I am Not Getting Older, I am Getting Ready!

The Hottest MUSIC FASHION & FILM THE ATLANTA I SPY MAGAZINE THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE MUSIC Why Talent Buyers, Managers, Business Managers, Road Managers and Distribution Professionals Matter An artist can have a great song, a great voice, a great image and thousands of followers—and still struggle to build a real career. Why? Because talent is only one part of the business. The music industry is a business of relationships, contracts, money, performance opportunities, distribution, marketing and timing. The artists who understand this early are often better positioned to turn their music into a sustainable career. One of the most important people an artist needs to understand is the talent buyer.THE TALENT BUYER VS. THE MANAGER These two positions are often confused. The Manager The manager works primarily for the artist. The manager helps develop the artist's career and may coordinate: Career strategy Team members Recording projects Marketing Branding Business relationships Booking relationships Distribution strategy Release schedules Partnerships Long-term career development The manager's job is to help build the machine. The Talent Buyer The talent buyer works primarily for the venue or event. Their responsibility is to find entertainment that makes sense for their audience and business. The talent buyer is asking: “Will this artist work for my event?” The manager is asking: “How do I get opportunities for my artist?” Those interests can meet—but they are not the same job. THE ROAD MANAGER Once an artist begins performing regularly, another important position may become necessary: The Road Manager The road manager handles the practical operation of the artist's touring activities. They may coordinate: Travel Hotels Venue arrival Load-in Soundcheck Show schedules Guest lists Credentials Transportation Backstage logistics Communication with promoters Communication with venues Settlement procedures The road manager helps make sure that when the artist arrives at the venue, the show actually works. A manager may negotiate the opportunity. The road manager helps execute the opportunity. THE BUSINESS MANAGER Now we get to one of the most important people when an artist starts making serious money. The business manager focuses on the artist's financial business affairs. Depending on the arrangement, that can include: Budgeting Cash-flow management Financial reporting Paying approved expenses Reviewing financial records Coordinating with accountants Monitoring income Monitoring expenses Reviewing contracts from a financial perspective Helping organize royalty and other income information A business manager should not simply be someone who says: “I'll handle your money.” That is not enough. An artist should understand exactly what the person is authorized to do, what accounts they can access, what reports they provide, what they charge and who else is involved. THE ACCOUNTANT The accountant has a different job. An accountant can help with: Tax preparation Financial statements Bookkeeping Tax planning Expense categorization Business records Financial compliance A business manager and accountant may work together, but they are not automatically the same person. For a growing artist, separating responsibilities can provide additional financial controls. THE ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY This is another position artists should take seriously. An entertainment attorney can review and negotiate legal agreements involving areas such as: Recording Publishing Management Producer agreements Distribution Licensing Performance agreements Brand partnerships Intellectual property An artist should be extremely careful about signing long-term agreements simply because someone promises: “I'm going to make you famous.” Fame is not a contract. Before signing a significant agreement, have an appropriate attorney review it. THE DISTRIBUTION PROFESSIONAL Making music is only half the job. The music must also get delivered to the marketplace. A distributor can help deliver music to digital services and other outlets, depending on the distributor and agreement. But artists need to understand something very important: Distribution is NOT the same thing as promotion. Getting a song onto streaming platforms does not automatically mean: Radio will play it. Playlists will add it. Fans will discover it. Concert promoters will book you. The song will chart. The song will become a hit. Distribution gets the music into the system. Marketing, promotion, audience development and relationships help create demand. HOW SHOULD AN ARTIST CHOOSE A BUSINESS MANAGER? Don't choose a business manager because they have a nice office. Don't choose them because they know celebrities. Don't choose them because they say they can make you rich. Choose them because they can demonstrate professional competence, transparency and accountability. Ask questions. 1. What experience do you have with musicians? An artist's finances can be complicated because income may come from multiple sources. 2. What exactly will you handle? Get the responsibilities in writing. 3. What will you NOT handle? This is just as important. 4. How are you paid? Understand whether the arrangement involves a percentage, flat fee, hourly fee or another structure. 5. Who controls the bank accounts? This question matters enormously. 6. How often will I receive financial reports? An artist should not have to beg to find out what happened to their money. 7. Who has access to my financial information? Access should be clearly defined. 8. Will you coordinate with my CPA and attorney? A professional team should be able to communicate with one another appropriately. 9. Can I review the agreement before signing? Of course. 10. What happens if we terminate the relationship? The exit terms should be understood before the relationship begins. DON'T GIVE ONE PERSON EVERY KEY One of the biggest mistakes an inexperienced artist can make is giving one person control over everything. The same person should not automatically be: Manager + Business Manager + Accountant + Booking Agent + Distributor + Attorney + Road Manager. Sometimes people wear multiple hats, especially when an artist is just starting. But as the business grows, responsibilities should become more clearly separated. Think of it like a bank vault. You don't want one person holding: the keys, the combination, the security code and the accounting records. You want accountability. THE BOOKING AGENT A booking agent is another important member of the professional team. The agent's job is generally focused on securing live performance opportunities. The distinction can look like this: Talent Buyer: “We need an artist for our event.” Booking Agent: “I represent an artist who would be a great fit.” Manager: “Here is our artist's overall career strategy.” Road Manager: “We're here, we're prepared and the show is running correctly.” Business Manager: “Let's make sure the money is properly tracked.” Accountant: “Let's make sure the financial records and taxes are properly handled.” Entertainment Attorney: “Let's make sure the agreement protects the artist.” Distributor: “Let's get the music delivered to the appropriate platforms.” Marketing/Promotion Team: “Let's get people to know the music exists.” Now you have something much bigger than an artist. You have a business operation. THE ARTIST'S CAREER TEAM A developing artist might eventually have a team that looks something like this: Role Primary Responsibility Artist Music, performance & creative direction Manager Career strategy & coordination Booking Agent Securing performance opportunities Talent Buyer Selecting entertainment for events Road Manager Touring & show logistics Business Manager Financial business administration Accountant/CPA Accounting & taxes Entertainment Attorney Contracts & legal protection Distributor Music delivery to marketplaces Publicist Media & publicity Radio/Marketing Team Promotion & audience development Producer Musical creation/production A&R/Artist Development Development, repertoire & industry strategy Not every artist needs every position immediately. A new artist may begin with just: Artist + Manager + Attorney + Distributor + Marketing support. As revenue and opportunities increase, the team can expand. THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON Artists often spend years asking: “Who can make me famous?” A better question is: “Who can help me build a legitimate music business?” Because a career is bigger than one song.

A career requires: Music + Performance + Audience + Business + Relationships + Financial Management + Legal Protection + Distribution + Promotion. And somewhere in that equation is the talent buyer—the person who can open the door to the stage. The artist's job is not simply to knock on every door. The artist needs to become the kind of professional that people want to open the door for. That is when talent begins turning into opportunity. And when opportunity is managed correctly, opportunity can become a career.