Anthony Fantano

GET TICKETS TO MY TOUR: https://www.evolutionofasnake.com I sat down with Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) for one of the most honest conversations about what it actually means to be an internet music critic in 2026…the perks, the pressure, and the parts nobody talks about. We get into everything: how algorithms have reshaped the way critics make decisions, whether paid promotions have poisoned music journalism, and what happens when artists push back. Hard. Plus: the Vince Staples story. The Charlie Puth DMs. Anthony’s revised Addison Rae opinions. Sombr mess. What Charli XCX’s rock album might sound like. Why Taylor Swift’s next move is important, and whether anyone can still be a true gatekeeper in the age of TikTok. If you've ever wondered whether your favorite music reviewer is actually being honest with you, this is the conversation.

As 2025 comes to a close, so does the first season of Critical Listening. And with us to send off the year, we have none other than the internet's busiest music nerd himself: Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop. We discuss how public perception of streaming culture discourse has shifted this past year, his efforts to offer a critical perspective on the music industry in his videos, the state of on-screen music journalism in 2025, and more. We also dive into Anthony's background as a music journalist, the influence of public radio on his work, what media integrity means for video-first critics, and his general thoughts on music media after over 15 years of running a successful online platform. We had a lot of fun chatting with Anthony and we hope you will enjoy this culmination of Season 1. Thanks to all who pledged their monthly support to make this first season of Critical Listening happen, we can't wait to show you what we have in store for 2026. If you haven't yet please subscribe to the Patreon at patreon.com/criticallistening . See you all in the New Year! The tracklist for this episode includes some of our shared fav releases from the past year. Support these artists by buying their music: Keiyaa - Take It Purelink - Rookie ft. Loraine James Chat Pile / Hayden Pedigo - Never Say Die Deerhoof - Immigrant Songs

Anthony Fantano is the biggest music critic on YouTube, and the self-described “internet’s busiest music nerd.” The New York Times calls him “The Only Music Critic Who Matters (if You’re Under 25),” and his show The Needle Drop has over 3 million subscribers. Fantano is known for his provocative takes, like “AI Music is Evil” and “Taylor Swift is a Coward.” He joined Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson and associate editor Alex Skopic to talk about the state of the music industry, how streaming platforms exploit artists, and whether Zohran Mamdani should rap again. 🎹 The Needle Drop: https://www.youtube.com/theneedledrop 🎹 Fantano: https://www.youtube.com/@fantano 0:00–7:28 What Right Do Critics Have to Judge Music? 7:28–10:34 AI Music and How It Uses Artists’ Work 10:34–17:13 Why So Much Music in 2025 Feels “Mid” 17:13–23:58 Have Music Critics Become Too Nice? 23:58–32:29 Censorship, Algorithms, and Political Lyrics 32:29–37:13 Paying Artists Fairly and Why They Should Unionize 37:13–40:39 Zohran Mamdani’s Rap Career 40:39–44:53 Underrated Artists Fantano Recommends 🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership 🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs 🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

