Managing an Artist

In a world where a simple upload of a video can make someone famous, it is difficult to make it above the fray, even if you have talent or a unique quirk as an artist. So many people are competing for the same goal: to be recognized for the music they create. With record sales declining in the last decade and a still, steady decline expected in the future, the music industry has been forced to remold the formula for bringing in revenue.

This is where expertise comes in to help an artist. Sure, you know the industry from the consumer side, and you may even know the industry from a creative side, but in order to be successful, you need the holy trio with business being the final expertise. But you don’t know the business side of the industry. So who can help you with this?

You may think you need to pay multiple people to accomplish this goal such as an agent, a record label, a manager, a graphic designer, a promotion/social media team, etc., but in fact, you really only need one person to tackle all these tasks. You need a manager. Now, obviously every manager won’t have the expertise/experience to be able to make you a logo, book you a tour, and control your social media, but a good manager knows the right people and has the right connections to make these processes as straightforward and successful as possible.

Many successful artists have had one person bulldozing their path from behind the scenes (Beyoncé).

So what does a manager really do for me?

Every manager has different roles that they play in an artist’s success; however, in an industry that is morphing daily, it is important to have someone that is very versatile and can help you in any situation that arises.

In the nitty gritty details, a manager SHOULD do the following:

• Provide a social media plan
• Provide graphic designs for any released music (singles, ep’s, albums, etc.)
• Provide plans and help in the creation of music videos
• Provide a theme for the artist
• Organize tours and ensure everything is taken care of from contract signing to travel plans to technical details for performance
• Organize interviews, photo shoots, and other public relations
• Provide a timeline for growth and be successful in attaining goals along the way
• Provide contacts for music creation, writing, mastering, or anything else needed
• Have knowledge of any changes in the industry and the ability to quickly adapt

Wouldn’t it be ideal to have someone take care of all these elements so you can focus on your music and enjoy what you’re truly passionate about?

But how much of my money are they taking?

Usually a manager takes 15%-20% of an artist’s earnings; however, as the industry changes and less people are needed, it seems likely that this number could increase. Obviously this number could accumulate to a huge sum of money, but it is better to give a manager a percentage, that way your success benefits them, and is crucial for their success as well.

Hopefully you found this information helpful. It is so difficult to be successful in an industry saturated with people very similar to you. Find someone who know the industry and is able to give you that advantage you need to finally show people how unique you really are.