Major Label Debut

Latest Episodes:

Needle Drops with Rico Gagliano of the MUBI Podcast Jun 29, 2026

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Graham is joined by veteran arts journalist and host of the critically acclaimed MUBI Podcast, Rico Gagliano. They discuss needle drops in movies, what they are, why we love them, and the power they hold to elevate a movie moment to a phenomenon. Also, buttered or unbuttered movie popcorn.
Check out the current season of Rico’s MUBI Podcast all about the most culture-defining needle drops of the last 40 years.
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Donovan “Atlantis” (28:10)
Queen and David Bowie “Under Pressure” ( 29:45)
Gary Jules “Mad World” (35:10)
LL Cool J “Deepest Bluest (Shark’s Fin)” (48:09)
Green Day “Brain Stew ft. Godzilla” (51:30)
Veruca Salt “Aurora” (52:30)
Pet Shop Boys “Always On My Mind” (1:05:06)
Arnold McCuller “Nowhere To Run” (1:16:32)
Aimee Mann “Wise Up (1:20:14)
Olivia Newton-John “Xanadu (feat. Electric Light Orchestra)” (1:30:02)
Oingo Boingo “Weird Science” (1:39:50)
Deep Purple “Hush” (1:46:35)
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Kogon v. Google with Sam Kogon Jun 15, 2026

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Standing at the usual Major Label Debut intersection of art and commerce, Graham is joined by musician and composer Sam Kogon to discuss the darkening sky in the shadow of the rapidly expanding “AI overpass” and how to cope with the slop dripping down from above. As a leading voice in intellectual property litigation and advocate for the protection of music creators, Sam shares his perspective on the generative AI landscape and what we lose when we abdicate creative expression to technology. Also, mock duck.
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Sam Kogon “I Could Never” (2:35)
“America” (1:13:03)
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MLD Record Club: Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds "Mutiny After Midnight" Jun 05, 2026

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In Major Label Debut - MLD News: Record Club III, Graham and John Paul discuss "Mutiny After Midnight", the physical only release from Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds.
📻🎚️
No song clips - go get it!
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Lenka - "Lenka", "Good Days" and The World of Commerical Sync Licensing May 29, 2026

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Graham is joined by accomplished singer-songwriter Lenka. They discuss her first record "Lenka", her new record "Good Days" (out today - listen now!), as well as the sometimes paradoxical intersection of authentic songwriting and commercial sync licensing. Also, tortilla bowl salads.
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Lenka “The Show” (1:36)
“Long Way Home” (17:56 )
“Unique” (18:30 )
“Good Days” (23:02)
* times probably inaccurate because of ads :(
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A Boomer Musician Vanity Extravaganza with Bret Berg of Museum of Home Video May 18, 2026

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In the second installment of the Major Label Debut Music Movie Club, Graham and John Paul are once again joined by the inimitable Bret Berg of Museum of Home Video. They discuss a trio of vanity movie projects from Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, and Bob Dylan.
Check out the trailer for Boomer Rats in the '80s!!
Tune in to the MoHV livestream tomorrow May 19th at 7:30pm PDT (10:30pm EDT)!
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Anne Richmond Boston - "I Should Be Happy" and "The Swimming Pool Q's " May 10, 2026

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Graham is joined by Anne Richmond Boston of The Swimming Pool Q's to discuss not just the Q's time on A&M records but also the puzzling story of Anne's second solo record. That album, titled "I Should Be Happy" and recorded in the early 90s, was finally released just last year after spending more than thirty years stuck on the proverbial shelf. Anne talks about rediscovering her creativity as a songwriter and musician as well as the joy of live performance. Also, water. And healthy food.
Check out Anne’s album I Should Be Happy
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Swimming Pool Qs “The Bells Ring” (1:13)
Anne Richmond Boston “Who Cares (feat. Terry Adams)” (5:48)
“Bottle Of Sleep” (11:10)
* times probably inaccurate because of ads
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MLD News: The Tom Petty x John Varvatos Collection Apr 29, 2026

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Intrepid correspondents Graham and John Paul wade into the world of fashion and discuss the Tom Petty collaboration with John Varvatos.
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Hüsker Dü - "Candy Apple Grey" with Greg Norton Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

Graham is joined Greg Norton, founding member of Hüsker Dü, to discuss the band’s album Candy Apple Grey, released in 1986 on Warner Brothers. They talk about the major label forces that pulled the band apart as well as what brought Greg back to playing music. Also, noodles, banh mi, and lots of coffee.
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Hüsker Dü “Don’t Want to Know If You Are Lonely” (1:17)
The Suicide Commandos “Attacking The Beat” (14:54)
The Bad Plus “Smells Like Teen Spirit (36:13)
The Gang Font “You Haven’t Lived Until You Have Had To Have Read Beowulf” (37:41)
UltraBomb “Time To Burn” (41:27)
“No Cap” (48:11)
Hüsker Dü “Divide and Conquer” (50:39)
*times probably inaccurate because of ads
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MLD Record Club: Charli xcx "Wuthering Heights" Apr 13, 2026

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In the second installment of the Major Label Debut [News]:- Record Club, Graham and John Paul discuss Charli xcx's "Wuthering Heights".
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Charli xcx “Out Of Myself” (8:38)
“Chains of Love” (11:41)
"House featuring John Cale” (14:37)
“Eyes Of The World featuring Sky Ferreira” (14:45)
“My Reminder” (16: 39)
*times probably inaccurate because of ads
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Sound Team - "Movie Monster" with Bill Baird Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

Graham is joined by Bill Baird to discuss what he calls the "major label cautionary tale" that is Sound Team's "Movie Monster". Released on Capitol Records in 2006, the expectations for Sound Team's major label debut were big, but creative issues with the album, questionable spending by the label, and critical reception from one particular outlet doomed not only the album, but the entire band.
Also, weird theories about eggs.
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Sound Team “Your Eyes Are Liars” (1:13)
Spoon “The Agony of Lafitte” (7:02)
Sound Team “Born To Please” (26:30)
The Walkmen “We’ve Been Had” (30:05)
Mazarin “For Energy Infinite” (30:31)
{{{ SUNSET }}} “Man’s Heart Complaint” (36:45)
Heavy Meddo “Hairpiece Horseman (feat. Britt Daniel) (60:07)
* times inaccurate because of ads
Check out Bill's truly awesome website!
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