Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
Hit Parade, a Slate Podcasts show hosted by pop-chart analyst Chris Molanphy, explores the stories behind chart-topping songs through trivia, storytelling and song snippets. The show has 224 episodes released roughly every two weeks, with a median length near 50 minutes. Estimated downloads per episode are 20,000 to 80,000 (estimated), suggesting a rate of $360 to $2,000 per mid-roll read.
Engaged music-history listeners on a long-running, high-rated Slate chart show
- Apple Podcasts rating of 4.8 from about 2,079 ratings signals a loyal listener base
- Biweekly cadence across 224 episodes gives a steady, predictable placement schedule
- Themed multi-part editions give sponsors context-relevant mid-roll placements
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- narrative, solo monologue, themed multi-part episodes
- Tone
- curious, witty
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 35 to 55 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- Slate Plus
- Categories promoted
- subscription media
- Affiliate links
- Yes
Description promotes Slate Plus membership with a slate.com/hitparadeplus link, a house subscription rather than a third-party sponsor, and no sponsor mentions appear in the last 20 episode titles.
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Family friendly
Show is not flagged explicit and episode titles cover chart history with no adult, drug or violence themes.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1291058235 |
| RSS feed | feeds.acast.com/public/shows/695d4ed8d1ba84fb8f0… |
Benchmark score: 84 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Near-Miss Hits: ‘80s Edition | 2026-10-07 | 44 min |
| Choosin’ Dolly Edition | 2026-09-23 | 49 min |
| Decoder Ring: Why Do Actors Act Like They Can Sing? | 2026-09-04 | 58 min |
| The Harrisong Edition | 2026-08-21 | 38 min |
| Her Heart Will Go On Edition | 2026-08-08 | 44 min |
| The Run This Town Edition | 2026-07-25 | 40 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 12 days ago, a new one about every 14 days.
What makes a song a smash? Talent? Luck? Timing? All that—and more. Chris Molanphy, pop-chart analyst and author of Slate’s “Why Is This Song No. 1?” series, tells tales from a half-century of chart history. Through storytelling, trivia and song snippets, Chris dissects how that song you love—or hate—dominated the airwaves, made its way to the top of the charts and shaped your memories forever.…
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About Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
Hit Parade is a Slate Podcasts show hosted by pop-chart analyst Chris Molanphy, author of Slate's Why Is This Song No. 1 series. Each episode uses storytelling, trivia and song snippets to examine how particular songs rose to the top of the charts and shaped listeners' memories. The feed lists 224 episodes released about every two weeks, with a median runtime of roughly 50 minutes.
The show carries a 4.8 average rating from about 2,079 Apple Podcasts ratings, according to the Apple listing. Listener figures are estimates: based on those ratings, the show likely reaches around 20,000 to 80,000 downloads per episode. The feed promotes Slate Plus membership and shows no third-party sponsors in recent episodes.
A host-read mid-roll at $18 to $25 per 1,000 estimated downloads implies roughly $360 to $2,000 per episode. Music, streaming, live-event and music-education brands are the best fit for this audience.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia
How much does Hit Parade charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on estimated downloads of 20,000 to 80,000 per episode, a host-read mid-roll is estimated at about $360 to $2,000. Final pricing depends on the show's rate card and placement.
What is Hit Parade about?
Hit Parade is a Slate Podcasts show hosted by Chris Molanphy that explores the history behind chart-topping songs through storytelling, trivia and song snippets across several decades of music.
How do I contact Hit Parade about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked directly.
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