Behind every breakthrough is the work audiences rarely see: the writing sessions, creative risks, new connections and spaces that give artists room to develop.
For creative producer, artist manager and festival booker Mobo Agoro, that behind-the-scenes work is where some of the most exciting things in music are happening. Through UP2STNDRD and his work with PITCH Scotland, Mobo is helping connect artists, writers and producers across scenes, cities and countries, creating opportunities for collaboration that go beyond the traditional industry playbook.
We caught up with Mobo to talk about building creative ecosystems, the importance of genuine artist development, taking music beyond traditional settings, and why we should be paying attention not just to where the industry is now, but where culture is moving next.
"Don’t build for where the industry is now, build for where culture is moving"
"I became interested in what happens before success becomes visible: the writing sessions, workshops, conversations and creative risks that shape artists long before audiences hear the final record"
I’m Mobo Agoro, a creative producer, artist manager and Festival booker based in Scotland. My work focuses on artist development, creative infrastructure and building environments where artists can collaborate, experiment and grow. Through UP2STNDRD and my work as a booker for PITCH Scotland, I spend a lot of time connecting people, ideas and opportunities across different parts of the music ecosystem.
I got into this work because I saw a gap between talent and access. There were incredible artists around me, but not enough spaces that supported development in a genuine way. I became interested in what happens before success becomes visible: the writing sessions, workshops, conversations and creative risks that shape artists long before audiences hear the final record. That process still keeps me engaged now, especially at a time when collaboration across scenes and cities feels more important than ever.
“For us, it’s about more than networking. It’s about creating the conditions for genuine creative exchange, new publishing opportunities and long-term relationships that continue beyond the week itself.”
A big part of that thinking has shaped the international writing camp series we’ve been building through UP2STNDRD. We intentionally run the camps during the week of PITCH Scotland to create a space where international artists can work directly with artists, writers and producers from Scotland while they’re already in the country. For us, it’s about more than networking. It’s about creating the conditions for genuine creative exchange, new publishing opportunities and long-term relationships that continue beyond the week itself.
Musically, I’m drawn to artists who balance experimentation with cultural memory. I love work that feels rooted while still pushing somewhere new. Earlier this year I co-produced a performance piece by Moniqux Ensemble called Dictations, the heart of the sea. During the process, I watched recording artists work alongside dancers and performance artists to build an emotional soundtrack that could carry movement, storytelling and atmosphere. Seeing music function in that way expanded my understanding of where songwriting and composition can live.
It made me realise the spaces music can exist in beyond traditional industry settings. Film & TV, theatre, performance art and movement-based work allow music to communicate differently, and it’s made me increasingly interested in how artists can move between disciplines while still staying connected to songwriting and record-making.
Right now, I’m inspired by collaboration and slow building. Artists creating their own ecosystems, communities sharing knowledge, and people making work that prioritises depth over immediacy. Some of the most exciting things happening culturally don’t always fit neatly into industry categories yet, and I think that’s what makes them important.
One piece of advice that has stayed with me is: “Don’t build for where the industry is now, build for where culture is moving.” I return to that often. It reminds me to pay attention to people, communities and creative shifts rather than only reacting to trends. A lot of the work I care about comes from creating space for those shifts to develop naturally.
Mobo’s perspective is a reminder that artist development is about more than what happens after a release. It starts much earlier, with access to the right spaces, people and opportunities to experiment, collaborate and grow.
It’s an approach we share at Rightsbridge. A stronger, fairer music industry depends on creators having the knowledge, infrastructure and support they need to build sustainable careers, from developing their craft to understanding their rights and ensuring they’re properly rewarded for their work.
A huge thanks to Mobo for taking the time to share his experiences and insights with us, and for the work he continues to do connecting artists, ideas and opportunities across Scotland and beyond.
