Tell me a little bit about yourself and your background?

I currently run a broadcast media and events agency called GetOnMedia which really does what it says on the tin. We work with a range of organisations from the BBC, Spotify, Amazon, Sony, Dolby, Global, and YouTube to name a few. We also specialise in music brand licences and deliver live broadcast concerts outside the UK working with local tourism authorities. One of our largest being a 12,000-capacity outdoor annual show with the BBC Concert Orchestra in Valletta, Malta.      

You have an extensive background in working in events, including your role as the head of all BBC Radio events, and director of Prime Live Events, what initially drew you to start a career in hosting events?

I really fell into live events when I was promoting music gigs with new bands in pubs, clubs, and bars whilst I was at University in London. I then moved from that to working as a promoter in venues and at major festivals such as Reading and Leeds Festival, working for the organisation that is now called Festival Republic. From there I moved to BBC Radio 1, became head of the station’s events – and then ultimately before I left I was head of events for all of BBC Radio.       

Can you share some of the biggest challenges in your career and how you managed to overcome them?

Biggest challenges have always been the ultimate priority for the safety of people attending events. For context, I was responsible for the delivery of major shows in the UK such as Radio 1’s Big Weekend, or BBC Radio 2 in Hyde Park, that’s a big responsibility with thousands of people on site. You can live with a blip here and there with the everyday running of a show, but people’s health and welfare are of course another story. I’ve had bomb threats at a show where Prince William and Kate were in attendance, through to major crowd issues with screaming teenagers at a Radio 1 Teen Awards! That can be very challenging.

What have been some of the biggest highlights of your career? 

I was appointed Festival Director for the London 2012, BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend. I had 100,000 people attend the event with an incredible line up of Jay-Z, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, Calvin Harris, Florence & The Machine, Lana Del Rey, and many more. It was delivered without issue, and I received a Police Commendation by the Met Police. My other highlight was the launching of the BBC Music Introducing new music platform at the BBC, which has been responsible for discovering artists such as Florence & The Machine, Ed Sheeran, and The 1975 when they were just starting out.  

You’re now running The Podcast Show, London. What inspired you to start this?

When I started GetOnMedia, I very soon after pitched the idea to the BBC to create a music style conference for new musicians so they could meet the entire music industry. We ran it through the BBC Introducing platform and it was called “BBC Music Introducing LIVE”. It had partners such as Spotify, BPI, AWAL and BBC Radio 1, 2, 4 alongside 6 Music, 1xtra, and Asian Network. 18,000 attended over three days with sessions, workshops, events, live music, and hundreds of exhibitors, and activations. The Podcast Show emerged from that concept alongside a demand for a large-scale industry gathering to support the booming podcast industry.

What can people aim to get out of attending The Podcast Show?

The Podcast Show caters for a range of people in the world of podcasting. It has content sessions, and workshops to help support those just starting out with their own podcasts, through to engaging talks for those that are relatively successful in the space as independent podcasters, but who want to elevate what they do as a business. We have tons of networking events, and parties so people can meet each other whether you’re a brand looking to advertise in podcasts or a podcaster who wants to drive revenue through meeting advertisers. We have big topical debates and major keynote speeches from industry leaders and a few celebs thrown in the mix along the way. Whether its James Corden, Elizabeth Day, Mo Gilligan, or Kirsty Young!    

How do you see the future of podcasting evolving? What role do you see technology playing in the future of podcasting?

We are seeing so many changes at a fast pace that it’s very hard to predict. Whether it’s the importance of video in podcasting, and whether that’s a good or bad thing, through to in the technology space, the impact of AI.  We also see an ongoing debate around music in podcasting and the barriers preventing it, could that change, should it, who knows. Podcasting is certainly not dull as a broadcast platform.   

What advice would you give to aspiring podcasters who want to succeed in the industry?

Start with your passion and build from there, try to be distinctive with your content and if you are taking it seriously or let’s say more than a passion project, organise yourself with a structure behind you to build through socials, PR etc. it’s a very crowded marketplace and it takes work to stand out. The Podcast Show London will certainly help you get on your way though!  

What do you personally love most about podcasts, and how does that passion drive your work and vision at The Podcast Show?

Coming from traditional radio, I love the openness and freedom that podcasts gives those making the content. Podcasting has no boundaries and if you get it right you can build from nothing to a business, to your own IP, book, film, and tour. That’s got to be exciting, hasn’t it?      

What does the future hold for you, do you have any exciting plans you can discuss? 

My buzz is launching brand new events, whether it was launching the very first Radio 1 Big Weekend or 1Xtra Live at Wembley. We are now about to deliver year three of The Podcast Show, once this runs, we’ll be looking at rolling them out internationally, plus I have a few other things up my sleeve which we will be launching very soon. Watch this space!