TMP Special 50th Edition

A CONVERSATION LIKE THIS DOESN'T COME CHEAP.

• THE MANAGER'S PLAYBOOK 2026.
• SPECIAL EDITION
• THANK
• YOU FOR 50K SUBS
• HOSTED BY MAURICIO RUIZ
• THE MANAGER'S
• PLAYBOOK
• A LOOK BACK AT THE FIRST
• PHOTO BY: BRYAN BROCK

TABLE OFCONTENTS

MAURICIO RUIZ-FOUNDER, HOST & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ERICA KONGVONGXAY - PROJECT MANAGER & LEAD DESIGNER

MELANIE LETRA-FRADE-MARKETING COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL & DESIGN

Ruiz's Note 4

Your Artist Does Not Need an Established Manager 104

Look Ahead 112

A Look Back at 50 Episodes 6-103

Do You Know Your Business? 106

When I started The Manager's Playbook, the goal was simple: create a space for authentic conversations with my peers in the industry about the music business. The purpose was even more simple: offer brutal transparency to the next generation of managers, artists, and executives trying to build a real living in a music business that loves to overcomplicate the process.

can become difficult to trace in order or revisit with context. This digital magazine was created to solve that problem. It serves as a definitive guide through the first chapter of the podcast, bringing together the most important conversations, ideas, and lessons from the first 50 episodes in one place.

More than anything, this project reflects the work of a small but deeply committed team. The podcast may carry my voice, but it is the result of people behind the scenes who care deeply about the craft, the details, and the mission of what we are building. Their work deserves recognition and gratitude.

This podcast was built to pull back the curtain. Episode by episode, the intention has been to document real experiences from the people actually shaping the business: managers, artists, executives, and entrepreneurs who have built careers through instinct, trial and error, and a deep understanding of how the game actually works. Many of these conversations challenge a lot of assumptions about how the music industry is supposed to operate.

If you are passionate about the music business, a fan of music, or just curious to how it really works, I hope this guide helps you navigate these conversations with greater clarity. And if you are just discovering The Manager's Playbook, consider this your starting point.

And look, I'm not a contrarian by nature, and neither is this podcast. But I do ask a lot of questions. And if the answers don't make sense, I Simply put, ask more. To me, there is no such thing as a stupid question. Maybe that's why this pod has A conversation like this doesn't come cheap. achieved 50,000+ Subscribers on YouTube and over 50 million total views & downloads across all platforms in just under 2 years.

Mauricio khi

Founder/Host of The Manager's Playbook

Reaching this milestone gave us here at TMP an opportunity to do something different. Social media has become an incredible tool for discovery, but it also fragments information. Clips travel far and wide, while the full conversations

TROY

CARTER

CREATING SUPERSTARS

Troy Carter isn't a "tips and tricks" guest. He's a blueprint. Before Venice Music, he helped take Lady Gaga from clubs to the biggest stages on earth, and he tells you what that climb actually requires: relentless work ethic before the spotlight, relationships that outlast hype, and management that looks more like building a company than chasing a playlist. Then he went inside Spotify as Global Head of Creator Services, helping the industry find its footing in the streaming era, bridging creators, platforms, and the business when the old playbook was breaking. He shares getting checked by Jimmy lovine, why "protect and serve" is still the job, and how superstardom is equal parts hits and patience. If you're serious about building an artist into a world, this episode doesn't just inspire, it sharpens your standards.

O SMOKING

TYLER HENRY

HARD WORK & NETWORKING

Tyler Henry didn't stumble into OVO rooms. He earned his way in through obsessive preparation, relentless work ethic, and intentional networking. As PARTYNEXTDOOR'S manager, he shares how outworking your doubts. builds credibility, and how real relationships are made by doing your homework, knowing the ecosystem (assistants, agents, road teams), and showing up ready, anywhere, anytime. If you want a practical blueprint to level up fast, this is it.

PRADA

LEX BORRERO

MANAGING A LATINO EMPIRE

Lex Borrero didn't just chase hits. He built the infrastructure behind a global Latino movement. The NEON16 co-founder and former manager for Tainy and Will Smith broke down how culture became leverage: narrative first, excellence always, platforms that let talent plug in and scale. And he ignited the industry with his defensible, but controversial 50/50 artist-manager split stance when managers invest, sparking a frenzy over the ethics.

