – Mamma Mia! (The Movie Soundtrack)

The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come for Free

The xx – xx

Kacey Musgraves is one of the best-known Country singers in the world, having won 8 Grammy Awards for her consistently stand out records. On the eve of releasing her 6th studio album, she joins Annie and Nick to discuss the making of the record, and how her approach to writing music has evolved since her debut album.

Country is the fastest growing genre in the UK; Kacey has some thoughts on why and some more vital Country intel for Sidetracked listeners.

Plus, secrets the Middle of Nowhere tour, Kacey delivers an ode to Ireland, and she reveals how artists like Dashboard Confessional, NSYNC and the Spice Girls influenced her as an artist.

Kacey’s album Middle of Nowhere will be available from 1st May 2026.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

Kacey Musgraves – Merry Go ‘Round

Kacey Musgraves – Dry Spell

Loretta Lynn – You Ain’t Woman Enough

Kacey Musgraves – Oh, What a World

Kacey Musgraves – Slow Burn

Kacey Musgraves & Miranda Lambert – Horses and Divorces

Kacey Musgraves – Mexico Honey

ALBUMS

Kacey Musgraves – Same Trailer Different Park

Kacey Musgraves – Pageant Material

Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour

Kacey Musgraves – Star‑Crossed

Kacey Musgraves – Deeper Well

Kacey Musgraves – Middle of Nowhere

Annie and Nick discuss the most Madonna week in music – the album announcement, the new song, the Coachella performance, and the theft. Sidetracked fans will know how much Madonna means to Nick...so why does he have beef with her this week?

Elsewhere, Justin Bieber and Billie Eilish showed us what they’re worth at Coachella Weekend 2, Olivia Rodrigo has a brilliant new song, and Annie has some thoughts on the link between bad fathers and great music artists. Plus, Charli XCX has declared the dancefloor dead, but was she being serious?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

Lil Louis – French Kiss

Madonna – Vogue

Madonna – Like a Prayer

Madonna – I Feel So Free

Madonna – Justify My Love

Madonna – Hung Up

Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream

Olivia Rodrigo – Drop Dead

ALBUMS

Peaches – Teacher of Peaches

Madonna – Confessions II

Madonna – Confessions on a Dance Floor

Madonna – Ray of Light

Madonna – Music

Madonna – Madame X

Madonna – Hard Candy

Charli XCX – brat

Warchild Records – Help(2)

Olivia Rodrigo – You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love

Annie is back after a fortnight away and there’s a lot to catch up on. First on the agenda, Annie and Nick discuss the fallout from Wireless booking Kanye West as a headliner, and the subsequent cancellation of the entire festival. Plus, in other live music news, LIDO festival has had to cancel their planned June weekend due to environmental concerns, and CMAT fans are devastated.

And of course, after the first weekend of Coachella 2026, everyone is analysing the Justin Bieber set – and Annie and Nick hear from someone who was actually there in the field. Were the critical headlines about his YouTube use fair? Or has he just made history for one of the most special live shows in the festival’s history?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

With thanks to Sam Murphy (@popsamcam), who provided much needed intel from Coachella.

SONGS

Justin Bieber – Baby

Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj – Beauty and a Beat

Ne-Yo – So Sick

ALBUMS

Arlo Parks – Ambiguous Desire

Elmiene – sounds for someone

Justin Bieber – Swag

Justin Bieber – Swag II

This week Nick is joined by a very special co-host, Arlo Parks, following the release of her third album, Ambiguous Desire. They discuss how songs come to her, being a sensitive child, accepting a Mercury prize from Annie, trusting yourself as an artist, and how LA inspires her music. Plus, what does an ideal night out look like for Arlo and which does she prefer: Coachella or Glastonbury?

