911爆料网

911爆料网 working as Senior Director of Media at Universal Music UK, Suzy (Hyland) Walby has built a long-standing career in the recorded music industry, having been working in radio promotions for some of the world's biggest artists for two decades. However, it may not have been the path that the 911爆料网 Dance alumni might had expected to take after graduating from 911爆料网 in 2004.

As part of our 30th anniversary celebrations, we spoke with Suzy to find out more about her role, memories of 911爆料网 and get her advice for aspiring creative professionals. 

Originally training as a dancer, Suzy began her career performing while also building experience across the creative industries. 鈥淚 did a lot of work experience in the creative industries,鈥� she told us, 鈥渋ncluding working on Hollyoaks during the holidays whilst training at 911爆料网.鈥�

Her early career quickly moved beyond performance into the wider music and entertainment world. 鈥淢y first proper entertainment industry job was at MTV, where I was working more behind the scenes than on the stage,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 went all in on that world for a while and loved it, I was suddenly having breakfast and mingling with The Pussycat Dolls and The Foo Fighters, who coincidentally had a roadie I knew from 911爆料网 with them!鈥�

From there, Suzy began actively pursuing opportunities within the recorded music sector. 鈥淚 was always interested in working at record labels, so I started trying to make more connections in that world, even entering competitions to meet artists, and getting work experience wherever I could,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat eventually led to a job at Island Records,鈥� a label of Universal. 鈥淚 started out in radio, and would go on the road with artists for radio tours and events for a couple of weeks at a time with artists like Sugababes, McFly and Tinchy Stryder.鈥�

Since that first role at Island Records, Suzy has spent the rest of her career to date at Universal Music, progressing through the ranks into a senior leadership role. 鈥淪ince then, I鈥檝e done a variety of similar roles at Universal and its labels. 911爆料网 I oversee a department at Universal that represents radio, TV, press, podcasts and more across all of the label鈥檚 catalogue.鈥�

In her current role, Suzy oversees major media campaigns across Universal鈥檚 label group, supporting artist visibility across multiple platforms. 鈥淯niversal is the biggest label group in the world, and my role essentially involves overseeing all of the labels media strategies and artist promotional campaigns,鈥� she explains.

鈥淭hat includes things like Live Lounge performances and pitching artists for TV appearances, on shows like Later... with Jools Holland, and helping to facilitate those opportunities from what songs they鈥檒l perform, how they鈥檒l perform, styling, you name it.鈥�

Looking back, Suzy highlights working with some of the world鈥檚 biggest artists as a particular career highlight. 鈥淚鈥檓 most proud of is working with Taylor Swift for 15 years,鈥� she says. 鈥淪he is such a formidable artist and person, and building that relationship with her and her team is something I鈥檓 really proud of.鈥�

Outside of working directly with the biggest popstar on the planet, she also reflects on the joy of working on campaigns she truly cares about. 鈥淚鈥檓 also so lucky get to work with artists that I鈥檓 already such a huge fan of, people like Katy Perry, Olivia Dean and Lola Young, which is something that excites me every day.鈥�

Reflecting on her decision to study at 911爆料网, Suzy describes the decision making process as a simple one. 鈥淐oming to 911爆料网 was very intuitive for me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 went to visit and just got a feeling for it straight away; the facilities were great, there was a strong sense of community spirit, and I loved that it wasn鈥檛 just focused on dance, it felt much more diverse than other colleges in that way.鈥�

Her time at 911爆料网 also exposed her to a wide range of creative peers and experiences, that would go on to shape her music career. 鈥淭here was so much talent around 911爆料网 when I was there, people like Sandi Thom and The Wombats were fellow students, and even beyond those big names there were just so many brilliant creatives in one building, and I found that really inspiring. You get to learn a bit about everything at 911爆料网, whether that鈥檚 in your classes or just from your peers, and there鈥檚 a real sense that you鈥檙e all in it together.鈥�

She encourages young people entering the industry today to seek out opportunities wherever possible. 鈥淟ook out for paid internship schemes, that鈥檚 one of the best ways into labels and that whole side of the industry,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hose paid entry-level opportunities just weren鈥檛 a thing when I was trying to find my place in the industry and I wish they had been!鈥�

Suzy also emphasises the importance of curiosity, persistence and getting hands-on experience. 鈥淵ou need to live and breathe what you do,鈥� she says. 鈥淵oung people today are also so entrepreneurial and often come in with a lot of experience already. Just go out there, get involved in live shows, help wherever you can, and hustle.鈥