We speak with Anthony Fantano, the internet's busiest music nerd. He is one of the last great music critics left. Love him or hate him, people want to hear what he has to say about their favorite bands' music. We get into algorithms and the death of monoculture. Fantano fights back about there not being a song of the summer and crowns a song for 2025. We talk about the end of rap in the billboard top 40, boyband comebacks, hyper pop, and if ska will ever return. Fantano breaks down what it will take for Kanye to come back and be reviewed by him. In the end we play some games. Fantano rates our host’s Spotify wrapped and plays real or fake with music genres. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony Fantano, aka The Needle Drop, built a reputation as the internet’s biggest music critic but in hip-hop, he’s become one of the most polarizing figures. 🎧🔥From controversial reviews to being called out by rappers themselves, Fantano’s influence is undeniable, yet his credibility in rap culture is constantly questioned. In this episode, we explore why hip-hop doesn’t respect Anthony Fantano, the backlash from artists, and whether his criticism is fair or just clout-driven. Is Fantano exposing the truth, or is he just another outsider profiting off the culture? 👀 📌 Love the episode? Show some love, follow, comment, and share! Let’s crush that 1,000 ⭐️ goal on Spotify together! 📩 Contact: thecelebritygossippodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(NOTE: This is an UNLOCKED Patreon exclusive episode. You should really join the Patreon.) Matt and Daniel are joined by music critic and creator of The Needle Drop, Anthony Fantano to get the knives out for Thom Yorke's muddled stance on Gaza and Israel, to declare Gen-X as jaded as Mila Kunis in a video for a third-tier Aerosmith song, and to definitively adjudicate the Kendrick-Drake beef by Roberts Rules of Order. Please donate to Islamic Relief USA: https://irusa.org LIVE COMEDY SHOW DATES Friday August 1st - Francesca and Matt will be at Laughs Comedy Club in Seattle. Tickets here: https://bit.ly/4kFt1xE Saturday August 2nd - The Bitchuation Room LIVE in Seattle. Tickets here: https://bit.ly/4khBhnK HOUSTON AUGUST 28 - Francesca and Matt will be at The Punchline in Houston. Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/3A0062C3F8154B3F Visit Anthony's channel The Needle Drop: https://www.youtube.com/@theneedledrop Find Anthony online at https://x.com/theneedledrop or https://www.instagram.com/afantano Subscribe to the Patreon https://www.patreon.com/badhasbara What’s The Spin playlist: https://spoti.fi/4kjO9tL Subscribe/listen to Bad Hasbara wherever you get your podcasts. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/bad-hasbara/donations Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of the Top Music Attorney Podcast, Entertainment Attorney, Miss Krystle, and Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) break down the sudden termination of Shira Perlmutter, former head of the U.S. Copyright Office, just days after releasing a major report on AI and copyright law. The timing raises serious questions about political influence, tech industry lobbying, and the future of copyright enforcement. They explore what the report really said, why AI companies like Suno and Udio are under fire, and how artists may be left vulnerable in the wake of rapid technological change. The conversation expands into how current policy decisions—and potentially retaliatory firings—could reshape the music industry and creative rights as a whole. From copyright litigation strategies to the ethics of AI-generated music. "This could get so much worse..." - fantano | The Needle Drop 0:00 Introduction 00:10 Discussion With Anthony Fantano on Letter To Congress 00:24 Termination of Shira Perlmutter's Position 00:38 Copyright Office Report On AI Training 01:06 Lawsuits Against AI Companies (Udio, Suno) 01:16 AI Companies Claiming Fair Use 01:26 Copyright Office Report Says It Is Not Fair Use 01:51 Anthony Fantano's Thoughts on Firing 02:18 Trump Administration & Tech Companies 03:30 AI's Affect on Art & Intellectual Property 04:51 Generated AI Not Crediting Artists 05:37 Trump Administration & Their Use of AI 05:49 Where To Get Help 06:05 Copyright Office & Litigation 06:45 Donald Trump's Impact on The Music Industry 07:17 AI Tech Co-Existing With Intellectual Property 08:17 AI's Impact Will Continue To Grow 08:51 AI In Search Engines 09:18 Who Is AI Helping? 10:09 AI & Licensing 10:38 ChatGPT Replacing Google 11:01 Administration Donors Pulling The Strings? 12:22 Shira Perlmutter Reinstatement? Legal Disclaimer: The information, ideas, and suggestions in this video are not intended to be legal advice. Before following any suggestions contained in this video, you should consult your personal attorney. The speaker shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising as a consequence of your use or application of any information or suggestion in this video. Pursuant to the fair use doctrine under the 1978 Copyright Act, a copyrighted work owned by another may be used for criticism, commentary, news reporting, and educational purposes. The use of the livestream contained in this video falls within the fair use doctrine. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 🟡Become Your Own Record Label: https://www.topmusicattorney.com/becomeyourownrecordlabel 💻 #1 Resource For Artists And Producers: https://www.topmusicattorney.com ⚖ Hire An Attorney: https://www.delgadoentertainmentlaw.com 📺 Get Your Music Into Tv/Film/Games: https://www.topmusicattorney.com/sync 📰 Get My Newsletter: https://www.topmusicattorney.com/newsletter/ 📄 8 Essential Music Contracts Bundle: https://www.topmusicattorney.com/contractsbundle 🎧 Listen To The TMA Podcast On All Streaming: https://www.topmusicattorney.com/podcast 🟢 Free Stuff: https://www.topmusicattorney.com/free-stuff Miss Krystle Artist Links: https://www.misskrystle.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOP MUSIC ATTORNEY SOCIALS Links: https://www.topmusicattorney.com/links Website: https://topmusicattorney.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topmusicattorney/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@topmusicattorney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/topmusicattorney Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/top-music-attorney-16405573/ MISS KRYSTLE SOCIALS Website: http://www.misskrystle.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1g6jAksCoujtcbg6zJpJ39 Instagram: https://ww

