The Blinding Talent Music Industry Podcast with Mark Adams

What does it really take to build a rock legend?In this episode of The Blinding Talent Podcast, Mark Adams sits down with Steve Tannett, Director of Marshall Records, former artist manager, record executive, and one of the music industry's most experienced talent spotters.Steve's journey began in the heart of the UK punk explosion, playing alongside the era that produced bands such as The Clash, The Damned and the Sex Pistols before being discovered by legendary music manager Miles Copeland. Since then, he has worked with some of the biggest names in music, including The Police, Sting, R.E.M., Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi, Ronnie James Dio, Duran Duran, Nova Twins and The Molotovs.Together, Mark and Steve discuss:▪️ The reality of the UK punk scene in the 1970s▪️ Being discovered by Miles Copeland and signing his first record deal▪️ Working with The Police, Sting, Black Sabbath and R.E.M.▪️ How Marshall Records was launched▪️ The qualities every great artist and future rock legend shares▪️ The rise of The Molotovs and Nova Twins▪️ Why grassroots music venues are essential for the future of music▪️ Artist development, A&R and spotting talent before anyone else▪️ The impact of AI on the music industry▪️ Why live music, vinyl and human connection still matterThis conversation is packed with stories, lessons and insights from over 45 years in the music business, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at artist development, record labels, management and the future of rock music.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:00 Steve Tannett's Punk Rock Beginnings04:00 Getting Signed by Miles Copeland08:00 Building Marshall Records13:00 What Makes a True Rock Legend?19:00 The Rise of The Molotovs24:00 A&R Instincts and Signing Artists29:00 The Alarm and Early Success34:00 The Police, Miles Copeland and Taking Risks40:00 Why Grassroots Venues Matter46:00 Nova Twins, Download Festival & The Future of Rock49:00 AI, Live Music and the Next 10 Years54:00 Final Thoughts🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.📺 Watch the full video on YouTube.👍 If you enjoyed the episode, please like and subscribe.🔔 Follow The Blinding Talent Podcast for more conversations with artists, managers, agents, A&R executives and music industry leaders shaping the future of music.

Is radio still the greatest music platform ever created?In this episode of the Blinding Talent Music Industry Podcast, Mark Adams sits down with one of UK radio’s most respected figures - Jo Hart, founder of Hart Media and a radio plugger with over 36 years in the music industry.Across her career, Jo has helped secure radio success for an incredible list of artists including Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nick Cave, Jamie Cullum, Enter Shikari and many more.Together, Mark and Jo unpack the real power of radio in modern music marketing - from BBC Introducing and community radio through to national playlists, tastemaker DJs and the role radio still plays alongside streaming, TikTok and social media.They discuss BBC Introducing, tastemaker DJs, streaming vs radio, TikTok, AI, and how artists like Adele, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Olivia Dean and Myles Smith were built over time - proving that lasting careers are rarely created by one viral moment alone.They also explore:Why radio was the original algorithmWhat makes a true “radio record”Why one viral moment won’t build a lasting careerThe role of human tastemakers in an AI-driven worldWhy hearing your song on the radio still feels magicalIf you’re an artist, manager, label or music marketer trying to understand how records actually break in 2026 — this episode is packed with real-world insight from two people who’ve spent decades at the coalface of music discovery.Follow Blinding Talent:Instagram: @blindingtalentinstaTikTok: @blindingtalentWebsite: blindingtalent.com#MusicIndustry #RadioPlugger #BBCIntroducing #MusicMarketing #SpotifyGrowth #ArtistDevelopment #MusicBusiness #Podcast #BlindingTalent #RadioPromotion

