Nick reacts to the Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist with Knats, a jazz collective who are one of the most exciting bands in the UK music scene right now - and whose latest album ‘A Great Day in Newcastle’ has been described as “the best thing to come out of the North East since Andy Carroll.”

In a year of great albums from the UK and Ireland, which artists have made it on to the most prestigious shortlist in music?

SONGS

Knats – Bowling Ball

Knats – Wor Jackie

Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?

Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine?

Olivia Dean – Man I Need

JADE – Angel of My Dreams

Kojey Radical & Planet Giza – Expensive

Ezra Collective & Kojey Radical – No Confusion

This week’s episode will be dropping later than usual as Nick - and some very special guests - await the much-anticipated Mercury Prize Shortlist.

Annie and Nick discuss a myriad of topics chosen by Sidetracked listeners, answering questions such as: what’s it like to be backstage at big music festivals? Why were Geese accused of being an industry plant? What songs remind them each of each other?

Elsewhere, Spotify has some new proposed features, but Annie and Nick have mixed feelings about their merit. Plus, memories of the Beckhams partying late into the night at Glastonbury, how artists get paid for the many parts of their job, and who would Nick rather be - Beyoncé or Lady Gaga?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email [email protected]

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

Feeder - Buck Rogers

Olive - You're Not Alone

Justin Bieber – Boyfriend

John Lennon – Imagine

Beyoncé - Deja Vu ALBUMS

Geese – Getting Killed

The one and only CMAT fills in for Nick this week - joining Annie to put the world to rights. With the World Cup Final imminent, they delve into the details of the half-time show which promises performances from Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy...and the Muppets. With only 11 minutes allocated for the entire half-time show, will it be a disaster or a masterclass?

Elsewhere, CMAT and Annie discuss Charli XCX’s album campaign, Rose Gray’s brilliant new single, and Kelela’s dreamy collaboration with PinkPantheress. Plus, Rihanna joined Jay Z on stage but why, apart from the conversation about her new music, is this culturally significant?

Other highlights include: a breakdown of Taylor Swift’s best work, the truth about the crowd at Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter at Coachella, shocking insight into a possible lip-syncing epidemic, and CMAT’s burgeoning friendship with Robbie Williams.

Annie’s books for CMAT:

Rozie Kelly - Kingfisher

Addie E. Citchens - Dominion

Brendan Behan - Borstal Boy

SONGS

CMAT - When a Good Man Cries

CMAT - Stay For Something

CMAT - Jamie Oliver Petrol Station

CMAT – Lord, Let That Tesla Crash

Robbie Williams - Angels

Justin Bieber – DAISIES

Justin Bieber – Beauty and a Beat

Shakira & Burna Boy – Dai Dai

Rose Gray - Club to Your Arms

Kelela ft. PinkPantheress - The Bridge

Madonna – Vogue

Madonna – Like a Prayer

Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter – Bring Your Love

Madonna – Fragile

Charli XCX – SuperLove

Taylor Swift - Opalite

Taylor Swift - Anti-Hero

Taylor Swift - Bejeweled

Taylor Swift - So High School

Rihanna ft. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Run This Town

Rihanna - Bitch Better Have My Money

ALBUMS

CMAT - Euro Country

CMAT – Crazymad, for Me

CMAT - If My Wife New I'd Be Dead

Rihanna - ANTI

Rose Gray - Louder, Please

Kelela – new avatar

Madonna - Confessions Part II

Madonna - Confessions on a Dance Floor

Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia

Dua Lipa - Radical Optimism

Taylor Swift - Folklore

Taylor Swift – Evermore

Taylor Swift – Midnights

Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department

Taylor Swift – Life of a Showgirl

In a monumental week for music news, Annie and Nick sit down to discuss their thoughts on Madonna’s long-awaited Confessions II – after months of worrying it might be anticlimactic, what do they think about the album?

And Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce had one of the most musically relevant weddings of all time but what should we learn from their rumoured choice of first dance song? And are there any rules we should stick to for wedding playlists?

Plus, Wonderwall is having a moment in the 2026 World Cup, could Oasis get involved if England make the Final?

Annie and Nick also speak to the incredible producer and musician, James Ellis Ford, about his upcoming album. James has produced albums for Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, Florence and the Machine, Jessie Ware, Fontaines D.C., Carly Rae Jepsen, the Pet Shop Boys, and so many more. He talks to Annie and Nick about how he works with artists to create truly brilliant music, and how it was to make this latest solo album in a completely isolated and daunting environment – a hospital room. Plus, is James worried about how AI will change the way music producers have to work?

Lost in Another World is out on 14th August (Nick’s birthday)

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email [email protected]

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

Oasis – Wonderwall

Tina Turner - Simply the Best

Madonna – Danceteria

Madonna - One Step Away

Madonna – L.E.S Girl

Lil Louis - French Kiss

Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free

Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved

Womack & Womack – Teardrops

Janet Jackson - That's the Way Love Goes

ALBUMS

Madonna - Confessions II

Madonna – Confessions on a Dance Floor

James Ellis Ford - Lost in Another World

War Child Records- Help(2)

Charli XCX - brat

Bad Bunny came to London and Nick may never be the same again. What is it about Benito that makes his music and live performances so impactful? Nick tells Annie why the show made him cry – and confesses to one embarrassing detail.

Elsewhere, Charli XCX came on the 6 Music Breakfast Show and Sidetracked investigates whether she told a big fat lie. Plus, why is Noah Kahan talking about poo at gigs? This - on top of Olivia Rodrigo’s previous comments about people wearing nappies to her shows - prompts Annie and Nick to give a stern talking-to to front row fans.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email [email protected]

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram.

SONGS

Luther Vandross - Never Too Much

Fugees - Killing Me Softly With His Song

Charli XCX – Wink Wink

Madonna - Hollywood

Noah Kahan - Stick Season

Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor

Fugees – Ready or Not

Daft Punk - Voyager

PJ Harvey - Voyager

earthsignchels - Daddy Died [we recommend you watch the video]

Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend

ALBUMS

Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film

Bad Bunny - DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS

Alewya - Zero

Beth Orton – The Ground Above

Annie and Nick discuss rumours of Adele returning to music, after she was seen attending one of Lola Young’s London shows. What might a new Adele album sound like? And what is it about her that means any record is guaranteed to be brilliant?

Elsewhere, Madonna has revealed why the planned biopic of her life was canned, James Blake has called out the growing fakery of the music industry, and Bad Bunny is coming to London.

Plus, why can’t Annie and Nick remember if they’ve met Solange?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! You can send a WhatsApp to 07970082700 or email [email protected]

And you can also stay in touch via our Instagram Channel, which you can find in the BBC Sounds Instagram

SONGS

Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Adele - Hometown Glory

Adele – Daydreamer

SZA - Saturn

Cher - Believe

ALBUMS

Madonna - Veronica Electronica

Madonna – Confessions II

Adele - 19

Olivia Rodrigo - Guts

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

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