***This show is brought to you by DistroKid. Go to http://distrokid.com/vip/the500 for 30% off your first year!*** The multi-platinum selling double LP “1999” mixes rock, synthpop, and Prince’s brand of funk. It was also the first time “The Revolution” was involved in the creative process of a Prince album. Anthony Fantano joins Josh to discuss the album that pushed the iconic and mysterious artist towards his peak. Follow Anthony on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/afantano/ https://x.com/theneedledrop https://www.youtube.com/theneedledrop https://www.youtube.com/fantano DistroKid Artist Of The Week: The Convenience https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNbpULlcLLM Follow Josh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshadammeyers/ Follow Josh on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@joshadammeyers Follow Josh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoshAdamMeyers Follow Josh on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshameyers Josh’s Website: https://www.joshadammeyers.com/ Follow The 500 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the500podcast/ Follow The 500 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/the500podcast Follow The 500 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The500PodcastWithJAM/ Email the show: 500podcast@gmail.com Check the show's website: http://the500podcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Der Podcast über das Internet mit YouTuber Robin …Der Podcast über das Internet mit YouTuber Robin Blase & Gästen aus der Influencer-Welt.Hier diskutieren und lästern wir jeden Samstag über YouTube, das Internet, Social Media, Influencer*innen und was das Netz diese Woche so bewegt. Wir halten euch auf dem Laufenden, damit ihr den Kram nicht gucken müsst. .Folgt uns hier: https://www.instagram.com/laesterschwestern_podcast/ und diskutiert mit uns hier: https://www.reddit.com/r/Laesterschwestern/ Marcel Scorpion auf YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/marcelscorpion .Unsere Themen:00:00:00 Hi Marcel!00:00:42 Themenübersicht00:02:28 ApoRed und die dub(a)iose Abzock-Trading-Gruppe 00:16:48 The Platform Formerly Known As Twitter00:28:47 Papaplatte streamt r/place mit xQc00:33:46 Werbung00:35:09 Fluch und Segen von Reactions00:47:52 Niek lässt los00:54:09 Update zu Rammstein vs. Kayla Shyx00:59:38 Activision verklagt Anthony Fantano.Unsere Quellen:UNDERCOVER in Aporeds Abzock-Gruppe | Klenganhttps://youtu.be/DXAUqus_vMY ApoRed mal wieder peinlich – Ist jetzt Trading-Profi und ködert seine „Freunde“https://www.ingame.de/news/streaming/apored-geht-in-die-geld-ahmad-nadim-ahadi-dubai-gruppe-youtube-trading-tipps-verspricht-92400132.html .X statt Twitter: Musk plant eine Super-Apphttps://t3n.de/news/x-twitter-elon-musk-umbenennung-1566367/Twitter-User mit dem Handle @x muss in die Röhre schauen https://t3n.de/news/twitter-user-handle-x-elon-musk-1566687/ Wegen der Twitter-Umbenennung in „X“ drohen Elon Musk in der EU rechtliche Problemehttps://www.businessinsider.de/wirtschaft/musks-twitter-umbenennung-kann-zum-rechtlichen-markenproblem-in-der-eu-werden/ Leuchtendes X-Logo von Dach des Twitter-Gebäudes entfernthttps://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/unternehmen/elon-musk-laesst-twitter-x-logo-vom-dach-des-gebaeudes-entfernen-19072448.html App Store: Twitter wird zu X – dank Sondergenehmigunghttps://www.heise.de/news/App-Store-Twitter-wird-zu-X-dank-Sondergenehmigung-9231446.html Indonesien blockt neue Twitter-Domainhttps://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/apps/twitter-umbenennung-indonesien-blockt-neue-domain-weil-x-fuer-pornografie-steht-a-68979253-f1e6-42e7-8cda-b7c19f921d44 Twitter Blue subscribers can now hide their blue checks https://www.theverge.com/2023/8/2/23816924/twitter-x-blue-subscribers-hide-blue-check-option .xQc, Papaplatte & Mizkif übernehmen Türkei in r/place und machen Bikini Bottom draus! | zCrexpyhttps://youtu.be/_CY48iayybM .Tweet von NeoExplainshttps://twitter.com/NeoExplains/status/1686395695182331904 Thread zu Reactionshttps://twitter.com/ostonox/status/1686057938425643008 xQc reagierthttps://twitter.com/dexertonox/status/1686797592494043145 .Loslassen... | Ein Video über mein LEBEN - Youtube & Twitch, Freunde & Verrat, Erfolg & Burnout | Niekhttps://youtu.be/qwPcReUuloo .Rammstein-Vorwürfe: Lindemann mit Gerichtserfolg gegen YouTuberinhttps://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/panorama/till-lindemann-vorwuerfe-rammstein-gericht-youtuberin-100.html Kayla Shyx’ Statementhttps://www.instagram.com/reel/CvX6ZsEt9-0/ Tweet von Solmeckehttps://twitter.com/solmecke/status/1684118931886182402 .Activision sues Anthony Fantano for ‘misusing’ IP laws after demanding payment for TikTok audiohttps://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/activision-sues-anthony-fantano-for-misusing-ip-laws-2226799/ .#Werbung 10 € Rabatt bei Steuerbot mit dem Code "Schwester" https://app.steuerbot.com/c/schwester .Lästerschwestern ist eine Produktion der Richtig Cool GmbH. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

