Where does the next generation of pop stars come from?

In this episode of Tracks On Trial, we step away from global superstars and into the grassroots pop scene where unsigned artists are building careers from the ground up, driven by songwriting, creativity, and sheer determination.

Hosts Sam George, Amy Jo, and Andy put emerging artists on trial in the courtroom of music, evaluating whether these underground talents have the potential to break into the mainstream or whether they fall short under scrutiny.

Featuring a deep dive into Natalie Shay’s “The Edge,” alongside quickfire verdicts on Sanguijuelas del Guadiana, Chloé Bird, and Cameron Sanderson, this episode explores the fragile line between underground promise and mainstream success.

The discussion covers:

• What separates unsigned artists from future global stars
• The importance of songwriting versus production quality
• How grassroots artists build audiences without label support
• The role of social media in modern music discovery
• Whether industry success can be predicted from early releases

Each track is judged, debated, and ultimately sentenced with the show’s signature verdict: Topper or Flopper.

Tracks on Trial is a global music podcast bringing together hosts from Europe, America, and Australia to explore music through debate, analysis, and brutal honesty.

Whether you’re an artist, producer, or music fan, this episode offers a rare insight into how emerging artists are evaluated and what it takes to break through.

Court is now in session.

What happens when experimental music wins the highest honours in the industry?

In this episode of Tracks On Trial, we put award-winning avant-garde music in the dock. These are the boldest, most unconventional songs ever recognised by institutions like the Grammy Awards and the Mercury Prize, tracks that abandoned traditional songwriting, challenged listeners, and still earned universal acclaim.

Featuring music from Radiohead, David Bowie, Fiona Apple, Kate Bush, Burial, and more, this episode explores the emotional power, artistic bravery, and divisive nature of experimental music.

We discuss:

• Why artists like Radiohead and Bowie abandoned conventional song structure
• How experimental music reshaped modern pop, rock, and electronic genres
• Whether awards recognise true innovation or just reward reputation
• The emotional impact of unconventional sound design
• Whether these songs deserve their legendary status

Some of these tracks pushed music forward. Others pushed the jury away.

Because in this courtroom, awards don’t guarantee survival.

Topper or Flopper? The verdict is yours.

Tracks on Trial is the global music podcast where songs face judgment, and nothing is safe.

Jazz and blues have always had a special relationship with cinema, not just as background music, but as emotional drivers, character builders, and storytelling tools.

In this episode of Tracks on Trial, the hosts put iconic jazz and blues soundtrack records on trial to decide whether they truly earn their legendary status, or whether nostalgia has been doing the heavy lifting all along.

From the theatrical swagger of Cab Calloway in The Blues Brothers to the high-pressure intensity of jazz in Whiplash, this episode explores how jazz and blues not only support film scenes but also define them. The jury debates how music shapes narrative tension, psychological depth, and emotional weight, while also unpacking the playful, confrontational, and sometimes brutal side of these genres.

Along the way, the episode features quickfire soundtrack pitches, darkly humorous jazz soundtrack “news,” personal confessions about musical taste, and a trivia quiz that tests how well we really know jazz and blues history.

This is an episode about presence: music that refuses to stay in the background and becomes inseparable from the images it accompanies.

⚖️ Topper or Flopper? The verdict is yours.

Festival Favourites: Singer-Songwriters, Emotion & the Power of the Live Moment

What turns a singer-songwriter into a festival favourite?

Is it the lyrics? The voice? The ability to make 50,000 people feel like a song was written just for them?

In this episode of Tracks on Trial, Sam George and Andy dive into the world of singer-songwriters who dominate festival stages, exploring how emotional honesty, strong storytelling, and commanding live performances turn personal songs into shared experiences.

With AJ absent this week (currently snowed in and surviving off pure determination somewhere in Mississippi), the conversation takes on a slightly more unhinged energy as the hosts unpack what makes a songwriter truly resonate with an audience.

From intimate lyrics to massive sing-along moments, this episode explores how modern singer-songwriters bridge the gap between vulnerability and spectacle. The discussion touches on how artists evolve over time, how festival performances can elevate songs beyond their studio versions, and why emotional connection often matters more than technical complexity.

In this episode, we cover:

• What defines a modern singer-songwriter
• Why emotional lyrics connect so powerfully in live settings
• How festivals amplify storytelling and performance
• The difference between studio impact and live energy
• A quickfire round spotlighting emerging artists
• A singer-songwriter-themed quiz
• Reflections on nostalgia, growth, and musical identity
• Why some songs feel bigger when shared with a crowd

Along the way, the hosts reflect on personal experiences, favourite performances, and the way music can create connection even when styles and tastes differ. The conversation balances humour, honesty, and thoughtful critique, all while asking the central question:

What really makes a singer-songwriter festival-ready?

As always, the verdict is up for debate.

⚖️ Topper or Flopper? You decide.

Sun, Ska & Sound Systems: Reggae, Nostalgia & the Art of the Feel-Good Anthem

Reggae and ska live in a strange musical space. They’re everywhere, yet rarely examined. Instantly recognisable, endlessly nostalgic, but often dismissed as background music or “feel-good” filler.

