<description>&lt;p&gt;In the first week of 2026, Annie and Nick have different thoughts about the new A$AP Rocky single, Gen Z are discovering Prince thanks to Stranger Things, and EsDeeKid has told The Chainsmokers exactly what he thinks of their 4 Raws remix. Elsewhere, Stormzy has used social media to express his thoughts about...social media and revealed how he's grown as an artist and as a person. Plus, Jill Scott is finally back with new music, vinyl is expensive, and Annie and Nick get sidetracked by hedgehogs. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;HOMEWORK: Watch Prince performing “Purple Rain” at 2007’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, and listen to Mandy, Indiana’s “Cursive” &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;SONGS &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;FAUZIA – The Way &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mandy, Indiana – URGH &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mandy, Indiana – Magazine &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mandy, Indiana – Cursive &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A$AP Rocky – Punk Rocky &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;JADE – Angel of My Dreams &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jill Scott – Beautiful People &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jill Scott - Exclusively &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Prince – Purple Rain &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Prince – When Doves Cry &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;America - A Horse With No Name &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;EsDeeKid, Timothée Chalamet - 4 Raws&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;ALBUMS &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A$AP Rocky – Don't Be Dumb &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jill Scott - To Whom This May Concern, &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jill Scott - Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bob Marley and the Wailers – Exodus &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Arctic Monkeys – AM &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders &amp;amp; The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;FKA twigs – Eusexua&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Is short form content dying?

In the first week of 2026, Annie and Nick have different thoughts about the new A$AP Rocky single, Gen Z are discovering Prince thanks to Stranger Things, and EsDeeKid has told The Chainsmokers exactly what he thinks of their 4 Raws remix. Elsewhere, Stormzy has used social media to express his thoughts about...social media and revealed how he's grown as an artist and as a person. Plus, Jill Scott is finally back with new music, vinyl is expensive, and Annie and Nick get sidetracked by hedgehogs. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk HOMEWORK: Watch Prince performing “Purple Rain” at 2007’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, and listen to Mandy, Indiana’s “Cursive” SONGS FAUZIA – The Way Mandy, Indiana – URGH Mandy, Indiana – Magazine Mandy, Indiana – Cursive A$AP Rocky – Punk Rocky JADE – Angel of My Dreams Jill Scott – Beautiful People Jill Scott - Exclusively Prince – Purple Rain Prince – When Doves Cry Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) America - A Horse With No Name EsDeeKid, Timothée Chalamet - 4 RawsTears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the WorldALBUMS A$AP Rocky – Don't Be Dumb Jill Scott - To Whom This May Concern, Jill Scott - Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 Bob Marley and the Wailers – Exodus Arctic Monkeys – AM Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn HillFloating Points, Pharoah Sanders &amp; The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises FKA twigs – Eusexua

A$AP Rocky, Remix Etiquette, and Gen Z discover Prince

<description>&lt;p&gt;What does 2026 have in store for the music industry? Annie and Nick look ahead to expected releases, rumoured returning artists, and an exciting list of confirmed festival line ups. Plus, BBC Music Correspondent Mark Savage joins them to share his expert predictions about which artists to look out for this year, and what music trends we can expect.
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Annie and Nick look ahead to the upcoming year in music

What does 2026 have in store for the music industry? Annie and Nick look ahead to expected releases, rumoured returning artists, and an exciting list of confirmed festival line ups. Plus, BBC Music Correspondent Mark Savage joins them to share his expert predictions about which artists to look out for this year, and what music trends we can expect.
Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk

Rihanna Rumours, Oasis at Knebworth, and AI transparency

<description>&lt;p&gt;Annie and Nick review the standout moments from the past 12 months. From the Oasis tour to Lily Allen’s culture shifting album release, 2025 has been a major year for UK artists, and who could forget the impact of moments such as: an awkward secret being revealed at a Coldplay concert, Katy Perry going to space, and CMAT playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage for the first time. Plus, Annie and Nick attempt the impossible task of choosing just one album and song of the year each. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;SONGS &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Taylor Swift – So High School &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;PinkPantheress – Illegal &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;HAIM – Relationships &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lola Young – Messy &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cameron Winter - Nausicaä (Love Will Be Revealed) &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;ELIZA – Anyone Else &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ave Maria &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jacon Alon – Liquid Gold 25 &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;CMAT – The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Blood Orange - Mind Loaded &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;ALBUMS &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Patti Smith – Horses &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Björk – Cornucopia &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Charli XCX – brat &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lily Allen – West End Girl &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rosalía - LUX &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;CMAT – Euro-Country &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cameron Winter – Heavy Metal &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dave - The Boy Who Played the Harp &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Blood Orange – Essex Honey &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Geese – Getting Killed &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chronixx - Exile&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Year in Review

Annie and Nick review the standout moments from the past 12 months. From the Oasis tour to Lily Allen’s culture shifting album release, 2025 has been a major year for UK artists, and who could forget the impact of moments such as: an awkward secret being revealed at a Coldplay concert, Katy Perry going to space, and CMAT playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage for the first time. Plus, Annie and Nick attempt the impossible task of choosing just one album and song of the year each. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk SONGS Taylor Swift – So High School PinkPantheress – Illegal HAIM – Relationships Lola Young – Messy Cameron Winter - Nausicaä (Love Will Be Revealed) ELIZA – Anyone Else Ave Maria Jacon Alon – Liquid Gold 25 CMAT – The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station Blood Orange - Mind Loaded ALBUMS Patti Smith – Horses Björk – Cornucopia Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl Charli XCX – brat Lily Allen – West End Girl Rosalía - LUX CMAT – Euro-Country Cameron Winter – Heavy Metal Dave - The Boy Who Played the Harp Blood Orange – Essex Honey Geese – Getting Killed Chronixx - Exile

