Provocateurs

About Provocateurs

The podcast asking the questions the industry avoids. Provocateurs is a conversation platform built for the nightlife, hospitality, events industry and those shaping culture. Each episode, Sarah Moxom (Phoenix Group Global Founder) sits down with the operators, promoters, DJs, and disruptors who build the scene and pushes past the polished soundbites to get to what people really think. We dive into a wide range of topics, from current events to personal growth, relationships to entrepreneurship, with a shared goal to connect across our network and share the stories that got us here. No scripts. No safe questions.

Publisher

Sarah Moxom

Category

business · education · religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Feb 2025

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

89 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   The Business of Being an Artist: Rue Jay on Ghost Producing, Studio Investment, and Social Media Strategy

   In this episode of Provocateurs, Sarah sits down with veteran DJ and producer Rue Jay. With a career spanning over 25 years in the UK electronic music scene, Rue shares his story—from buying cassette mixes and DJing to 2,000 people at 19 years old in Birmingham to earning three Beatport Number 1 records and having dance music legend Carl Cox use his track to close down UNVRS in Ibiza. Rue breaks down the realities of modern music production and why he views his current career phase as a pure "passion project" funded by his entrepreneurial ventures, including his renowned Birmingham tattoo studio. The discussion tackles the controversy surrounding ghost production versus genuine sound engineering collaboration, the shift toward content creation for modern producers, and the economic hurdles facing UK venues and promoters today. Key Takeaways 25 Years in UK Club Culture: From cassette tapes, vinyl boxes, and pirate radio to headlining major venues across Birmingham and London. The Carl Cox Effect: The surreal moment Carl Cox used Rue's track to close down an extended set at UNVRS in Ibiza. 3x Beatport Number 1s: The creative process behind making chart-topping records like Take Me and remaking classics like Plastic and Sweet Sensation. The Ghost Production Controversy: Rue's unfiltered take on ghost producers, studio sound engineers, and maintaining artistic integrity. Entrepreneurship in Music: Funding music production and studio mix/mastering costs through tattoo studios and hospitality businesses. The Reality of Modern Venues: High council rates, rising licensing costs, and how 3,000 to 5,000 capacity spaces like Gasworks are reshaping Birmingham nightlife. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:13 – Humble Beginnings: Cassettes, Pirate Radio & First Vinyl Sets 02:15 – Playing to 2,000 People in Birmingham at 19 Years Old 03:49 – The Golden Era of UK Club Brands & Venues 05:50 – The Carl Cox Story: Hearing My Track at UNVRS Ibiza 09:38 – Achieving 3x Beatport #1 Records & Production Strategy 11:45 – Why 90s Melodies Resonate with Gen Z Ravers 14:00 – "Don't Do This for Money": Advice for Emerging Producers 16:30 – Becoming a Content Creator: Social Media & Modern Music marketing 18:43 – Diversifying into Tattoo Studios & Hospitality Businesses 22:42 – The Financial Realities of Record Labels & Streaming Royalties 27:35 – Handling Club Venue Decline & Hitting Rock Bottom 30:25 – Birmingham Nightlife & Gasworks 5,000-Cap Warehouse space 32:10 – Council Rates, Business Fees & Venue Survival in 2026 41:10 – Exposing Ghost Production vs. Collaborating with Engineers 51:20 – Performing Live at Gasworks: "This Is Where I Belong"

2. 

   12 Oct 2026

   Inside Defected Records: Lloyd on Ibiza History, Drumsheds, and Talent Booking

   In this episode of Provocateurs, Sarah sits down with Lloyd Nwagboso , Head of Talent & Bookings at world-renowned electronic music label Defected Records (and Glitterbox). Lloyd breaks down his extraordinary decade-plus trajectory through the music and events industry—from mechanical engineering student in Leeds to modeling, running iconic club nights, living in Ibiza, and curating massive global festival lineups. Lloyd reflects on the golden era of nightlife, performing with the Dynamite Hosts alongside Manumission founders Mike and Claire in Ibiza, and co-founding Candy Pants, which became one of Manchester's most lucrative monthly parties. He opens up about the career-altering moment at Burning Man 2011 that sparked his obsession with house music, surviving a severe career breakdown during the pandemic, and relentlessly knocking down the door at Defected Records. Plus, Lloyd shares insights on booking talent across America, Europe, and Asia, selling out 15,000-capacity shows at Drumsheds, and why stepping away from alcohol gave him the clarity to thrive at the top of the music industry. Key Takeaways The Early Leeds & Ibiza Days: Transitioning from an engineering degree to modeling and spending a wild season in Ibiza with Manumission. The Rise of Candy Pants: How a low-overhead monthly event in Manchester generated £40,000 bar spends and launched a national phenomenon. The Burning Man Epiphany: How a 2011 sunrise set by Jamie Jones and Seth Troxler at Nexus Camp inspired a lifelong obsession with house music. Overcoming Post-COVID Breakdown: Rebuilding a career from scratch after losing income in Bali, moving home, and securing major modeling contracts to relocate to London. Persistent Hustle at Defected: Starting with just one day a week at Defected Records to working up to Head of Talent & Bookings. Scaling Mega-Events & Sobriety: Consistently selling out 15,000-cap events at Drumsheds, expanding Defected Malta, and choosing sobriety for long-term health. Lloyd Nwagboso https://www.instagram.com/lloydnwagboso/?hl=en-gb https://www.instagram.com/defectedrecords/?hl=en-gb https://defected.com/ Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@provocateurspodcast⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarah.moxom/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPmCQvMWLaLTayKshPyGOEg⁠⁠⁠⁠ 00:00 –Introduction 01:12 – Ditching Mechanical Engineering for Leeds Nightlife 03:39 – The Ibiza Manumission Season & Dynamite Hosts 04:27 – Wild Ibiza Stories: Mermaids, DC10 & Mike & Claire 08:00 – How Ibiza's Club Scene Has Evolved Over 20 Years 10:04 – Balancing Legend Talent vs. Emerging Artists at Glitterbox 13:49 – Co-Founding Candy Pants & Manchester's VIP Club Era 16:54 – The Economics of Early 2000s Club Promoting 19:18 – Burning Man 2011: The Life-Changing Seth Troxler & Jamie Jones set 23:05 – Buying Vinyl Decks & "All the Gear, No Idea" 25:08 – Booking Jamie Jones & The Martinez Brothers at West End Clubs 26:11 – Living in Bali, Clothing Brands & Pre-COVID Life 28:04 – Pandemic Career Loss, Mental Health Breakdown & Rebuilding 29:42 – Landing Gillette & Range Rover Campaigns to Fund Move to London 31:43 – Hustling into Defected Records: 1 Day a Week to Head of Talent 33:16 – What Head of Talent & Bookings Means in Practice 36:55 – Defected's 30-Year History & Global Ecosystem 39:16 – Choosing Sobriety & Staying Healthy in the Music Industry 41:52 – Selling Out 15,000 Capacity Shows at Drumsheds London 43:15 – Defected Malta Festival & Expanding into New Global Markets 48:01 – What Success Means Today

3. 

   5 Oct 2026

   The Business of Creative Spaces: Mac on Manchester Co-Working, Special Needs Teaching, and Pride

   Host Sarah Moxom interviews artist and entrepreneur Mac about building affordable creative spaces, running unconventional entertainment, and critiquing the commercialization of Pride.

Who has been a guest on Provocateurs

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mac
• Mickey Taylor
• Ben Mason
• Jordan David
• DJ Dan

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

96,294

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

4.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

68

Social presence

90

YouTube

76

Engagement

32

Contact Provocateurs

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about Provocateurs