YouTube music critic Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop wasn’t born an icon—he struggled and slaved just like the rest of us schmoes. In 13 action-packed minutes, Fantano reveals to Discograffiti: Which punk band had an enormous influence on him as a teen; The music he was listening to while growing up in suburban Connecticut; And how he struggled to get his show off the ground during his lean years working at a pizza shop. SUBSCRIBE NOW!: https://www.patreon.com/discograffiti Next Week: The greatest drummer of all time…who just happened to kill his mother, JIM GORDON. Our guest: The venerable rock scribe JOEL SELVIN, author of the forthcoming bio “Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon,” to be published in February. CONNECT Join our Soldiers of Sound Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839109176272153 Patreon: www.Patreon.com/Discograffiti Podfollow: https://podfollow.com/1592182331 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discograffitipod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Discograffiti/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Discograffiti YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClyaQCdvDelj5EiKj6IRLhw Web site: http://discograffiti.com/ CONTACT DAVE Email: dave@discograffiti.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hooligandave Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidgebroe/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveGebroe #anthonyfantano #discograffiti #musicpatreon #podcast #musicpodcast #musiccommentary #indie #deepdive #Paulmajor #GenX #privatepress #pavement #anthonyfantano #musicmemes #deathgrips #music #fantano #theneedledrop #musicmeme #meme #rap #drake #memes #needledrop #toptenlist #thetop10 #cursedimage #rappermemes #youtube

Welcome to The Pre-Episode, a new song-length Thursday mini-podcast you can use to suss whether or not you'll enjoy that Friday's episode! Spoiler alert: YOU WILL ENJOY IT, no matter who the guest is or the band we're rating. Today we bring you 10 inarguable reasons that'd make you simply foolish to skip the Fantano podcast. COMING TOMORROW: ANTHONY FANTANO: THE ORIGIN STORY! CONNECT Join our Soldiers of Sound Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1839109176272153 Patreon: www.Patreon.com/Discograffiti Podfollow: https://podfollow.com/1592182331 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/discograffitipod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Discograffiti/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Discograffiti YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClyaQCdvDelj5EiKj6IRLhw Web site: http://discograffiti.com/ CONTACT DAVE Email: dave@discograffiti.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hooligandave Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidgebroe/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaveGebroe

Known as the "Internet's busiest music nerd", Anthony Fantano, aka The Needle Drop, is the web's most popular music critic. His takes on Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, and Kanye West have garnered him hundreds of millions of views, and in 2020, The New York Times called him, "The Only Music Critic Who Matters (if You’re Under 25)." Recently, he got into a feud with Drake after giving Drizzy's latest album a bad rating. He joins Jacob to discuss how his work is affecting the music culture and how he's remained relevant for more than 13 years. "I'm in a very unique position that nobody else is in and nobody else has been in and I sort of take solace in that. I'm definitely a part of the conversation, like the general music discourse. I am definitely a part of, in terms of the things that I say, the anticipation for whatever I'm going to say, the reactions to the things that I say that people have. And even down to if I go on some kind of user-generated, music review site or something like that, I see people throwing down like, you know, multi-paragraph reviews and they'll end it off like, yep, I'm kind of feeling a light eight on this one. It's just funny to see my scoring system casually turning up in people's vocabulary." Listen to "How Hutch Became YouTube’s First Gaming Superstar" here . You can follow Anthony Fantano here .