The Glossary: Ro Sakhardande | Head of Creative Studio, 23:59

What is your role in music and what does your day to day look like?

I am the head of RA’s In house creative studio, 23:59 - I manage the team that oversees RA’s brand partnership and non-endemic media business. My day to day is quite varied depending on what projects we're working on. It's usually made up of morning check-ins with the team and clients. Ensure all our live projects are on track and on budget. New business meetings with prospective clients. Reporting to senior internal stakeholders. And I will usually have my head buried in a keynote deck for at least a few hours.

How did you get into your line of work?

Way back in 2010, I’d spent most of my university years more focused on the thriving music scene than studying. I got immersed in running parties and festivals just as the global financial crisis of the time was decimating the graduate job market (sound familiar?)

This reckless move did ultimately pay off, as through the network I’d built via music I'd managed to make enough loose connections to get my foot in the door at a Music PR Agency (shout out Vass at Urban Rebel PR for taking a chance on someone with no experience and a lot of big, often misguided opinions, on the music industry), for an internship which quickly became a paid position. 

Since then I’ve moved through various agencies, always working in music, culture marketing and partnerships. I joined RA in 2021 to launch our in-house creative studio, 23:59.

What skills are important in your job?

Communication is really important, being able to engage with people across all levels of the business and across different sections of our industry is essential. 

If someone is excited to do what you do, what advice would you give them?

This is changing, but when I started out the idea of having any training in your roles was non-existent. In these “learn on the job” situations, the best way to pick things up is through osmosis. If possible, go into the office and sit next to senior people - you can pick up so much and develop an understanding far quicker in person than through a screen. If you're trying to get into the music industry, reach out to people on Linkedin or similar platforms, ask to jump on a quick call. People are surprisingly nice and happy to share if you're enthusiastic and keen to learn.

What have you found surprising about your role?

I work globally and regularly speak with people all over the world. It still surprises me how deeply the shared commonality of music can bring people together who otherwise wouldn't have a reason to connect.

What are your top 3 tips for someone who wants work in the music industry in general?

•  Networking is so so so important: the person you chat to in the queue to a club could be your future business partner.
• Don't be (too) precious about your tastes: if the project, artist or event you have the chance to work on isn't exactly what you love, take the opportunity to get the experience - it will open more doors for you. There's no such thing as “bad experience” when it comes to work.
• If you're unsure where to start, try to understand the different sectors within the industry. It’s a broad space with lots of different roles and sectors. The idea that you have to be a “creative” to work in music is a myth - this a space for everyone and every skill set, you just need to find your fit.

23:59 is currently hiring a Media Partnerships Manager in either Amsterdam or London - read more and apply on Doors Open here.