In this episode of the Blinding Talent Music Industry Podcast, Mark Adams sits down with Judd Lander - a true industry insider whose career spans over six decades of music history.From the Cavern Club in Liverpool to working with ABBA, Culture Club, Spice Girls, Annie Lennox, Prince and more, Judd has been part of some of the most iconic moments in music - often by accident, always by instinct.From creating the harmonica on Karma Chameleon in under 30 minutes…to working behind the scenes at the BRIT Awards for over 20 years… to navigating the shift from the 60s music scene to today’s AI-driven industry… This is a rare, honest perspective on how the music industry really works - from someone who’s lived it.IN THIS EPISODEHow The Beatles inspired Judd’s journey into musicThe story behind Karma Chameleon (and how quickly it came together)What artists like Michael Jackson, ABBA and Prince were really like behind the scenesInside the BRIT Awards and capturing iconic momentsThe evolution of PR, radio and artist developmentThe reality of being an artist in today’s landscapeAI, streaming and the future of musicKEY MOMENTS1:14 – From The Beatles to Ed Sheeran: Judd’s career journey2:00 – Liverpool, The Cavern Club & early beginnings11:30 – First encounters with The Beatles22:00 – The Karma Chameleon story (created in minutes)25:40 – Spice Girls studio moment30:00 – 21 years inside The BRIT Awards32:00 – Amy Winehouse moment36:30 – Prince & what makes a true musician38:00 – What Michael Jackson was really like42:00 – ABBA: the reality behind the hits49:00 – AI in music: opportunity vs risk1:00:10 – The Jeff Beck storyWHY THIS MATTERSIf you're an artist, manager, or building a career in music, this episode gives you something rare:→ Perspective across decades→ Real industry insight (not theory)→ A clearer understanding of what actually builds careersABOUT BLINDING TALENTBlinding Talent helps artists grow with clarity, not noise.Social • Spotify • Strategy • ManagementBuilt on over two decades at the coalface of the music industry.👉 Learn more: www.blindingtalent.comFOLLOW THE PODCASTFor more real conversations with people who’ve helped shape the music industry.

Jacqui Quaife has worked at the heart of the UK music industry for over four decades — from running the Spandau Ballet fan club in the 80s to leading TV promotions at Syco, BMG and Sony Music for artists including One Direction, Westlife, Little Mix, Prince, Beyoncé and Britney Spears.In this episode, Jacqui shares what really happens behind the scenes of pop stardom.What was Simon Cowell actually like behind closed doors?How did One Direction build global fandom before TikTok and streaming?What was the pressure like during Prince’s “symbol” era?We explore music PR, TV promotion strategy, reality TV, X Factor, burnout, overexposure and how the music business has evolved from fan mail to social media.This is a rare inside look at how pop stars are built - and what it costs to sustain fame.In this episode00:00 – Working with Prince, Beyoncé & global icons01:13 – How it all started: Spandau Ballet fan club04:03 – Fan clubs vs social media: what really changed06:58 – Breaking into PR: Ferret & Spanner09:23 – First major breakthrough: East 1710:43 – Building Westlife before social media15:23 – Prince’s “symbol” era chaos behind the scenes17:40 – Reality TV: Pop Idol, X Factor & the snobbery debate22:08 – What Simon Cowell was really like24:09 – Did Little Mix outgrow the “girl band” label?26:31 – The rise of One Direction29:22 – “The fandom was outrageous. Scarily so.”32:18 – The work rate, the burnout & the human cost36:30 – The emotional final moments of One Direction38:09 – Being a woman in the music industry45:34 – The Johnny Depp story49:39 – The future of music, AI & staying humanFollow / ConnectIf you enjoyed this episode:🔔 Subscribe on YouTube🎙 Follow on Spotify📲 Follow Blinding Talent on Instagram📲 Follow Blinding Talent on TikTok🌍 Visit: blindingtalent.com📩 Email: industry@blindingtalent.comJoin the conversation and be part of the community.