Elsewhere, Slayyyter gets a lot of love, Mitski settles into a residency in a hyper-intimate venue where “you can cry,” and the band Angine de Poitrine do something never been done in music before. We’re still open to our next Album Club recommendation, with Arlo suggesting a few in this week’s episode. Send your thoughts in to Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

HOMEWORK: Listen to Arlo Park’s new album, Ambiguous Desire.

SONGS

The Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams

Elmiene - Golden

ALBUMS

The xx - xx

Angine de Poitrine - Vol.II

Charli XCX - Brat

Slayyyter - WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA

Massive Attack - debut album

Mazzy Star - debut album

Sexistential - Robyn

The King of Limbs remix album – Radiohead CLUBS + DANCE FLOORS

Nowadays - New York

Midnight Lovers - LA

Corsica - London

Venue MOT/Unit 18

Palais - Peckham

Nick is joined by one of his favourite singers, Elmiene, while Annie is away. Fresh from releasing his debut album ‘sounds for someone’, Elmiene tells Nick what it’s like to work with Raphael Saadiq, how Benji B and Virgil Abloh helped him get his big break, and why it all links back to BBC Bitesize. They also discuss the news of Kanye West’s upcoming return to the UK, and how conflicted lots of his former fans feel about it. Plus, Celine Dion’s iconic comeback announcement inspires a conversation about Cornwall, and Rosalía’s food poisoning nightmare raises some serious questions.

Get in touch with Sidetracked! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

HOMEWORK: Listen to Elmiene’s debut album ‘sounds for someone’ and tell us your thoughts.

SONGS

D'Angelo – Untitled (How Does It Feel)

Elmiene – Golden

Elmiene – Light By The Window

Eric Clapton – Layla

Solange – Cranes in the Sky

Wesley Joseph – Peace of Mind

Wesley Joseph – Pluto Baby

Kanye West – Through the Wire

Kanye West – Heartless

ALBUMS

Elmiene – sounds for someone

Ye – Bully

Rosalía - LUX

It’s the inaugural Sidetracked Album Club: Annie and Nick travel down memory lane to 2005 after listening back to LCD Soundsystem’s debut album and answer questions like: What was life like then, how much have things changed, and does the music still hold up? Elsewhere, Nick is preparing for 6 Music Festival (which will see him DJ with Beth Ditto), Annie reflects on some excellent gig crowds and Courtney Love is on a very relatable Geese journey. Plus, Annie and Nick review SNL UK’s first episode, and a listener gets in touch about Lily Allen’s West End Girl shows, inspiring a conversation around the ethics of enjoying music about someone’s deeply personal pain. HOMEWORK: Send in your ideas for the next Album Club choice.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

LCD Soundsystem - Losing My Edge

LCD Soundsystem - Tribulations

LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk Is Playing at My House

LCD Soundsystem - Too Much Love

LCD Soundsystem - Tired

LCD Soundsystem - Yeah

The Rapture - House of Jealous Lovers

The Killers - Mr. Brightside

Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out

Scissor Sisters - Comfortably Numb

Geese - Trinidad

Hot Hot Heat - Bandages ALBUMS

LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem

Robyn - Sexistential

RAYE - This Music May Contain Hope

Elmiene – sounds for someone

Courtney Barnett - Creature of Habit

The Killers - Hot Fuss Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters

Green Day - American Idiot

Kasabian - Kasabian

Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand

The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy & The Lash

David Byrne leaves Annie wanting to know more about his live show while Nick avoids any Rosalía Lux Live spoilers. Plus, Annie and Nick discuss the intimate production behind James Blake’s new album and how too many opinions can hold an artist back. Speaking of opinions, there have been many about Jack Harlow’s new album, “Monica,” and Annie and Nick explore what puts the soul into neo-soul. Meanwhile, Morrissey has been left in a “catatonic” state and Live Nation executives give people new reasons to be angry, as Annie and Nick try to wrap their heads around their recent settlement with the US Department of Justice.

