His manager called it career suicide, it got 6 million views | Billy Lockett

His manager called it career suicide, it got 6 million views | Billy Lockett

From What It Takes with Olly Fawcett by Olly Fawcett

July 13, 2026 · 1h 32m

About this episode

Billy Lockett shares his journey in the music industry, including the challenges he faced with major record labels and his successful pivot to independence through social media.

Two major record deals, and Billy Lockett walked away from both with nothing to show for it. Then his own manager told him an idea was career suicide, he did it anyway, and it changed everything!Billy Lockett is a self-taught singer-songwriter and pianist from Northampton who has spent over a decade in the music industry, including two major label deals (Warner, and a Virgin-affiliated US label) that both collapsed without ever recouping. After going fully independent, Billy (working alongside his mum) started posting real, unedited concert ticket sales numbers on TikTok and Instagram. One video hit 5-6 million views, hundreds of other artists have since copied the format, his monthly Spotify listeners have grown by 200,000-300,000, and his latest self-produced album hit No.1 in the UK indie charts.Chapters0:00 Welcome, Billy1:34 He Could Play Piano Before Anyone Taught Him3:03 The Loner Who Couldn't Fit In Anywhere8:09 The Talent Show That Changed Everything10:12 A Standing Ovation and a Drug Addict's High14:14 The Cost of Being "The Brand"17:18 Burning CDs and Selling to His Mates25:57 A Backstage Rider Full of Blank CDs and Cash28:15 Bin Bags Full of Money in a…

People in this episode

Host: Olly Fawcett

Guest: Billy Lockett

Topics covered

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Warner, Virgin, TikTok, Instagram

Books & works: No.1 in the UK indie charts

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