Brief
Billboard launches "A Heart for the Charts" podcast with veteran hosts
The series, produced by Record Research, features chart veterans and artists discussing historic hits.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Billboard announced the launch of a new podcast series, A Heart for the Charts, on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The show is hosted by longtime Billboard contributors Fred Bronson and Michael Ellis, who together bring more than a decade of chart‑beat writing and chart‑directing experience.
What happened
The inaugural episode, titled “The Day I Went to Number One,” features singer‑songwriter Thelma Houston and The Fleetwoods’ Gretchen Christopher. Houston recounts her 1977 Hot 100 No. 1 hit “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” while Christopher reflects on the 1959 chart‑topping “Come Softly to Me.”
What the reports add
Billboard notes that the podcast will rotate hosts and guests, including Record Research head Paul Haney, Second Disc founder Joe Marchese and Motown historian Andy Skurow. Upcoming guests include Record Research publisher Kim Bloxdorf (Oct. 20), Kim Carnes (Nov. 3) and Rupert Holmes (Nov. 17). The first season is slated to end on Dec. 1.
What was said
Bronson, who began writing Chart Beat in 1993, is described as the most recognizable name in the lineup. Ellis, a former director of Billboard’s Hot 100 and Billboard 200, is said to bring a “different perspective” to the conversations.
How it came about
The podcast is produced by Record Research Inc., the company behind Billboard’s chart data, and aims to blend chart history with personal stories from the artists themselves.
Key facts
- A Heart for the Charts podcast launched on Oct. 6, 2026. (billboard.com)
- The first episode featured Thelma Houston and Gretchen Christopher. (billboard.com)
- Hosts are Fred Bronson and Michael Ellis, both Billboard chart veterans. (billboard.com)
- Upcoming guests include Kim Bloxdorf (Oct. 20), Kim Carnes (Nov. 3) and Rupert Holmes (Nov. 17). (billboard.com)
- The first season will conclude on Dec. 1, 2026. (billboard.com)
Sources
- [1] billboard.com — originally reported as “Thelma Houston, Kim Carnes, Rupert Holmes & More Guest on New Podcast Hosted By Billboard Chart Veterans”
