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Artist Manager - What is it? :
An artist manager, also known as a "band manager", is in charge
of the business side of being in a band. Often, band members are
great at the creative side of things, but aren't so great at
promoting themselves, booking their own gigs, or negotiating deals.
In a very general sense, the task of a manager is take care of the
day to day running of the band's career, so the band can focus on
the creative side of things.
Responsibilities of a music manager are often divided among many who
manage various aspects of a musical career. With an unsigned act,
music managers may assume multiple roles: graphic designer,
publicist, promoter, and handling money and finances.
As an artist's career develops, responsibilities may grow, and
because of their percentage agreement with the band, the manager's
income may grow as well. A music manager becomes important to
managing the many different pieces that make up a career in music.
The manager can assist singers, songwriters, and instrumentalists in
molding a career, finding music producers, and developing
relationships with record companies, publishers, agents, and the
music-loving public. They should carefully consider when certain
contributions have been made which would also entitle them to
cowriting credits, Executive Producer credit, or Producer credit
should they become involved in songwriting, financing works, or
actually producing demos and recordings, and should carefully know
these jobs and these fees should be considered either as separate
from the contract, in addition to the contract, or as free to the
musician as clarified in emails and the contract. The duties of an
active music manager may include supporting the band's development
of a reputation for the musician(s) and building a fan base, which
may include mastering and launching a demo CD, developing and
releasing press kits, planning promotional activities, creating
social network identities for bands, and booking shows. A music
manager may be present during recording sessions and should support
the artist during the creative process while not interfering between
the artist and the producer, but also musicians may also find
valuable feedback in 3rd pair of ears and this should be carefully
considered as well. They may gain access to a recording studio,
photographers, and promotions. He or she will see that CD labels,
posters, and promotional materials appropriately represent the band
or artist, and that press kits are released in a timely manner to
appropriate media. Launching a CD with complementary venues and
dates is also a music manager's responsibility.
What Jobs Should an Artist Manager Do? Signed Artists:
The jobs a manager does depends very much on the band and where
they are in their careers. For an unsigned band, a manager should:
- Send out demos to labels, radio stations, local print media,
and online publications
- Book gigs and invite labels and the media to the shows
- Network and talk to people about the band
- Help book studio time and practice sessions
- Explore funding opportunities for the band
For signed artists, managers should:
- Negotiate financial deals with the label for expenses like
touring and recording
- Oversee other people working for the band, like accountants,
agents, and merchandisers.
What Jobs Should an Artist Manager Do? Unsigned Artists:
For an unsigned artist, the manager should be the mouthpiece of
the band, and their greatest ally, making sure that everyone else
involved in the band's career is doing their job and working hard to
promote the band's success. For instance, the manager should be on
the phone with the label, asking about advertising campaigns and
then on the phone with agent asking about upcoming show
opportunities.
What is the Pay Like?:
Managers are generally paid a percentage of the band's income:
pften 15% to 20%. In addition to their percentage, managers should
not have to cover any expenses out of their own pocket.
There are some things a manager should NOT get a cut of. These
including songwriting royalties - in my opinion. You should be aware
that there are many different kinds of management deals out there,
and the changing face of the music industry has meant a change in
management deals. Essentially, the way musicians make their money is
in flux, and since the income of the musicians is directly tied to
the income of the managers, managers need to make sure they are able
to tap into the new sources of money.
Any deal between musicians and managers should be negotiated up
front and revisited when significant events occur that could
drastically increase or decrease the band's income.
Do Managers Need a Contract?:
In a word, YES. Even if you're managing an unsigned band made up
of personal friends and there is no money involved for now, you need
to write up an agreement. It doesn't have to be fancy or even
supervised by a lawyer. Just jot down what is expected of both
manager and band, what the percentage of income for the manager will
be if any money should come in, and what happens if band and manager
decide to part ways. Many new bands don't want to make their friends
sign contracts. Put that out of your mind. When you're entering into
a business relationship with a friend, a contract keeps the
friendship safe.
How Do I Become a Manager?:
If you think management might be a good fit for you, take a look
around you. Do you know any musicians who could use someone to help
organize shows or manage their websites? Volunteer to help bands you
know, even if it means working for free while you're learning the
ropes.
You could also approach a management company and see if they have
any internship opportunities available. Like most music careers, if
you keep your head down and work hard, the right people will
eventually notice.
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