Finally, Annie and Nick are paid a visit by Gail Mortley, an opera singer and singing teacher who kindly takes them through the importance of opera, instructions for our diaphragms, and a few vocal exercises for all burgeoning divas to follow - with Nick turning from reluctant singer to essential pillar of “Gail and the Gail-ettes.”

HOMEWORK: Don’t forget to listen to LCD Soundsystem’s self-titled debut album and send us your thoughts ahead of our first ever album club discussion.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

James Blake - Doesn’t Just Happen (feat Dave)

James Blake - Rest of Your Life

James Blake - Days Go By

ALBUMS

Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska

Jack Harlow – Monica

James Blake - Trying Times

Various Artists for War Child Records – HELP(2)

LIVE MUSIC

Altin Gün

David Byrne – Who's in the Sky?

David Byrne - Stop Making Sense, film directed by Jonathan Demme

Rosalía Lux Live

OPERAS

O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini

Harry Styles has had a big week with the release of “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.” and even if he doesn’t pay attention to reviews, there’s a vital one in this episode. Annie and Nick discuss the new album, as well as a myriad of other new releases including War Child Records’ compilation album HELP (2), Yebba, and Eliza. Elsewhere, Timothée Chalamet has made a massive error by dismissing ballet and opera, but one good to come from it is Annie wants to learn how to sing classical music – and she takes some inspiration from Madonna to show how ready she is for the challenge. And Nick recently revealed the song that made him cry as a 10-year-old and now he has some scientific answers as to why music can inspire such intense emotional reactions.

HOMEWORK: Listen to the HELP (2) album and/or get in touch if you think you can teach Annie and Nick to sing opera.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

Harry Styles – Are You Listening Yet?

Harry Styles – Coming Up Roses

Harry Styles – Dance No More

Ezra Collective & Green Tea Peng – Helicopters

Wet Leg – Obvious

Fontaine’s D.C. – Black Boys on Mopeds

Arooj Aftab – Lilac Wine

Flying Lotus – Antelope Onigiri

Eliza – Pleasure Boy

Fever Ray – The Lake (Cinematic)

Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

ALBUMS

Harry Styles – Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. (aka KISSTO/KATTDO)

Yebba – Jean

Various Artists for War Child Records – HELP(2)

ELIZA – The Darkening Green

Flying Lotus – BIG MAMA

OPERAS

La Traviata

Carmen

7 Deaths of Maria Callas

Akhnaten

Rigoletto

Tristan und Isolde

So the BRITs was fun...Annie and Nick review the 2026 event, which took place in Manchester for the very first time. How did Nick feel about Rosalía bringing on Björk? Did Annie think it worked as a TV show? And find out why our red-carpet interview with Self Esteem may have secured her a new, unexpected job.

Elsewhere in the world of music, Rihanna has shared footage of her in an actual recording studio, Mitski has a brilliant new album, and Soulseek users are being trolled by an AI Homer Simpson.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

HOMEWORK: The Sidetracked Album Club has officially started and March’s pick is LCD Soundsystem’s self-titled debut album. We’ll discuss it at the end of the month.

SONGS

Sam Fender & Olivia Dean – Rein Me In

Rosalía - Berghain

Harry Styles - Aperture

Hozier – Take Me to Church

Underworld – Born Slippy

Mary J. Blige – I’m Going Down

ALBUMS

Mitski - Nothing's About to Happen to Me

Altin Gün - Garip

Harry Styles – Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally.

LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem

With just days to go before the 2026 BRIT Awards, Annie and Nick discuss their plans for the night and whether there’s a more optimistic feeling around this year’s event. Plus, Spotify have revealed some stats around the royalties they paid UK artists in 2025 and the number of times global audiences played those artists – breaking news: Olivia Dean is really popular. Elsewhere, Lana Del Rey is back and seems more in control of her art than ever before, Annie is lamenting the decline of rap groups, and Nick has a Mary J Blige update. And one listener has a brilliant idea for people who want to appreciate albums as an artform.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

SONGS

Eminem – My Name Is

Kanye West – I Wonder

Labi Siffre – Cannock Chase

Labi Siffre – Bless the Telephone

Lola Young – Messy

Lana Del Rey – White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter

Yebba – Yellow Eyes

The Scythe – THE SCYTHE

The Scythe – LIT EFFECT

Max Winter – Candlelight

Radiohead – High and Dry

ALBUMS

Yebba – Dawn

Yebba – Jean

A Tribe Called Quest – Beats, Rhymes &Life

cktrl – spirit

The Scythe – Strictly 4 The Scythe

Charli XCX – brat

Charli XCX – Wuthering Heights

Radiohead – The Bends

Annie and Nick are joined by friend, singer, fellow podcaster and icon, Jessie Ware. In between a long overdue catch up, they discuss Jessie’s new music, whether she has any plans to tour and how the album launch has changed since her first record. Plus, they ponder why the majority of songs focus on love or heartbreak, reveal the songs that devastate them the most, and Annie gives Jessie and Nick a necessary Irish vocab lesson.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

Jessie Ware is releasing her 6th studio album ‘Superbloom’ on 10th April.

HOMEWORK: Listen to Jessie’s excellent new single, Ride (out on 20th February)

SONGS

Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah

Taylor Swift - Welcome to New York

Jessie Ware - Ride

Ennio Morricone- Main Theme from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Kendrick Lamar - Alright

Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You

Toto – Georgy Porgy

Mary J. Blige - I’m Going Down

Madonna - Justify My Love

Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby

Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done to Deserve This?

Jessie Ware – Free Yourself

ALBUMS

Jessie Ware – Superbloom

Charli XCX – brat

Jessie Ware – Devotion

Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure?

Jessie Ware – That! Feels Good!

Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music

Annie and Nick discuss Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl half-time show and have some pretty surprising opinions about it all – but what should other artists take from the performance? In other news, Taylor Swift released her music video for Opalite and some fans aren’t pleased with how she chose to do it; Rosalía is confirmed to perform at the Brit Awards, and Lana Del Rey has promised a new single is imminent.

And in very serious, breaking news: Harry Styles has responded to Nick’s hard-hitting questions about ballet flats.

HOMEWORK: Watch A$AP Rocky and FKA twigs’ on their respective episodes of Celebrity Substitute, and get in touch with details about the craziest thing you’ve done to get tickets to a gig.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram bio.

The full 6 Music Festival line up can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0q3zl2wn2xo

SONGS

Sasha Keable – Hold Up

Ezra Collective & Sasha Keable – Body Language

Rosalía - Berghain

Rosalía - Sauvignon Blanc

Rosalía - La Perla

Lana Del Rey - White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter

Lady Gaga – Die With a Smile

Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – I Like It

Taylor Swift – Opalite

ALBUMS

Lana Del Rey - Stove

Rosalía - LUX

With the Grammys done and the Super Bowl Half Time show looming, Annie and Nick discuss the monumental week Bad Bunny is having. They also go through their other stand out moments from the emotionally charged ceremony, and what it means to them to see artists like Olivia Dean, FKA twigs, Lola Young and the Cure succeed amongst such fierce competitors.

Elsewhere, the UK version of SNL may not have a launch date just yet, but they do have a confirmed musical director – what could the show mean for music on the TV? Plus, in the name of journalism, Nick sends Harry Styles a very serious text.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel: https://www.instagram.com/channel/AbZ16VG0mPTML0Aa/?igsh=aXdtYzA2czJrenRj

SONGS

Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline

Lola Young - Messy

Kendrick Lamar – Luther

HAAi (feat. Jon Hopkins, Obi Franky, ILĀ, & TRANS VOICES) - Satellite

ILĀ, Nature - Nightingale (feat. Anna Phoebe & Sam Lee)

ALBUMS

Olivia Dean - The Art of Loving

Bad Bunny - Debí Tirar Más Fotos

FKA Twigs - Eusexua

Justin Bieber - Swag

Jacob Alon - In Limerence

Gabriel Jacoby - gutta child

In a week so busy that Nick had to start making notes, he and Annie sit down to attempt to discuss some of the most important music stories, like the return of Arctic Monkeys, Victoria Beckham’s somewhat inappropriate chart success, and Robbie Williams beating a record previously held by the Beatles. In other news, Harry Styles fans are freaking out over Aperture – but what do Annie and Nick make of his new sound? And should we be worried about his feet?