Matthew Burnett and Jordan Evans never wanted to be managers, yet producing Daniel Caesar forced them into the job: videos, artwork, emails, decisions. They break down how "accidental" management works: do the hard part (make people care), stay competent, build a tight team, and pull in help only when you hit a ceiling.

• JORDAN EVANS &
• HOW TO BE MANAGERS
• (EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO)
• MATTHEW BURNETT

CHE

HOW TO AVOID ARTIST BURNOUT

Che Kothari, manager to Soca King Machel Montano, has lived the grind (sleeping on concrete floors) and paid the price in burnout. Now he shares the reset: self-awareness, recovery tools, and a clear decision framework that helps you say "no" before your body forces it. Stay sharp and sustainable.

Suthe

Contracts & Finance

Chip Sutherland (Feist's manager and prominent music lawyer) turns contracts and cash flow into plain English. He breaks down the clauses that drain careers, why a great accountant is step one, and how the right team protects your upside before the money arrives. If you want leverage in negotiations, this is it.

simon tikhman & chief zaruk

Simon Tikhman and Chief Zaruk, the management duo behind The Core Entertainment, break down what it really takes to win in today's country boom. From building Bailey Zimmerman into a modern breakout to stewarding a legacy giant like Nickelback, they explain how they develop artists like athletes: structure, reps, and ruthless consistency. It's relationships, taste, and calculated risk, executed with blue-collar work ethic. If you want longevity in country, start here.

managing the country genre

THE CORE

SHARA

SENDEROFF

THE ART OF THE PITCH

Shara Senderoff turns "the pitch" into a repeatable skill: do your homework, lead with a clear story, and make your vision feel inevitable. From selling a meeting with Steven Spielberg in a lobby to building funds, she shows how confidence is built through preparation, not hype. If you want partners, capital, or believers, this episode is your blueprint.

managing a superstar

Doja Cat's manager Gordan Dillard explains what "superstar" really means in 2025: a full brand, ruthless consistency, and the courage to say no, even to big money, so the identity stays intact. He shares how vision and a small, trusted team turn creative obsession into global moments. If you're building a career, steal this framework.

KARDINAL OFFISHALL

FROM ARTIST

TO A&R

Kardinal Offishall shows why artists make lethal A&Rs. Because they can feel "the magic" and translate it into label strategy. He breaks down how he bets on talent (goosebumps), builds allies across every desk, and turns instinct into execution. He also gives a rare look at the artist-to-executive climb (now serving as a Global A&R at Def Jam Recordings under CEO Tunji

Balogun) and what that shift teaches about longevity.

NETWORKING & HUSTLE

CORY LITWIN

Cory Litwin, music manager and relentless connector, is proof that hustle is a strategy. From packing clubs with 50 friends to hand-selling 800 Drake tickets, he shows how networking is service: pick people up, make them look good, follow up, and build long-term value. If you want to turn relationships into career-changing opportunities, press play.

• BYRON
• BUILDING AN ARTIST FROM SCRATCH
• WILSON

This one hits different. Ruiz and Byron Wilson aren't just host and guest; they're decade-plus collaborators who helped push Canadian culture onto a global stage. As Jessie Reyez's co-manager for years (and a key force in building SonReal), Byron breaks down what "from zero" actually looks like: DIY momentum, ruthless consistency, and assembling the right specialists before the ceiling hits. He also pulls back the curtain on building across a roster that's included songwriter/artist Bava and British Pakistani rapper and singer Raf-Saperra.

DIRECTORX

Director X (the visionary behind the "Hotline Bling" music video) explains why music videos still matter, just not the way labels used to. In a streamer-dominated world, the new purpose is fan connection and visual identity: give every frame a look, move fast, find real locations, and tell the truth of the song. A masterclass in modern visuals.

JESSIE REYEZ BYRON WILSON

Jessie Reyez and manager Byron Wilson redefine "success" as more than Grammys or validation. It's craft, control, and a team that protects the mission. Jessie breaks down how trust issues turned into business literacy; Byron explains why work ethic (and surviving the daily Ls) is the real separator. And what makes this episode rare: Jessie, Byron, and I revisit our shared history building her career together, the first time in nearly two years the three of us sat in a room and spoke openly about the business of music.

ANT

THE HARSH TRUTH OF MANAGING EGOS

Natalie Prospere doesn't sugarcoat it: "We create the monsters." She unpacks how managers, teams, and fame can inflate egos, and how to set boundaries before it breaks the artist (and you). If you've ever felt trapped by entitlement, this conversation gives you language, frameworks, and the courage to lead with respect, not fear.

