This week we're chatting to Xanthe Fuller, Senior Marketing Director at Mixcloud and someone who's been sneaking into jungle raves since she was 13. She's worked her way up from 4am radio shifts at XFM to producing shows for Pete Tong, Adam & Joe, and Jamie Cullum across BBC Radio 1, 6 Music and Radio 2. We get into the proper art of pitching music without sending paragraphs that nobody reads, why online radio is the new pirate radio, and how building global communities around niche genres actually works. Plus she explains why saying yes to opportunities you don't fancy can completely change your career trajectory. Includes actionable advice on getting your music heard, why work ethic beats being flashy, and why burning bridges in the music industry is career suicide. Key Topics: Early Music Journey Started sneaking out to jungle raves at 13 with friendsFirst rave: Jungle Mania at The Astoria, Tottenham Court RoadInfluenced by sister's mixtapes from DJs who later got signed to Ninja TuneParents were surprisingly supportive of clubbing, prioritizing safety over restriction Radio Career Path Transitioned from TV work to radio after sister's suggestionGot XFM job by writing "ridiculous answers" to competition questionsWorked 4am-8:30am shifts while temping full-timeProduced Adam & Joe show (loved the TV show as a student)Worked across BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, and Radio 2Produced Pete Tong, Jamie Cullum, and Mary Anne Hobbs shows Radio Production Insights Producer roles vary dramatically between showsSome require heavy music curation, others focus on live directionKey skill: balancing relationship with talent while maintaining authorityEventually hosted own show on Soho Radio Mixcloud Journey Met founder Nikhil when running early online radio stationMixcloud solved real problem: sharing DJ mixes was previously clunkyEvolved from community role to marketing directorCOVID accelerated live streaming features, shifted to subscription model Pitching MasterclassThe Golden Rules: One sentence only - "Never send paragraphs because it's just not going to be read"Instant access - Click and hear immediately, no downloads/sign-upsStart small - Pitch lightest idea first, build relationship, then expandGet rid of fluff - Find the one kernel that piques interest Industry Insights Online radio replacing pirate radio as talent hotbedGlobal communities forming around niche genresBrand partnerships work best when supporting culture, not exploiting itStreaming made music "secondary activity" - background listening Career Advice Work ethic beats flashiness - "People that got kept on got their heads down and delivered amazing work"Say yes to opportunities - Even unappealing projects can lead to great relationshipsDon't burn bridges - "Really small industry, you'll keep bumping into same people"Admit what you don't know - "People love coaching, find someone to teach you"Test ideas quickly - Don't get stuck in bureaucracy, try things fast Future of Music/Radio Traditional and online radio should coexistNeed for human curation vs algorithmic echo chambersCommunities now global rather than geographic Standout Quotes "Never send paragraphs in an email because it's just not going to be read""It's a real skill to narrow your pitch down to one sentence""Don't be afraid to admit what you don't know""It's a really small industry and you will keep bumping into the same people" Song Recommendation"Overdose of Joy" by Eugene Record - Makes her laugh every time due to unintentionally hilarious lyrics while being a genuinely great soul tune Recommended Future GuestNikhil Shah - Mixcloud co-founder, ran record label, organized warehouse parties, now developing new products