How to Be an Artist Manager
The career decisions and prospects of their clients are guided by artist managers, who also keep an eye on their daily schedules and activities and advocate for their needs when working with larger productions and teams.
Artist managers help artists rise from obscurity to popularity by serving as a conduit between them and the outside world. An artist manager is involved in almost every aspect of an artist’s career, from booking shows to negotiating contracts and planning tours. Although the job is challenging and the road to management can be long and difficult, the profession can be tremendously rewarding. Although an artist manager’s job duties vary depending on the business, no two days are ever the same for them.
Some considerations points for being an artist manager
Learn for Yourself.
Become a manager of students.
Make friends in college.
Come to College Radio.
encourage collegiate events.
Get Your Own Customers.
Support A Friend.
What Does a Professional Artist Manager Do?
The artist manager, sometimes known as the “manager” in the entertainment industry, is one of the most important members of any artist or band’s support team. They offer advice on everything from long-term goals to what to eat for lunch. They also work as a brand consultant, business champion, and 24/7 ally. In addition to overseeing the artist or band directly and advocating for the artist’s interests with employers, an artist manager’s specific responsibilities vary depending on the industry in question as well as the size and stage of their client’s career, but frequently include some combination of those typically associated with an A&R representative, PR agent, business manager, or talent agent. Nearly all artist managers have a tight working relationship with their clients; for better or worse, they are all in it together.
The most effective artist managers are persistent, egoless, and thick-skinned, and they are prepared and able to fight ceaselessly on their client’s behalf in the background.
The daily and long-term careers of their clients are shaped by artist managers. They frequently assist clients with booking gigs, organizing record releases and tours, planning album projects, developing marketing and merchandising plans, getting compensated for their work, and establishing and pursuing long-term career goals. A manager’s role can go far beyond this, as they are also their clients’ advocates. As such, they may negotiate record deals, mediate interpersonal disputes within the band, fight for a client who isn’t getting the treatment they were promised in the contract, advocate on their client’s behalf with labels, producers, agents, and promoters, and even work to improve the client’s mental and physical health.Recently, managers have devoted more attention to exploiting a band’s brand equity to develop revenue streams and strategic alliances in reaction to changes in the music business.
Pay attention to the artist
Knowing the aims of the artist is crucial because the primary goal of an artist management is to assist the artist in achieving those goals. Ensure that you are in agreement. Prioritize them and consider tactics that will help them achieve them.
Build connections
Many prosperous artist managers got their start in the business through personal relationships. You never know where you’ll find a lead, so it’s critical to spread your net as widely as you can. Reconnect with former acquaintances and strike up a discussion with a total stranger. You are more likely to learn about artists searching for management the more people you know. Make sure people know you’re interested in managing artists, and keep an eye out for new opportunities.
Observe the neighborhood
Working with local artists is a common way for artist managers to launch their careers. Try to land a job at a nearby concert venue, for instance, if you’re interested in working with artists. You would have the chance to meet band members and management and develop contacts in the industry, even if you aren’t working in a music-related role right away. These interactions might open up incredible opportunities.
Work as an intern at a management company’s intern
An unpaid internship with a management firm can be a priceless introduction to the industry of artist management. You would have a tonne of possibilities to meet knowledgeable managers and learn more about the industry while interning. A summer internship might lead to a full-time position with the company or perhaps another one.
Obtain an appropriate college degree
Numerous colleges and institutions offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the music industry and other disciplines that directly relate to the work that artist managers do. You would study the monetary, artistic, legal, and ethical challenges that artist managers deal with on a daily basis in a formal degree programme. Such a curriculum would also give you numerous opportunities to network with existing and potential industry experts through classes and extracurricular activities.
Become a member of a trade association
Despite the fact that artist management is a cutthroat industry, there are numerous organizations and organizations that bring managers together to share expertise and learn from one another. These organizations provide a forum for managers to connect, exchange concepts, and stay up to date on industry developments. You should take advantage of this great resource, these associations.
Use media to stay up to date on trends
Observe managers and artists on social media. Read industry-related blogs written by experts. Join discussion boards and read trade publications. The job of an artist manager includes a significant amount of research, and doing so will enable you to come up with creative solutions to assist your artist.
Work Life
There is little separation between work and leisure time in a career as a manager. This makes it ideal for passionate, motivated people who don’t mind working nonstop. The majority of the time is spent in meetings, small business deals, and future planning, with networking events and live music filling the evenings. An artist manager may frequently travel for work, including on tour, depending on the client; however, successful clients may have the resources to engage a separate tour manager.
Work Path
There are two main categories for artist managers. Some managers have no formal education or work experience; they enter the field because a family member or close friend finds success and needs a dependable mentor to help launch their budding career. Others make their way up the corporate ladder in a management company, work their way up from managing small talents in their area, or change careers from being personal assistants, project managers, talent agents, A&R reps, or song pluggers. The most successful among them may go on to form management companies—or “agencies”—based around their roster of clients. Those that make artist management their long-term career typically handle several clients at a time.
Getting a Job
It might be challenging to land one’s first work as an artist manager, as it is with many careers that are freelance-oriented. Others apply for roles at management firms, form their own, or join an artist’s team in a different capacity—as a business manager, agent, or personal assistant—before taking over management responsibilities. Some begin by managing artists or groups they already know.
Artist manager average salary
The average yearly wage for artist managers in the United States is $89,110, or $43 per hour. The highest 10% of earners earn over $187,000 annually, while the bottom 10% earn less than $42,000.
