Class, NOT Race, is Music’s Biggest Gatekeeper

In this episode, Roman Tagoe - radio producer turned Director of Streaming at Chrysalis - pulls back the curtain on what actually moves the needle in music: audience-first storytelling over vanity metrics, intent over raw streams, and patient community-building over playlist sugar rushes.

From producing shows at BBC Radio 1 & 6 Music, to leading DSP strategy at Deezer and Napster, and now steering streaming for one of the UK’s most storied indie labels, Roman Tagoe shares how class, access, curation, and AI are reshaping the music industry (for better and worse).

Hosted by Mark Adams, CEO of Blinding Talent, brand expert, and industry leader with 20 years’ experience at Radio and TV (Channel 4) - working with global artists and brands including YouTube and Spotify.

⬛ “It’s class, not race” - access, privilege & getting in the room

⬛ MiniDiscs, Mr. Brightside & the student-radio break that changed everything

⬛ 6 Music to Radio 1 - how broadcast crafts story, pace & audience-first thinking

⬛ Playlists ≠ careers - building heat and community outside DSPs

⬛ Independent vs major - access, advantage & why the race isn’t fair

⬛ Catalog that converts - Clash, Kate Bush, Paul Hardcastle & TikTok funnels

⬛ Content that works - authenticity, consistency & native storytelling

⬛ Label culture in 2025 - artist freedom, RAYE’s reset & hot takes

⬛ AI futures - bots, deepfakes & “Velvet Sundown”: make or ruin streaming?

00:49 Meet Roman & his 20-year journey across radio, DSPs & labels

01:17 Tape decks to Zane Lowe — falling in love with curation

03:58 Mr. Brightside & the MiniDisc that led to the first UK Killers interview

06:24 Early 6 Music - learning story, pace & audience-first formats

09:55 Broadcast lessons for TikTok & Reels (hooks, narrative, payoff)

13:05 Radio 1 handover from Zane Lowe - pinch-me moments

16:20 Race, class & the room - being “the only Black person” and why class bites harder

27:36 Case study: songwriter Gia Ford - in-studio moments that land

30:06 What great artists share - work ethic, songs, and vulnerability

36:33 How streaming teams really work now (and why NMF isn’t the win you think)

41:59 Build heat off-platform - socials, live, press → then streaming follows

44:49 Metrics that matter - saves, streams/listener, 28-day engagement

51:01 Catalog prompts to fandom - Stranger Things, The Clash & conversion

53:33 “New music” that’s old - how trends resurface (Paul Hardcastle’s Rainforest)

57:27 Label culture - RAYE’s blueprint & independence done right

59:46 If Roman had a magic wand - unbundling power & backing the art

1:01:04 AI’s fork in the road - bots, fake bands & the future of streaming

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The music business loves a shortcut—but real careers are built, not hacked. In this episode, award-winning publicist and manager Simon pulls back the curtain on how pop stars are actually broken: persistence over “promo stunts,” ruthless focus over doing “everything,” and authenticity over algorithm-chasing.

From being a teenage major-label signing to running PR for SMTV/CD:UK, stewarding Ant & Dec for decades, riding the One Direction juggernaut, relaunching Louise into the Top 10, championing RAYE, and elevating queer culture through Mighty Hoopla and Drag Race UK stars The Vivienne, Bimini and Tia Kofi—Simon shares the playbook (and the pitfalls) of modern fame.

This conversation is hosted by Mark Adams, CEO of Blinding Talent, brand expert, and music industry leader with 20 years’ experience at Bauer, Emap, and Channel 4, working with major artists and global brands including YouTube and Spotify.

Together they explore:

⬛ From “flop pop star” to powerhouse PR: using early failure as fuel

⬛ The SMTV/CD:UK effect—why rooms, not emails, build careers

⬛ Ant & Dec: how trust, time and team culture create national treasures

⬛ One Direction’s Leicester Square takeover—what scale really feels like

⬛ Singles vs albums: why bodies of work still build fanbases

⬛ Louise’s return: beating ageism, ditching the “heritage act” box

⬛ RAYE’s rise: the public roots for authenticity (and album freedom)

⬛ Labels, risk and reality—why “more PR” ≠ “more streams”

