LISTEN: Variety’s Hitmakers Parade: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and More; Will Warner Bros. Discovery Try for Round 3 of Bids?

On the most recent "Daily Variety" podcast, host Jem Aswad explored the magazine's annual Hitmakers issue, featuring Sabrina Carpenter on the cover. Aswad detailed the meticulous, months-long effort required to compile the authoritative ranking of the year's 25 most impactful songs, a process that involves extensive industry polling and data analysis from the very first week of January.

The conversation then shifted to broader industry movements, with Variety's Todd Spangler offering an update on the high-stakes bidding process for Warner Bros. Discovery. This potential acquisition is a focal point for analysts, as consolidating such a vast content library—which includes HBO, Discovery Channel, and the Warner Bros. film studio—could dramatically alter the balance of power in the streaming wars. A successful bid would grant the buyer immediate scale in a market where original content is the primary currency.

Adding context to the Hitmakers list, Aswad noted that the selection criteria extend beyond raw chart numbers to consider a song's cultural resonance and influence on other artists. This holistic approach ensures the list captures genuine trends, not just transient viral moments. As Aswad stated, "The goal is to identify the records that defined the sound of the year, which often requires looking beyond the Billboard Hot 100 to see what's bubbling up from the underground."

The full episode of Daily Variety is accessible for listeners on all major podcast services, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartPodcasts. It can also be streamed via Amazon Music or viewed on Variety's official YouTube Podcast channel, providing multiple avenues for engagement with this industry-focused content.