Provocateurs

Sarah Moxom
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 1d ago

    30 Years in Security: Marc Smith on Guarding One Direction, Rebuilding Gladiator Shadow, and the Door Industry Crisis

    In this wide-ranging and unfiltered episode of Provocateurs, Sarah sits down with 30-year security veteran, boxing coach, and actor Marc Smith. Marc pulls back the curtain on three decades working at the bleeding edge of the protection industry—from running violent nightclub doors during Bournemouth’s nightlife heyday to providing VIP close protection for Simon Cowell’s The X Factor roster. Marc shares behind-the-scenes stories of escorting One Direction before their global stadium fame, managing high-profile clients like Katie Price, Peter Andre, and Ricky Hatton, and handling sudden crowd violence—including the infamous public attack where singer Leona Lewis was punched in the face by an aggressive attendee. The conversation tackles the current crisis within the UK private security sector: how the introduction of SIA licensing stripped the front door of physical deterrents, why government back-to-work schemes have led to widespread door-staff shortages, and the economic hurdles facing town centers and nightlife venues. Marc also opens up about his personal bond with Jefferson King (Shadow from 90s Gladiators), detailing Shadow’s dramatic fall from TV superstardom into protection rackets and prison, and how Marc helped engineer his comeback tour. Marc wraps up by breaking down the intersection of influencer boxing with traditional combat sports, walking away from corporate ego at 40, and transitioning into stunt work alongside Lou Ferrigno and British boxing cinema. Key Takeaways in This Episode Guarding Pop Royalty: Traveling with One Direction in their early days and keeping order around overzealous crowds. Handling Celebrity Attacks: The reality of profiling aggressive crowds and managing unpredictable fan attacks like the Leona Lewis book signing incident. The Door Security Crisis: Why SIA licensing and government back-to-work programs changed the quality, presence, and authority of nightclub bouncers. The Resilience of Gladiator Shadow: Inside Jefferson King's overnight career collapse, prison sentence, and road to personal redemption. The Psychology of Combat Sports: Why you can't cheat boxing, the damaging ego collapse fighters face after a loss, and the rise of influencer boxing. Reinventing at 40: Walking away from 150-man security contracts to pursue stunt training, acting with Lou Ferrigno, and British gritty cinema. 00:00 – Introduction 01:43 – Ditching Customs & Starting Out on Nightclub Doors 03:41 – Moving into VIP Close Protection & Guarding The X Factor Stars 04:05 – Touring with One Direction, Katie Price & Peter Andre 05:10 – Facing Overzealous Crowds & Life-Threatening Encounters 06:30 – The Shocking Leona Lewis Punch Incident 07:08 – Working with Boxing Legend Ricky Hatton & Private VIP Contracts 08:31 – The Golden Era of Bournemouth Nightlife & Running the Front Door 09:43 – How the 2004 SIA Licensing Changed Bouncing Forever 11:47 – Tracksuits on the Door: The Loss of Professionalism & Respect 12:45 – The Truth Behind Government Back-to-Work Security Schemes 15:12 – The National Door Staff Shortage & Venue Management Advice 17:31 – The Decline of Nightlife Venues & Rising Knife Crime Concerns 20:41 – Revitalizing Nightlife: Why Mature Venues & Vibrant Spaces Are Needed 27:05 – The Legend of Jefferson King: Becoming Gladiator Shadow 28:14 – Overnight Sacking: Tabloid Allegations, Protection Rackets & Prison 29:35 – Meeting Shadow at Comic-Con & Launching His Comeback Tour 33:46 – Why the 90s Gladiators Became a Cultural Phenomenon 35:18 – Coaching Boxing: Humbling Egos & Building Youth Discipline 40:18 – "You Can't Play Boxing": Traditional Combat vs. The Influencer Era 46:26 – The Brutal Mental Health Toll of Losing in the Ring 50:31 – Family Loss, Stepping Down from Security & Escaping Ego 53:40 – Breaking into Stunt Work with Lou Ferrigno & British Film Roles 56:11 – Filming the Michael Watson Story with Frank Bruno 58:12 – Rejecting Age Timelines: Starting Over in Your 40s & Beyond

  2. Oct 19

    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"