⬛ Queer fandom = credibility: Mighty Hoopla and the pop ecosystem

⬛ Drag Race to mainstream: pick a lane, then kick down the door

⬛ Hot takes hurt: why pausing before posting is a superpower

⬛ AI futures: deepfakes, dead icons and the lines Simon won’t cross

⏱ Episode Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:37 From Norfolk kid to major-label teen act

04:59 Freuds, SMTV/CD:UK & winning the room

07:21 Building lifelong trust with Ant & Dec

13:06 The 1D movie premiere—organising mayhem

16:45 Albums matter: how fanbases actually form

22:03 Louise’s comeback and industry snobbery

26:02 Breaking solo careers post-group: authenticity first

31:24 What PR really does (and doesn’t) do

37:04 Mighty Hoopla, queer credibility & community

39:10 Managing The Vivienne, Bimini & Tia Kofi—find your lane

45:02 Advocacy that moves the needle

50:27 Fans, hot takes & avoiding PR own-goals

55:03 The next 10 years: streaming shifts & AI red lines

59:00 Closing thoughts

Follow Mark Adams:

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Blinding Talent:

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⚠️ WARNING: The music industry is chasing TikTok virality and it’s killing real artistry. Jacob Rickard reveals why labels are panicking, how Gen Z really discovers music, and why forcing artists to make content could destroy careers before they start.

Jacob Rickard is one of the most influential figures in music discovery today. Formerly a Music lead at Radio 1 and now a Gen Z strategist, he has worked with the biggest artists in the world and has been at the centre of how radio, streaming, and social media shape the charts.

This conversation is hosted by Mark Adams, CEO of Blinding Talent, brand expert, and music industry leader with 20 years’ experience at Bauer, Emap, and Channel 4, working with major artists and global brands including YouTube and Spotify.

Together they explore:

⬛ Why virality isn’t a strategy (and why TikTok is breaking bad music into the charts)

⬛ How Gen Z treat all music as “new music” no matter when it was made

⬛ Why labels are failing by ignoring their youngest staff

⬛ How followers are not the same as fans and why community beats clout

⬛ Why forcing artists to post daily content is killing creativity

⬛ How radio still breaks artists but doesn’t make them cool anymore

⬛ Why the next big artist will break every formula you think you know

⏱ Episode Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:11 Why “going viral” is NOT a strategy

06:42 The rise of bad music through TikTok

11:20 Why labels should listen to young people in the room

16:45 Followers vs. fans — what really matters

22:05 Why daily TikTok posting is killing artistry

28:19 How Gen Z discover music differently

35:10 Radio’s role in 2025 and beyond

42:17 Why every new artist needs a fresh formula

49:02 Community vs. clout, the future of fandom

54:48 Closing thoughts

Follow Mark Adams:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markadamsai/

Blinding Talent:

⬛ Learn more here - www.blindingtalent.com

⬛ Follow on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blindingtalent

⬛ Follow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blindingtalentinsta/

⬛ Follow on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@blindingtalent

⬛ Subscribe on YouTube - @BlindingTalent

Follow Jacob Rickard:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobrickard/

Lemontank - https://www.lemontank.com/

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From singing drunk at the pub to landing 100+ sync deals, a global hit written in under 30 minutes, and major label bidding wars — Sam Jack’s journey is pure music industry magic. 🎶🔥

In this episode, Sam shares his unfiltered story — from his South African musical roots and early gigs, to the unexpected Spotify explosion that changed everything. Packed with insider tips for artists, emotional turning points, and viral-worthy moments, this is a must-watch for anyone chasing a dream in music.

📌 Highlights:

0:06 – The overnight Spotify spike that changed his life

0:51 – Lewis Capaldi industry pressure story

1:06 – Nearly 100 syncs (and how)

1:18 – Writing a global hit in 30 minutes

1:36 – Musical roots in South Africa

4:32 – Singing in Zulu, Xhosa, Swahili & Afrikaans at school

18:59 – From chef to hitmaker

32:20 – The waterfall of major label emails

38:01 – The trumpet hook that went viral without his name

48:04 – YouTube sync discovery hack

1:06:23 – Why songwriters deserve points

1:23:35 – Best advice: Perseverance

🎧 Listen on Spotify/Apple: https://blindingtalent.online/music-industry-podcast

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Legendary A&R Colin Barlow sits down with Blinding Talent CEO Mark Adams and reveals how he signed Girls Aloud, chased the Yeah Yeah Yeahs across continents, and worked with icons like Beyoncé, Pharrell, and Justin Timberlake. Raw stories, real lessons, and music business gold. “Songs are everything.” A must-listen for artists, managers, and fans.

