What is the role of the artist manager for a developing artist?
So, quick setup on my part so you don’t immediately discount the info here. I’ve worked alongside hundreds of different managers over the last few years. I watched closely who achieved results and who didn’t. I know how important it is to have a solid release strategy in place for a developing artist. It can be a bit overwhelming at times, a decent artist manager will really help you navigate the various challenges in front of you.
I also wanted to add that I’ve seen how hard artist managers work (some of them). Good artist managers are wonderfully dynamic, incredible at problem-solving, caring about the artist’s well-being, building relationships with the useful partners you need, finding the right collaborators for you, and on and on… It’s a phenomenally challenging gig with long delays between financial reward. They are the oil that keeps the engine of the music industry running. I have a huge amount of respect for the artist managers I’ve worked with and understand better than most how much great artists rely on great managers.
So, what exactly is the role of the artist manager in developing a great release strategy for a developing artist? Well, it’s a multifaceted role that involves a lot of different responsibilities. At its core, the artist manager is responsible for overseeing the artist’s career and making strategic decisions that help the artist reach their goals. In the context of releasing new music, that means helping the artist plan and execute a successful release strategy.
One thing an artist manager brings to the party is developing a release strategy that will maximize audience growth with the assets you have. This involves doing research to figure out who the artist’s potential fans are, what they like to listen to, and how they consume music. Once they have a good understanding of the artist’s audience, they can start to figure out the best way to reach them. This might involve promoting the artist’s music on social media, reaching out to radio stations, and collaborating with other artists or influencers to expand the artist’s reach.
Once they understand the artists audience and vibe, they work with them to develop a timeline for releasing new music. This will involve deciding on the number of releases and the intervals between releases, as well as coordinating with record labels, distribution companies, and other industry professionals to make sure everything goes smoothly.
In addition to coordinating the release of new music, they also help the artist create promotional materials and marketing campaigns to support the release. This might involve developing press releases, social media posts, and other marketing materials that help to generate buzz and interest in the artist’s music. They might also work with the artist to come up with creative ways to promote the music, like organizing concerts or other live events.
As the artist’s releases start to roll out, they keep a close eye on their success and use that information to inform future release strategies. This might involve analyzing data on streaming numbers, engagement on TikTok, Instagram, etc, and all available touchpoints to see what’s working and what’s not, and using that information to make adjustments to future release plans.
Of course, the role of the artist manager doesn’t just stop at release strategy. They also play a key role in negotiating contracts, managing the artist’s finances, and providing general support and guidance to the artist. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to see an artist’s career take off and to be a part of that journey.
So there you have it! That’s a brief overview of the role of the artist manager in developing a great release strategy for a developing artist. It’s a multifaceted and important role, and with the right plan in place, it can make all the difference in the success of an artist’s career.
Reference: ChatGPT / DALL-E
