Roman Tagoe: Class, NOT Race, is Music’s Biggest Gatekeeper
The Blinding Talent Music Industry Podcast with Mark AdamsShow Notes
Class, NOT Race, is Music’s Biggest Gatekeeper
In 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 & labels 01:17 Tape decks to Zane Lowe — falling in love with curation 03:58 Mr. Brightside & the MiniDisc that led to the first UK Killers interview 06:24 Early 6 Music - learning story, pace & audience-first formats 09:55 Broadcast lessons for TikTok & Reels (hooks, narrative, payoff) 13:05 Radio 1 handover from Zane Lowe - pinch-me moments 16:20 Race, class & the room - being “the only Black person” and why class bites harder 27:36 Case study: songwriter Gia Ford - in-studio moments that land 30:06 What great artists share - work ethic, songs, and vulnerability 36:33 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 follows 44:49 Metrics that matter - saves, streams/listener, 28-day engagement 51:01 Catalog prompts to fandom - Stranger Things, The Clash & conversion 53:33 “New music” that’s old - how trends resurface (Paul Hardcastle’s Rainforest) 57:27 Label culture - RAYE’s blueprint & independence done right 59:46 If Roman had a magic wand - unbundling power & backing the art 1:01:04 AI’s fork in the road - bots, fake bands & the future of streaming
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