BTS, Blackpink + the State of K-Pop (with Crystal Bell) (Patreon Preview)

BTS, Blackpink + the State of K-Pop (with Crystal Bell) (Patreon Preview)

Author: DJ Louie XIV March 24, 2026 Duration: 10:54

Journalist and editor Crystal Bell joins Russ from Seoul, South Korea to break down BTS' big comeback. Last week, the K-pop boy band released their first studio album in six years, Arirang, following each member of the group completing South Korea's mandatory military service. Crystal and Russ break down the album, BTS' live performance comeback and their new Netflix documentary BTS: The Return. Then they discuss BLACKPINK's recent EP, Deadline, and discuss how K-Pop has changed since both groups rose to prominence and helped to popularize K-Pop around the world.


Read Crystal's cover story profile of Jung Kook in Rolling Stone

Read Crystal's review of BTS: The Return in Mashable

Follow Crystal on Instagram


Sign up for updates about Louie's book, Queen! Icon! Legend!

Join Pop Pantheon: All Access, Our Patreon Channel, for Exclusive Content and More


Shop Merch in Pop Pantheon's Store


Follow Pop Pantheon on Instagram


Follow DJ Louie XIV on Instagram


Follow Russ on Instagram


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Ever wonder where your favorite pop icon truly stands in the grand scheme of musical history? On Pop Pantheon, host DJ Louie XIV turns that casual debate into a structured, and often delightfully contentious, ceremony. Each episode dives deep into the career, cultural impact, and artistry of a major pop figure, pulling them apart with a mix of genuine admiration and critical scrutiny. Louie is often joined by fellow music obsessives and critics, leading to conversations that are as much about personal connection as they are about technical analysis. The dialogue is where this podcast truly shines-it’s smart without being pretentious, funny without resorting to cheap shots, and deeply informed by a real love for the genre. After all the overanalysis, the guest and host face the moment of truth: deciding where the artist belongs in the hierarchical tiers of the official Pantheon. It’s a blend of music criticism, biography, and playful debate that goes far beyond simple rankings. You’ll come for the verdict on superstars from Madonna to Billie Eilish, but you’ll stay for the nuanced discussions that make you reconsider what pop music means. Tune in for a listening experience that treats pop culture with the serious, yet joyful, examination it deserves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Pop Pantheon
Podcast Episodes
EN VOGUE (with NPR's Brittany Luse) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01:03
Journalist, critic and host of NPR's It's Been a Minute, Brittany Luse, makes her Pop Pantheon debut as we dive into the sassy, brassy ‘90s phenom En Vogue. Brittany and Louie explore the girl group’s prefab origins and…
MAROON 5 (with Mic The Snare) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:25:15
Mic The Snare returns to Pop Pantheon to unpack the career of one of the most successful bands of the century, Maroon 5. Louie and Nick dig into the M5's beginnings as a high school band called Kara’s Flowers, their pivo…
Do #1 Hits Matter Anymore? (With Chris Molanphy & Sam Murphy) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:46
Friend of the Pod Sam Murphy recently posted a TikTok positing an interesting question about whether Hot 100 #1s have the same salience as they used to have. To parse this question out further, Louie is joined by Sam and…