How We Heard It

How MTV and YouTube changed culture forever

The power of music videos was fully harnessed when MTV debuted in 1981, opening the world to new genres in popular music while diminishing the influence of record labels and the old guard performers.
Over the years, the public became less enamored by music videos and MTV switched focus to alternate programming. But eventually YouTube brought new power to music videos and gave consumers the opportunity to watch anything they wanted to see whenever they wanted to see it ... for free.
In this episode, Chuck and Wayne break down how videos revolutionized popular music and who were the winners and losers. They also talk about how Gen Z, millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers all grew up in different eras of pop culture largely because of the ebb and flow of music videos.

'Big stupid shirtless men' and other stories

This week Chuck and Wayne talk about some random weird moments they've had, from chance meetings with celebrities to the singer who REALLY wanted to party.
Also, Chuck talks about the mistake he made that landed his work on "Late Night With David Letterman." It might make you feel better about your own bad day on the job.

The gritty world of concerts, from Madonna to Tool

Music-journalist veterans Wayne Bledsoe and Chuck Campbell have been to their share of concerts, for better and worse, and in this episode of "How We Heard It" they share stories from the trenches.
Hear about Bob Dylan's brush with death in Knoxville, the crowd turning on the Beastie Boys in Orlando, Madonna's groundbreaking show in Miami and a bizarre night in Atlanta with the Sugarcubes.
Wayne and Chuck have been through it all - weed at Lynryd Skynyrd, depressing rudeness aimed at Stevie Nicks, joy at the B-52's and sex and/or fighting in the crowds at shows by everyone from Tina Turner to Hank Williams Jr. Then there was that woman who absolutely mortified Wayne at an Alan Jackson show ...

Sexy songs! When does music turn us on?

Sex can be both primal and complicated, and sexy songs can be just as complex.We break it down with songs and artists who can sell sex - and some who can't. Our choices might surprise you.

Behind the scenes with Dolly Parton, Liam Hemsworth, Kristen Stewart, Joan Jett, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker and more!

Veteran entertainment journalists Chuck Campbell and Wayne Bledsoe have done their share of interviews with a wide variety of celebrities over the years. In this episode of "How We Heard It" they share tales and quotes from interviews that they haven't made public before.
Sometimes funny, sometimes uncomfortable and sometimes a little bit of both, these include encounters with Tori Amos, Liam Hemsworth, Joan Jett, Taylor Lautner, Jay Leno, Sarah McLachlan, Bill Monroe, Ted Nugent, Dolly Parton, Joey Ramone, Ricky Skaggs, Kristen Stewart, Randy Travis, Tina Weymouth and more.

Score! How soundtracks bring music nerds and movie geeks together

Although the movie industry and the music industry have both continuously morphed and transformed, the two have been teaming up for almost a century with soundtracks. The impact of good movies paired with good music has been unforgettable, from "The Graduate" and "Shaft" to "Barbie" and "Frozen."
What would a Disney animated movie be without a soundtrack? Songs for James Bond movies are sometimes more memorable than the films themselves. Plus, movies sometimes celebrate music genres, including disco, rap, alternative rock and country. Meanwhile, music for horror films can be key to the scares - just ask John Carpenter.
Many top singers past and present have won Oscars for their work, including Billie Eilish, Eminem, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, Adele and Lionel Richie.
On this episode of "How We Heard It," veteran music journalists (and movie geeks) Chuck Campbell and Wayne Bledsoe break down some of the best soundtracks and movie songs from over the years ... and some stuff that doesn't hold up so well today.

Don't take this the wrong way

There's no one way to be a music critic, and this week veteran entertainment journalists Wayne and Chuck talk about how they each found their way in the field - what they got right, what they got wrong, how they changed as they went along and what they think of other critics.
They also talk about the best, worst and weirdest reactions they've gotten from readers. Find out why the drunk woman kept calling Wayne and why he would call readers out of the blue. Also, Chuck explains his reservations about going out for ice cream and reveals a bizarre experience at a Spice Girls concert.
The guys also look ahead at the potential future for music critics and what will have to change for critics to survive.

Guilty pleasures

This week veteran music journalists Wayne Bledsoe and Chuck Campbell open themselves up to judgment by confessing their guilty pleasures - types of entertainment that give them comfort and inspiration, even when it's not particularly cool to do so.
Hear how Chuck can magically transport himself from a traffic jam to a happy hour amongst the wildlife of a tropical island or how Wayne can find justice in a chaotic world ... and maybe ask yourself if you should even feel guilty for your happiness.

Are your music tastes a red flag?

What makes music good or bad or somewhere in between? That's wildly subjective.
If you find something you enjoy, you should simply celebrate it and not worry about anyone validating your taste. That said, if you can't appreciate anything about a select few acts, Chuck and Wayne think it may reveal something about you that you probably shouldn't show.

Overrated!

Wayne and Chuck dismay each other as they reveal big-name artists they think are overrated. Listen as they try to suppress their shock and act like they're OK with one another's picks, though their friendship may never be the same.
And if you think they're both wrong, you're probably right.