Music managers are the key to the continued growth and success of any artist. A music artist or a band can produce great music, but if they don’t have excellent marketing support, they’ll be hard-pressed to become successful in today’s competitive environment. It is no longer just about how well an artist’s song does on the charts. If that were the case, everyone would simply get together a bunch of hit songs and put them out as their album.
Today, it’s all about creating a buzz and maintaining that momentum. It might be through television appearances or other types of media exposure. It could also be by using word-of-mouth marketing or selling out live shows. But regardless of the method used to promote an artist, having a good music manager is critical in making all this happen.
The duties of music managers are quite vast yet are generally about developing and nurturing the careers of their clients in the music industry.
Managers are responsible for promoting their artists. One of the most effective ways of doing this is through generating publicity by connecting with media outlets that serve as credible sources of information about their artists. Whether it’s through placing an artist in a movie, TV show, commercial, or any other type of media exposure, good managers will plan and execute these types of opportunities for their clients.
Good managers are also responsible for devising strategies to increase their artists’ sales. This includes planning and executing tour schedules, brainstorming the creation of new merchandise, developing sponsorship deals, and much more.
An experienced music manager will have cultivated relationships over the years with many key players in the entertainment industry, such as producers, promoters, publishers, record label executives, and others who can help further their client’s career. They will use these connections to get their artists more exposure which hopefully leads to better record deals and bigger live shows.
If artists are doing live shows, they’ll need someone to manage all the logistics like transportation and lodging while out on the road. This includes deciding which venues to play and negotiating with promoters for better pay and making sure the sound equipment is intact at all times during travel.
A manager’s job entails more than just handling the artist’s career-related affairs. They also have to deal with legal concerns such as negotiating deals, protecting intellectual property rights, and other related matters.
A large percentage of artists are not knowledgeable about protecting themselves when it comes to their music, merchandising rights, or other intellectual property. A good manager will review any contract presented to the artist before entering into the agreement. They will also negotiate on behalf of the artist so they don’t get taken advantage of.
One of the essential roles of a music manager is keeping records of all business transactions that involve their artists. This would include recording all agreements made between them and other parties when planning tours or even studio session times for recording albums. Managers should also keep accurate and updated sales and income records so that their artists know how successful they are becoming.
It takes years to learn how the business of music works. A good manager will stay on top of current trends, especially in digital marketing, because most artists are making a breakthrough on the internet these days. Managing an artist is more than just being their friend who happens to be working in the industry. It requires real skills and wisdom to succeed.
A person can become a music manager even without any formal training. However, it’s important to know that this is a very demanding job that requires a lot of time and effort and learning things through experience.
Music managers have the talent and are fully aware of just how competitive the industry is and how much more there is for them to learn about the business.
Music events bring together music industry insiders from dozens of countries to conduct business deals. These include artist showcases, presentations, seminars, and workshops that allow artists to meet music managers who might be interested in taking them on as a client.
There are countless online forums where people who work in the music industry connect. These usually cover artist promotion, marketing, networking, and even technical aspects of getting more plays on digital platforms such as iTunes or Spotify.
As the internet continues to grow and offers more possibilities, many online databases emerged to help aspiring music artists find and contact the right music manager to help them grow in the music industry.
As you can see, there are many ways for aspiring artist managers to find the right person they can begin working with. A music manager is an important addition to a music artist’s team. They allow artists to focus on their creativity rather than worrying about how they will afford studio time or even have funds for marketing and promotion of their music.
If you are interested in becoming an artist manager, spending some time learning how the whole system works might help you become better at your new career. There are many resources you can use to learn more about the music industry. Consider attending one of the hundreds of music conferences in your area, or try joining forums where managers and other important players in this business connect online.
