Switched on Pop Co‑Hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding Share Their Passion for Pop Music Analysis

Nate Sloan, a composer and musicology professor at USC’s Thornton School of Music, and Charlie Harding, a songwriter, music journalist, and professor, co‑host the popular podcast Switched on Pop. The show, which began after Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” dives into the theory and production of pop hits, breaking down everything from chord progressions to sonic textures. Sloan’s research spans pop, jazz, and Tin Pan Alley, while Harding brings a songwriter’s eye to the conversation. Together they dissect songs with the precision of a Lennon–McCartney partnership, making complex musical concepts accessible to listeners of all backgrounds.