UPRAWR Podcast

UPRAWR

Every week we'll have a brand new podcast featuring different Artists, Managers, Agents & other big players in the music Industry.
Contact - Joe@uprawr.com

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20 episodes
Updated July 20
Explicit

Episodes20

Newest first

July 20 · 1 hr 8 min
Before TikTok, Music Magazines Decided Who Got Famous | The Money Trenchs Mark Sutherland
This week on the UPRAWR Podcast, we sit down with MarkSutherland, former editor of NME, Melody Maker, Billboard and Music Week, andnow co-host of The Money Trench. Mark takes us inside the 90s music press, when magazinescould make or break bands, NME covers changed careers, and Britpop ruled the UKbefore the bubble burst. We talk Napster, illegal downloads, the collapse of the oldmusic industry, and how he started the money music trench podcast which is just about to celebrate it’s 100th episode! Just search UPRAWR podcast wherever you listen. Follow us to see Behind The Scenes: Jack - https://www.instagram.com/jack_uprawr/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/joe_davis77/
July 6 · 57 min
They Signed To Universal, Then Learned The Truth About The Music Industry | The Clause
Pearce Macca from The Clause joins us to talk about the reality of being in a UK indie band. From getting signed by Universal at 19 and being dropped during Covid, to selling out the O2 Academy independently, Macca breaks down the highs, lows and brutal financial truth of chasing the band dream. We talk major labels, Spotify, touring, selling 16,000 tickets, the Birmingham music scene, Oasis, and why The Clause kept going when everything fell apart. Follow us tosee Behind The Scenes: Jack - https://www.instagram.com/jack_uprawr/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/joe_davis77/
June 22 · 1 hr 29 min
She Helped Break Britney, Backstreet Boys & Prince | Sue Buckler Tells All
In this episode we sit down with Sue Buckler who has spentdecades inside the music industry, helping promote records from Britney Spears,Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Justin Timberlake, Steps, Prince, The Stone Roses andmore! we talk about how songs became hits before TikTok, whatradio pluggers actually did, how Jive Records became one of the biggestindependent labels in the world worth over 2 billion!, and the wildbehind-the-scenes stories from 90s pop artists From Prince beating Warner Brothers to Simon Cowellreleasing a barking dog single, Sue’s got some wild story’s so lets get into it Just search UPRAWR podcast wherever you listen.
June 8 · 1 hr 5 min
The UK Band Being Compared To Led Zeppelin | Jayler
In this episode we sit down with Jayler, the young UK rock band being compared to Led Zeppelin who are blowing up before they’ve even released an album We talk about how they went from open mics and pub gigs to playing huge stages, touring with legendary bands, building a classic rock image in a modern scene, and dealing with the pressure of releasing their debut album while people are already calling them the next big thing. They also open up about going viral, being called industry plants, why they refuse to rely on backing tracks, and whether rock music can truly go mainstream again.
June 1 · 51 min
How TikTok Turned Bands Into Arena Acts | Stef Pascual
This week we’re joined by Stef Pascual, VP of Audience Development and Paid Media at Concord. We talk about how bands actually break online, why going viral doesn’t always mean you’ve built real fans, and what happens behind the scenes when a song suddenly starts blowing up on TikTok. We also get into the campaigns behind Ghost, Pierce The Veil and Ice Nine Kills, how labels decide where to spend money, why most bands get social media wrong, and what artists should be doing if they’re trying to grow without a massive budget. A really interesting episode if you’re in a band, work in music, or just want to understand how the industry actually turns online moments into proper careers. Just search UPRAWR podcast wherever you listen. Follow us to see Behind The Scenes: Jack - https://www.instagram.com/jack_uprawr/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/joe_davis77/
May 18 · 58 min
The Truth Behind How Download Festival Is Really Run | Dannika Webber
In this episode, we sit down with Dannika Webber, one of the Download Festival talent buyers to break down how one of the UK’s biggest festivals is actually booked. From headliners and budgets to why some bands never make the lineup, this is a proper behind-the-scenes look at how it all works. We also get into Limp Bizkit’s resurgence and how they’ve worked their way back into headline territory, as well as whether there were any concerns around Linkin Park being big enough to headline with a new vocalist. There’s a lot to get into
May 4 · 2 hr 9 min
The Untold Story of Oasis (From Someone Who Was Actually There) | Tim Abbot Reveals All [EXCLUSIVE]
In this episode, we sit down with a former Creation Records insider Tim Abbot to break down what really happened during the rise of Oasis. From having just £78 in the bank to buildin one of the biggest bands in the world, this is the unfiltered story of how it actually played out. We talk chaos, near collapse, Vegas stories, and what Noel and Liam were really like behind the scenes. Plus, the reality of trying to break a band with no money and everything on the line.
April 20 · 1 hr 46 min
The Agent Behind My Chemical Romance, Sum 41 & More | Geoff Meall Tells All
