Did you ever ask yourself what a music manager actually does?
A music manager is a professional in charge of managing and supervising your artistic career. Both in the launch phase and when you are a little more established, the manager will play a fundamental role. In this article, we will delve into the duties of a music manager and their importance to your success.
WHO IS THE MUSIC MANAGER?
A Manager is a professional figure whose responsibility is to plan, advise and manage the career of an artist. Although there is not only one type of Manager, in this article we are going to focus on what is normally known as ARTISTIC MANAGER. The two aspects that are considered essential for this professional figure are contacts (and/or the ability and capacity to generate them) and vision.
The music industry, although radically changed with the arrival of the digital and internet era, continues to be an environment that is moved above all by contacts. And with good reason: we continue to be humans who want to work with other humans. With the inflation of artistic supply and thousands and thousands of new artists who want to climb the industry, the ability to find the right people and be a person capable of building relationships and business links is essential in this environment. Therefore, a Manager is required to have charisma, empathy and the ability to develop relationships of all kinds, with the different subjects of the Industry.
The vision represents what the artist wants to obtain and the ability to find the tools to achieve the goal. A Manager who does not have a vision of how to manage an artist, what to make him do, how to make him stand out, who to talk to based on the objective is not of much use.
It is interesting to note how more than 80% of the most successful Managers since the music industry existed had few or zero contacts when they started; However, their vision and determination made them weave all the relationships that came later and made them bear fruit.
WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE MANAGER?
Representation
The Manager is responsible for representing the artist in the music industry, becoming the interface with the world and with the different business subjects (labels, promoters, booking, media, etc.). Her experience, negotiation skills and knowledge of the mechanisms that move the market are key to getting the artist the best deals, protecting him/her from those who could harm her/his career.
Counseling
The Music Manager is the artist's main advisor on all matters related to her musical career. Both in artistic aspects such as the creation and realization of the musical style, the look, stage presence, to some more strategic ones such as the public (and sometimes private) image of the artist, the Manager is responsible for ensuring that there is coherence with the strategy and with the project in the short and long term.
Planning and coordination
Depending on the vision and objective, both in the short and medium term, the Manager has to meticulously plan and coordinate the artist's agenda and all activities related to the artistic activity.
Finance and accounting
The Music Manager is in charge of accounting, billing and payments, and also the management of income and expenses. Although, especially at the beginning of an artist's musical career, this is often managed differently (i.e. the Artist could commission it directly), it becomes a reality when cash flow and economics start to become more important. more complex (royalties, partnerships with brands, synchronization rights, merchandise, etc.)
Public relations
The Music Manager is the face of managing the artist's public image. She handles promotion and all public relations, including media interviews, photo and video shoots, and collaborations with other artists and brands.
WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE MANAGER?
If you are looking for one, if you want to become one or if you want to ensure that your Manager is the right person, keep in mind what are undoubtedly some of the main skills required of this professional figure.
Musical knowledge
A Music Manager is required to have a good knowledge of the world of music, including styles, trends and featured artists.
Negotiation and communication skills
In order to manage and close contracts and commercial agreements that are advantageous for the artist, recognizing the common and less common pitfalls that characterize the music industry, the Manager has to be a very good negotiator. Intrinsic to what was just mentioned, good speech and communication skills are mandatory.
Organizational skills
A Music Manager must be an organized person and capable of planning and coordinating all the artist's activities. The aspects to consider and manage are many and of different complexity. Without an orderly and disciplined work method, it is impossible to effectively carry out and maintain control of all aspects of a client's artistic career.
In conclusion, a Music Manager is a key figure in the career of a musical artist and will be needed more and more in the present and in the future, given the complexity and continued fragmentation of the music industry. Especially in a world where the first approach to music by new artists occurs at an increasingly younger age, a figure of experience who advises, guides and organizes will be the key to success, so as not to end up within the hundreds of thousands that are thrown into the market without sufficient knowledge and wisdom.
I close this article with some frequently asked questions that I am asked and that have probably been asked at some point.
How and where can I find a good Music Manager?
A: There are several ways. Search for references and recommendations from other artists in the music sector, databases available on the internet or, obviously, social networks.
Would I like to be a Manager: how do I become one?
A: There is no specific training to be a Musical Manager, although in recent years several courses, workshops and training have been launched for those who want to take this path. Whatever you decide to do, know that what makes you a good Manager is not any title and letter of participation in training, but the ability to turn what was said above into reality.
What is the role of the Music Manager during the recording and production of an album?
A: Given the choice, the coordination with the Artist on the style and sound to be obtained and the budget to be invested, the Manager is normally (although not always) in charge of the choice of the producer and from then on of all the phases until the completion of the Master.
How can I ensure that my Music Manager represents me properly?
A: Communication and transparency are two aspects that have to be there from the beginning. The Manager has to be considered as a partner of your venture so you have to feel that there is no information that is hidden, just as it is good practice to ask for a report of all weekly activities. VERY IMPORTANT TIP: whoever you choose for a time or for your entire career, don't forget that it is YOUR CAREER! Choosing someone to "offload" the responsibility and knowledge of where your artistic path is and where it is heading is extremely wrong, as well as dangerous. If this is what you want to do in life, never, ever neglect what is happening with your art and artistic brand. Remember: an artist who is unaware and uninterested in his business is also EASIER TO SCAM!
How much does a Music Manager earn?
A: The cost of a Music Manager varies depending on their experience, reputation and the type of contract established. Typically, the Manager charges a commission on the artist's earnings. It may also happen that, especially at the beginning of your musical career when you do not yet have income that can generate a reasonable commission for the Manager, you are proposed a fixed fee for a limited time. This fee serves to remunerate the Manager for all the activities that he must be doing, so that the machine starts moving and generating income.
Are you looking for a manager to grow your project?
Get in contact with me and tell me about it.