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- CoverA CONVERSATION LIKE THIS DOESN'T COME CHEAP. THE MANAGER'S PLAYBOOK 2026.
- CREDITS2 TABLE OFCONTENTS
- RUIZ'S LETTERWhen 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.
- Page 66 TROY
- Page 800 8
- Page 1010 PRADA
- Page 12Matthew 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 &
- Page 14CHE HOW TO AVOID ARTIST BURNOUT
- Page 1616 Suthe
- Page 1818 simon tikhman & chief zaruk
- Page 2020 SHARA
- Page 2222 managing a superstar
- Page 2424 es
- Page 2626 NETWORKING & HUSTLE
- ProgramBYRON BUILDING AN ARTIST FROM SCRATCH
- THE NEW PURPOSE OF MUSIC VIDEOSDIRECTORX 30
- REDEFINING ARTIST SUCCESS & TEAM DYNAMICS32 JESSIE REYEZ BYRON WILSON
- NatalleTHE 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.
- Page 36MINUS 36
- Page 3838 CITY KID
- Page 4040 RACHELLE JEAN-LOUIS
- Page 4242 CHRIS ANOKUTE
- Page 4444 MRADENT 50 ARGUMENT
- Page 46DAME RITTER
- NICK GROEFA&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. E
- Page 5050 50
- Page 5252 ZACH KATZ
- Page 54RUSS MAKING $100 MILLION
- Page 5656 SCIENCE VS. MAGIC
- Lola PlakuCONCERT 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.
- Page 60Laurie 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
- FREEDOM IS SOMETHINGTHAT DIES UNLESS ITS USED 62
- Page 64CA ► YouTube
- KNOW YOUR66 ARTIST ARCHETYPE
- Page 6868 CHRIS TAYLOR
- Hit-Boy & Nima Nasseri70 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.
- DAN GONZALEZCASA DEL REY king club y MANAGING YOUR MONEY
- Page 7474 LOREN MEDINA
- Page 7676 JARED COTTER
- Page 7878 THE REALITY OF A&R AND LABEL POLITICS
- Page 8080 MILANA LEWIS
- Page 8282 HOW TO ORCHESTRATE A COMEBACK SHAWN DESMAN | STEVE ZSIRAI | CHAD WALSH
- ISABEL QUINTEROS ANNOUSIS ETHICAL AI ACTUALLY POSSIBLE? 84
- NICK JARJOURProtecting 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.
- NIC DYOU 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.
- Page 9090 Digital Marketing in the Age of the Meme
- Page 9292 SNOW THA
- New MenuItems op-Up booth infoFollow us on Instagra 139 TRAGA CASSETT DUB
- CBS Par96 HOW TO SURVIVE AS A SONGWRITER
- Page 9898 deur
- Page 100100 NIMA
- Public PodcastMike Biggane The future of music is bleak but bright!
- PLAYBOOK104 MAURICIO RUIZ
- Page 106106 DO YOU KNOW YOUR BUSINESS?
- Page 108108 DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC IN ONE LINE.
- Page 110110 BE HONEST:
- Page 112112 LOOK AHEAD
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RUIZ'S LETTER
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