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I’m Kate Hardcastle your host on The Rock ‘n’ Roll Business podcast, taking you backstage to get exclusive insights into how the music industry really works and highlighting what we can learn and apply to other businesses from this dynamic industry.

You’ll hear the real secrets and tricks of the trade, how big names swerved near disasters and what challenges really come in making it to the top. After each interview –we’ll also share the top learnings, with some guest business stars.

Subscribe for free below with however you get your podcast and make sure you never miss an episode. 

EPISODE 1 with guest SHEP GORDON

The one with Alice Cooper & the Yak Milk

Megastar manager, producer and talent agent, Shep Gordon joins Rock ‘n’ Roll Business for a humorous and open chat on everything from helping Alice Cooper break the UK (with some interesting guerrilla marketing tactics) to feeding the Dalai Lama. 

Also known as “Supermensch”, (he’s the subject of the Mike Myers movie bearing the same name) –  which means  ‘a person of integrity or honour’ Shep was open and honest and despite some well-documented high jinks back in the day, Kate and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Business crew found Shep to be a genuinely fascinating guy, who seems to truly hold the knack and the power to make people famous.

EPISODE 2 with guest RANDY JACKSON

The one when Aretha Franklin Nails the Recording & Journey Re-form

Randy Jackson is a Grammy-award-winning musician, singer, producer, entrepreneur and TV personality most famous for his role as the longest serving judge on American Idol. The founder of multiple creative and business ventures, Randy has launched a radio programme, a line of guitars and an eyeware range and he manages the careers of a number of successful musicians and chefs. In his fascinating interview with Rock ‘n’ Roll Business, he talks all about what he believes it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and the values behind his success, that transcend way beyond the music industry.

EPISODE 3 with guest MIDGE URE

The one where Mick Jagger Didn't Get In & Midge *Might* Have Fronted The Sex Pistols

Music legend Midge Ure enjoyed success in the 1970s and 80s with bands including Visage, Thin Lizzy and Ultravox. But it was his penning of a certain charity hit single in 1984 with pal Bob Geldof which truly made him a global household name. Humble and genuine (not often two things you’d associate with a musical superstar), Midge talks openly to Rock ‘n’ Roll Business about forming Band Aid, the meaning of success and how a trip back to Glasgow keeps his feet firmly on the ground.

EPISODE 4 with guest EMMA BANKS

The one where Florence saved Glastonbury

Trailblazing music agent Emma Banks heads up a £200m business and her clients include some of the biggest names in music – Florence + The Machine, Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Muse. In her 25 year career sher’s been recognised with multiple industry awards and joins Rock ‘n’ Roll Business at the Royal Albert Hall, for a candid chat on how she gets the best out of her artists and keeps them on tour and on the path to ongoing success.

EPISODE 5 with guest NEIL WARNOCK MBE

The one when the 'worlds worst drummer' & Pink Floyd created tension in Venice

Neil is the Global Head of Touring at United Talent Agency, one of the world’s leading entertainment booking agencies. With a career spanning more than five decades, he has represented some of the world’s most influential artists including the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Michael Jackson. Neil continues with his trailblazing in the music industry, booking global tours and dedicating his time to his role as Chair of Fundraising for music charity Nordoff Robbins. In an interview that could have lasted hours, we hear from Neil the stories of working with some of the biggest names in music, how he’s helped create some of the most iconic on-stage moments in history and who is truly one of the smartest artists he’s ever represented.

EPISODE 6 with guest ANDREW ROACHFORD MBE

The one where Prince wouldn't play Purple Rain

Roachford is most famous for the song song Cuddly Toy, which has been a mainstay of radio airplay for over three decades and at its peak was selling 33,000 copies a day. Since then, he’s carved out a career for himself as one of the most compelling, and consistent, rock and soul artists the UK has produced. He has released 10 studio albums, several greatest hits collections, been invited to write for other artists including Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson and Joss Stone, and toured with contemporaries including Terence Trent D’Arby and The Christians. For the past nine years, he has been part of Mike + the Mechanics, recording and playing live around the world with Mike Rutherford’s post-Genesis band. Raised in south-east London, he comes from a musical family, his father is a drummer, his uncle a saxophonist whom Roachford was out on the road with from the age of 14. By 15, he was working in a studio with The Clash and in his early 20s, he signed a seven-album deal with Columbia, going on to be one of the label’s most successful acts for the next decade, with a string of hit singles and international successes. With talent that transcends the times, Roachford shows no signs of stopping and in this latest podcast interview, the Rock ‘n’ Roll team get his take on just what it takes to remain successful in the music industry.

