Pop Shop Podcast: 'Empire' vs. Madonna, Kendrick Lamar, 'X Factor' New Zealand & More

Listen to the latest episode of Billboard.com's weekly charts breakdown.

Welcome to the latest episode of the Billboard.com Pop Shop Podcast, Billboard's weekly half-hour audio breakdown of the Billboard charts, hottest music news and year's biggest musical events. Casual pop fans and chart junkies can hear Billboard.com associate editor Jason Lipshutz and Billboard associate director of charts Keith Caulfield every Thursday on the free Pop Shop Podcast, which can be streamed on Billboard.com or downloaded in iTunes (click here to listen to the previous episode).

Recent Archives
3/12: Madonna, Robin Thicke 3/5: Carly Rae Jepsen Interview 2/26: Tori Kelly Interview, Lady Gaga 2/19: Ask The Pop Shop 2/12: Cody Simpson Interview, Drake 2/9: Grammys Post-Show 2/5: Nile Rodgers Co-Hosts, Annie Lennox 1/29: Olly Murs Interview, Super Bowl 1/22: Dawn Richard Interview, Fall Out Boy 1/15: Tyler Oakley Co-Hosts 2015 Preview

On this week's show, Jason and Keith discuss the showdown between the Empire season 1 soundtrack and Madonna's Rebel Heart album on the Billboard 200 chart, and why Empire came out on top despite selling fewer copies than Madge. Later, the guys break down Kendrick Lamar's thrilling new album To Pimp A Butterfly; new Top 10 hits from Sam Smith and Fetty Wap; the Hot 100 debuts of new songs from Mumford & Sons and Jason Derulo; and the X Factor New Zealand debacle, starring Natalia Kills and Willy Moon. There's also some 'song of the spring' chatter about Maroon 5, Nick Jonas and Ariana Grande, an All Saints shout-out, a terrible rendition of Aerosmith's "I Don't Want To Miss a Thing," and much more.

Listen above, or click here to stream/download in iTunes. Click here to rate the Pop Shop Podcast on iTunes! And be sure to sound off about this week's episode in the comments section below!