Sanj Surati Talks: Episode 26 - Raf McDonnell

🎙️ 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/FMCGCourage - 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_MunchCoca Cola - https://www.coca-cola.com/gb/enDavid Beckham - https://www.davidbeckham.com/My Coke MusicSun - https://www.thesun.co.uk/Apple - https://www.apple.com/iTunes - https://www.apple.com/uk/itunes/Music IndustryEMI 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/homeArianna 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/britainsgottalentSpice Girls - https://thespicegirls.com/Gary Lineker - https://x.com/garylinekerMichael Owen - https://x.com/themichaelowen?lang=enAmazon TicketsManagementLuxuryHigh StreetTelecomsTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/InstagramGeorge Clooney - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_ClooneyNespresso - https://www.nespresso.com/uk/enBritney Spears - https://britneyspears.com/Pepsi - https://www.pepsi.co.uk/Looney Tunes - https://www.warnerbros.co.uk/brands/looney-tunesBugs Bunny - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugs_BunnyUlrika Jonsson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulrika_JonssonPaul Gascoigne - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_GascoigneLicensingMusic SyncThe Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/ukTinie 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=enBlackberry - https://www.blackberry.com/us/enMaxfactor - https://www.maxfactor.com/Mastercard - https://www.mastercard.co.uk/en-gb.htmlMonster Energy - https://www.monsterenergy.com/en-gb/Emilie Sande - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emeli_Sand%C3%A9The Brit Awards - https://www.brits.co.uk/Dumi OburotaAtomic - https://atomic-london.co.uk/aboutSupernova – https://go-supernova.com/Rob Mayhew - https://www.instagram.com/robmayhewcomedyChip Shop Diva - https://www.tiktok.com/@desth.xoCannes Lions - https://www.canneslions.com/SpotifyThe Wanted - https://www.thewantedmusic.com/Louis Theroux - https://www.louistheroux.com/Paris Hilton - https://parishilton.com/Seal - https://www.sealofficial.com/tourMark Ronson - https://www.markronson.co.uk/Friday Night Dinner - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1844923/Jimmy Carr - https://www.jimmycarr.com/ Places:LeicesterUnited StatesJapanAustraliaNew ZealandFranceSpainGermanyMadridAdvice: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. #sanjsuratitalkshttps://http://www.twitter.com/sanjsuratihttps://http://www.instagram.com/artistryinsentimenthttps://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.Feel free to tweet your thoughts using the hashtag https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%23sanjsuratitalks on Twitter and instagram, and we’d love it if you could rate, review, listen on all the podcast places including iTunes, Google, Spotify, Stitcher and the lot.These Podcasts will also be running on Youtube.The podcast is downloadable from:Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sanj-surati-talks/id1507958068?...