NATALIE PROSPERE

MINUS

INSIDE THE ART OF HITMAKING

T-Minus, producer behind records for Drake, J. Cole, and Young Thug, breaks down the real cost of hitmaking: obsessive reps, constant reinvention, and the discipline to stay grounded when the checks hit. He shares how community (and getting out of "the basement") creates breakthroughs, and why protecting the joy matters as much as the grind. If you want the mindset behind timeless records, this is a masterclass.

CITY KID

CITY KID the importance of GAVIN SHEPPARD mentorship

Gavin Sheppard (co-founder of The Remix Project) shows how mentorship in the music industry turns raw talent into real careers. He breaks down "meeting people where they are," building safe spaces, and creating the kind of structure that lets artists take risks without falling apart. If you've ever needed a guide, or want to become one, this episode hits hard.

RACHELLE JEAN-LOUIS

P&B HIP-HOP SPOWER AYERS

Capitalizing on a Viral Moment

Rachelle Jean-Louis (Billboard's 2024 Manager of the Year) breaks down how you convert attention into momentum, mapping content like a rollout, watching what fans latch onto, then doubling down with the right assets (memes, dance, video, radio). From the build-up to storytelling before the music, this is the playbook for making virality pay off.

CHRIS ANOKUTE

THE SEEDY UNDERBELLY OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

Chris Anokute, A&R force behind Katy Perry, Bebe Rexha, Iggy Azalea, and Muni Long, doesn't do PR. He names the "open secret" most people whisper about: how charts, streams, and radio can be nudged, how labels chase sudden data spikes, and why "don't ask, don't tell" still shapes careers. It's uncomfortable, illuminating, and oddly empowering. Because once you see the machinery, you can protect your art, your deal, and your integrity.

MRADENT 50 ARGUMENT

Lex Borrero returns to the conversation after his first appearance sparked a fever-pitch debate across the music industry. On this episode, he doubles down on the controversial idea that when a manager is investing money, relationships, and infrastructure into an artist, the partnership should resemble a true business venture, built on a 50/50 equity split, much like the relationship between a restaurant owner and a chef. The discussion offers a provocative and practical breakdown of value, risk, and how fair partnerships can be structured in today's music business.

LEX BORRERO

DAME

RITTER

Dame Ritter (Hopsin's former manager) shows what artistic entrepreneurship really is: turning an artist into a business. He breaks down how Funk Volume bootstrapped momentum, leveraged early social media like a street team, and reinvested every win to stay independent. If you want the mindset, and tactics, to build without waiting for permission, this is required viewing.

• ARTH
• TISTIC
• TREPRENEURSHIP
• LMOVIN

A&R FROM THE LABEL PERSPECTIVE ormer Interscope SVP of A&R and Geffen GM, Nick Groff explains what A&R really is: talent scout, deal architect, creative partner, then the "politician" fighting for attention in a 60- artist building. He breaks down moneyball signings (TikTok heat) vs. real artist development, and the underrated skill of knowing when to step back and let artists create. An insider map of how major record labels move.

HELACHA

NICK

RAPHAEL

Nick Raphael is the kind of exec who trusted his ear before the internet gave you permission. While running Capitol Records UK, he signed Sam Smith and even earlier, he was one of the first to take a real chance on Roc-A-Fella (Jay-Z, Dame Dash, Kareem "Biggs" Burke) before most U.S. execs did. Nick shows how real A&R happens before the dashboards: train your ear, test songs in rooms, and trust the gut that's been built through 10,000 reps. This episode is a masterclass in betting on taste, not dashboards.

BETTING ON TASTE

ZACH KATZ

WHAT ARTISTS CAN

LEARN FROM CREATORS

Zach Katz has lived both worlds, music attorney and manager to exec. Now he's the CEO of creator company Fixated (fresh off a $50M Eldridge investment). He breaks down what artists can steal from creators: treat content like the product, not the promo. Creators drop "hits" daily across platforms, build systems (and clippers) to keep momentum, and monetize community far beyond streams. If you want a modern playbook for audience and revenue, this episode rewires how you think.

