University of Salford BA Television and Radio Production student Issy Brand will see her final year project broadcast on Virgin Radio this weekend.
Issy’s documentary, A Record of Employment: The Kaiser Chiefs Story marks the 20th anniversary of the band’s debut album Employment.
The 50-minute documentary charts the early struggles and rise of the band, through to the breakthrough on the 2005 NME Awards Tour and eventual chart success.
Issy, who has worked as an Assistant Producer at Virgin Radio since January 2024, developed and recorded the documentary over the past few months while juggling university work, a weekly show on Salford student station Shock, and captaining AFC Crewe’s women’s football team.
The project includes interviews with lead singer Ricky Wilson, original drummer Nick Hodgson, bassist Simon Rix, and producer Stephen Street, as well as Samuel Preston from The Ordinary Boys, who took the band on tour in their early days.
Issy said: “I saw the band for the first time in Liverpool when I was 12, and that experience changed my life. This album inspired me to pursue a career in music and broadcasting, and the opportunity to make this documentary and have it picked up by Virgin means everything.”
Issy developed the programme under the guidance of tutor Adam Fowler, crediting him and the University of Salford team with encouraging her to complete the project.
“Adam had never even heard of the band when I pitched it,” she said, “but once I explained how ambitious I was, he was nothing but supportive.”
Issy recently picked up Best Interview and Best On-Air Team (with fellow student Matt Hallsworth) at the International Student Broadcasting Championship, where she was also runner-up for the Rising Star Award.
A Record of Employment: The Kaiser Chiefs Story airs on Virgin Radio UK at 10pm this Sunday.