Your favorite musician's favorite TikTok show | The Vergecast

David Pierce's Nintendo Switch Setup and Introduction to the Miniseries

• The host, David Pierce, has finally perfected his Nintendo Switch setup after needing a new game console to play new games that didn't support his PS4, and he chose the Nintendo Switch to play eafc 25 despite it being a little laggy (10s).
• He bought a new controller from Power A, but he doesn't like it and is already looking for another one, and he also bought adapters to connect the Switch to his iPad, TV, and computer monitor (58s).
• The host is now able to play eafc 25 on his Nintendo Switch anywhere with zero setup, but he wishes Nintendo would release the Switch 2 to improve his gaming experience (1m22s).
• The episode is part of a three-part miniseries about the future of music, which covers topics such as creators, policy, AI, infrastructure, and what it means to be a person in the world (1m50s).

Conversation with Jack Coin and MTV's Influence on Music

• The host is talking to Jack Coin, a creator on TikTok, about his show and the music industry, and he learned a lot from their conversation (2m17s).
• The episode is sponsored by Nissan, and the Nissan Kicks has undergone a complete transformation with a new exterior and interior design, premium features, and intelligent all-wheel drive (2m44s).
• The host shares a brief story about watching MTV in the 1990s and early 2000s, which was a major platform for music at the time (3m37s).
• MTV was a significant cultural phenomenon, particularly with its shows like "Total Request Live" (TRL) and "Carson Daily," which felt like the most important brands in the music business at the time (4m17s).
• TRL was not just a music video countdown, but also featured artists hanging out, talking about music, and sometimes guest hosting, with some episodes having little to do with music (4m52s).
• An example of a TRL episode from 2001 featured Jessica Simpson taking a quiz about music and TRL, showcasing the show's eclectic content (5m34s).

The Evolution of Music Discovery and the Rise of "Track Star"

• The way people discover and get to know new music has changed significantly over the past 20 years, with the music universe being different and more connected to artists than ever before (6m16s).
• Despite the abundance of music content available, a TikTok show called "Track Star" has gained popularity, featuring a host meeting people on the street and trying to guess the artist of a song (7m12s).
• The show "Track Star" is available on TikTok and Instagram, and its success is interesting given the current state of music content and discovery (7m23s).

The "Track Star" Show Format and its Success

• Trackstar is a popular TikTok show where the host, Jack, hands a microphone and headphones to a person, plays a song through the headphones, and the person has to guess the artist to win money, with the amount doubling each time they get it right until they get it wrong or walk away (7m39s).
• The show has gained a large following, with 400,000 followers on TikTok and 340,000 on Instagram, and features A-list guests such as Keith Urban, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Joe Jonas, Kamala Harris, Dan Reynolds, Ed Sheeran, and Olivia Rodrigo (8m18s).

Jack Coin's Background and the Creation of "Track Star"

• Jack Coin is the creator of Trackstar and a content creator who got his start working for Casey Neistat, where he learned to find stories in everyday life, especially in New York City (8m50s).
• Jack considers himself a "music guy" who likes classic rock and pop music, but did not initially set out to create music-related content (9m29s).
• Jack started a company with his brother and a friend to create social media content for brands, but also wanted to create original shows and ideas, leading to the development of Trackstar (9m44s).
• Jack had previously worked with YouTube creators and sensed an opportunity to create short-form video content on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, leading to the creation of Trackstar (10m8s).
• The company, Public Opinion, was founded with the goal of creating content that involved talking to people, and Jack wanted to create a show that would do "man on the street" type content in a more positive and respectful way (10m36s).

The Development of "Track Star" and the Choice of Music Trivia

• A trivia game show was initially created to educate people about New York City, but it was found that most people in New York don't know much about the city due to its transient nature, resulting in a low hit rate of 2 out of 10 people knowing the answers (11m9s).
• The show was then shifted to a more universal topic, public opinion, and music was chosen as the obvious answer due to its high engagement rate and the fact that TikTok is a music-driven platform (12m53s).
• Music was chosen over other options like sports or famous New Yorkers because of the high level of music conversation happening on the platforms and the fact that many videos go viral due to their attached sounds (13m24s).

The Show's Early Success and Engagement with Music Trivia

• The show's creators recognized the interest from record labels, musicians, and music management PR to attach themselves to something making waves in music on social media (13m59s).
• The show, Great Trackstar, gained 100,000 followers in its first month of existence, which is a significant achievement, especially considering the timeline of early 2023 when TikTok was still growing at an unprecedented rate (14m29s).
• The show's format involves asking people trivia questions about music, which has resulted in higher engagement rates and more exciting reactions and stories (12m58s).
• The show's creators continue to think about doing sports-related content, but music remains the primary focus due to its universal appeal and the platform's music-driven nature (13m26s).