  3. Oct 12

    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

  4. Oct 5

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

    In this episode of Provocateurs, Sarah sits down with artist, performer, educator, and entrepreneur Mac (formerly known as adult film star Mickey Taylor). Mac shares how they transitioned out of a seven-year career in the global adult entertainment industry to build thriving creative communities, arts initiatives, and cabaret brands in Manchester. Mac details the creation of Quac Collective, a affordable co-working art space in Manchester Central built to combat extortionate studio rents, providing 30+ artists daily access to workspace, equipment, and workshops for just £30–£40 a month. Mac also breaks down running unconventional entertainment brands, including naked life drawing classes and fire-breathing, high-energy cabarets. The conversation touches on Mac's experiences working in special educational needs teaching, overcoming workplace revenge porn, managing high-pressure work ethics, and an unfiltered critique of the commercialization of Pride events and modern LGBTQ+ spaces. Key Takeaways Building Quac Collective: How Mac built an affordable, multi-use art workspace in Manchester to support bedroom artists priced out of commercial real estate. Unconventional Cabaret & Life Drawing: Running non-sexual naked life drawing sessions and multi-performer immersive cabaret shows. Life in Adult Entertainment: Reflecting on a seven-year international career, navigating camera work, and closing that chapter during the pandemic. Teaching & Workplace Adversity: Transitioning into special needs education, handling workplace revenge porn, and driving student achievement. Work Ethic & Perfectionism: Why Mac thrives under extreme pressure, demands high professionalism, and channels dopamine into community building. The Commercialization of Pride: A blunt critique of rising ticket prices, corporate sponsorship overreach, and the economic strain on local queer venues. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:34 – Introducing Quac Collective: Solving Manchester's Art Space Crisis 03:00 – Building Collaborative Co-Working Spaces from Scratch 05:00 – Workshops, Screen Printing & Public Classes 05:46 – Running Naked Life Drawing Classes & Immersive Cabarets 07:03 – Relocating to Manchester & Community Inclusivity 08:23 – Seven Years in Adult Entertainment: Starting at 21 09:27 – Traveling the World & Camera Confidence 11:36 – Closing the Adult Industry Chapter During COVID 16:31 – Working in Special Educational Needs Teaching 18:50 – Overcoming Workplace Revenge Porn & Student Success 21:08 – Moving Beyond Past Labels & Proving Business Authority 22:44 – "F*** Around & Find Out": Drive, Vision & Work Ethic 25:31 – Demanding Professionalism & Supporting Creatives 32:19 – The Corporate Takeover of Pride & Venue Strains 36:16 – The History & Importance of the Pride Vigil 46:29 – Advocating for Trans Rights, Immigration & Education 53:03 – The Necessity of Safe Queer Spaces & Creative Outlets Mac/Quac Collective links https://www.instagram.com/quac_collective/ https://www.quacifucan.com/ https://www.instagram.com/itsmickeytaylor/ Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@provocateurspodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarah.moxom/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPmCQvMWLaLTayKshPyGOEg⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠

  5. Sep 28

    "6-Month Exclusivity Clauses Are KILLING Local Nightlife"—Music Marketer Exposes Industry Greed

    In this episode of Provocateurs, host sits down with Ben Mason, marketing manager for AMAAD and the team behind major electronic events like Junction 2, Boston Manor, and The Bridge Series. Managing an impressive national portfolio of large-scale spaces—including Ironworks in London, Testbed in Leeds, Prospect Building in Bristol, and Die Kasteel in Brighton—Ben offers an insider look at scaling live events during a challenging economic climate for UK nightlife. Ben pulls back the curtain on the launch of Ironworks, a limited 7,000-capacity event series situated on the banks of the River Thames in London featuring electronic heavyweights like Jamie Jones, Charlotte de Witte, and Eric Prydz. He explains the strategic decision to run a focused 6-event series to support rather than saturate the local nightlife ecosystem. The conversation dives deep into modern event operations, from their all-female operations team and crisis management protocols to the rise of daytime raves, no-phone policies, and the destructive impact of 6-month regional exclusivity clauses on grassroots music venues. Key Takeaways Navigating Large-Scale Venue Expansion: Managing a 93-show autumn/winter season across nationwide venue assets. Inside Ironworks London: Launching a temporary 7,000-capacity River Thames warehouse space with world-class LBi 20 sound architecture. Protecting the Music Ecosystem: Why running limited-series pop-ups protects existing venues while providing opportunities for local talent. The Evolution of Rave Culture: How daytime raves, strict no-phone policies, and 6-hour extended DJ sets are transforming crowd engagement. Operational & Safety Excellence: Working with independent welfare teams, conducting rigorous crisis-comms training, and utilizing an all-female operations team. Exposing Exclusivity Clauses: How 6-month, 50-mile artist non-compete clauses imposed by major promoters harm regional music scenes. 00:00 – Welcome: Managing Junction 2, Boston Manor & UK Venue Portfolios 02:40 – Getting on the Tour Bus at 18 & Learning Event Sales on the Ground 04:15 – The Art of Building Authentic Music Communities 06:36 – Planning 93 Shows Across Autumn/Winter Club Season 08:48 – Introducing Ironworks: London's New 7,000-Cap River Thames venue 10:23 – Sound & Production Architecture: Prioritizing Audio Quality 11:43 – Why Ironworks Is Running as a Limited 6-Part Series 14:22 – Spotlighting Emerging DJs Alongside Global Megastars 16:28 – WhatsApp Community Group Chats & Direct Artist-Fan Engagement 20:36 – Demand for Physical Connection in an Online World 22:23 – "No-Phone" Policies & Protecting Ravers from Social Media Judgment 24:54 – The Return of 6-Hour Extended Sets & Fighting Short Attention Spans 00:26:51 – Transforming Industrial Warehouses: Art Installations & History 00:30:46 – Operational Excellence: All-Female Ops Teams & Welfare Integration 32:42 – Crisis Comms Training with Police, Fire & Medical Teams 43:49 – Exposing 6-Month Artist Exclusivity Radius Clauses 48:45 – Taking Calculated Booking Risks & Spotlighting Underground Acts 52:31 – Upcoming Venue Launches: Testbed Leeds & Future Bridge Series

