WHY EVERY ARTISTE MUST HAVE A MANAGER

A good manager has to wear a lot of hats in handling the business and professional development of their clients.

JUST like the saying, “behind every successful man, there’s a woman”, it is also true that behind every successful artiste, is a talented and hard working manager.

Artiste management in the music industry is an incredibly hard and fast paced job that is perfect for someone that loves music and wants to play a significant role in shaping an artiste’s career.

A good manager has to wear a lot of hats in handling the business and professional development of their clients. They have a wide array of responsibilities including:

Negotiating contracts: Music industry contracts are incredibly complicated. A large part of artiste management is advising a client on business decisions and negotiating on their behalf. Because managers have a financial stake in the success of their client, it’s in their interest to negotiate hard for the best possible deals. A good manager has strong interpersonal skills and negotiating acumen.

Marketing and image: The success of an artiste depends a lot on good marketing and branding. A manager can help craft a musician’s public image with an eye towards current trends in music and pop culture.

Touring: Managers work with an artiste’s record label and booking agent in putting together their client’s touring schedules. Tours have a lot of moving parts and require strong logistical and planning skills. Managers work to get their clients booked in good venues and markets and follow through to make sure that tours run smoothly.

Artist development: Managers help to nurture an artiste creatively. Music managers often have contacts in the industry with music producers or other artistes who can collaborate with their clients and help them grow as artistes. Managers often talk with their clients on a daily basis and help guide them through a variety of musical and business decisions.

Promotion: An artiste’s success is contingent on good promotion. A manager works hard to promote their clients music and get them featured on music websites and publications that can help spread their reach.

Budgeting and money management: Good managers build teams around an artist to help them manage their finances and keep tours and production under budget. Artistes rarely have the business acumen or interest in micromanaging every area of their finances. Artiste managers often connect their clients with good business managers and accountants to help them manage their money.

Multimedia opportunities: As artiste’s grow more successful, opportunities crop up outside of the music industry. Music superstars often appear on TV shows and in film in order to diversify their brand and expand their reach beyond just Zambia.

If you are in the music industry or indeed the creative industry, perhaps this information could be helpful for you and your quest of becoming successful and hitting stardom.