🎙️ Episode 26 is live!
This one’s about ambition, access, and aligning talent with legacy brands.
In this episode of “Sanj Surati Talks”, I sat down with Raf McDonnell, Founder & MD of Talent and Brands, to dive deep into the business of cultural matchmaking — connecting global brands with world-class talent.
📍 Recorded at the brilliant Atomic Studios in London, Raf shared how he went from behind-the-scenes hustler to a key player brokering headline deals between household names and household faces.
What struck me most was his mindset: "Understand the value of who you represent — and then match that value with the right story."
It’s not just about access — it’s about alignment.
This conversation isn’t just for brand strategists or talent agents — it’s for anyone who wants to understand the anatomy of modern influence.
Raf can be contacted via: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raf-mcdonnell-709b462/
What we talked about:
Music Week - https://www.musicweek.com/
FMCG
Courage - https://couragebeers.co.uk/
Fosters - https://www.fosters.co.uk/
Walkers Crisps - https://www.walkers.co.uk/walkershome/
Monster Munch - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Munch
Coca Cola - https://www.coca-cola.com/gb/en
David Beckham - https://www.davidbeckham.com/
My Coke Music
Sun - https://www.thesun.co.uk/
Apple - https://www.apple.com/
iTunes - https://www.apple.com/uk/itunes/
Music Industry
EMI Music - https://www.universalmusic.com/label/emi/
Universal Music - https://www.universalmusic.com/
Warner music - https://www.wmg.com/
CAA - https://www.caa.com/
One Direction - https://www.onedirectionmusic.com/gb/home
Arianna Grande - https://www.arianagrande.com/
Kylie Minogue - https://www.kylie.com/
X-Factor - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_X_Factor_(British_TV_series)
Britain’s Got Talent - https://www.itv.com/britainsgottalent
Spice Girls - https://thespicegirls.com/
Gary Lineker - https://x.com/garylineker
Michael Owen - https://x.com/themichaelowen?lang=en
Amazon Tickets
Management
Luxury
High Street
Telecoms
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/Instagram
George Clooney - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Clooney
Nespresso - https://www.nespresso.com/uk/en
Britney Spears - https://britneyspears.com/
Pepsi - https://www.pepsi.co.uk/
Looney Tunes - https://www.warnerbros.co.uk/brands/looney-tunes
Bugs Bunny - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugs_Bunny
Ulrika Jonsson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulrika_Jonsson
Paul Gascoigne - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Gascoigne
Licensing
Music Sync
The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/uk
Tinie Tempah - https://www.tinietempah.com/
Robbie Williams - https://robbiewilliams.com/
Coldplay - https://www.coldplay.com/
Eliza Doolittle - https://www.elizalovechild.com/
Professor Green - https://www.instagram.com/professorgreen/?hl=en
Blackberry - https://www.blackberry.com/us/en
Maxfactor - https://www.maxfactor.com/
Mastercard - https://www.mastercard.co.uk/en-gb.html
Monster Energy - https://www.monsterenergy.com/en-gb/
Emilie Sande - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emeli_Sand%C3%A9
The Brit Awards - https://www.brits.co.uk/
Dumi Oburota
Atomic - https://atomic-london.co.uk/about
Supernova – https://go-supernova.com/
Rob Mayhew - https://www.instagram.com/robmayhewcomedy
Chip Shop Diva - https://www.tiktok.com/@desth.xo
Cannes Lions - https://www.canneslions.com/
Spotify
The Wanted - https://www.thewantedmusic.com/
Louis Theroux - https://www.louistheroux.com/
Paris Hilton - https://parishilton.com/
Seal - https://www.sealofficial.com/tour
Mark Ronson - https://www.markronson.co.uk/
Friday Night Dinner - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1844923/
Jimmy Carr - https://www.jimmycarr.com/
Places:
Leicester
United States
Japan
Australia
New Zealand
France
Spain
Germany
Madrid
Advice:
Start with the brands objectives.
What are they trying to achieve?
First understand the needs of both the brand and the talent before you try to broker the deal.
Meet with the artists and understand what they want.
Stick at what you are good at.
Watch some comedy in the morning.
Try to have a very healthy work life balance.
Keep active.
If you can, find your passion.
Be prepared to learn something new and new things.
#sanjsuratitalks
https://http://www.twitter.com/sanjsurati
https://http://www.instagram.com/artistryinsentiment
https://www.facebook.com/therealsanj
Launched over the Covid 19 lockdown, The Sanj Surati Talks Podcast is a channel for Sanj’s discussions with people he knows and a few discussions with himself. There is no agenda but hopefully some healthy debates.
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