In this episode of Tracks on Trial, Sam George and Andy dive into the world of mainstream reggae, ska, and their cultural legacy, exploring why these genres continue to resonate decades after their peak, and whether nostalgia plays a bigger role than we’d like to admit.

From sun-soaked festival favourites to socially charged anthems, the conversation moves between light-hearted banter and deeper analysis as the hosts unpack how reggae and ska crossed into the mainstream, how meaning shifts over time, and why some songs age better than others.

The episode features:

• A deep dive into Big Mountain’s “Baby, I Love Your Way” and how it redefined a classic
• Discussion of The Specials’ “Ghost Town” as a powerful piece of social commentary
• Quickfire reactions to reggae and ska staples
• Honest takes on nostalgia, cultural context, and musical taste
• Reflections on how music can be meaningful even when it’s not to your taste
• A look at why festival culture helped keep these songs alive
• Satirical music news and quick-fire debate

Along the way, Sam and Andy explore how reggae and ska balance joy with message, how certain tracks become timeless through repetition, and why mainstream success doesn’t automatically mean artistic compromise.

As always, the jury is out.

⚖️ Topper or Flopper? You decide.

Electronic music has always lived online, but in the age of TikTok and streaming algorithms, it spreads faster than ever.

In this episode of Tracks on Trial, Sam George, Andy, and Amy Jo dive into the world of viral electronic music. From tracks that unexpectedly explode years after release to songs that become cultural touchstones through memes, gaming, and social media, this episode explores how virality reshapes the way we experience music.

The jury discusses iconic tracks like Alan Walker’s “Faded”, the unstoppable legacy of Darude’s “Sandstorm”, and the emotional weight carried by electronic music in the modern era. Along the way, they explore how nostalgia, internet culture, and platform algorithms influence what we hear, and whether virality enhances or cheapens artistic value.

The conversation also touches on mental health in the music industry, the pressure of digital success, and the lasting impact of artists like Avicii, whose influence continues to shape electronic music worldwide.

Expect sharp opinions, personal stories, quickfire debates, a music quiz, and a reminder that sometimes the biggest songs aren’t the ones that shout the loudest. They’re the ones that quietly refuse to disappear.

⚖️ Topper or Flopper? Listen, decide, and join the conversation.

Christmas music is weird.

One minute it’s beautiful, nostalgic and comforting - the next it’s novelty songs, metal Santa chaos, and the same track played 47 times in one afternoon.

In the Tracks on Trial Christmas Special, Sam George, Amy Jo and Andy put the courtroom on hold and dive headfirst into the chaotic world of festive music. From indie winter hymns and alternative Christmas tracks to heavy, unhinged holiday songs, this episode celebrates the weird side of Christmas playlists.

The jury explores how cultural differences shape Christmas celebrations around the world, why nostalgia plays such a powerful role in how we experience holiday music and movies, and why modern Christmas culture feels very different from the classics many of us grew up with.

Along the way, there are community shoutouts, ridiculous but enlightening Christmas music trivia, satirical festive news headlines, and strong opinions about which songs should - and definitely shouldn’t - be played every December.

🎄 In this episode:

• Alternative and unconventional Christmas songs
• Indie and metal takes on festive music
• Cultural differences in Christmas traditions
• Nostalgia, Christmas movies, and memory
• Why Christmas music sparks extreme emotional reactions
• Fake Christmas music news
• Fun and surprising Christmas music trivia
• The importance of diversifying your holiday playlist

This isn’t about verdicts or flops - it’s about embracing the full spectrum of Christmas music, from beautiful to baffling.

Grab a drink, avoid the supermarket playlists, and join us for a festive episode that proves Christmas music doesn’t have to be boring.

Welcome back to Tracks on Trial, the global music podcast where three hosts from three continents put songs in the dock and deliver one of two verdicts: Topper or Flopper.

In this episode, we head deep into the underground metal scene, spotlighting underrated bands and tracks that deserve far more attention than they get. From emotionally devastating performances to surgically precise production, this episode is all about the metal that flies under the radar - and why that’s often where the most exciting innovation lives.

Sam George, Amy Jo, and Andy explore what gives metal real emotional weight, why conviction matters as much as technical skill, and how female vocalists are reshaping the genre with power, range, and authenticity. Along the way, the jury faces quickfire rounds, tests their knowledge with a metal quiz, and tackles satirical metal-industry “news” that hits a little too close to home.

The episode builds toward a deeper discussion of Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades”, examining its legacy, influence, and why it still looms so large over modern heavy music.

In this episode:

• Underrated and underground metal bands
• Emotional weight vs technical proficiency
• Female vocalists redefining heavy music
• Quickfire instinct rounds
• A metal quiz to test genre knowledge
• Satirical metal industry news
• Production quality in modern metal
• The lasting influence of Ace of Spades
• Why discovering lesser-known bands matters

Whether you’re a lifelong metalhead or just starting to dig deeper, this episode proves that some of the most vital heavy music lives far away from the mainstream.

Topper or Flopper? Listen, judge, and tell us which underground bands deserve their day in court.