How to become A Music Manager

Every successful musician owes a significant bit of their good fortune to a passionate and dedicated Music Manager who never fails to support and champion their artist in all their activities ranging from the very mundane to the very eccentric.

• Artist Manager
• Band Manager
• Talent Manager

What do Music Managers do? 

A Music Manager would typically need to:

• Bring together the people and projects who can shape their client’s day-to-day and long-term career in a representative and advisory capacity
• Brainstorm effective career strategies with the client; offer appropriate professional and personal advice that will positively impact the client’s career
• Build and maintain a robust network of significant industry contacts; stay abreast of relevant occurrences in the music industry
• Assist the client in securing record deals with major labels
• Track down and schedule concerts, promotional appearances and interviews that match chosen career strategies
• Negotiate contacts and collect payments on behalf of the client; enforce all terms in the contract
• Keep track of the client’s schedule and activities; ensure the client is on time for interviews, recording sessions, meet and greets and live performances
• Collaborate with booking/touring agents to develop suitable touring schedules; advocate for the client’s mental and physical health, as required
• Manage media relations in the best interests of the client; secure the services of reliable lawyers, publicists, image stylists and accountants
• Handle interpersonal conflicts between band members if managing a band; ensure they attend band practice sessions regularly

Typically, Music Managers spend a considerable amount of time in their office, interacting with people via email, phone or face-to-face. They may often step out to meet with clients or accompany them on domestic and international promotional and networking events as well as live performances and tours.

Work schedules can be quite unpredictable and depend on their client’s official schedule and their professional obligations. Music Managers are prepared to be at the beck and call of their clients.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Music Managers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Music Managers are generally employed by: 

• Talent Agencies
• Record Labels 
• Tour Companies
• Music Venues
• Bands 
• Individual Artists

Professional associations and organisations, such as The International Artist Managers’ Association (IAMA), Music Managers Forum (MMF), and Women in Music are crucial for Music Managers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

•  Ensuring creatively-minded clients stick to more mundane deadlines and contractual conditions can be stressful

• Getting critical figures in the music industry to recognise the untapped potential in a client can be frustrating

• Multiple clients or a new client who needs extra attention can negatively impact work-life balance

• Playing peace-keeper between the client and significant others in the industry may prove exhausting
  

Work experience is of utmost importance in this field since it allows you to understand how the music industry works behind the scenes while consolidating your professional reputation and networks.

Get hands-on learning experience via internships. Various internship programs are on offer from talent and music agencies, lasting between two weeks to six months or more. Personal referrals, speculative applications to agencies, agency websites, and industry job pages will help you zero in on those that suit you; be aware that paid internships are pretty rare.

You can also work with local music venues in promotion, marketing and event management. Around two to six years of previous work experience as a promoter, assistant, engineer, or even artist will help you acquire sound knowledge of the music industry and develop contacts with potential clients as you work your way up to the position of Music Manager.

Read about the profession and interview/shadow experts working in music management to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. You may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

In some regions, you might be eligible to work as a Music Manager after your internship, especially if you are working independently of an agency. Very large organisations may offer entry-level junior or associate music manager roles. 

Aspiring Music Managers may aim for a standard four-year BBA/BMus in Music Business, a BA in Music Industry Management or a BSc/BPS in Music Marketing.

Ideal coursework should include music management, music publishing, music marketing/advertising, legal aspects of the music industry, business communication and accounting.

Some of the programs are available online and can be completed in less than three years. While BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) and BMus (Bachelor of Music) are more traditional, the relatively more flexible BPS (Bachelor of Professional Studies) program combines theory and practice to train the students in applicable standards and services within the profession.

Typically, Music Managers do not require certification. However, you should check in with local professional organisations about specific requirements.

It should be noted that even if certification is not required, you can enrol in various courses to strengthen your application and your self-confidence. Courses in communication and presentation skills, negotiation, organisation and self-management, and computer literacy are helpful.  

Experience drives the career progression of successful Music Managers who take on multiple clients and increased responsibilities as they gain a solid foothold in the industry. 

Those who prove their mettle in steering their clients’ careers in the right direction will stand a good chance of establishing their own agency with the help of the significant industry experience and connections they would have acquired.

Music Managers with experience, qualifications, connections and passion have the best job prospects. 

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Music Manager build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning.

While opportunities for formal CPD are rare within the field, Music Managers must continue to polish their knowledge of the music industry, which is vastly changing due to the internet and different streaming services. Furthermore, there are countless professional associations where they can be informed and trained in new trends and skills.

Acquiring a master’s degree in business administration or music management may be helpful.

Easier Said Than Done

It may seem filled with excitement and glamour, but a Music Manager’s job comes with its fair share of challenges. It is time-consuming and sets no boundaries between personal and professional lives. If you can take on unrelenting fervour days packed with business meetings and nights dedicated to musical and networking events, the rest will be easy as pie (almost!).

Rake In The Big Bucks

Music Managers usually enter into a contract with their artist clients, which allows them to take a percentage, typically 15-30%, of the artist’s gross revenue - the total income without cost deduction. On the rare occasions when the manager opts for a net per cent contract, they begin to earn only when the artist makes a profit.

Which One Will You Play?

While some Music Managers take on all responsibilities for their clients, others tend to specific needs of their clients.

Personal Music Managers look after the day-to-day running of an artist’s career, helping the client achieve their career goals through the sound execution of informed clients strategies and plans. 

Business Music Managers handle the “books” of their clients and take care of their income and expenses, payments, taxes and investments. 

Road or Tour Music Managers handle all logistics related to an artist’s tour and life on the road. More extensive tours may require several Music Managers to ensure the smooth operation of live performances and travel. 

Getting Started 

There are various ways to get into the music business. However, the best and most successful include apprenticing under an experienced Music Manager, working at an established agency or directly approaching a new artist.

Beneficial Skills

Specific job skills are essential for a Music Manager to possess or sharpen. Music business acumen, communication skills, negotiation skills, organisational skills, networking skills, music industry knowledge, music copyright and licensing knowledge and tour planning skills fall under that crucial list. 

According to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), 1.2 trillion songs were streamed in 2018 globally.

Music Managers strive to make sure that their artist client acts in concert with recording labels and other key associates in the music industry. When they can pull it off successfully, such dedication allows the artist to thrive and the public to enjoy quality music. 

Cultivating a personal relationship with your artist is a priority in this job. Open and meaningful communication between you and the artist ensures that everyone understands each other’s creative and career goals.