Hi, Life and Art Listeners. This is Lila. Before we begin, I just want to tell you that we're running a short survey because we love to hear a little bit more about you and what you like about the show. The official incentive is anyone who takes part before August 29th will be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of Bose quiet comfort 35 wireless headphones. The unofficial draw is that we love you and we love making the show for you.

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Welcome to Life and Art from FT Weekend.

I'm Lila Raptopoulos, and this is our Friday chat show.

Today we are talking about what we're calling Pop Girl Summer.

This summer's music scene has been dominated by a wave of young women singers, including Chapel Rhone,

Charlie X, CX, and Sabrina Carpenter, alongside more name brand stars like Taylor Swift and

Billy Elish. What's interesting is that this goes against what we keep hearing, that the music

industry is so fragmented with so many people listening to different things that it's hard to achieve

real stardom, let alone start a trend. So today, we've invited two of our pop music experts on

to talk about why and how we found ourselves, in the words of Chapel Rhone, in a feminine

nominon.

I'm Lila and I try to be the chill girl, but honestly I'm not.

Joining me from London, she's H-O-T-O-G-O, and her kink is karma.

It's our wonderful music writer, Arwa H-W-H-R-A-Hater.

Hi, Arwa.

Hi, how's it going? What an introduction. I really thought I was going to get that acronym wrong, but I got through. I'm impressed you could pronounce the femininoluments. Thank you so much. Also in London, she's 666 with the Princess Streak. It is our US media correspondent, Anna Nicolao Hey, Waiwa. And I've been waiting for that one for you.

How are you? I'm perfect now that this is happening. Okay, let's get into it. I'm really thrilled that the three of us are talking about this, partially because you're a music expert on the culture

...