Creative Access alum, Richard Lartey, worked on The X Factor, Big Brother and Saturday Night Takeaway before making it in the music industry at Absolute Label Services. Here he tells the story of his career journey.
Where do you currently work and how did you get this role?
I’m currently head of digital operations at Absolute. We offer music distribution and label services to independent artists and record labels. I initially joined the company as a digital intern with the help of Creative Access. I distinctly remember going to the interview with the guidance and coaching of the Creative Access team and being told by my interviewers that they had a few more people to see and I would hear back the following week. However, by the time I was home from the interview, I received a call offering me the job!
Tell us about your career journey so far.
I’ve had quite a busy career, straight out of university I worked on the broadcast team at the London 2012 Olympic Games, I’ve had stints working on TV shows like The X Factor, Big Brother, and Saturday Night Takeaway. I’ve even worked with Telefonica to host a conference at The O2 Arena. More recently I’ve received a number of promotions taking me from my initial digital intern role at Absolute to leading the company’s digital department.
How did Creative Access help you reach where you are today?
I quite simply wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of Creative Access. Prior to joining Absolute I’d tried to break into the incredibly competitive music industry, but on numerous occasions been given great interview feedback only to be told they’ve gone for the other candidate. Creative Access’ interview coaching and the prioritisation of candidates from backgrounds like my own were a big help in me landing my internship.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in your industry?
The music industry is constantly evolving with new tech and marketing tools changing how artists share their work. Never stop learning, keep up with industry news, and experiment with new services, it will put you at a distinct advantage over your peers.
What do you love about your role?
I love how varied my role is, there’s a lot of problem-solving involved drawing from all of the industry knowledge I’ve built up over the years and I really do find that no two days are the same.