Thursday, August 18, 2011

Why You Need A Manager


            The joy of being a professional music artist comes with tons of hard work and credential building. In todays saturated music market the level of competition is enormous. Independent labels sprout like weeds on a summer day as more and more creative individuals embark on the path of musical success. Advances in technology have allowed musicians to create material in the blink of an eye in comparison to decades past. Furthermore, the need to work as a full-time musician has dwindled with the influx of tools to speed up the music creation process. Part-time schedules, typical family life in addition to having another full or part-time job have raised the need for a management team to handle the numerous business affairs of an artist.
            A competent music manager would likely handle multiple duties from business matters, booking agent, promoter, and personal assistant duties to name a few. Couldn’t you use help in these areas? If so then you should hire a manager today! Oh, but I forgot money is tight and there is no way that you could conceivably pay another individual while your barely making ends meet. Well there is no need to get overly excited since most managers are paid on a commission basis. Typically 15% of relevant net income is the commission fee, so a manager would not get paid until you get paid based on your contractual agreement. This alleviates any competing interest and you will know once your manager is contractual bound to your success that when you make money he/she will make money as well.
            As with any entity that you contract to work for you there should be a solid working relationship. You may not love your manager but you should respect the job that they can do for your music career. Another music industry standard for contracts with managers is to have a length of 4 to 12 months. This allows for flexibility especially in the early stages of your relationship with that respective manager/management team.
            Understanding your limitations is a vital part of analyzing your music’s financial potential. Viewing a manager as a part of that success is key. Often in the independent music scene managers are considered leeches. I think after reading WarStation TV’s article, you will realize that an effective manager will leech others for your and their benefit.
 Outside Sources:
Greene, L. A. (2006). so you want to be a music manager?. Cosmo Girl, 8(6), 114. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
 Oliver, P. G. (2010). The DIY artist: issues of sustainability within local music scenes. Management Decision, 48(9), 1422-1432. doi:10.1108/00251741011082161
 Sutherland, K. (2008). SPIN CITY. BC Business, 36(12), 99-106. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.


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APPLE MUSIC - NEW FREE MUSIC!!!!

APPLE MUSIC - NEW FREE MUSIC!!!!