RUSS

MAKING $100 MILLION

INDEPENDENTLY

Russ isn't "independent" as a branding line. He's independent as a business model. In this episode, he talks real numbers (yes, the kind that make labels uncomfortable), then explains how he did it: owning a 500+ song catalog, being a "100- percenter" on records he wrote, produced, mixed, and mastered, and moving prepared, building in silence before the moment hits.

He breaks down the unglamorous formula: reps, visuals, consistency, and a studio setup you control. But the gem is the mindset shift: stop chasing validation, measure progress, and build a career you can actually survive. If you want to make millions without permission, this is required viewing.

SCIENCE VS. MAGIC

Ray Daniels doesn't talk about hits like folklore. He talks like an engineer. In his "science vs. magic" framework, some artists stumble into moments; the great ones learn the repeatable math behind them, so the magic never runs out. He calls Drake the cheat code, both mystical and methodical, and challenges creators to evolve the same way. Then he zooms out: first you learn to make hits, next you learn to last.

DANIELS

RAY

Coming from the manager of one of the world's biggest writers, Theron Thomas, it's a rare masterclass in longevity.

CONCERT PROMOTION

Lola Plaku breaks down promotion that lasts; fan pipelines, not one-night sellouts. After trying artist management, she's candid about why she hates it: the 24/7 emotional load and constant expectation to be everything. So she focuses on what scales; timing, community, street teams, and consistency that turns shows into long-term fans. If you want concerts that grow careers (not just clout), this episode is your blueprint.

Laurie Lee Boutet (Manager of The Beaches) reveals the real moat: owning fan data. She shows how to turn TikTok spikes into email and SMS subscribers using simple touch points, Laylo pre-saves, giveaways, and merch drops, taking The Beaches from 1,500 emails to 6,000 in a month, and now 85,000+. Stop renting attention, own it.

LAURIE LEE BOUTET

THE IMPORTANCE OF OWNING YOUR FANBASE

THAT DIES UNLESS ITS USED

MONETIZE YOUR FANBASE WITH DIRECT-TO-FAN

Mag Rodriguez, CEO of EVEN, shows how artists can get paid before streaming, by dropping direct-to-fan like a movie hitting theaters first. He breaks down "Spotify and EVEN," daily payouts, and how small sales become ad budget and leverage. If you're tired of vanity metrics and want real cash flow, this episode is the roadmap.

MAG RODRIGUEZ

• ► YouTube
• TUMA BASA
• POWER DYNAMICS IN MUSIC LEADERSHIP
• Tuma Basa •
• @tumabasa ⚫10k viewers • 1 episode

YouTube Director of Music Culture Creator of RapCaviar

• Home Videos
• Shorts
• Live Podcasts Playlists
• Posts

Music Exec REVEALS How The System Protects itself

10,054 views • Premiered Jul 22, 2025

Tuma Basa (Former Spotify's Global Programming Head of Hip- Hop, RapCaviar creator, YouTube Director of Music Culture) breaks down the real power game - how gatekeepers cling to the old rules, why labels are losing leverage, and what modern music leadership looks like: adapt fast, share the playbook, and build reciprocity instead of extraction. If you want influence without politics, this episode is your compass.

ARTIST ARCHETYPE

NICK RUFF

Big Loud's SVP of Audience Engagement, Nick Ruffalo, treats branding like a blueprint, not a mood board. Start with your artist archetype, message, voice, and values. Then run every post through that "Brita filter" before you chase fonts and colours. He explains why persona only works when it's rooted in truth, and why you can't buy real relatability (shares & original comments). His content-funnel framework alone is worth the watch.

CHRIS TAYLOR

BETTING ON TALENT EARLY

Chris Taylor reveals what it looks like to bet early before the industry agrees, on Nelly Furtado and Drake, in his role as a lawyer, and Metric when starting Last Gang Records. Hear how he trusted his ears, out-hustled gatekeepers in New York, and kept swinging after multiple passes until the world caught up. If you want a conviction-backed strategy, this episode will sharpen yours.

Hit-Boy and manager Nima Nasseri unpack the 18-year publishing deal that trapped him and the mindset that got him out. Learn what to look for before you sign, why "CD language" can wreck your future, and how therapy, team, and relentless output turn a bad contract into a comeback. Required viewing for anyone building in music.

• UNDERSTANDING
• YOUR CONTRACT
• ArkJ SURF

CASA

DEL REY king club y MANAGING YOUR MONEY

Dan Gonzalez, business manager for Sickick and Mauricio Ruiz and Business & Legal Affairs for Tory Lanez, breaks down the money moves most artists miss: separate personal from business, plan for taxes before the advance hits, set up the right entities, and make sure royalties aren't disappearing into the "black box." It's a sharp crash course in keeping more of what you earn.

