Billboard is launching Up & Coming With Kyle Denis, a weekly video podcast focused on the career stories of rising musicians. The series is produced in partnership with SickBird Productions and will debut on Nov. 10 across podcast platforms.
The first episode features alt-pop singer-songwriter Bella Kay. Recorded in Midtown Manhattan, it explores her rise following the release of “The Sick” and “iloveitiloveitiloveit,” her experience with social media virality, and her journey from college coffeehouse performances to opening for Noah Kahan in stadiums. Kay also discusses making her debut album, My Reckless Abandon.
Kay’s “iloveitiloveitiloveit” reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. Her album, co-written with collaborator Alexis “Idarose” Kesselman, peaked at No. 14 on Top Alternative Albums and had accumulated more than 385 million official on-demand streams through Oct. 31, according to Luminate. Kay was also nominated for best new artist at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Emerging Artists chart.
The podcast builds on Billboard’s “Up & Comer of the Month” franchise and plans to feature artists from pop, country, dancehall, R&B and other genres. Denis, who joined Billboard in 2023, will host. He said the show aims to give context to emerging artists’ influences, beginnings and ambitions, rather than focusing only on viral moments or hit songs.
SickBird Productions, founded by Jade Watson, will co-produce the series. Billboard and SickBird previously worked together on the music business podcast On The Record With Kristin Robinson, launched in 2025. Up & Coming With Kyle Denis will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, with updates on Instagram and TikTok.
Sources: Billboard.