Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

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