Plus, Pitchfork are opening the reviewing floor to the public, Brandi Carlile is obsessed with CMAT, and music industry insiders are declaring the album dead.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

More information on the HELP(2) album here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4qqdy29d2o

New Yorker Article about the changing relevance of the album drop here:

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/why-albums-drop-and-movies-launch

HOMEWORK: Watch Geese on SNL and listen to Robbie Williams’ album Brit Pop.

SONGS

James Blake – Death of Love

James Blake – Limit To Your Love

Arctic Monkeys – Opening Night

Harry Styles – Aperture

Victoria Beckham – Not Such An Innocent Girl

Spice Girls – Viva Forever

Cruz Beckham – LICK THE TOAD

Madonna – Nobody Knows Me

ALBUMS

James Blake - CMYK

Various Artists for War Child Records - HELP(2)

Robbie Williams – BRITPOP

Tyler, The Creator – CHROMAKOPIA

Djo -The Crux

Bad Bunny - Debí Tirar Más Fotos

Perfume Genius – Glory

Wet Leg - moisturizer

Rosalía - LUX

FKA twigs – Eusexua

Madonna – American Life

The nominees for the BRIT Awards 2026 have been revealed and, in their signature chaotic fashion, Annie and Nick analyse the lists of names and ask: will Olivia Dean and Lola Young reign supreme? Could any moment rival Jarvis Cocker mooning Michael Jackson in 1996? And will Harry Styles perform his new music at the ceremony? Plus, Sidetracked favourite Jacob Alon has won the Critics’ Choice Award – and Annie and Nick have big feelings about it. Elsewhere, the Japanese PM has gone viral for her heavy metal drumming – should more world leaders use music in meetings with their peers? And Mitski is back with a brilliant new single; Lily Allen has shared the best response to Brooklyn Beckham’s explosive Instagram Stories statement, and Nick isn’t sure about Heated Rivalry.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk Full details of BRIT Awards 2026 Nominations: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgjwnx70pjwo/

HOMEWORK:

Listen to new music from Mitski, Jessie Ware, James Blake, KAVARI, and A$AP Rocky.

SONGS

Mitski – Where's My Phone?

KAVARI – IRON VEINS

The Roots – You Got Me

James Blake – Death of Love

Lola Young – Messy

Olivia Dean – Man I Need

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande – Defying Gravity

Gracie Abrams – That's So True

Disco Lines and Tinashe – No Broke Boys

Rosé and Bruno Mars – APT

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile

Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club

Taylor Swift – The Fate of Ophelia

ALBUMS

A$AP Rocky – Don't Be Dumb

Jill Scott – To Whom This May Concern

Harry Styles – Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally

Lily Allen – West End Girl

Geese – Getting Killed

Jacob Alon – In Limerence

Harry Styles is teasing something new, with posters showing up in cities all over the world – but what does it all mean? Annie and Nick dissect the role Harry’s fan community is playing in the cryptic campaign. Elsewhere, Robyn has revealed her purpose in life and it’s a strong one, A$AP Rocky is braggadocious in the best ways, and in an unlikely twist, Annie has found herself drawn to a Bruno Mars song. Plus, Annie and Nick celebrate a big change for Sidetracked.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

HOMEWORK

Watch the following music videos: Talk To Me by Robyn; I Just Might by Bruno Mars, and Helicopter by A$AP Rocky.

