Meet Me Backstage is a podcast series that shines the light on the talented and inspiring people who work behind the scenes in the music industry around the world. Get backstage access with Global Publicity boss Nikki McNeill, as she shares her experiences from events around the world and introduces you to some of the backstage stars and a host of colourful characters she has met on her journey through music.
17 Steev Toth, MD, Svengali Operations - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode Nikki catches up with renowned tour manager Steev Toth, to talk about his career in the music industry and how he became a tour manager. After a brief stint in a band, then progressing to work as a sound engineer, Steev fell into touring with Erasure through their old band producer Vince Clarke. He quickly moved hip the ranks going on to work with some of the world's biggest bands including Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Alice Cooper, Hurts, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Cure, The Orb and more recently Kiss. With years of experience under his belt, Steev gives insights into life on the road, how to deal with bands and their oddities and essential items to pack as well as some funny stories from the road including band members being arrested and trucks stuck at the border.
28 Feb 2022
16 Rachel Barton, MD/Founder, We Are Grape - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode audio entertainment expert Rachel Barton joins Nikki to talk about her career in radio. Starting out as a trainee on Pete Tong's show, Rachel went on to produce many other shows including Annie Mac, Kissy Sell Out and Dance Anthems as well as heading up outside broadcasts in Ibiza and Miami. Rachel continued to push herself and launched her own company Grape in 2011, winning pitches to produce Radio 1 shows for Annie Mac, Rob da Bank, Annie Nightingale, Skream & Benga and Dance Anthems, as well as launching the Future Dance show with Sarah Story and The Blessed Madonna show on 6 Music. As well as radio shows, Rachel and the Grape team have branched out into podcasts and produces one of Spotify's top rated shows ‘Who We Be_TALKS’.
31 Jan 2022
15 Ruud Berends, Networking Music - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode Nikki talks to live music industry veteran Ruud Berends, who started his career booking acts at his local youth centre in Holland. Launching the Paperclip agency in 1981, Ruud went on to work with some of the best alternative music artists such as Soundgarden, Dead Moon, Nirvana, Femi Kuti, The Feelies, Soul Asylum, L7 and Mudhoney. Having toured all over Europe Ruud shares stories of managing tours before mobile phones, losing equipment and artists being banned from hotels. His work for the Dutch Music Export took him to events such as ILMC, The Great Escape and Reeperbahn where he built a reputation for hosting jammed packed shows. Ruud also talks about his passion for helping to promote new artists in his work for ESNS and the European Talent Exchange Program and his achievements in supporting the music scene in Central and Eastern Europe. Being a highly regarded and respected member of the live music scene Ruud, is a regular on the international music industry conference circuit and is also the co-founder of the International Festival Forum (IFF).
26 Apr 2021
14 Indy Vidyalankara, Indypendent PR - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode PR expert Indy Vidyalankara joins Nikki to talk about her career in communications in the music industry. Starting out at Columbia Records/Sony Music Indy learned her trade working with artists such as Solange, Nas, Cypress Hill and Good Charlotte, then after 3 years moved into the exciting world of radio, doing PR and Comms for BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra with the likes of Pete Tong, Mistajam, Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw. She then moved over to BBC TV working on shows like Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice UK and Children In Need, but returned to Sony Music as Director of Communications, before finally taking the leap to branch out on her own and set up Indypendent PR. Being hugely respected in the industry Indy works with many music charities such as Help Musicians and Tomorrow’s Warriors, and is a passionate advocate for diversity sitting on task forces for the BPI (who handle the BRIT Awards) and UK Music.
29 Mar 2021
13 Miroslav Miletić, Festival Programme Manager - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode, Nikki speaks to Festival Programme Manager Miroslav Miletić, who she has worked alongside at EXIT Festival in Serbia for many years. Miro talks about working his way up from festival stage manager to programme manager, dealing with everything from sound checks, demanding artists, working in different countries and equipment going missing in transit. With a mantra of anticipating everything before it happens or you are asked, Miro prides himself on his professionalism and the positive feedback he receives on his work. Being inspired by Richie Hawtin, Dave Clarke, and Marko Nastic, Miro is also a DJ in his own right and feels privileged to now work alongside many of the artists he admires.
25 Jan 2021
12 Katty Lange, Artist Manager/Booking Agent - Meet Me Backstage
In this Episode Artist Manager and Booking Agent Katty Lange talks to Nikki about her role working with artists such as Jeff Mills, Octave One and Sam Paganini and how she started working with the legendary Detroit Techno Label 430West before launching the Triangle Agency with a roster of exciting and cutting edge electronic music artists. Katty also shares insights into her career including how a trip to study in Italy working in a record shop led to her first job in the industry at Tresor Records, proving that it pays to follow your dreams and go for it.
21 Dec 2020
11 Matthew Hoag, elrowFamily - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode, Nikki speaks to Matthew Hoag the Global Commercial Director of the renowned clubbing brand elrow. Matthew talks about his career working with artists such as Umek, Dubfire, Joseph Capriati and John Acquaviva and working in different cities such as New York and Shanghai before settling in Barcelona to set up the European office for the Bullitt agency. Now overseeing over 130 events a year worldwide for elrow, Matthew also talks about his passion for languages and immersing himself in different cultures, his mentors and the rescued cat he recently rehomed.
