How to Be Music Artist Manager - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Apr 10, 2020 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The success of a music artist is largely dependent on their manager. A good manager will help them build their brand, book shows, and create and execute marketing strategies. In turn, this can lead to increased visibility, more fans, and increased income.

A manager can also be instrumental in helping an artist make important decisions such as choosing producers, setting tour schedules, and negotiating contracts. If a manager is able to provide the necessary guidance and resources for their artist, it can result in greater success for both parties. However, if an artist does not have the right manager or does not take their career seriously, it can result in missed opportunities and a lack of longevity in the music industry.

Steps How to Become

Educate yourself on the music industry. Get a degree in music business, music production, music management, or related fields. Take classes or gain experience in marketing, public relations, accounting, and/or finance.
Gain experience in the music industry. Make connections with industry professionals and build relationships with them by attending events, networking, and volunteering.
Develop your business savvy. Learn about contracts, licensing agreements, copyright law, and other legal aspects of the music industry.
Build a portfolio. Get experience managing bands or artists in your local area and build a portfolio of your work.
Find an artist to manage. Research potential artists and get to know their music and career goals. Offer your services as a manager and negotiate a contract.
Promote your artist. Use traditional and digital marketing tactics to promote your artists music and reach new fans.
Stay up-to-date on the industry trends. Keep up with new technology, marketing strategies, and music industry trends. Be prepared to adapt to changes quickly in order to stay competitive.

As an artist manager, staying ahead of the curve is essential to staying qualified and successful. This means having a deep understanding of the music industry, the changing trends, and the strategies needed to stay current. It involves staying up-to-date on the latest technology and techniques, such as streaming services and social media platforms, that can be used to promote an artists music and build fan interest.

it's important to build relationships with other industry professionals, such as record labels, promoters, and radio stations, to ensure that an artists music is heard. Finally, it's important to understand the legal and financial aspects of the music industry, so that an artists career can be managed in the most effective way possible. By staying ahead of the curve and developing a deep understanding of the music industry, artist managers can stay qualified and successful.

You may want to check Music Studio Technician, Music Video Coordinator, and Music Merchandiser for alternative.

Job Description

Negotiate and secure performance contracts for music artists
Manage promotional activities and campaigns for the artist
Develop and maintain relationships with record labels, venues, agents and other industry contacts
Monitor trends in the music industry and identify potential opportunities for the artist
Oversee the artists recording and release schedules
Maintain accurate financial records, including budgets, tour expenses, album sales and royalties
Book travel arrangements for the artist
Develop and execute marketing strategies to increase the artists visibility
Organise press events and media interviews
Plan and coordinate live performances, including tour scheduling
Monitor fan conversations and respond to inquiries on social media
Represent the artist at industry events, networking and conferences

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of the music industry and current trends
Excellent communication and negotiation skills
Understanding of contracts, copyrights, and other legal aspects of the music industry
The ability to create and maintain relationships with music industry professionals
Financial management skills, including budgeting and forecasting
Creative problem-solving skills
Outstanding organizational skills
The ability to develop and execute successful marketing strategies
A good understanding of online tools for digital promotion
Expertise in artist development, branding, and public relations

A successful music artist manager must possess many essential skills, but perhaps the most important one is communication. Being able to effectively communicate with the artist, their team, and the industry is a critical skill for any music artist manager to possess. It is essential for the manager to be able to clearly and concisely explain the artists vision, goals, and objectives in order to properly manage their career.

having strong negotiation skills is critical in order to get the best deals for the artist in terms of royalties and other contracts. A good manager must also be able to promote their artist in a positive way, while also utilizing social media platforms, press releases, and other marketing tools to raise the artists profile. Finally, being able to stay organized and manage time efficiently is a key attribute for any music artist manager, as they need to juggle multiple tasks and complicated schedules at once.

In conclusion, communication, negotiation, promotion, and organization are all essential skills that any music artist manager must have in order to be successful.

Music Annotator, Music Psychologist, and Music Artist are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have with managing music artists?
What strategies do you have for promoting music artists?
How do you handle the business side of artist management?
What tactics do you use to secure performance opportunities for music artists?
How do you handle the financial aspects of artist management?
How have you succeeded in building relationships with industry professionals?
How do you handle the creative aspects of artist management?
How would you handle a disagreement between an artist and label or promoter?
What steps do you take to keep up with changes in the music industry?
How do you measure the success of an artists career?

Common Tools in Industry

Artist Management Software. Software that helps artists and managers manage their career, including managing tour scheduling, booking, and contracts. (eg: Bandhub)
Tour Management Software. Software that allows tour managers to plan, manage and execute tours at scale. (eg: Tour Manager Pro)
Music Promotion Software. Software that helps music artists promote their music through digital channels like streaming platforms, social media, etc. (eg: SoundCloud Promote)
Music Licensing Software. Software that helps music artists and labels license their music for use in media like films, TV shows, video games, etc. (eg: TuneCore Music Licensing)
Project Management Software. Software that helps manage the entire project lifecycle from planning to execution. (eg: Asana)
CRM Software. Software that helps manage customer relationships and build loyalty. (eg: Salesforce)
Accounting Software. Software that helps manage finances, payments, taxes, payroll, etc. (eg: QuickBooks)
Analytics Software. Software that provides insights on music industry trends and audience engagement. (eg: Next Big Sound)

Professional Organizations to Know

American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)
Association of Artist Managers (AAM)
Music Managers Forum (MMF)
National Association of Record Industry Professionals (NARIP)
The Recording Academy
The Music Business Association (Music Biz)
International Music Managers Forum (IMMF)
International Association of Music Managers (IAMM)
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)
Music Managers Alliance (MMA)

We also have Music Lawyer, Music Transcriber, and Music Transcriptionist jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Artist. An individual who creates music, often a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, or producer.
Record Label. A company that works with artists to produce, distribute and promote their music.
Music Publisher. A company that licenses music for other companies to use and pays the artist for the use of their music.
Manager. An individual who oversees the career of an artist, providing guidance, advice and support.
Contract. A legal agreement between two parties outlining the terms of their business relationship.
Touring. The process of booking performances and travel arrangements for an artist on tour.
Promotion. The process of marketing an artist and their music to increase their audience and sales.
Public Relations. The process of creating positive relationships between an artist and the public, media and industry professionals.
Radio Promotion. The process of getting radio stations to play an artist's music.
Merchandising. The process of selling merchandise related to an artist, such as T-shirts, CDs, DVDs, and other items.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary role of a Music Artist Manager?

The primary role of a Music Artist Manager is to oversee the professional career of an artist and manage the various aspects of their day-to-day operations, such as booking gigs, negotiating contracts, marketing and promotion, and financial planning.

What qualifications are typically required to become a Music Artist Manager?

To become a Music Artist Manager, qualifications such as strong business acumen, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and an in-depth knowledge of the music industry are typically required.

How much does a Music Artist Manager typically earn?

Music Artist Managers typically earn a commission of 10-15% of their artist's total income, depending on the artist's success.

What are some important considerations for a Music Artist Manager?

It is important for Music Artist Managers to understand the legalities involved in the contracts they enter into on behalf of their artist. Additionally, they must be able to effectively manage the artist's time, resources and budget to ensure the best possible outcome.

What is the most important responsibility of a Music Artist Manager?

The most important responsibility of a Music Artist Manager is to ensure the artist's success and longevity in the music industry. This is done through effective communication, strategic planning, and guiding the artist's career in the right direction.