He discussed:

• The Relentless Importance of the Song
• Gut Instinct vs. Data in A&R
• Artist Development Takes Time
• Eclecticism as an A&R Superpower
• The Cultural Shift in Pop: From Polished to Wonky

Timecodes

02:00 Colin celebrates Skeelo’s iconic single and how even brief success can hold lasting impact.

3:05 From UB40 to early cover decisions, Colin explains the timeless power of reimagined music.

5:05 How a call about a Newcastle band sparked the Wildcard label—and birthed The Lighthouse Family.

9:10 Listening to UB40, Depeche Mode, hard rap, and beyond gave Colin the edge in spotting diverse hits.

10:15 Discusses genre tribes, fashion as identity (camouflage, baseball caps), and discovering vocal powerhouses like Dina Carroll.

12:20 From being ANR for Boyzone to shepherding Ronan's solo career, including “Life’s a Rollercoaster”—one of Colin’s proudest hits.

15:00 Signing the Yeah Yeah Yeahs changed Polydor’s reputation and opened doors to alt-rock and crossover acts.

18:20 The bold signing that unlocked a wave of alternative influencers like Snow Patrol and Scissor Sisters.

20:10 Praises Sam Fender's songwriting, authenticity, and potential to be “the UK Springsteen”.

22:00 Colin reveals he shaped Sound of the Underground from day one, embracing odd beats and daring creative vision.

23:30 Why great songs penetrate—regardless of origin. The golden rule: find your unicorn songs.

25:15 A crucial reminder that instant viral hits rarely build sustainable artist careers.

27:00 Tributes to Diane Warren, Paloma Faith, Gary Barlow, and true artist identities.

31:00 How Bring Me The Horizon and other acts that found massive streaming success without mainstream exposure.

33:00 The story of The Wanted’s school tour army redefining gatekeepers' decisions.

36:00 Argues against stats-first approach, advocating for belief, instinct, and long-term development.

40:30 From Beyoncé and Alicia Keys to Justin Timberlake—“Americans do it better” in production and precision.

44:15 A warm anecdote about sending Bowie a Golden‑Years rug—and getting a signed, quirky note back.

47:00 Reflections on Bowie and Prince’s fearless trial-and-error and artistic courage.

49:00 How RCA won a chart war, embraced Pharrell, and rode that joyful wave globally.

51:00 Memories from filming Eminem and Dr Dre and the enduring impact of The Defiant Ones documentary.

53:00 Critique of homogenisation in music and film, urging confidence and independence in artistic decisions.

55:00 How great A&R work requires being a psychologist, cultural curator, and song-shape shifter.

57:00 The demo that became Take That’s comeback single—pure A&R instinct in action.

60:00 Lessons about reunions and the pitfalls of missing original members for legacy acts.

62:00 From AI-powered Elvis concerts to how technology might bring Bowie & Beatles back to stages.

64:15 Colin warns against losing institutional memory and urges mentorship for next-gen music execs.

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About this Episode: Join us for an unforgettable conversation with Sol Parker, legendary UK live music agent and major figure in the music industry. Sol has helped shape the careers of The Prodigy, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Take That, Steps, Westlife, and many more. From his early days growing up around nightclubs and arcades in North Wales to representing some of the world's biggest acts, Sol shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories, valuable career advice, and the realities of surviving in the fast-changing world of live music.

Highlights include:

🎤 Working with iconic artists like The Prodigy, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Take That.

🎸 Sol’s unforgettable career moments — including tea with Kurt Cobain!

🎟️ How the live music industry evolved from the ‘90s to today.

❌ The power of saying "NO" – and how The Prodigy refused to appear on Top of the Pops.

🚀 The critical importance of songs vs. brand for new artists.

📲 How TikTok and social media changed artist discovery forever.

📈 The essential role of fan engagement and building a loyal audience.

🏆 The challenges independent artists face today — and practical tips for success.