Best artist manager skills
You want your resume’s skills section to accurately represent your abilities because it could be almost as significant as the experience section. Fortunately, we’ve identified every talent you’ll need, so even if you don’t presently possess them, you know what to work on. 13.2% of the artist managers whose resumes we reviewed mentioned YouTube, although soft skills like artistic ability and communication skills are equally crucial.
- Youtube 13.2%
- Instagram 9.8%
- Graphic Design 9.3%
- New Artists 8.9%
- Press Releases 7.4%
- Photo Shoots 6.2%
- Email 5.3%
- Special Events 4.7%
- Music Videos 4.4%
- Record Labels 3.8%
- Soundcloud 2.4%
- DJ 2.3%
- Contract Negotiations 2.3%
- NYC 2.1%
- Promotional Materials 1.7%
- Career Development 1.6%
- Business Affairs 1.5%
- Travel Arrangements 1.3%
- Social Media Sites 1.2%
- Conference Calls 1.2%
- Web Content 1.1%
- Communication 1%
- Ticket Sales 1%
- New Clients 1%
- Tour Management 0.9%
- Adobe Creative Suite 0.9%
- Logistics 0.8%
- Stage Presence 0.8%
- Customer Complaints 0.7%
- Company Policies 0.7%
- Promotional Campaigns 0.7%
Manager of the Artist Gender Distribution
Male 56%
Female 44%
Best state for an artist manager
When it comes to beginning a career as an artist manager, certain places are better than others. The finest states in this regard are Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Oregon. In Oregon, artist managers earn an average annual pay of $114,784. They would average $114,374 and $114,323 in Connecticut and Rhode Island, respectively. Although the average salary for artist managers in Massachusetts is only $113,660, this is still more than the national average. These are the states we found to have the most jobs and the highest salaries. We reduced our list of states to these four by determining the median wage, the cost of living, and the Location Quotient from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Company Average Salary Hourly Rate
IMG Artists $160,240 $77.04
Guitar Center $154,601 $74.33
Red Light Management $149,050 $71.66
Gibson $137,972 $66.33
Celebrity International $127,782 $61.43
Live Nation Entertainment $124,524 $59.87
Black Hat $123,944 $59.59
Independent Artists $120,165 $57.77
Resilience $120,039 $57.71
Das Electronics $119,544 $57.47
Yaymaker $119,459 $57.43
Match Group $119,255 $57.33
Community
Being a good artist manager requires a person to be smart, innovative, egoless, diligent, organized, and thick-skinned. Artist managers must be prepared and able to work relentlessly behind the scenes on behalf of their clients, therefore it’s not a job for those who seek attention. The ability to adapt their management style to meet the needs of their clients is maybe the most crucial quality that managers should possess.
FAQs
What qualifications are needed to manage artists?
Both strong business judgment and people and social skills are necessary. While the artist concentrates on creating the best live shows and recordings, artist managers handle business behind the scenes.
What actions do effective managers have?
The finest artist managers are proactive and put the needs of the artist first.
Do I need to be qualified to manage artists?
No, you do not require formal training to be a manager; anyone can hold the position. However, it is advantageous to possess credentials or fundamental understanding in accounting, business management, or sales and marketing.
How are music industry managers paid?
Typically, managers receive a commission of between 10 and 20 percent of the artist reservations.
How can I locate a manager for an artist?
It will be challenging to persuade a seasoned management to collaborate with you if you are an unsigned artist. Instead, concentrate on spreading the word about your music until it becomes popular.
If you don’t already have one, chances are that artist managers will knock on your door when that happens.
What duties fall under an artist manager’s purview?
Obtaining gigs, radio and television interviews, endorsement deals, and other opportunities are among the duties of an artist manager (although this also depends on the terms of the artist management agreement).
How many managers is a musician allowed?
Typically, there is only one manager. However, it is not unusual for an artist to have two “managers,” each of whom would have a distinct responsibility. You may have a talent manager and a business manager, for instance.
Why do musicians require managers?
Artists require managers because going it alone is a recipe for catastrophe. While you concentrate on honing your art, someone else needs to handle other aspects of your profession.
How do artist managers get paid?
The manager receives a commission based on the artist’s gross revenue.
What kind of training do you need to be an artist manager?
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree, and advanced business or legal training may be helpful.
What is a manager supposed to do for an artist?
The daily and long-term careers of their clients are shaped by artist managers. They frequently assist clients with booking gigs, planning album projects, getting compensated for their work, and pursuing long-term career goals.
What skills do artist managers need?
Communication, Critical thinking, time management, organisation, negotiation, and public relations abilities are all necessary.
What degree do you need to be an artist manager?
If you want to manage music you must have a bachelor’s degree.
Artist manager salary?
An artist manager makes, on average, $55546 a year.
How to manage an unsigned artist?
Create connections with fans rather than record label personnel, Put an end to the obsolete counsellor, Put intellectual effort into your focus, Take what is best.
How to be an artist manager in the music industry?
Get your bachelor’s degree, finish your internship, Keep up with current business trends, Apply for positions with reputable artists, Locate your own customers.
Artist manager responsibilities
The daily and long-term careers of their clients are shaped by artist managers. They frequently assist clients with booking gigs, organising record releases and tours, planning albums, etc.
Artist manager skills
Communication, time management, organisation, and negotiation skills, skills in public relations.
Music manager salary
Music managers earn incomes ranging from $16,338 to $440,037, with a median pay of $79,230.