Today’s guest is one of the UK live music industry’s most experienced agents, with a career spanning more than 30 years and a roster that has helped shape rock, emo, punk and alternative music across the world. We talk about how he discovered My Chemical Romance and helped grow them from tiny club shows into a global stadium band, his decades-long journey with Sum 41 from the very beginning, and the many other artists he’s worked with and helped break along the way. We also get into the realities of being an agent with how artists get signed, why loyalty in music is never guaranteed, what separates bands that break through from those that stay stuck, and how streaming, TikTok and changing global markets have transformed the business. Let’s get into it. Follow us to see Behind The Scenes: Jack - https://www.instagram.com/jack_uprawr/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/joe_davis77/
April 6 · 58 min
The Real Reason Nightclubs Died & Why Young People Don't Go Out Anymore | Mark Fuller
Today’s guest is Mark Fuller, the man behind some of London’s most iconic nightclubs, including The Embassy Club and Sugar Reef which he started with Marco Pierie White We talk about how he built clubs with no money, what nightlife was really like at its peak, and how it went from culture to cash. Most importantly, what actually killed the nightclub? This one’s full of wild stories. Let’s get into it.
March 23 · 1 hr 3 min
From Arena Tours to Busking on the Street | Liam Cromby’s Story [We Are The Ocean]
Today’s guest is Liam Cromby, former We Are The Ocean frontman and now a solo artist rebuilding his career on his own terms. After growing up surrounded by music, Liam went from local bands and MySpace auditions to playing huge stages, releasing major records and touring with bands like Muse. From the outside, it looked like the dream but behind the scenes, the pressure, burnout and declining mental health were slowly taking their toll. In this episode, Liam speaks openly about the highs and lows of his journey, from the early rise of We Are The Ocean and the moments that felt like everything was finally happening, to the crash that followed when it all became too much. He talks honestly about losing his identity, stepping away from music completely, and the long road back through counselling, busking and learning how to love music again. He also shares how social media unexpectedly helped reconnect him with We Are The Ocean fans and how his solo project has given him a fresh sense of purpose. This is a must listen for anyone in a band or wanting to be in a touring full time band! Lets get into it
March 20 · 1 hr 29 min
"Every Time We Refreshed, It Went Up Another Million!" - Dante Bonutto on Signing Sleep Token
Today's guest is Dante Bonutto who is currently the director of A&R at Spinefarm a subsidiary of Universal Music! Dantes responsible for signing Sleep Token and working on “Take me back to Eden” where he watched the band break in real time! We chat with Dante about how he got his start in music over 40 years ago - starting out as a journalist and actually becoming editor at Kerrang! super early on (from issue #8!). From there, he travelled the world with bands, writing pieces about them, before creating his own magazine, RAW, which he eventually sold. He then made the jump into the label world and hasn’t looked back, working with bands like Rammstein early in their careers, and of course, eventually signing Sleep Token which became a wild and unforgettable time for the label. This one's a rollercoaster so get ready! Let’s get into it. Just search UPARWR podcast anywhere you listen to them! Follow us to see Behind The Scenes: Jack - https://www.instagram.com/jack_uprawr/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/joe_davis77/
March 9 · 45 min
He Walked Away from Live Nation to Build an Events Empire | Inside the Rise of Kilimanjaro Live (Stuart Galbraith)
Today’s guest is Stuart Galbraith, one of the most influential promoters in the UK live entertainment industry. He is the founder of Kilimanjaro Live, the company behind major tours and events putting on shows like Ed Sheeran and festivals such as Sonisphere. Today, Kilimanjaro sells millions of tickets every year! we wanted to know what it really took to reach that scale. Stuart shares his journey from being one of the earliest employees at Live Nation (employee #4) to leaving to build his own company from scratch. He talks candidly about the risks he took along the way including moments where he almost lost his house (few times) aswell as how he launched Sonisphere to compete directly with Download Festival. He also discusses his ongoing campaign to reform ticket resales, including proposals to cap resale prices at no more than 10% above face value, a policy that has gained political support from the labour party Let’s get into it. Just search UPARWR podcast anywhere you listen to them! Follow us to see Behind The Scenes: Jack - https://www.instagram.com/jack_uprawr/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/joe_davis77/
February 23 · 1 hr 15 min
If You Love Metal, You’ve Been Influenced by This Man | How He Built The Noise Cartel