SONGS

Wesley Joseph & Danny Brown – Peace Of Mind

A$AP Rocky – Helicopter

A$AP Rocky – Punk Rocky

Robyn – Talk To Me

Robyn – Sexistential

Bruno Mars – I Just Might

Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga – Die With A Smile

Bruno Mars & Sexyy Red – Fat Juicy & Wet

Bruno Mars & Rosé - APT

Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk

HUNTR/X, Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami – Golden

ALBUMS

SAULT – Chapter 1

Wesley Joseph - Forever Ends Someday

Robyn - Sexistential

Harry Styles – Harry's House

George Michael – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

Talking Heads - 77

Television - Marquee Moon

The Saints - I'm Stranded

David Bowie - Let's Dance

In the first week of 2026, Annie and Nick have different thoughts about the new A$AP Rocky single, Gen Z are discovering Prince thanks to Stranger Things, and EsDeeKid has told The Chainsmokers exactly what he thinks of their 4 Raws remix. Elsewhere, Stormzy has used social media to express his thoughts about...social media and revealed how he's grown as an artist and as a person. Plus, Jill Scott is finally back with new music, vinyl is expensive, and Annie and Nick get sidetracked by hedgehogs.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

HOMEWORK: Watch Prince performing “Purple Rain” at 2007’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, and listen to Mandy, Indiana’s “Cursive”

SONGS

FAUZIA – The Way

Mandy, Indiana – URGH

Mandy, Indiana – Magazine

Mandy, Indiana – Cursive

A$AP Rocky – Punk Rocky

JADE – Angel of My Dreams

Jill Scott – Beautiful People

Jill Scott - Exclusively

Prince – Purple Rain

Prince – When Doves Cry

Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)

America - A Horse With No Name

EsDeeKid, Timothée Chalamet - 4 Raws

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World

ALBUMS

A$AP Rocky – Don't Be Dumb

Jill Scott - To Whom This May Concern,

Jill Scott - Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1

Bob Marley and the Wailers – Exodus

Arctic Monkeys – AM

Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises

FKA twigs – Eusexua

What does 2026 have in store for the music industry? Annie and Nick look ahead to expected releases, rumoured returning artists, and an exciting list of confirmed festival line ups. Plus, BBC Music Correspondent Mark Savage joins them to share his expert predictions about which artists to look out for this year, and what music trends we can expect. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

Annie and Nick review the standout moments from the past 12 months. From the Oasis tour to Lily Allen’s culture shifting album release, 2025 has been a major year for UK artists, and who could forget the impact of moments such as: an awkward secret being revealed at a Coldplay concert, Katy Perry going to space, and CMAT playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage for the first time. Plus, Annie and Nick attempt the impossible task of choosing just one album and song of the year each.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

SONGS

Taylor Swift – So High School

PinkPantheress – Illegal

HAIM – Relationships

Lola Young – Messy

Cameron Winter - Nausicaä (Love Will Be Revealed)

ELIZA – Anyone Else

Ave Maria

Jacon Alon – Liquid Gold 25

CMAT – The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station

Blood Orange - Mind Loaded

ALBUMS

Patti Smith – Horses

Björk – Cornucopia

Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World

Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving

Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl

Charli XCX – brat

Lily Allen – West End Girl

Rosalía - LUX

CMAT – Euro-Country

Cameron Winter – Heavy Metal

Dave - The Boy Who Played the Harp

Blood Orange – Essex Honey

Geese – Getting Killed

Chronixx - Exile

Zadie Smith and Beth Ditto join Annie and Nick for the annual Sidetracked Christmas gathering, recorded at an Irish pub in North London.