The Universality of Music and Challenges of Song Recognition

• Music is universal, but the odds of a random person knowing the song you're currently listening to are low (14m42s).
• The top five songs in the United States at the time of recording were "Love Somebody" by Morgan Wallen, "A Bar Song" by Shabui, "Birds of a Feather" by Billy Eichner, "Die with a Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, and "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter (14m56s).
• Younger people who grew up with streaming platforms are often more playlist-oriented and artist-agnostic, making it harder to find songs they know (16m0s).
• However, some younger people are pushing back against this trend and seeking to discover older genres like classic rock (16m36s).
• Some videos featuring younger people discovering and enjoying classic rock have performed well, including one featuring a 17-year-old who loves yacht rock (16m41s).
• The internet loved a 16-year-old who appeared on the show and talked about how great yacht rock is, and he had an amazing run of songs and was funny and charismatic (17m8s).

Adapting the Show's Format and Balancing Difficulty

• The show initially used a playlist of classic songs that everyone knows, but later realized that this approach could be boring if contestants didn't know the songs (17m20s).
• Now, the show's host, Jack, will often start with a random interview and try to find a thread to pull on to keep the conversation interesting (17m59s).
• The goal of the show is for participants to do well at the game without making it suspiciously easy, striking a balance between being fun and not boring (18m11s).
• To achieve this balance, the show's creators engage in a dialogue with participants to understand their musical tastes and find songs that are meaningful to them (18m26s).
• The show often features themed episodes, such as 80s pop, which gives the video an additional narrative and helps the audience engage with the content (18m40s).
• When featuring celebrities, the show's creators research their musical influences and try to find songs that they might be familiar with, aiming to elicit a bigger reaction from them (19m5s).
• The process of creating the show is not as random and chaotic as it may seem, with careful planning and research going into each episode (19m25s).

Jack's Approach to "Man on the Street" Content and the Show's Setup

• The show's host, Jack, approaches man-on-the-street content creation by holding up a sign with a question and allowing people to approach him, rather than ambushing them with a microphone and camera (20m43s).
• This approach is a deliberate choice, as Jack prefers not to catch people off guard, and instead allows them to opt-in to participating in the show (21m7s).
• The show's concept involves a host, Jack, approaching people on the street, explaining the show, and handing them a pair of headphones and a handheld microphone to participate in an on-the-spot music guessing game, inspired by a "local news feel" and the idea of capturing the "voice of New York City" (21m29s).
• The use of headphones serves multiple purposes, including being practical for the participants, a visual signifier of being part of the game, and a branding opportunity, with the show having worked with sponsors such as Sennheiser, Bose, and Beats (22m14s).
• The show's setup is minimal, requiring only a set of Bluetooth headphones, a smartphone, and two handheld microphones, making it easy to film anywhere with almost no setup (22m58s).
• The show's design allows it to be easily transported and set up anywhere, much like other successful social shows that use simple backgrounds and minimal equipment (23m4s).

The Interactive Element of "Track Star" and its Appeal

• The show is not only entertaining for the participants but also for the viewers, who can actively participate by guessing the songs and artists, making it a game for both the participants and the audience (23m42s).
• The concept of the show is based on the idea of "guess the artist," a game that people often play when listening to the radio, and the show's creators took this concept and adapted it for social media (23m47s).
• The show's creators found that people enjoy not only watching the participants but also actively participating in the game, with many viewers commenting on the show and trying to guess the answers along with the participants (24m5s).
• The show's interactive element has been successful, with viewers engaging with the content and trying to guess the songs and artists, making it a unique and engaging experience for both the participants and the audience (24m27s).

The Unique Blend of Game Show and Celebrity Interaction

• The show Trackstar is unique in that it combines elements of a game show and a celebrity interview, making the viewer feel like they are both watching and participating simultaneously (24m38s).
• The show's mix of celebrities and regular people makes it relatable, allowing viewers to imagine themselves potentially being on the show and winning money (25m8s).
• The show's format, which involves playing a trivia game and watching strangers succeed or fail, is compelling and entertaining (25m22s).
• The show's "man on the street" content, where strangers are asked to participate in challenges, is also a key part of its appeal (25m31s).