LOREN MEDINA

Pitching Your Authentic Story

-PREMIOS

Publicist Loren Medina shows how to sell your authentic story in one sentence. She breaks down the pitch like a first date: be short, punchy, and lead with what's compelling, because the subject line and first line are everything. Then she explains how to reshape that truth for TikTok, podcasts, and press.

• JARED COTTER
• Cherry
• HANCE
• GEMINI AUTOPARTS
• 5930 SO FLORES
• CHERRY

WESTERN

Jared Cotter co-manages Shaboozey through a 19-week #1, without a major label. He breaks down the real work behind an independent superstar: spotting the record, building touring and brand infrastructure fast, delegating before you drown in "opportunities," and staying in your fans' faces until the market can't ignore you.

MANAGING INDEPENDENT SUPERSTARS

THE REALITY OF A&R AND LABEL POLITICS

Rich Castillo

Rich Castillo pulls back the curtain on major-label A&R, where your real job is convincing the whole building to care. He walks through weekly A&R meetings, budget fights, corporate pressure, and the politics behind who gets signed, funded, or dropped. If you've ever wondered why great music still loses inside labels, this episode explains it.

MILANA LEWIS

THE DIFFICULT REALITY OF MUSIC DISTRIBUTION

Milana Lewis (Co-Founder and CEO of STEM) exposes the hard truth: distribution isn't just uploading; it's strategy, relationships, and navigating 300+ retailers while you're building a full media business. She breaks down "delivery" vs. real distribution, and why no artist is truly "independent" without the right partners. Watch this before you sign anything.

HOW TO ORCHESTRATE A COMEBACK SHAWN DESMAN | STEVE ZSIRAI | CHAD WALSH

Shawn Desman and managers Steve Zsirai and Chad Walsh break down the comeback like a campaign: cut the wrong team, commit all-in, find where the listeners are, and bet on hard-ticket shows to rebuild real fans, not nostalgia. It's equal parts data, vision, and fearless execution. If you're rebuilding, steal their playbook.

IS ETHICAL AI ACTUALLY POSSIBLE?

ex-TikTok music

Isabel

Quinteros, partnerships, now SVP at Jen Al, asks the uncomfortable question: can Al be ethical if it learns from artists without consent? She breaks down fair use, licensing, "clean" models, and why artists can't sit this one out. If you create music, this episode is your wake-up call.

Protecting the Artist

Nick Jarjour treats management as artist protection. (sometimes that means being the "enemy of the state" for your client) He shares how integrity beats politics, why an advocate must fight for what the artist actually wants, and when to pull talent out before the grind breaks them. If you manage anyone, this episode is a boundary-setting masterclass.

RAH billboard E1

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A STAR TO BE SUCCESSFUL

Nic D is the counter-narrative, an indie from Culpeper, Virginia who built 1.5B+ streams and a million Spotify plays a day with no manager, label, agent, or touring. He breaks down the unsexy formula: treat music like a business and make content that doesn't feel like an ad, let fans discover you. Proof you can win without chasing stardom.

• call 255-234-
• FFEFO
• MONX da

Digital Marketing in the Age of the Meme

Austin Dunn, founder of @rnbmusic, breaks down meme-era marketing: stop shouting "new song out now" and start building an angle. He shows how to package talent like a story, using meme culture, community pages, and swipe-worthy "journeys" that make people care about the artist first. Pure tactical gold.

AUSTIN DUNN

SNOW THA

Product

DEVELOPING SUPERFANS

Snow Tha Product shows what superfan culture looks like when you actually show up. Self-managed with her brother and cousin, she turns vulnerability into momentum, inviting fans into the journey, selling hoodies to fund the next move, and building an always- on content and merch ecosystem that feels like family. Community is the business model. Not because the industry calls it an untapped opportunity, but because it has always been at the core of who Snow is.

GOD BLESS ALL LATINAS

• Follow us on Instagra
• 139 TRAGA CASSETT DUB
• MACHEL MONTANO
• Dwoodbrookyp
• HOW TO BECOME

THE XXX KING OF SOCA

Machel Montano and manager Che Kothari unpack the real price of a crown. Machel learned early to lose with grace and to make excellence a habit. And when the world calls him "King of Soca," he treats it as responsibility, not ego.

