Artist Manager
A professional who guides the career development and business affairs of musicians.
Definition
An artist manager handles the business and career development aspects of a musician's career. Responsibilities include booking shows, negotiating contracts, coordinating with labels and agents, managing finances, and strategic career planning. Managers typically earn 15-20% of the artist's gross income. The manager-artist relationship is fundamental to career success.
Why It Matters
An artist manager oversees career strategy, handles business relationships, and allows artists to focus on creative work. Good management can accelerate careers dramatically; poor management can derail them.
The manager is often an artist's most important business partner, involved in virtually every significant decision. Finding the right match—in vision, communication style, and commitment level—is crucial.
Examples in Practice
A manager's industry relationships get an unsigned artist heard by label A&Rs who wouldn't have listened otherwise.
A strategic manager guides an artist from club shows to arenas over five years through careful opportunity selection.
A manager negotiates brand deal terms that protect an artist's authenticity while generating significant income.