The Blinding Talent Music Industry Podcast with Mark Adams

In this episode, Jo — PR veteran turned artist manager for Pendulum, Knife Party, TesseracT, TRASH BOAT, Saint Agnes and more - breaks down the truth about modern artist development in a world of burnout, algorithm-chasing, and 200,000 new songs a day.From gig-obsessed teenager to navigating EDM’s U.S. explosion, to guiding Pendulum’s comeback through a pandemic, to building her own management company UNHOLY - Jo shares the real mechanics of longevity: branding that’s actually you, fan ecosystems built on intention not virality, and live shows that create impact instead of just competence.She unpacks the difference between growth and “going viral,” why the live world still fails women, and how artist managers survive the emotional, operational, and financial pressures of modern music.This conversation is hosted by Mark Adams, CEO of Blinding Talent — brand expert, strategist, and former Director of Music Programming across Bauer, Emap, and Channel 4.They explore:⬛ The early spark - music magazines, gigs & the path from journalism to PR⬛ Pendulum’s return - pandemic chaos, rebuilding momentum & selling out Ally Pally⬛ Artist management reality - boundaries, burnout & why no one should start in management⬛ Branding beyond buzzwords - authenticity, extraction & what artists get wrong⬛ Familiarity & fan psychology - why great brands feel “inevitable”⬛ Live shows that convert - technology, theatre & leaving a mark as a support act⬛ The hidden bias of live crews - microaggressions, credibility & why allyship matters⬛ The 10% rule - tastemakers, community & why real breakthrough happens offline⬛ Data that matters - core fans, superfans & why 500 people can power a career⬛ The trap of virality - growth vs. spikes, emotional resilience & artist expectations⬛ Streaming economics - value erosion, royalties & what must change⬛ AI’s real future - tools not replacements, humanity as the competitive edge⬛ The next 10 years - micro-communities, patron models & scaling intimacy⏱ Episode Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:49 Meet Joe — journalism dreams to global dance PR01:17 Discovering the magic of curation & live culture03:01 Early PR years — Swedish House Mafia, Tiësto, Marshmello & EDM’s boom05:09 The U.S. festival shock — scale, spectacle & glitter everywhere07:01 From PR to management — learning the whole machine08:59 Pendulum’s pandemic return — chaos → sold-out arenas12:06 Artist management loneliness, identity & rebuilding a roster15:46 What new managers must learn before managing17:28 Branding myths — authenticity, consistency & extraction22:30 Familiarity bias — why great branding feels like déjà vu25:05 Community, tribes & the fractured culture of 202527:04 The collapse of gatekeeping — TikTok, algorithms & equality of access28:46 The biggest artist mistake — chasing virality over growth30:54 Algorithms, expectations & why numbers don’t define success33:09 Old metrics vs new metrics — what “success” means now35:04 Live innovation — DJs, rock bands & creating unforgettable shows37:14 How emerging artists stand out on support slots39:40 Gender in live music — bias, microaggressions & real lived experience43:52 Why allyship is the real accelerator of culture change47:14 Breaking through in 2025 — finding your pocket, people & purpose49:34 The 10% that matters — influencing influencers51:12 Data, funnels & why 500 fans can fuel a career54:03 Rethinking monetisation — the real cost of undervaluing music57:01 AI realities — humanity vs soulless replication59:40 The decade ahead — micro-communities, subscriptions & sustainability1:03:00 Closing thoughtsFollow Mark Adams:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/markadamsaiFollow Blinding Talent:🌐 Website: https://www.blindingtalent.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blindingtalent📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blindingtalentinsta/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blindingtalent📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BlindingTalent🎧 Please rate, like & subscribe!Please rate, like and subscribe it really helps us get bigger and better guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Blinding Talent Music Industry Podcast – Best of 2025 🎧This episode rewinds the biggest “did they really just say that?” moments of the year—raw confessions, wild stories, honest truths and practical insights that shaped conversations across the industry.A full year of legends, disruptors and future-shapers dropping their guard and revealing how the business actually works.Hosted by Mark Adams, CEO of Blinding Talent, brand expert and industry leader with 20+ years at Bauer, Emap and Channel 4, working with major artists and global platforms including YouTube and Spotify.This Best Of explores:⬛ Kurt Cobain’s death, empathy in journalism & Eddie Vedder’s most emotional interview⬛ MTV, Seattle & the bands who held each other—and the media—together⬛ Spice Girls, Debbie Harry & Alanis: how 90s women rewired confidence and expression⬛ “Queen of Metal”: women in heavy music and the OGs today’s presenters stand on⬛ Sleep Token: anonymity, branding and why great songs come first⬛ From broken arm → Metallica’s stage: fandom turning into career moments⬛ AI as drum machine 2.0: tool vs threat in mixing, mastering & Atmos⬛ Duty of care: managers, mental health and confidence wobbles⬛ “Put your phone down”: social media as dangerously brilliant and toxic⬛ Direct-to-fan 2.0: Open Stage, data capture & owning your audience⬛ ChatGPT & sheets: predicting ticket sales and supporting artists, not replacing them⬛ AI artists & virtual stars: switching talent “off” and the ethics of synthetic personalities⬛ Sync 101: why supervisors search YouTube and how tags/moods get you placed⬛ 100+ syncs later: discovery, cross-pollination & why TV beats big-budget ads⬛ Streaming fraud & bot farms: fake plays, stolen royalties & why education matters⬛ Adele, Lady Gaga, Girls Aloud & Boyzone: showcases, risk-taking & “Top Trumps 10s”⬛ Heritage vs relevant: ageism, longevity & why great songs still cut through⬛ Kylie, Padam & queer fandom: authenticity, identity & loyalty⬛ TikTok, Gen Z & storytelling: why emotion beats trends⏱ Episode Timestamps:00:00 Intro – Why a Best of 202501:02 Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder & the interview that changed everything04:25 Band support & fan loyalty06:02 Spice Girls, Debbie Harry & 90s empowerment09:05 Queen of Metal & women in heavy music11:10 The phone call that led to MTV13:22 Discovering Sleep Token17:05 Metallica cassettes → stage moments20:18 AI as tool, not replacement24:05 AI vs human engineers27:16 Sobriety & industry addiction31:10 Duty of care & check-ins34:02 Social media & mental health37:40 Direct-to-fan & Open Stage41:03 ChatGPT & revenue projections45:00 Virtual AI talent ethics48:15 Sync basics & YouTube52:02 100 syncs later55:30 Streaming fraud59:05 Adele, Gaga & Girls Aloud1:03:12 Boyzone & solo success1:07:25 Kylie, Padam & ageism1:10:40 Queer fandom & authenticity1:14:22 TikTok & emotion-led storytelling1:18:05 Young voices in the room1:21:00 Closing thoughts & communityFollow Mark Adams:LinkedIn – /markadamsaiFollow Blinding Talent:⬛ Learn more – www.blindingtalent.com⬛ LinkedIn – /blindingtalent⬛ Instagram – /blindingtalentinsta⬛ TikTok – /blindingtalent⬛ YouTube – @BlindingTalentPlease rate, like and subscribe it really helps us get bigger and better guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Class, NOT Race, is Music’s Biggest GatekeeperIn 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.They explore:⬛ “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?⏱ Episode Timestamps:00:49 Meet Roman & his 20-year journey across radio, DSPs & labels01:17 Tape decks to Zane Lowe — falling in love with curation03:58 Mr. Brightside & the MiniDisc that led to the first UK Killers interview06:24 Early 6 Music - learning story, pace & audience-first formats09:55 Broadcast lessons for TikTok & Reels (hooks, narrative, payoff)13:05 Radio 1 handover from Zane Lowe - pinch-me moments16:20 Race, class & the room - being “the only Black person” and why class bites harder27:36 Case study: songwriter Gia Ford - in-studio moments that land30:06 What great artists share - work ethic, songs, and vulnerability36:33 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 follows44:49 Metrics that matter - saves, streams/listener, 28-day engagement51:01 Catalog prompts to fandom - Stranger Things, The Clash & conversion53:33 “New music” that’s old - how trends resurface (Paul Hardcastle’s Rainforest)57:27 Label culture - RAYE’s blueprint & independence done right59:46 If Roman had a magic wand - unbundling power & backing the art1:01:04 AI’s fork in the road - bots, fake bands & the future of streamingFollow Mark Adams:🔗 LinkedInFollow Blinding Talent:🌐 Website💼 LinkedIn📸 Instagram🎵 TikTok📺 YouTube🎧 Please rate, like & subscribePlease rate, like and subscribe it really helps us get bigger and better guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Intro00:37 From Norfolk kid to major-label teen act04:59 Freuds, SMTV/CD:UK & winning the room07:21 Building lifelong trust with Ant & Dec13:06 The 1D movie premiere—organising mayhem16:45 Albums matter: how fanbases actually form22:03 Louise’s comeback and industry snobbery26:02 Breaking solo careers post-group: authenticity first31:24 What PR really does (and doesn’t) do37:04 Mighty Hoopla, queer credibility & community39:10 Managing The Vivienne, Bimini & Tia Kofi—find your lane45:02 Advocacy that moves the needle50:27 Fans, hot takes & avoiding PR own-goals55:03 The next 10 years: streaming shifts & AI red lines59:00 Closing thoughtsFollow 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 - @BlindingTalentPlease rate, like and subscribe — it really helps us bring you bigger and better guests.Please rate, like and subscribe it really helps us get bigger and better guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

⚠️ 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 Intro02:11 Why “going viral” is NOT a strategy06:42 The rise of bad music through TikTok11:20 Why labels should listen to young people in the room16:45 Followers vs. fans — what really matters22:05 Why daily TikTok posting is killing artistry28:19 How Gen Z discover music differently35:10 Radio’s role in 2025 and beyond42:17 Why every new artist needs a fresh formula49:02 Community vs. clout, the future of fandom54:48 Closing thoughtsFollow 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/Please rate, like and subscribe it really helps us get bigger and better guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.