Ideally, a manager ordinarily oversees all administrative issues about a person or a company. When you hear the term “manager,” what comes to your mind is the administrative head of a company, a business enterprise, or an organization. However, music managers differ from the conventional managers we see all around. Let dive into what does a music manager does and why every music artist should consider having one.
Hardly can you see an artist without a manager. Trust me; music managers are not ceremonials or figureheads. They perform specific, strategic, and crucial roles in an artist’s success or a music brand. Now, as an artist- upcoming or renowned- who is on the lookout for a music manager, this article will guide you on what you need to know before hiring a music manager. I have researched and compiled facts that will answer your question: What does a music manager do?
- Who can be considered a music manager?
- How do you get a music manager?
- What does a music manager do?
Who can Be Considered a Music Manager?
First of all, a music manager is a person who is in charge of overseeing the affairs of a musician or band. Even though some music managers are not well known as artists, they are the brain behind everything you see on stage. Some renowned music managers in history, like Peter Grant, Brian Epstein, Jon Landau, and Scooter Braun, amongst others.
When looking at the concept of a music manager, it is expedient to know that not everyone or anyone can be considered for the position of a music manager. There are specific criteria you need to put into consideration when questing for a music manager. Below are some expedient qualities and characteristics to be considered when choosing a music manager:
Experience
As good as encouraging humble beginnings, experience is a significant factor to consider when choosing a music manager. This is at the top of my list because the success or failure of an artist depends on who is managing such an artist.
Communication skills
A music manager needs to have good communication skills. The skill is essential because he is the link between the artist and his clients. The manager is in charge of negotiations and communicates the artist’s mind to other workers in the group.
Creativity
The music trend is dynamic. What is in vogue today may be of no relevance tomorrow. A music manager needs to be creative enough to keep his artist relevant. He must set the pace by giving new, viable, and feasible ideas that can promote his artist.
Connection
We are in an era where success is based on who knows who. A music manager needs to have a level of connection needed to open some doors in the music industry. He needs to be well connected. When he is linked to people that matter in the industry and the society, the artist is a step closer to success.
Music Inclined
Never employ someone who knows next to nothing about music as your manager. He doesn’t have to be a sonorous singer with the perfect pitch of voice. However, he must be really into music. It has to be someone who knows his way around the studio. Make sure to employ a music-inclined individual as your music manager.
Vibrant
Yeah! A music manager has to be someone vibrant and energetic. Vibrancy and energy are needed because he is the “live” of the brand. The only thing he’s not doing is writing and presenting the song. He’s responsible for everything that pertains to the artist and his music business.
How Do You Get a Music Manager?
Here is a question that confronts most upcoming artists, ‘how do I go about getting a music manager?’ Well, it could be as easy as seeking self-acclaimed music managers and employing one that suits your taste. However, it might prove harder than that. I will suggest that you go through some renowned human resources agencies that specialize in music.
What Does a Music Manager Do?
As I have earlier stated, a music manager is – as a matter of duty—responsible for all aspects of an artist’s career. He organized everything that has to do with the artist’s music career. I have compiled below the specific duties of a music manager.
Venue Management
Music managers are in charge of managing venues for live performances. They help their artists to book live venues. This means that they do everything required to secure a venue for any performance that the artist might be planning. They will link the booking agents, venue managers, event promoters, and the artist.
In some cases, he might need to hire some sub-managers who will manage some of these things to relieve himself of the workload. Other managers like road or tour managers will be directly accountable to the music manager. This means that a music manager gets you the venue to showcase your talent and do your music business.
Record Label and Record Deals
They are the link between record labels and the artist he’s managing. He works with different record labels and negotiates the terms and conditions of record deals. When a particular record company shows interest in its artist, the music manager will directly handle everything from the onset till he finalized everything.
Hence, record labels deal directly with music managers than with the artist himself. This duty is why you need to hire a music manager that can hold his own anywhere, anytime, and any day. Your manager must know his way around the industry so as not to misrepresent you where needed.
Overseeing The Logistics of Recording
Either an artist is doing a personal recording or recording with a label, the manager manages the logistics. He ensures that every recording is done without a hitch. He will be the main guy with whom music contractors and recording studios relate.
Promoting And Managing a Fan Base
An artist’s music manager is responsible for cultivating, promoting, and communicating with an artist’s fan base. This is in a bid to promote the artist and gain his public acceptance. He manages the artist’s fan base through social media, exclusive releases, live promotions, meet-and-greet sessions, TV and Radio programs, email newsletters, and many more.
Music managers or artist managers will have to be ahead of every trending social media outlet. He will be current about the best way to reach out to the fans at a particular time. He maximizes every opportunity to promote his artist while growing his fan base.
The Hiring of Team Members
If you think just the music manager handles everything, you’re mistaken. No man is an island of knowledge. The team members hired by the manager handle the buck of the work.
In handling publicity, many music managers will hire publicity agents or even publicity firms. Music managers hire capable people from different spheres of life to oversee vital aspects of the artist’s business. He hires travel or tour agents, finance managers, business consultants. He is also in charge of social media managers, editors, wardrobe managers, and stylists. Drivers and logistics are also at hand accountable to him. All these individuals will act based on his instructions and report directly to him.
Paperwork
The music manager is in charge of managing all the paperwork that pertains to the artist’s business. He reviews contracts, deals, budgets, taxes, and every other financial and legal document that the artist may encounter. He will work hand-in-hand with financial and legal advisors to make sure they do everything legally and correctly. This paperwork may require him to work with music publishers or with performing rights organizations.
Like I’ve earlier stated, this will require him to work with music inclined specialists and professionals in different spheres of life.
Administration and Other Things
Management entails keeping the boat floating consistently. A manager keeps things flowing at all times. Music managers oversee daily administrative tasks that have to do with an artist’s career. Just like a typical manager, they are the administrative head of the team. They handle the monthly cash flow, manage the financial accounts, and practically run and organize the artist’s music career.
Music managers tend to fill all gaps and holes in an artist’s life. Aside from overseeing the artist’s music career, they sometimes organize their personal life. He manages anything that can have a direct or indirect impact on the music artist.
Advisor on All Music Matters
This is another role of the artist manager. He is like the right-hand man of the artist. You have to note that even though the artist manages almost everything that concerns the artist, he’s not the decision-maker. The artist still makes the decisions since the manager is under his employ and not the other way round. However, the music manager advises the artist on what is best to do and not to do. He ensures that the artist makes good decisions on matters that have to do with music.
He tries to keep the artist in check by offering beneficial advice based on past experiences. A good music manager will know what’s best to do per time. They are the backbone of the artist.
Conclusion
As an artist who has a big picture of finding a place in the industry, you will agree that we cannot overemphasize the importance of a music manager. A music manager is vital to the success of any artist. An artist, especially a newbie, needs a proper manager, preferably someone who knows his way around the industry.
Hence, you must know what you’re looking for in an artist before managing one. You must also note that a good manager will not come cheap. Funny enough, some music managers are more influential than most artists. Consider your financial status before questing for a music artist. Nonetheless, excellence and not affordability should be your determining factor. I wish you the very best.