🤒 A fascinating dive into the future of live music and music marketing post-COVID.

👥 The rise of stadium tours and why live music is booming again.

🎶 Advice for aspiring musicians: How to land those dream support slots.

Perfect for:

Musicians | Managers | Industry Pros | Live Agents | Aspiring Artists | Music Fans

📢 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more exclusive interviews with industry experts!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major streaming platforms.

Follow Blinding Talent Podcast:

🔗 Listen: https://blindingtalent.online/the-blinding-talent-music-industry-podcast

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🔗 Website: www.blindingtalent.com

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In this unfiltered, emotional, and wildly insightful episode, Blinding Talent CEO and former Channel 4 Director of Music, Mark Adams sits down with powerhouse manager and label boss Jamie Osman for a deep-dive into his journey from a 15-year-old record store clerk to managing arena-selling bands. They unpack the highs of music industry success, the chaos of self-doubt, substance abuse, and the pressure to "always level up."

From sobering truths about addiction in music to game-changing conversations around mental health, fan engagement, and why social media might be your worst enemy — this episode doesn’t just talk about the music industry; it challenges it.

Whether you’re an artist, a manager, or a curious fan — this is the conversation the industry didn’t know it needed.

🚀 Topics Covered in This Episode:

✅ His humble beginnings working in a record store at 15

✅ Mental health struggles in an industry fuelled by pressure, alcohol, and perfectionism

✅ What artists get wrong about streaming, social media & building fanbases

✅ Why accountability, CRM tools, and sober living changed everything

✅ Hilarious “pinch me” moments with Incubus and festival planes full of rock legends

⚡ Whether you're a musician, music manager, or industry insider, this episode is JAMMED with real talk, raw truths, and smart strategies for surviving and thriving in the biz.

Trigger Warning: Includes discussions of addiction, mental health, and grief.

📢 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more exclusive interviews with industry experts!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major streaming platforms.

Follow Blinding Talent Podcast:

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#MusicIndustry #JamieOsman #ArtistManagement #IndependentMusic #MentalHealthInMusic #BuryTomorrow #EasyLifeRecords #MusicPodcast #SpotifyTips #RockAndRollMoments #RecordLabelLife

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Independent Music Industry Insights: Adele, BTS, Super Fans & The Future of Streaming | The Blinding Talent Music Industry Podcast 🎧🔥

#MusicIndustry #Adele #BTS #Streaming #IndependentArtists #TuneCore #BlindTalentPodcast

This week on the Blinding Talent Music Industry Podcast, host Mark Adams sits down with Sarah Wilson, a powerhouse in the music industry who has worked with Adele, BTS, Radiohead, Jungle, and Hot Chip. Currently leading one of the world's biggest independent music distribution platforms, TuneCore, Sarah shares her incredible journey from journalism to artist development, offering invaluable insights into music distribution, super fans, and the future of streaming.

🚀 Topics Covered in This Episode:

🔹 Sarah's experience working with Adele from the very beginning

🔹 The evolution of streaming and independent music distribution

🔹 How artists like BTS have leveraged super fans for success

🔹 Advice for independent artists looking to grow their careers

🔹 The rise of AI, streaming fraud, and the role of fan engagement

🔹 Women in the music industry and how the landscape has changed

🔥 Key Takeaways for Independent Artists:

🎶 How to choose the right music distributor (TuneCore vs. DistroKid, Ditto, CD Baby, etc.)

📈 The real impact of streaming numbers and whether they should be public

🤝 The role of fan engagement & community building in an artist’s career

💡 How social media & streaming platforms shape music marketing today

If you're an independent artist, music executive, or just love the behind-the-scenes of the music business, this episode is a MUST-LISTEN!

📢 Don't forget to FOLLOW for more exclusive interviews with industry experts!

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all major streaming platforms.

Follow The Blinding Talent Podcast:

🔗 Listen: https://blindingtalent.online/the-blinding-talent-music-industry-podcast

🔗 Instagram: www.instagram.com/BlindingTalentInsta

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🔗 Website: www.blindingtalent.com

#MusicBusiness #IndependentArtists #Spotify #MusicStreaming #AIMusic #MusicMarketing #ArtistSuccess #WomenInMusic #MusicDistribution

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