EPISODE 7 with guests BETTER STRANGERS

The one where the drummer sidelines for Genesis

For most people, work experience as a teenager means helping out at a local store or café, or babysitting for the neighbours. But what does you work experience look like when your Dad is Phil Collins? Drumming for Genesis, of course. And if you start out in one of the biggest bands in the world, where do you go from there? In this awesome interview streamed from Miami, we meet Nic Collins and his rock band Better Strangers, to learn all about how you launch your own band and earn your credibility in your own right through sheer hard work.

EPISODE 8 with guest ERIKA WOLLAM NICHOLS

The one where Taylor Swift was discovered

Located in a small strip mall outside of downtown Nashville, the 90 seat venue is unassuming in appearance, but some of the most significant songwriters and artists in the world have performed at The Bluebird Cafe. The venue achieved global fame after appearing in the TV show ‘Nashville’ and after the show aired, the cafe faced crowds of hundreds of fans, who filled the car park and lined the surroudning streets, all keen to get get a seat in this unique and intimate performance space. Described as a ‘listening room’ because of the acoustic, singer/songwriter style music that is performed there nightly, The Bluebird Cafe offers a performance space where the “heroes behind the hits” can perform their own songs; songs that have been recorded by chart-topping artists in all genres of music. We talk to manager Erika Wollam Nichols to see just how The Bluebird Café team ensure that this globally recognised venue and tourist destination keeps its values close to its heart whilst delivering what it set out to, for every single fan and patron.

EPISODE 9 with guest FREDA PAYNE

The one where Freda turned down Duke Ellington's contract

Singer Freda Payne has enjoyed record breaking success with hit single “Band of Gold” and has since established a long and successful career on the stage, film and in television too. She shows no signs of slowing down and her most recent show “A Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald” sees her host a “songfest” and tribute to her “favorite singer”.

EPISODE 10 with guest NITIN SAWHNEY

The one when Paul McCartney came to tea

How do you go from studying law and working as an accountant to jamming with Paul McCartney in your flat, co-creating the TV show Goodness Gracious Me, Djing at Ministry of Sound and selling out the Royal Albert Hall? Only with the inimitable talent and versatility of Nitin Sawhney – one of the most distinctive musical voices of today. Nitin is a world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, composer and cutural pioneer, with 20 studio albums and the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award to his name and his unparalleled career has seen him achieve international acclaim across every creative medium, He continues to reach new heights in music, film, dance, theatre and even videogames, whilst supporting the next generation of musical talent in his role as Chair of Trustees for PRS Foundation – the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development. Nitin’s combination of awe-inspiring talent combined with his unassuming humility make for a podcast interview that’s not to be missed.

EPISODE 11 with guest LUKE GOSS

The one at the famous Hotel California

When you’re in one of the biggest boybands and the screaming then stops, what do you do?

Carve out a career as a Hollywood actor and artist of course.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Business founder Kate chats to Luke Goss of 1980s mega band Bros from the Beverly Hills hotel in LA, about his career since Bros, which has involved acting alongside Samuel L Jackson and exhibiting his own art collection which has been valued at almost £300m.

EPISODE 12 with guests CRAIG HASSALL & LUCY NOBLE OF THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

The one when Adele broke world records

Broadcast live from the depths of the Royal Albert Hall, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Business team meet Craig Hassall and Lucy Noble, CEO and Creative & Artistic Director of the venue itself. In this fascinating look behind the scenes of one of the most iconic music venues in history, we hear from Craig and Lucy just how you maintain such an important piece of cultural heritage. This careful balancing act from two passionate brand custodians shows the true work that goes into balancing cultural trends, commerciality, accessibility, all with the the future enjoyment of the next generation of visitors and patrons in mind.

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