16 Nov 2020
10 Katia Giampaolo, Estragon Club/JoyCut - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode Nikki is joined by Katia Giampaolo, Co-Director of Bologna’s famous Estragon Club and manager of the band JoyCut. With many roles in the music industry, Katia talks about everything from putting on a show with her favourite band Radiohead after an earthquake nearly jeopardised it, JoyCut being chosen to play at Robert Smith's Meltdown, her involvement with the Music Managers Forum and being a judge in the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards. Katia is a much loved and hardworking person in the global music industry community with passion and inspiration in abundance.
2 Nov 2020
09 Matt King, Skint Records - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode Matt King from Skint Records talks about working for a record label and how things have changed since he first started. After graduating from University and wanting to be a journalist, Matt now works with many globally renowned artists including Roisin Murphy, Groove Armada, Joris Voorn and Maya Jane Coles. Matt also talks candidly about the highs and lows of working for a record label, the importance of working with a good team and how he wanted to sign Marilyn Manson.
19 Oct 2020
08 Laureline Teste Cianfarani, Clubbing TV - Meet Me Backstage
This episode features Clubbing TV's Global Editorial Manager Laureline Teste Cianfarani, who gives an insight into what it's like working behind the scenes at a music TV channel dedicated to electronic music, DJs and club culture. Starting as a host and working her way up, Laureline now manages content in 49 countries and talks about the importance of a great team, working at events around the world such as We are FSTVL, Tomorrowland and Amsterdam Dance Event including funny stories about the pitfalls of live broadcasting and her ambition to interview Underground Resistance one day.
5 Oct 2020
07 Gavin Kingsley, The Radio Department - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode Nikki in joined by The Radio Department Director Gavin Kingsley, who talks about his career in radio and producing and syndicating shows for some of the biggest DJ's in the world including Tiesto, Nicole Moudaber, John Digweed and Armin Van Buuren. From his start in student radio, to working at the Ministry of sound, Gavin understands the power of radio and the importance of building a radio brand and fanbase, sharing stories of listeners milking cows to Adam Beyer and a brain surgeon operating whilst listening to John Digweed amongst others.
21 Sept 2020
06 Kelechi Amadi, Creative Consultant - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode creative consultant Kelechi Amadi joins Nikki to talk about what it takes to be a creative in today's music industry. From studying art, to learning to take constructive criticism in fashion and reading books on Victorian dissection, Kelechi draws from many influences. A specialist in curating events and experiences, Kelechi also discusses her obsession with knowledge, where she gets her inspiration from and how being curious and vocal got her to where she is today.
7 Sept 2020
05 Dan Reid, Photographer - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode Nikki is joined by one of UK's leading music photographers Dan Reid, who talks about his passion for photography as a child, getting his first break with John Digweed and learning the ropes with Chris Lopez. Dan also talks about his first DJ magazine cover shoot, taking photos of The Chemical Brothers, Underworld and The Killers as well as shooting on location in Miami, Ibiza and at the Isle is Wight festival.
24 Aug 2020
04 Claire O'Neill, A Greener Festival - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode environmental trailblazer Claire O'Neill from A Greener Festival talks about being inspired by early raves and how her dissertation became an instant hit after being published online. Claire has made a successful career doing something she is truly passionate about with the Green Events & Innovations Conference, Arcadia Spectacular's Metamorphosis Show and flying off the Olympic Stadium roof dressed as Mary Poppins being just some of her achievements.
10 Aug 2020
03 Bjorn Ielegems, Festival Stage Manager - Meet Me Backstage
Festival Stage Manager, Bjorn Ielegems from Belgium joins Nikki in this episode and reveals how being in the boy scouts led to a job at a festival. The lively discussion follows Bjorn's career working at festivals such as Mysteryland, Tomorrowland and Rhythm & Vines. He also talks about touring with Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike and Netsky and his love of New Zealand with some useful career tips too.
26 Jul 2020
02 Martje Kremers, Decked Out - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode, Nikki talks to Artist Booking Agent Martje Kremers, who talks about her role as an agent and working with a roster including Boys Noize, Dave Clarke, Erol Alkan and Justice. Martje also reveals some career highlights with some funny stories and explains how she started out working at the famous Marquee club, before booking DJ's FC Kahuna, DJ Falcon and Justin Robertson at Bugged Out.
21 Jul 2020
01 Mark Grotefeld, Pioneer DJ - Meet Me Backstage
In this episode, Nikki is joined by Mark Grotefeld General Manager for Pioneer DJ EMEA, who talks about his role in developing the brand over the past 20 years and working in the early days with DJ's including Roger Sanchez, John Digweed and Paul Oakenfold. Mark also talks candidly about the pressures of working in the industry and how his own experiences led him to develop a mindful culture in the workplace and making the brand more socially conscious.
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