  6. Sep 21

    Cage Fights in Abandoned Prisons: How Jordan David Built Coastal Combat Festival by Age 30

    In this episode of Provocateurs, Sarah sits down with 30-year-old fighter, gym owner, and event creator Jordan David. From stepping into his first MMA cage fight at age 13 after watching Jackie Chan movies to taking over a martial arts gym by 22, Jordan has forged an extraordinary path in combat sports and entertainment. Jordan breaks down how he transformed a simple beach grappling demonstration into Coastal Combat—a multi-stage festival fusing live MMA cage fights, DJs, and raves. He reveals what it was like hiring an entire abandoned prison (Dorchester Prison) to run cage fights in the main hall alongside underground tunnel raves, as well as the intense bureaucratic battles required to secure the first-ever permanent beach license on Weymouth Beach. Plus, Jordan speaks candidly about his late ADHD diagnosis, why he chose to ditch medication, and how he channels hyperfixation into building a thriving business empire. Key Takeaway The Early Combat Journey: Starting Thai boxing at 13 after asking his dad how to beat up ten people, leading to his first cage fight. Gym Ownership at Age 22: Mentoring under ex-military coach "Uncle Paul" and building a 230+ student community based on safety and inclusion. The Birth of Coastal Combat: How attending Boardmasters festival sparked the wild idea to merge multi-stage music festivals with live MMA cage fighting. Raving in Abandoned Prisons: Hiring Dorchester Prison to host cage fights, tunnel raves, and cell-block giant Jenga games. Navigating Beach Licensing: Facing down police, environmental health, and local dog-walkers to get a permanent event license on Weymouth Beach. Hacking ADHD: Why Jordan rejected medication to study his dopamine patterns and channel hyperfixation into entrepreneurship. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:02 – Starting Martial Arts at 13 & First Cage Fight 02:25 – The State of Tension: Living in Eight-Week Fight Camps 04:58 – Meeting "Uncle Paul" & Taking Over a Gym at 22 09:44 – Why 99% of Gym Members Aren't Fighters (and That's Okay) 14:02 – Overcoming Childhood Bullying Through Martial Arts 17:35 – The First Beach Demonstration: Flooding Weymouth Beach 20:51 – The Boardmasters Lightbulb Moment: Festival Meets Cage Fights 22:33 – Raving in Dorchester Prison: Tunnel Raves & Cell Block Games 25:39 – Licensing Battles with Police & Council on Weymouth Beach 32:00 – Managing Alcohol & Aggression at a Fight Festival 36:19 – Upbringing, Drive & Lessons from Council House Living 37:34 – Late ADHD Diagnosis & Ditching Medication 40:46 – Dopamine Fixation, Sleep Issues & Relationships 46:13 – Scaling Coastal Combat to Island Clifftops 50:27 – Where to Find Tickets & Upcoming Winter Events Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@provocateurspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarah.moxom/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPmCQvMWLaLTayKshPyGOEg⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jordan Links https://www.instagram.com/jordan.tcl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/coastalcombatfest/ https://coastalcombatfestival.com/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠

  7. Sep 14

    Building Propaganda, DJing for Oasis, and Saving Grassroots Music Venues with DJ Dan