Celebrity Appearances and Their Motivations

• Despite the show's popularity, it's not clear why big-name musicians keep appearing on it, as it's not the biggest show in the world and they may not have much to gain from it (26m0s).
• When musicians do appear on the show, they don't typically use it as an opportunity for self-promotion, instead participating in the game like any other contestant (26m29s).
• The show's celebrity appearances have all come from the celebrities themselves reaching out to the host, Jack, rather than the other way around (27m10s).
• The first artists to reach out to the show were Olivia Rodrigo and Ed Sheeran, who were likely drawn to the show's unique format and the opportunity to promote themselves on social media (27m21s).
• Appearing on social media platforms like TikTok is now a key part of the music business, and musicians see shows like Trackstar as a way to increase their visibility and promote their work (27m43s).
• Artists are willing to participate in a show without heavily promoting themselves or their work, which is unusual in today's transactional and promotional industry (28m9s).
• Keith Urban's appearance on the show is a prime example, where he barely promotes himself or his work, instead focusing on the game and interacting with the host (28m34s).
• This approach can be an effective way to promote oneself, as people are drawn to authenticity and may explore the artist's music after seeing them in a different light (29m5s).
• The show's format allows artists to connect with their audience in a candid and authentic way, without feeling too promotional (29m32s).
• Signaling relevance to platforms like TikTok and Instagram is crucial for creators, and collaborating with other creators or appearing in content with a similar focus and audience can help (29m43s).
• Authenticity is key on social media, and people gravitate towards content that feels genuine and not overly promotional (30m29s).
• The show provides a way for artists to showcase their personality and interests outside of their work, which can help build a connection with their audience (30m44s).
• Comments on the videos often express appreciation for the artists' willingness to participate without promoting themselves, and some viewers even imagine running into the artists in real life (31m5s).

The Impact of "Track Star" and Future Guest Ideas

• The vibe of the show is crucial for both the show and its guests, and it was discovered that the show "Track Star" had a significant impact on the music industry, with artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Malcolm Todd being featured on the show (31m31s).
• Olivia Rodrigo was a guest on the show and shared her experience, and it was mentioned that Malcolm Todd, an up-and-coming artist, had more views on the show than Olivia Rodrigo or Ed Sheeran (31m52s).
• The show's creator believes that even big-name celebrities like Taylor Swift or Oprah wouldn't significantly boost the show's following, but would instead provide brand equity and potentially lead to future collaborations (32m43s).
• The show's format is endlessly repeatable and works forever, and the team is working to have Taylor Swift on the show, with other ideal guests including Bruce Springsteen, Barack Obama, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr (34m16s).
• The show's creator also wants to have hip-hop artists on the show, seeing a huge opportunity for collaboration and exposure (35m13s).

Show Sponsorship, Expansion, and Future Directions

• The show took a break, and the support for the show was brought by Nissan, advertising their new city-size crossover, the Nissan Kicks (33m26s).
• The show's creator has a running list of ideal guests, including Barack Obama, who releases his own songs and playlists, and would be a fun guest to have on the show to test his musical knowledge (34m30s).
• A potential future direction for the show could be extended conversations with musicians like Nas, discussing their inspirations and favorite artists, as well as featuring non-musicians and athletes who are passionate about music, such as LeBron James (35m18s).
• The public opinion team is expanding beyond the 90-second setup on TikTok, experimenting with different formats, including a head-to-head trackstar versus competition, which is a fun way to create banter and rivalry between artists (36m4s).
• Another show, track star presents, is a performance show with conversation in between songs, similar to a tiny desk concert, with episodes released on YouTube every week or two (36m28s).
• The focus is on building a longer-form YouTube channel, with track star recently splitting from the public opinion channel to cater to different audiences (36m50s).
• The first video on the new track star YouTube channel was a five-minute conversation with Amelia Dimoldenberg from Chicken Shop Date, and the plan is to add more layers to the content, including track star presents sessions (37m12s).

Challenges of Long-Form Content and Building a YouTube Audience

• The challenge of creating long-form content is getting people to click and watch, as it's not just relying on the algorithm, and it feels like starting from scratch on YouTube due to the different consumption pattern (37m52s).
• Despite the existing audience, it feels like starting from nothing on YouTube, as the platform requires a different level of engagement and attention compared to short-form videos on TikTok (38m10s).
• The goal is to get people to watch the show on YouTube instead of other platforms like Netflix, which requires a big jump in viewer behavior (38m51s).

Jack's Role and the Importance of Vibe and Authenticity

• Jack is a key figure in the show, setting the vibe and making guests feel comfortable, often by wearing casual attire and laughing with them (39m17s).
• Jack's role is crucial in making the show work, as he demands guests to introduce themselves and creates a relaxed atmosphere (39m31s).
• The host's job is to be optimistic, kind, and make guests feel comfortable, which helps bring out positive emotions and encourages them to open up (39m56s).
• The host's personality is genuinely smiley and giggly, which helps put guests at ease and makes them more willing to talk about their lives (40m7s).