They share nostalgia, gossip and gifts, and decide what makes a song a Christmas song – declaring which ones are truly the greatest. Plus, Annie, Nick, Zadie and Beth choose their musical highlights of the year.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

SONGS

Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You

Judy Garland – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Darling Love – Winter Wonderland

Labi Siffre – Bless the Telephone

Pulp – Common People

Lola Young – Messy

Herman’s Hermits - I'm Henry the VIII, I Am

Dolly Parton – Hard Candy Christmas

ALBUMS

Blood Orange – Essex Honey

Rosalía - LUX

Mavis Staples – Sad And Beautiful World

Pulp - More

Van Morrison - Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast

Marcel Dadi – Dadi’s Folk

Ray Conniff – We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Bert Kaempfert & His Orchestra - Christmas With Bert Kaempfert

T.S. Eliot – The Poems of T.S. Eliot

After successfully challenging Ticketmaster over the price of resold tickets on the platform, Olivia Dean has inspired Annie and Nick to ask: should more artists stand up for their fans? Also in Olivia Dean news, she and Lola Young are the only UK artists to make it into Spotify’s Top 10 UK Song or Artist lists for 2025. Yes, Wrapped is out but does anyone care about other people’s listening habits?

Plus, Jorja Smith’s team are seeking royalties from an AI track which many people believed to be hers, Björk is using proceeds from a song she made with Rosalía and Sega Bodega to take the Icelandic state to court, and the Reading/Leeds line up is one of its best ever.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

SONGS

Alex Warren - Ordinary

Gracie Abrams - That’s So True

Lola Young - Messy

Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club

Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Ravyn Lenae – Love Me Not

sombr - back to friends

Gigi Perez – Sailor Song

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile

Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

Björk, Sega Bodega, Rosalía - Oral

HAVEN – I Run

ALBUMS

Cameron Winter – Heavy Metal

F.S.Blumm & Nils Frahm – Handling

Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’Sweet

Alex Warren - You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)

KPop Demon Hunters Cast - KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film)

Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving

Charli XCX – brat

Fontaines D.C. - Romance

Sega Bodega – I Created The Universe So That Life Could Create a Language So Complex, Just To Say How Much I Love You

ANNIE'S DINGLE LIST:

Michael D. Higgins

Dove Ellis

Dermot Kennedy

Sorcha Richardson

Chalk

The Scratch

Is Timothée Chalamet secretly a Scouse drill rapper named EsDeeKid? Annie and Nick investigate this conspiracy and all available evidence for and against it. Elsewhere, Beyoncé has let herself be seen in public, which can only mean one thing: something is about to be announced. Plus, Charli XCX has analysed the realities of being a pop star in a recent essay, which raises the question: is the life of a popstar inherently stupid?

And Annie and Nick pay tribute to two music greats, Gary “Mani” Mounfield and Jimmy Cliff, and discuss how songs can allow artists to live forever.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

SONGS

JT – Girls Gone Wild

Shygirl/JT/Sega Botega – Slime

Oasis – Live Forever

Jimmy Cliff – You Can Get It If You Really Want

Jimmy Cliff – Wonderful World, Beautiful People

Jimmy Cliff – I Can See Clearly Now

Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come

Charli XCX – Von dutch

Rosalía - Berghain

ALBUMS

Rosalía - LUX

Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska

Beyoncé - Renaissance

Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter

The GQ journalist who investigated whether Timothée is EsDeeKid is Josiah Gogarty.

After an eye-opening survey by Live Nation, Annie and Nick discuss why more people would choose to go to a concert rather than have sex – and whether the both of those things belong in the same category. Otherwise this week, Nick attended a fashion show with Beth Ditto, and spotted a familiar face on the catwalk; and Annie was mesmerised by a Mulatu Astatke show.