Today’s guest is Adam Sagir, founder and head of The Noise Cartel, one of the biggest PR companies in the UK. If you’re a fan of heavy music, you’ve definitely listened to one of the bands he’s worked with. Adam has been in the industry since he was 16, starting at Century Media, where he spent eight years working his way up to head of the label’s UK division. We spoke to Adam to about finding his way into century media, working there for almost a decade and then why he left. He also walks us through starting The Noise Cartel, why PR is important and what it’s been like working with bands like Baby Metal, Asking Alexandria & even festivals like Sonisphere! Let’s get into it. Just search UPARWR podcast anywhere you listen to them! Follow us to see Behind The Scenes: Jack - https://www.instagram.com/jack_uprawr/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/joe_davis77/
January 5 · 1 hr 14 min
He Had Two Major Record Deals Worth Millions In The 80s! The Reality of The Music Industry | Roy Davis
Today’s guest is Roy Davis, a music industry veteran with over 40 years of experience. Back in the 1980s, Roy signed two major record deals with his band SHY, contracts worth millions at the height of the era’s excess. In this episode, Roy breaks down what the music industry was really like in the ’80s, how big those deals truly were, why things didn’t work out the way he hoped, and what eventually led to the end of the band. We also dive into Roy’s career behind the scenes, from building a successful rehearsal room business and music venue, to managing artists like Those Damn Crows, who went on to land a number one album. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in the real story behind record deals, roys a funny bugger so lets get into it
Dec 8, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
Why Most Nightclubs Fail (and How to Avoid It)
Today’s episode is all about how Jack has managed to run a nightclub for 15 years without ever going out of business! Ever wondered what it really takes to start a club and how you adapt as times change? We talk about how the club began, how he’s kept it alive for a decade and a half, and why switching to a weekly night actually saved the club from going under.
Dec 3, 2025 · 23 min
Uprawr Short: We Threw a Five Nights at Freddy’s Clubnight… And It Went Viral
We recently threw a Five Nights at Freddy’s themed clubnight that went a bit viral online. Some of the posters pulled in thousands of likes (and millions of views), but they also attracted a fair amount of hate. So we decided to talk about it. lets get into it!
Nov 24, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
He Sold His Company To HMV For £46m, How Dean James co-founded one of the UK’s largest Live Music Company’s
Today’s guest is Dean James, who’s had an incredible journey in music. He was one of the co-founders of the MAMA Group, which at its peak operated some of the UK’s most iconic venues and festivals including the Hammersmith Apollo before eventually selling the business to HMV. We spoke to Dean about how and why he got into live music, how he went on to build the MAMA Group, and what eventually happened to it. I don’t want to spoil too much of this one & there’s so much to learn from this one so let’s get straight into it. Support us on Patreon if you want this podcast to continue! You can also sign up for free
Oct 27, 2025 · 1 hr 14 min
How Much Money Music Reaction YouTubers REALLY Make | Steve O’G
Today's guest is Steve O'G, the creator behind a thriving YouTube channel dedicated to alternative music and reaction-style content. His channel continues to grow, and we wanted to know the secrets behind his success We dive into how Steve monetizes music reaction content, what the industry thinks about it, and the real value of his reactions. Steve also shares his journey into music, spending most of his 20s touring the world with various bands and even playing drums in front of 1,000,000 people at the London Olympics! This episode is perfect for anyone looking to start on YouTube, or for those in the music industry who want to understand the impact of reaction channels. Let’s get into it
Oct 13, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
Inside Kerrang! Secrets from the Editor’s Chair with Luke Morton
Today’s guest is Luke Morton, the editor of Kerrang! one of the biggest rock magazines in the world! We talked to Luke about how he got his start in the industry, from his early jobs at places like Front Magazine, where he first experienced the chaos of creative work environments, to writing his debut book - Standing Like Statues, the official Enter Shikari biography. We also discussed how he landed the role at Kerrang! and what goes into choosing a cover artist for the magazine. Luke’s journey into the industry is anything but linear, a great reminder that sometimes you’ve got to take whatever opportunities come your way. Let’s get into it!
Sep 29, 2025 · 1 hr 21 min
The Truth About Money in Indie Labels | Mark Orr Tells All
Today’s guest is Mark Orr, the head of LAB Records, which he’s been running since 2005. In recent years, LAB has found major success with artists like The K’s, South Arcade, and many more. We spoke with Mark about how he discovered and signed South Arcade, what it felt like to achieve LAB’s very first number one album with The K’s, and what the future holds for the label. From the sounds of it, this is just the beginning & Mark has some incredibly exciting years ahead. There’s a lot to take away in this episode, from how DIY labels compare to majors, to what it really takes to succeed in that world. Let’s get into it. Just search UPARWR podcast anywhere you listen to them! Follow us to see Behind The Scenes: Jack - https://www.instagram.com/jack_uprawr/ Joe - https://www.instagram.com/joe_davis77/