There are many ways to become a music manager. You can work your way up from the bottom of the industry and then move up to manager, or you can go to school for music management and get your degree before you even try to enter the industry.
The first step in becoming a music manager is to get yourself out there. You need to be able to showcase your skills and talents in order for anyone to take notice of what you have to offer.
If you are looking for employment with an existing company, then you will probably be asked for references or recommendations before they hire you. If this is the case, then make sure that you have a portfolio of your work on hand so that they can see what kind of job they would be hiring if they were interested in hiring someone like yourself.
Once you have found an employer who is willing to take a chance on hiring someone with no experience but lots of promise (like yourself), then get ready for some hard work! You’ll need lots of patience because things won’t always go smoothly at first when working for someone else’s company instead of starting off on your own as an entrepreneur who has built their own business from scratch or worked their way up through smaller companies until reaching success at one point where an opportunity presented itself
How To Become Music Manager
A music manager is a business professional who represents artists in the music industry. Many people pursue careers as music managers to enter the music and entertainment industry while engaging in administrative job duties that don’t involve musical performance. If you love music and have excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills, you might thrive in a career as a music manager. In this article, we consider what working as one of these managers can be like, such as their usual job duties and salary, and explore a list of steps for how to become a music manager.
Related: Music Careers: How To Pursue Them and Different Types
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What is a music manager?
A music manager takes charge of the business aspects of a music artist’s career. This can include tasks like scheduling tours, negotiating compensation and organizing promotional events, such as public appearances or record signings. Music managers can work individually or with a team, and they often represent clients who they believe might grow in popularity once they enter the industry and the public. While it can be common for music managers to open their own management services, they can also work for music management companies that represent several artists at once.
Read more: What Is a Music Manager? Definition and How To Become One
What does a music manager do?
Here are some typical job duties for a music manager to have:
- Meeting with clients to discuss their goals
- Scheduling tours and performances
- Negotiating contracts with record labels and performance venues
- Organizing the logistics of recording sessions
- Performing outreach and promoting the artists they represent
- Building an artist’s fan base using social media and other forms of publicity
- Completing paperwork for artists such as contracts, tour budgets and legal documents
How to become a music manager
Here are some steps you can follow to start your career as a music manager:
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
While some music managers can find work without a college degree, many candidates choose to pursue one. This is because earning a bachelor’s degree can allow candidates to learn about the high-level concepts they might use as a music manager, such as business practices, music industry expertise and negotiation tactics. The most popular major choice for these students is typically business management, as these programs can prepare them to represent the business interests of clients. Some schools might also offer minors in music management, which can provide more in-depth education about how to do business in the music industry.
Related: 13 Jobs for Music Business Degrees
2. Complete an internship
After earning a degree, it can be beneficial to secure an internship to gain professional experience. Many aspiring music managers find internships at record labels or music management companies where they can learn about the industry and observe established professionals while on the job. Completing an internship can also help new professionals to make industry connections, which can be especially valuable for music managers. This is because many music managers find new clients and projects through speaking with other professionals in the industry to learn about new artists and trends.
You can typically find these internships by searching online or reaching out to music management companies in your area.
3. Stay updated on trends in the industry
A very important aspect of working as a music manager is knowing about the trends in the music industry. This can help a music manager find new clients and take on artists who they believe can find success based on the trends they observe. For example, if a music manager notices that the current songs with the fastest-growing popularity seem to be in the country genre, they might look for new country artists to represent.
One of the best platforms to conduct research on for the music industry is the internet, as you can browse blog posts, articles and other outlets for music news updates. You can also visit the social media profiles of artists directly, which can often provide photos and videos to help you get to know an artist before offering to represent them. Another great way to stay updated on trends in the industry is to communicate with other industry professionals, such as other music managers or record producers.
4. Apply for jobs with established artists or companies
After earning experience and developing methods for remaining updated about the music industry, start applying for jobs as a music manager. Many aspiring music managers look for positions with music management companies or public relations firms where they can represent artists that the company identifies as having potential. You can also reach out to your industry connections to ask about established artists who already work in the industry but might need representation.
5. Find your own clients
Another option for music managers is to start their own management businesses. As earning a degree and gaining experience can prepare these professionals to manage clients and interact with the music industry, many choose to run their own companies and take charge of their schedules and pay. If you decide to start your own music management business, one of the most important tasks to complete is finding your own clients.
Music managers often find new clients by researching emerging artists and musicians who don’t yet have representation. They typically do this online by reviewing videos on social media and digital portfolios or by attending concerts to scout new talent. Once you secure a client, you can start representing them on your own.
Related: How To Become a Band Manager in 6 Steps
Skills for a music manager
Here are a few essential skills for a music manager:
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication skills
- Organization
- Attention to detail
- Financial literacy
- Multitasking
- Knowledge of the music industry
- Proficiency in business management
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Salary for a music manager
The national average salary for a music manager in the United States is currently $44,635 per year. However, this amount may vary depending on an individual’s level of experience and education. Indeed also notes that music managers can often earn higher salaries depending on where they work. For example, music managers who work in New York City can earn an average of $66,908 per year, and the average salary for those who work in Los Angeles is $68,583 per year.
