What Does An Artist's Manager Do?

So, what exactly does the artist manager do?

The duties of the artist manager number many. They include (but are not limited to):

• Determining the artist's business status and recommending/negotiating with a business entity


• Evaluating and filling the artist's personnel requirements


• Bookkeeping and balancing the artist's budget


• Formulating and marketing the artist's image


• Mapping out a career plan for the artist; establishing career goals


• Negotiating and securing a recording contract


• Hiring a producer and personnel for record production and publication


• Coordinating live performances and appearances


• Establishing merchandising and commercial relations (possibly worldwide)

Business, however, is not the only realm of an artist's career that the artist manager involves himself in. A manager may also be involved in the creative aspects of the process: this may include:

• Making suggestions for improvements in a recording


• Helping with instrumentals (if the manager has experience musically)


• Overseeing all creative aspects of the process

There are, however, aspects of the artist's career that a manager must not involve himself with, or does not have to involve himself with, in order to obtain the artist's fee:

• Actively seeking employment for the artist. This is the booking or theatrical agent's job. The manager must locate and hire these employees.


• Actively producing the artist's records. This is the job of the studio: the manager must negotiate and sign with one.


• Promote or administer copies of the artist's work. This is the job of the publisher: the manager must hire this employee.