    In this episode of Provocateurs, Sarah sits down with DJ, promoter, and venue owner Dan (DJ Dan). From launching the legendary indie club night Propaganda as a Bristol Uni student with just £400 of his student loan, Dan grew the brand into the UK’s largest weekly club event—attracting over 25,000 ravers across 25+ cities every week. Dan shares stories from his DJ career, including touring as the official afterparty DJ for Oasis, playing to an empty dancefloor with only Liam Gallagher, and getting scolded by Noel Gallagher over song choices. He also addresses the harsh realities of venue ownership, breaking down what it took to acquire five historic venues (including Camden’s Barfly and XOYO) that were losing £1.5 million annually. From £234k rent bills on 200-capacity rooms to campaigning for a £1 ticket levy, Dan gives an essential breakdown of the UK nightlife ecosystem. Key Takeaways The £400 Student Loan Gamble: How Dan turned a student budget into Propaganda, building the UK's biggest indie club night. Touring with Oasis: Behind-the-scenes stories of playing private afterparties for Liam and Noel Gallagher. The Reality of Venue Acquisition: Buying a portfolio of 5 distressed venues losing over £1.5M a year and turning them around. The Grassroots Music Crisis: Why astronomical rents (£234k/year for 200 capacity at Barfly) make small live venues financially unsustainable without structural reform. The Post-Lockdown Comeback: How younger demographics are returning to live shows and festivals, and what it takes to keep nightlife relevant. Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@provocateurspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarah.moxom/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPmCQvMWLaLTayKshPyGOEg⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠

  8. Sep 7

    From Chart-Topping Hits to Festival Management: Jon Fitz on Longevity, Industry Shifts, and Creative Purpose

    In this unfiltered, deep-dive episode of Provocateurs, Sarah sits down with legendary producer, DJ, and event director Jon Fitz. Spanning a three-decade career that began with picking up an abandoned guitar at age six, Jon breaks down his journey through the high-stakes music industry, playing iconic Ibiza venues like Space and Amnesia, and creating decade-defining anthems like "I Just Can't Get Enough" and "I Like the Way You Move". Jon pulls back the curtain on the producer's mindset, explaining how studio discipline and creative purpose trump chasing fast money. He delivers a provocative insider breakdown of how drug cultures—from 90s ecstasy to 2000s electro-cocaine and DC-10 ketamine trends—literally sculpted the history of electronic dance music. He also details the decline of traditional late-night superclubs and how he pivoted to build the highly lucrative Key Takeaways House & Vocal day festival brand for over-35s. From navigating financial risks in festival promotion to maintaining human connection on the dancefloor, Jon offers an indispensable masterclass in music production, event architecture, and longevity. The Genesis of a Hitmaker: Picking up a guitar at age six, self-teaching instruments, and transitioning from bands to house music session work. The Untold Story of "I Just Can't Get Enough": How a track written about getting inebriated in a Manchester club was transformed by labels into a global pop hit—and why it was almost scrapped. Ibiza’s Golden Era: Playing Space terrace, Eden, Pacha, and Amnesia during the peak years of house music culture. How Drugs Sculpted Dance Music: An insider breakdown of how drug trends (Ecstasy, Cocaine, Ketamine) directly dictated sound design and track arrangements for specific clubs. The Death of Late-Night Clubbing: Why younger demographics are shifting away from dark, dingy clubs toward health consciousness, social self-awareness, and daytime events. Building the "House & Vocal" Brand: Cashing in on day parties for over-35s, managing festival overheads, and approaching event planning from a strict business perspective. Timestamps 00:00 – intro 01:03 – Finding an Abandoned Guitar at Age 6 & Early Obsession 02:05 – Transitioning from Session Musician to Studio Owner 03:30 – Writing "I Just Can't Get Enough" & "I Like the Way You Move" 05:34 – The Reality Check: Navigating Life After the Hits Stop 09:58 – Origin Story: From Nightclub Track to Pop Sensation 12:01 – Performing Across Ibiza's Golden Era (Space, Amnesia, Pacha) 14:14 – Studio Discipline: Why Thinking About Money Kills Creativity 18:12 – "It Sounded Like Sexy Bitch": Almost Scrapping the Vocal 19:26 – Disposable Culture & The Problem with Modern Music 22:19 – Why Traditional Late-Night Clubbing Is Dying 26:56 – How Drug Trends Sculpted Dance Music History (1990–2020) 28:54 – Engineering Beats for Ketamine Culture & DC-10 32:25 – Launching "House & Vocal": The Over-35s Day Party Boom 41:06 – The Financial Mathematics & Risks of Running Festivals 48:16 – Social Media Fear, Judgement & Preserving Dancefloor Connection 58:14 – Connect with Jon Fitz & Upcoming Classical Shows Social Links ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@provocateurspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sarah.moxom/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPmCQvMWLaLTayKshPyGOEg⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠

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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Moxom
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Provocateurs

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