A BATHING A & CHE KOTHARI

HOW TO SURVIVE AS A SONGWRITER

THERON THOMAS

OCBS Par

Hit songwriter Theron Thomas gives the blunt survival guide: write with intent to make hits, not "vibes," and stop letting fame bully you out of value. He explains why writers must ask for master points, say "no" to bad deals, and build with people who protect you. If you write songs, this is armor.

deur

ARTIST DEVELOPMENT

Azad Naficy (Emotional Oranges, Avant Garden, Ghost Pepper Stepper) explains why most careers stall: the industry stopped investing in development. He shares what he wishes he built earlier (sound, brand, and the right environment) then shows how he now builds infrastructure that lets artists grow without getting forced into a mold. If you're early, this is your blueprint.

AZADNAFICY

• NIMA
• NASSERI
• The Content

Strategy

Nima Nasseri (Manager to Hit-Boy) breaks TikTok down into a burnout-proof system: treat it like a spammy discovery engine, post daily, and test fast until something hits, then amplify with Spark Ads. He explains how to build "visibility" without losing yourself: find the most effortless content format, protect your mental health, and keep creativity in flow.

Mike Biggane

The future of music is bleak but bright!

Spotify 35,000 views 1 episode, about 2 hr

• 34,920 views
• Los Angeles, US 1,624 viewers
• New York, US 1,298 viewers
• London, UK
• 890 viewers
• LAKE TAHOE
• NEVROR

About

Mike Biggane, ex-Spotify Global Head of Curation and the mind behind New Music Friday, argues the future is both bleak and bright: algorithms killed the old "release- week" playbook, but superfans, UGC, and licensed derivatives can rebuild discovery and revenue. He maps where labels mis-spent, why direct-to-fan wins, and how Al could turn fans into marketers.

MAURICIO RUIZ

YOUR

ARTIST DOES NOT NEED AN ESTA- BLISHED

MANAGER

"Yea, on paper they're a better team. They have all the assets and resources that we don't. But let us get on the line boy boy and see if that factors in. I guarantee you it won't." - Katt Williams

YOUR EMERGING ARTIST DOESN'T NEED AN EXPERIENCED

MANAGER INSTEAD OF YOU. THEY WANT THAT.

O perhaps their authentic friendship where external voice for them to Simply put, it's incredibly perception leads a remarkable level of acknowledge it. It's important for you and your them to believe so. If that's mutual confiding and happened to all of us in artist to be on the same the case, have you loyalty exists. The frust has management. Probably all page, especially in high- considered if you and your to be rock-solid both ways. of us in life lol. pressured meetings with artist are really operating That is non-negotiable. folks at labels, distributors, as a unified team? and others. If you're not on the same wavelength, your you're opening the door for when mistakes and criticism. It's not about always having genuinely a proficient and passionate the right answers or saying the artist you're never wrong though. the It's cool for partners to However, similar to dealing with a critical executive who questions capabilities, even you you

In the chaos of fame, it's crucial to safeguard and ground each other's loyalty.

Truth is, the established manager, despite good intentions, can't provide are the emerging artist with You have to create their sole unwavering time foundation that withstands about and dedication. Loyalty challenges commitments to their role, and management power And trust lasting marque artist or financial me, those challenges will relationship between artist that means they're paying the challenge your ideas of heir uncertainties.

and management is attention. rall come and they will test management company is what you've developed as determined by the mutual the main priority. In addition, limited time you ascend higher in your respect and care for each The trick is to be so in sync careers. Loyalty can't be other. with your artist that you together makes alignment bui built with a transactional can read each other's challenging, leading to relationship. That and If that shit is tight, that minds only potential compromises of corny exec that accordingly. That frustrating moment is telekinetic type health of the overall move values, which won't be goes so far.

worth it. However, there is a Here is a harsh reality... caveat.

or laughable. There's nothing connection that happens better than having that only when you put in real

For whatever odd reason, type of bond with your time and effort into the If the established manager industry folk will always artist. That genuine "we're relationship. That's real has a solid system for find reason in criticizing in this together" mentality power. developing acts and you, your success. No matter will carry into the business the ride or die/day one what level you achieve, in profound ways. The Now, if you've made it up to manager, are also part of they'll find to success of one becomes this point and you're an the equation, that's an downplay it. That comes synonymous with the artist reading this, you entirely different scenario with the territory. It's success of the other. definitely worth exploring.

