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Article .... Artist Management - Is a Music
Management-Consultant In today’s independent music environment the
onus for success is totally on the artist. It’s basically up to them
to do it all. This includes the music marketing, the music media
relations, music promotion, and CD distribution, you name it. As an
independent artist you find yourself completely on your own to do it
all yourself. Although it’s a very good idea to be an
active partner in the business end of your music promotion and music
career, which after all -- is your business, many obstacles could
come between you and your success. These barriers are pretty
obvious. Your time could be far better spent on the
creative end of your music career as a performing and recording
artist. You may lack the necessary connections and music publicity
contacts you must have in order to properly advance your music
career by yourself. Or it can simply come down to the fact that
you’re overwhelmed by it all and just have no clue where to even
begin. If you have attempted to gain the attention of a well
connected artist management firm or band manager that often time
provides these services or connects you with them, then you may
found yourself running into a brick
wall. There was a time in the music business – and
I’m going back many years, when it was not as difficult to gain
representation from a reputable well connected artist management
firm where the typical 20% commission off the top end was standard
remuneration for their management services. Even in some cases when
the artist was not actually bringing in a lot in the way of
commission income, some reputable artist management firms as did
some major record labels, put faith in the idea that if the artist
truly had major potential, and they believed in them, they were more
willing to spend their time and own money further developing and
promoting an artist or a band. This of course essentially boils down
to speculating. Something a financial investor might do. Let me be
clear – Artist Management Companies are not
investors! In today’s music world with literally
hundreds of thousands, and probably millions of independent artists
attempting to gain exposure and accelerate their career, all in the
same way, at similar talent levels, I would ask you to imagine the
enormous kind of competition you are up against as an independent
artist. Speculating with those kinds of odds is just not something a
creditable management firm or even a smaller independent record
label is willing to do any
longer. Before a major or high level independent record
label will even consider signing a new artist to any kind of record
deal or recording contract they will look for and expect nothing
less than a fully developed act. The
artist must already have a huge fan base, major tour history, a
major media buzz and story, and significant proof of independent
record sales. The same goes for a reputable artist management firm
where a commission based roster signing applies. Now of course
there’s always your good friend Johnny or Alisa, or your
Mom or Dad who follows the band and loves you dearly and is willing
to be your manager -- but we should be realistic here. Just how far
will Johnny, Alisa, or Mom and Dad be able to get you? You might as
well do it yourself. If you are truly serious about accelerating
your music career, and for many
of the reasons stated in this article, you can’t or don’t want to do
it yourself, then you need some semblance professional
representation or guidance. This is where a short term interim
artist management-consultant may be able to provide the promotional
services that you need to get
ahead. Engaging a short term management-consultant
can fill the gap and play a major role. If you manage to find a
consultant that is actually an artist manager with high degree of
music business creditability, connections, and experience that will
professionally advise and represent you in all aspects of your music
career with no contractual commitment, it could be a very smart
move. Artist
Management-Consultants are becoming an extremely popular avenue for
Independent, DIY artists
and musicians in order to gain all the benefits of a well connected
manager while they are still a bit under developed and not quite
ready for roster based management. A lot of music business
consultants will work with you on a retainer or hourly basis to
advise you and help to accelerate your music career. Once they have
helped to propel your career to an acceptable level of buzz – some
will even shift the arrangement to a commission based roster
scenario at your request. So in the earlier stages of an act’s
career, an artist with potential should seriously consider the
artist management-consultant path and reap its many
benefits. If you are lucky enough to acquire the
services of a reputable well connected roster based artist
management firm or band manager on a commission only basis, then by
all means you should consider going for it -- after of course you
have checked them out thoroughly and before entering into a long
term contract. However, the harsh reality of this occurring when you
may be at a beginning to intermediate stage of development in your
music career is unfortunately slim to none. Especially if you or
your band has not met at least some or most of the prerequisites I
have mentioned above. By bringing on a reliable professional music
management consultant who will work hard on you behalf and get
results in the advancement of your music career, the modest retainer
or consulting fee you pay them will be well earned. In the long run
he or she can help you advance your career to higher levels,
eventually opening doors and facilitating the attention of reputable
booking agents, professional roster based management firms, record
labels, music publishing companies, and music licensing
opportunities. Hiring a short term well connected and
experienced artist management or music business consultant to
professionally represent, advise, promote, and market your music
career in your early to mid stages of development can be a great
alternative to the standard commitment of roster based management,
which would be next to impossible to get at the early to mid stages
of development. One of the benefits of hiring a short term interim
consultant is that if you’re not happy with your
manager-consultant’s performance, or you can no longer afford them,
then you can simply fire him or her at any time. You can’t fire a
roster based management firm that has an iron clad contract with
you. The basic idea behind the theory of starting
out with an Artist Management Consultant or bringing one on at your
mid-level development stage is that he or she should be able to
advise, develop, and promote your music career to the point whereby
you’ll become more attractive to a reputable roster based management
firm and record label. Or you can possibly change the terms of your
temporary agreement with your management consultant and enter into a
commitment with the consultant (who should be an artist manager and
have serious experience and connections in this area) for
commission-based roster
management. The beauty of this possibility is that through your previously working relationship with your management consultant you have essentially built the foundation of trust, loyalty, and respect, which is crucial in any artist – manager relationship. Before you sign a 2-4 year management contract (Which is basically like a marriage) you’ll know with peace of mind, exactly how effective your manager will be for you, and the kind of performance you can expect moving forward because it has already been proven. Back to Article Archives and Library
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