Plus, Lorde played the O2 and two listeners have strong opinions about it, CMAT is making people cry at her gigs, and BBC Introducing has been criticised for playing an “AI Artist”

And Billie Eilish is taking on Elon Musk for not giving away his riches, but before they can decide who’s winning this feud, Annie and Nick need to work out how many billions are in a trillion.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

SONGS

Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack

Mulatu Astatke - Tezeta

Rosalía- Berghain

Robyn – Dopamine

Charli XCX – Chains of Love

Hercules & Love Affair – Someone Else is Calling

ALBUMS

Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Plays Mulatu

Rosalía - LUX

Lily Allen - West End Girl

The world reacts to Rosalía's new album and Annie and Nick debate whether there’s room for Berghain in the night club. Plus, the Grammy nominations have been announced, and rap music has fallen off the US charts prompting the question; do genres ever die? Elsewhere, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducts new legends, Nick hears a song that inspires him to film a roundabout, and we discover the unlikely record that got Annie into DJing. Plus, is Charlie XCX’s new track suitable for early morning? Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk SONGS

Samantha Fu – Discotheque

De La Soul – Buhloone Mindstate

Blood Orange – Mind Loaded

Joey Negro – Risky Biznizz

Rosalía - Magnolia, Mio Cristo and La Perla

Leon Thomas – Mutt

Charlie XCX and John Cale – This House

Handel – Messiah ALBUMS

Rosalía - Lux

Blood Orange – Essex Honey

Annie and Nick follow the reaction of two major album releases this week from Dave and Lily Allen, with one breaking chart records and the other breaking the internet. They also look ahead to the much-anticipated album release from Rosalía, which left Nick wanting to see a chiropractor and make a ‘classical bangers’ playlist. Elsewhere, the pair discuss Erykah Badu’s mysterious messaging, Billie Eilish challenges billionaires, and the pair ponder some Grammy nomination predictions. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk SONGS

Inflatable Boy Clams - Skeletons

Jenny Beth – Savages

Dave feat. Kano – Chapter 16

Dave feat. James Blake – Selfish

Rosalía feat. Björk and Yves Tumor – Berghain

Krzysztof Penderecki - Symphony No. 3. ALBUMS

Lily Allen – West End Girl

Dave – The Boy Who Played Harp

What’s scarier: being haunted by ghosts, or promoting an album? It’s a Halloween special with Florence Welch.

As she prepares to release her new record, Everybody Scream, Florence reveals the supernatural elements that inspired her. Plus, swapping playlists with Ethel Cain and Abigail Morris, using fear as a muse; and Annie and Nick reminisce about partying with Florence in the early days of all their careers.

Florence Welch’s Halloween Music Recommendations:

ØXN - The Trees, They Do Grow High

ØXN - Cruel Mother

Lingua Ignota – DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR

Anna Von Hausswolff –Theatre of Nature

Hilary Woods - Acts of Light

PJ Harvey - White Chalk

Swans - It's Coming and It’s Real

Judee Sill

Storefront Church

Other Albums Mentioned:

Florence and the Machine – Everybody Scream

Florence and the Machine – Lungs

Florence and the Machine – Dance Fever

The Cure – Songs of a Lost World

Ethel Cain – Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You

The Last Dinner Party – From the Pyre

Other Songs Mentioned:

The Cure – Friday I’m In Love

Kendrick Lamar – Reincarnated

Kesha – Supernatural

In a busy week for new music announcements, Annie and Nick look back and ahead. First though, Nick needs to talk about his newfound passion: Sumo Wrestling. Elsewhere, Rosalía and Dave have announced new music, and Lily Allen is dropping an album on Friday - which Annie and Nick have had a sneak preview of. In other news: what made this year’s Mercury Prize so much better than previous years? And of course, the sad news of D’Angelo’s death has allowed the world to pay tribute to his immense influence; Annie and Nick discuss their love for his music.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

SONGS

Lily Allen – West End Girl

D’Angelo - Playa Playa

D’Angelo - Untitled (How Does It Feel)

Lauryn Hill & D’Angelo - Nothing Even Matters

ALBUMS

Dave – The Boy Who Played The Harp

Lily Allen – West End Girl

Rosalía - LUX

Sam Fender – People Watching

D’Angelo - Brown Sugar

D’Angelo - Voodoo

D’Angelo - Black Messiah