The Show's Focus on Conversation and Emotional Connection through Music

• The game show format is used as a "trojan horse" to get people to open up and talk about their lives, as they're distracted by guessing songs (40m33s).
• The host's role is influenced by their experience in making YouTube content, where they've been told that engaging with regular people is the best part of their job (40m55s).
• The show is actually more about conversation than music, with a loose musical structure, and Jack has always understood this dynamic (41m12s).
• The music chosen for the show is meant to facilitate conversation and create an emotional response from guests (41m32s).
• The host researches guests and chooses music that will resonate with them, helping to open them up and create a deeper connection (41m46s).
• The intention behind the songs is to find things that remind people of their past experiences, such as listening to music with family members or during significant events, and to evoke a sense of nostalgia (42m3s).
• The process of selecting songs involves a mix of research and educational guesses about what music people like, and sometimes the host stumbles upon songs with deeper meanings that they were not aware of (42m36s).
• The show's format allows for exploring various types of content and personal conversations, making it a unique platform for music discovery and discussion (42m55s).

Potential for a Record Label and Expanding the Show's Reach

• There have been conversations about starting a record label called Track Star Records, which could potentially release covers and discover new artists (43m7s).
• The idea behind the record label is to invest in a pool of artists and tell their story through social media, similar to the concept of the MTV show "Making the Band" (43m52s).
• The show's host believes that a competition show like "Making the Band" could work well today, especially with the added element of social media (44m11s).
• The show has an official Spotify playlist, but there is potential for it to become a more reliable source of new music and a way to make old songs cool again (44m58s).
• The host sees the show as a way to share music with others and make them discover new songs, which is a powerful position in the modern music world (45m9s).
• The goal is to play good music and help people discover new artists, with the possibility of turning this into something more substantial or meaningful in the future (45m34s).

Challenges of Song Selection and Balancing New Music with Recognizable Hits

• There are playlists on Spotify with a variety of songs, and sometimes labels or artists ask to play specific songs, but it's challenging to choose songs that are universally recognized (45m51s).
• Many times, requests are for new songs that people may not know, and it's hard to find a balance between promoting new music and playing songs that people will recognize (46m2s).

The Show's Throwback Vibe and Focus on Artist Connection

• The creator is not a music expert, but rather a storyteller who uses music as a vehicle to connect with people and talk about things they care about (46m36s).
• The show "Trackstar" is an excuse to talk to people about music and other topics they're passionate about, and it feels like a throwback to the early 2000s when music shows were more about the artists and their interests (46m40s).
• Shows like TRL and "Pop-up Video" were popular in the early 2000s and focused on making music feel like a hangout, and getting to know the artists and their inspirations (47m1s).
• The music industry has changed significantly in the past 20 years, but some things remain the same, and people are pushing back against the infinite playlisting of music by buying records and listening to full albums (47m51s).
• There's a desire for good music that's not just background noise, but rather music that's meaningful and engaging, and people are looking for new ways to connect with their favorite musicians and music (48m31s).
• Despite the changes in the music industry, people are still looking for ways to hang out with their favorite musicians and get to know them in new ways, and new platforms and hosts are emerging to meet this demand (48m42s).

The Vergecast's Future of Music Series and Listener Engagement

• The Vergecast has a series of episodes on the future of music, with two more episodes to be released this month, and they would love to hear thoughts and questions from listeners on the topic and other ideas for the show (49m34s).
• Listeners can share their thoughts, questions, and feelings by emailing vergecast@theverge.com or by calling the hotline (49m27s).
• The show is produced by Liam James, Will Poor, and Eric Gomez, and is a part of the VOX media podcast network (49m47s).
• The Vergecast will return to its regular schedule on Tuesday and Friday, covering topics such as Alexa, Apple, and more (49m54s).

Show Sponsors, Recommendations, and Closing Remarks

• The show is sponsored by Nissan, and they are promoting their new Nissan Kicks model, a city-sized crossover with a new exterior and interior design, premium features, and intelligent all-wheel drive (50m21s).
• The Nissan Kicks is designed for urban adventures and can help navigate city life, but it's essential to monitor traffic and weather conditions while driving (50m48s).
• The show's hosts recommend watching Trackstar videos, which are fun and entertaining, and suggest starting from the beginning to watch them all the way through (49m9s).
• The Vergecast team encourages listeners to share their ideas and thoughts on early 2000s era TV shows that they think should be watched again (49m22s).