Lily Allen’s brutal honesty, Oasis forever, and the 2025 zeitgeist

<description>&lt;p&gt;Zadie Smith and Beth Ditto join Annie and Nick for the annual Sidetracked Christmas gathering, recorded at an Irish pub in North London. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;They share nostalgia, gossip and gifts, and decide what makes a song a Christmas song – declaring which ones are truly the greatest. Plus, Annie, Nick, Zadie and Beth choose their musical highlights of the year. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;SONGS &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Judy Garland – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Darling Love – Winter Wonderland &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Labi Siffre – Bless the Telephone &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pulp – Common People &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lola Young – Messy &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Herman’s Hermits - I'm Henry the VIII, I Am &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dolly Parton – Hard Candy Christmas &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;ALBUMS &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Blood Orange – Essex Honey &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rosalía - LUX &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Mavis Staples – Sad And Beautiful World &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Pulp - More &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Van Morrison - Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Marcel Dadi – Dadi’s Folk &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ray Conniff – We Wish You a Merry Christmas &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bert Kaempfert &amp;amp; His Orchestra - Christmas With Bert Kaempfert &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;T.S. Eliot – The Poems of T.S. Eliot&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Annie & Nick go to the pub with Zadie Smith & Beth Ditto

Zadie Smith and Beth Ditto join Annie and Nick for the annual Sidetracked Christmas gathering, recorded at an Irish pub in North London. They share nostalgia, gossip and gifts, and decide what makes a song a Christmas song – declaring which ones are truly the greatest. Plus, Annie, Nick, Zadie and Beth choose their musical highlights of the year. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk SONGS Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You Judy Garland – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Darling Love – Winter Wonderland Labi Siffre – Bless the Telephone Pulp – Common People Lola Young – Messy Herman’s Hermits - I'm Henry the VIII, I Am Dolly Parton – Hard Candy Christmas ALBUMS Blood Orange – Essex Honey Rosalía - LUX Mavis Staples – Sad And Beautiful World Pulp - More Van Morrison - Live at the Grand Opera House Belfast Marcel Dadi – Dadi’s Folk Ray Conniff – We Wish You a Merry Christmas Bert Kaempfert &amp; His Orchestra - Christmas With Bert Kaempfert T.S. Eliot – The Poems of T.S. Eliot

Sidetracked by Christmas ‘25

<description>&lt;p&gt;After successfully challenging Ticketmaster over the price of resold tickets on the platform, Olivia Dean has inspired Annie and Nick to ask: should more artists stand up for their fans? Also in Olivia Dean news, she and Lola Young are the only UK artists to make it into Spotify’s Top 10 UK Song or Artist lists for 2025. Yes, Wrapped is out but does anyone care about other people’s listening habits? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Plus, Jorja Smith’s team are seeking royalties from an AI track which many people believed to be hers, Björk is using proceeds from a song she made with Rosalía and Sega Bodega to take the Icelandic state to court, and the Reading/Leeds line up is one of its best ever. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;SONGS &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Alex Warren - Ordinary &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Gracie Abrams - That’s So True &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lola Young - Messy &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ravyn Lenae – Love Me Not &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;sombr - back to friends &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Gigi Perez – Sailor Song &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lady Gaga &amp;amp; Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe! &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Björk, Sega Bodega, Rosalía - Oral &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;HAVEN – I Run &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;ALBUMS &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Cameron Winter – Heavy Metal &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;F.S.Blumm &amp;amp; Nils Frahm – Handling &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’Sweet &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Alex Warren - You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1) &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;KPop Demon Hunters Cast - KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Charli XCX – brat &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fontaines D.C. - Romance &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sega Bodega – I Created The Universe So That Life Could Create a Language So Complex, Just To Say How Much I Love You &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;ANNIE'S DINGLE LIST: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Michael D. Higgins &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dove Ellis &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dermot Kennedy &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sorcha Richardson &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chalk &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Scratch&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Should more artists stand up for their fans?

After successfully challenging Ticketmaster over the price of resold tickets on the platform, Olivia Dean has inspired Annie and Nick to ask: should more artists stand up for their fans? Also in Olivia Dean news, she and Lola Young are the only UK artists to make it into Spotify’s Top 10 UK Song or Artist lists for 2025. Yes, Wrapped is out but does anyone care about other people’s listening habits? Plus, Jorja Smith’s team are seeking royalties from an AI track which many people believed to be hers, Björk is using proceeds from a song she made with Rosalía and Sega Bodega to take the Icelandic state to court, and the Reading/Leeds line up is one of its best ever. Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 07970082700 or email sidetracked@bbc.co.uk SONGS Alex Warren - Ordinary Gracie Abrams - That’s So True Lola Young - Messy Chappell Roan – Pink Pony Club Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER Ravyn Lenae – Love Me Not sombr - back to friends Gigi Perez – Sailor Song Lady Gaga &amp; Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe! Björk, Sega Bodega, Rosalía - Oral HAVEN – I Run ALBUMS Cameron Winter – Heavy Metal F.S.Blumm &amp; Nils Frahm – Handling Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’Sweet Alex Warren - You'll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1) KPop Demon Hunters Cast - KPop Demon Hunters (Soundtrack from the Netflix Film) Olivia Dean – The Art of Loving Charli XCX – brat Fontaines D.C. - Romance Sega Bodega – I Created The Universe So That Life Could Create a Language So Complex, Just To Say How Much I Love You ANNIE'S DINGLE LIST: Michael D. Higgins Dove Ellis Dermot Kennedy Sorcha Richardson Chalk The Scratch

Olivia Dean’s Wins, Cameron Winter, and Reading 2.0

For music and pop culture lovers looking for an authentic and light-hearted take on the week in music... with broadcasters and music fanatics Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw.

Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

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