In this episode, Stephen Budd — British music executive, artist & producer manager, festival creator, and cultural entrepreneur - shares what he’s learned from four decades inside the music industry, and why the future belongs to artists who build real momentum, real relationships, and real community.From his first paid gig as a 15-year-old roadie at Motörhead’s first ever gig, to pressing DIY 7” singles and walking into Rough Trade, to managing Tony Visconti and helping shape events like The Great Escape, Stephen breaks down the practical reality of building careers - not through “hacks,” but through tenacity, timing, and fan connection.He also delivers straight-talking “hot takes” on AI-generated music flooding DSPs, what streaming platforms should do about monetisation, the social media paradox for musicians, and what record labels are actually for in 2026.This conversation is hosted by Mark Adams, CEO, Founder of Blinding Talent and former Channel 4 Music boss with over 20 years music industry experience.They explore:⬛ Early hustle - roadie life, punk-era survival, learning every job on the road⬛ DIY label beginnings - pressing 7” singles, Rough Trade, and old-school discovery routes⬛ Direct-to-fan before DMs - the 15,000-fan phone call story and why it still works⬛ Producer power - Tony Visconti, studios, and pioneering producer management⬛ The Great Escape - why it worked, how booking really happens, and what artists need⬛ Momentum & metrics - signals bookers look for (team, shows, buzz, and credibility)⬛ AI & streaming - why “bots shouldn’t earn money” and what DSPs must change⬛ Labels today - when they help, when to go independent, and scaling internationally⬛ The next 10 years - grassroots venues, copyright battles, and deeper fan relationships⏱ Episode Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:07 First paid gig — roadie at Motörhead’s first ever gig03:00 DIY to “industry” — starting a label at 1904:09 Rough Trade moment — 500 copies sold in one meeting07:51 Direct-to-fan marketing — flyers, data capture, and breaking a record12:06 Tony Visconti — knocking on the door and building a partnership15:22 Producer management — studios, overheads, and finding new clients16:00 Arthur Baker & Junior Vasquez — New York mission + remix era economics18:07 SuperVision — new management model at the dawn of the internet20:30 ChannelFly / Barfly — merging businesses and entering live venues23:52 The Great Escape — why it became the UK’s essential showcase28:29 Getting booked — agents, gatekeeping, and what matters31:03 Key metrics — what bookers look for (shows, buzz, team, real momentum)35:01 AI hot take — flooding DSPs, monetisation, and the “bots shouldn’t earn money” argument38:17 Social media — necessary, dangerous, and how to make it feel authentic41:29 Labels — what they’re actually for now43:44 Advice to younger Stephen — work only with music you truly love45:33 The next 10 years — venues, copyright, and direct fan-to-artist revenue49:30 What’s coming — “robot street teams” and scalable intimacy50:38 ClosingFollow Mark Adams:🔗 LinkedIn: / markadamsaiFollow Blinding Talent:🌐 Website: https://www.blindingtalent.com💼 LinkedIn: / blindingtalent📸 Instagram: / blindingtalentinsta🎵 TikTok: / blindingtalent📺 YouTube: / @blindingtalent🎧 Please rate, like & subscribe!

In this episode, Mental Health Expert Lauren Reading-Gloversmith - former music publicist and artist manager turned person-centred experiential counsellor - shares what she’s learned from a decade on the frontline of alternative music, and why support for creatives shouldn’t begin only when you’re in crisis.From discovering her local scene as a teenager (“grayscale to colour”), to promoting and managing artists, to retraining as a counsellor during COVID, Lauren breaks down the real pressures behind the industry: identity confusion, burnout, comparison culture, and the always-on demands of social media.She also unpacks the emerging role of AI in mental health - what it might help with, what it can’t replace, and why safeguarding and human relationship still matter.This conversation is hosted by Mark Adams, Founder of Blinding Talent, a leading UK management and marketing agency.They explore:⬛ DIY roots - finding the scene, putting on gigs & learning by doing⬛ PR → management - why “industry connector” is the real job⬛ Burnout & early warning signs - emotional, physical, relational & creative shifts⬛ Therapy as self-care - not just for crisis moments⬛ Identity & boundaries - onstage/offstage roles and lifestyle careers⬛ Social media pressure - authenticity vs obligation (and TikTok fatigue)⬛ AI & counselling - tools, risks, ethics and safeguarding⬛ The next 10 years - keeping wellbeing and humanity at the centre⏱ Episode Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:06 Meet Lauren - finding the alternative scene04:08 First gigs & the community feeling05:50 Putting on shows & DIY promotion08:45 From “let me in” to PR10:43 From publicity to management13:45 COVID, trauma & discovering therapy16:06 Speak To Lauren - counselling for creatives17:43 Mental health in music: what’s changed20:43 Early signs to watch for (your “mental garden”)22:52 Common misconceptions about counselling25:23 Individuality, community & connection33:26 Social media - good, bad, and pressure on artists41:06 AI - benefits, dangers, and ethics45:02 Is the industry taking mental health seriously?46:28 The future - wellbeing, VR and human contact51:12 Closing thoughtsSpeak To Lauren:🌐 Website: https://www.speaktolauren.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speak_to_lauren📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/speaktolaurenLauren offers a free 20-minute exploratory call.Further support (UK):In an emergency, call 999 or go to A&E. If you need urgent mental health support, call NHS 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk. Call Samaritans on 116 123, or text SHOUT to 85258.Follow Mark Adams:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markadamsai/Follow 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!