The Media Club · 5 November 2021 · 12 min
Sophie K: breaking the mould
- Breaking into Rock Radio
- Diversity and Tokenism in Media
- Overcoming Adversity
- Social Media Strategy
- Gender in Rock Music
- Representation in Media
In this bonus episode of The Media Podcast, host Matt Deegan shares a session recorded live at the Radio Academy Festival, featuring Kerrang! Radio breakfast presenter Sophie K. Sophie discusses her journey breaking into the male-dominated world of rock radio, overcoming barriers as a Black mixed-race woman. She recounts early rejections, being told she didn't 'look like a rock fan', and how she used knowledge and social media to prove her worth. She also talks about being tokenised after George Floyd's death, and her podcast 'On Wednesdays We Wear Black', the first in rock to feature women of colour and a non-binary person. The episode highlights her advice for up-and-coming talent and calls out industry gatekeepers.
Key takeaways
- Sophie K shared her journey breaking into rock radio, facing rejection for not 'looking like a rock fan'.
- She used knowledge and social media to prove her worth, increasing Kerrang! Radio's audience by 150%.
- She discussed being tokenised after George Floyd's death, and the difference between being hired for skill vs. skin colour.
- She created 'On Wednesdays We Wear Black', the first rock podcast with women of colour and a non-binary person.
- She advised up-and-coming talent to create their own space and use social media natively.
In this episode
- Introduction
- Sophie K's Talk
- Outro
Notable quotes
“because you don't look like a rock fan.”
“rock fans Don't actually care. The industry does, and the gatekeepers do.”
“I'm not a token. I know what I'm doing.”
Discussed
Mentioned or recommended
- On Wednesdays We Wear Black
- Radio Academy Festival