a way should know by now what whatever. But it becomes you really need is something nefarious when As the artist and manager manager or management who is that same industry person or managers (several high team deeply catches to hout profile artists have co- committed your your artist without managers) navigate the personal success, core you present, gives your complexities, values and well being. artist unsolicited criticism industry's about your management they need to be a united Where do you find that "inefficiencies" and tries to front, valuing & respecting manager? create conflict for personal each other's opinions to gain. That shit happens all face challenges together. the time, especially as you start to garner more attention. Now, if the a Establishing a successful dynamic between you, the artist manager, and your artist is an incredibly nuanced process, and while there's no universal formula, success, at least in my. experience, lies in developing a personal connection rooted in respect and trust.

Oftentimes, it's a friend who doesn't have the experience but is determined to see you succeed and you know is Authenticity is It can't be a dynamic relationship with your artist not a luxury but reliable. Sometimes, they a necessity.

is merely transactional, where the manager merely takes orders or instructs how do you think that's and expects to commission and 10-20% going to play out for you? go about their business elsewhere and your artist are not last The other reality is that you Faking collaboration won't in the cutthroat with 10 other clients doing always going to get along. industry. All parties must based out of "Winnipeg, same thing. Especially In fact, the more time you approach their roles with Manitoba comes to mind. career. First of all, that's spend together, the higher sincerity and dedication to There are several ways to likelihood for make it work. management. That's a the a disagreement. Stop come out of nowhere. Thé story of Russ, an artist based out of Atlanta, Geld and his manager

Ackerman, who was in the beginning of hustle. If the manager or when this sounds familiar: Regular, open discussions depend on someone like successful representation that doesn't someone on the dedicated about both professional myself to discover you. Get management team does You and your artist have and personal with those who aspects up not foster a genuine been at odds for days create a deep genuinely care about you connection, it is a recipe for about a particular subject. failure.

You can't get them on the beyerstanding that goes and are in it for the right find not me surface. reasons. That's it.

same page as This doesn't suggest you need to keep it absolutely Suddenly, beyond blunt and harsh with your someone immediate artist either. That'll create articulates the very point resentment. It simply you've been trying to vision isn't just about Alignment is everything. the communicate, and it immediate career goals relationship is far more finally resonates with your either; it's about Have an equally strong

Defective Now, if you've made it up to the you. Beyond an outsider, connection, and your communication a this point and you're a vision circle, shared are manager reading this, you necessary. This shared really need the same.

that means be can ethic, a understanding the artist's work frustrating moment - journey and growth. By collaboration and chase When it is grounded in respect and collaboration you've been expressing the aligning their aspirations, those dreams together. It's same sentiment all along, you ensure all victories are a lot more fulfilling. Trust yet it takes an mutual ones. me, you will move mountains. 105 than a business one.

foster artist. It it can become an

DO YOU KNOW YOUR BUSINESS?

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR MUSIC BUSINESS (ARTIST OR MANAGER) TO WIN A FREE

30-MINUTE CONSULTATION WITH ME.

HOW DO YOU IDENTIFY YOUR ARTIST ARCHETYPE? (DESCRIBE YOUR CHARACTER IF

YOU WERE IN A MOVIE)

DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC IN ONE LINE.

(BONUS POINT: WHAT ARTISTS WOULD YOU BE ON THE SAME PLAYLIST AS?)

YOU'RE PITCHING TO PRESS: WHAT IS YOUR FIRST LINE TO GET THROUGH WITH A COLD EMAIL?

BE HONEST:

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ROADBLOCK TO SUCCEEDING IN YOUR CAREER?

HOW DO YOU TREAT YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA? (HOW OFTEN DO YOU POST? WHAT CONTENT ARE YOU PUTTING OUT?)

LOOK AHEAD

WANNA KNOW WHAT'S TO COME ON THE MANAGER'S PLAYBOOK? HERE'S AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK.

EP 60: TOMMY BROWN (HIT-MAKING PRODUCER & SONGWRITER)

EP 61: CHARLIE ROCKET (GRAMMY-WINNING MUSIC MANAGER TURNED CONTENT CREATOR, NIKE ATHLETE, AND PHILANTHROPIST)

EP 62: CHRIS ANOKUTE PT. 2 (A&R EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LAAMP, FORMER SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT OF A&R, EPIC RECORDS)