How To Find A Music Manager
How To Find A Music Manager
I’ve been all over the music industry in so many areas I was bound to end up with a bunch of different managers from different realms of it eventually.
So… I have had what…. 6+ managers now?
This is a part I really really want you to learn from my mistakes on.
This is the kind of stuff that SmartRapper.com was built on lol
The information in this article should help you understand what to look for when you are looking to find a music manager.
It will also help you avoid certain people who may not be right for you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQcv4mG75mo
UPDATE: I now have a list of all of the music manager firms in the industry if you would like to check that out go here.
https://www.smartrapper.com/music-industry-contacts
This is also an article revamp to include more information than the original article. I hope it helps you in your quest on ‘How To Find A Music Manager’.
I wish I had known all of this information when I was looking to find the right music manager in my career.
My 1st manager (lol)
was some random college kid that booked me 1 gig at a frat house lol. That was before I was even serious about my career. He wasn’t REALLY a manager, but for being at the beginning stages, he kinda was.
My 2nd manager (My first mistake)
He managed the Hollywood Undead which is a really big… especially with 3.5 MILLION Facebook Likes
He now owns a company that is the brand ambassador for the biggest EDM artists in the industry.
Almost every Facebook page his company runs for people has 5,000,000+ fans.
I was too young and hard headed to learn from him. I was pretty disrespectful about a bunch of things simply because of lack of experience and honestly fear of some of the things.
He was massively connected and is now a multi millionaire.
I’m still connected with him after I humbly apologized for being hard headed because I was young and stupid. Honestly I think that was the first apology I have ever given someone that I truly was sorry for.
Probably because I knew he offered so much but it was my fault I didn’t take advantage of the opportunities he could have offered.
He is an amazing guy and now has opened many more doors for me.
The text above is a key example of why you need to be nice to everyone no matter what.
My 3rd Music Manager (Beware Talkers)
My 3rd Music Manager talked way too much about what he COULD do, and literally was only good at talking.
I’m not even going into this one in-depth because it’s a touchy subject and though he is a hustler and a nice guy.
His hustle is talking and half of me hates how much faith me and my old team put into him.
Though old me was stubborn, I will admit he could have done at least something for us if I wasn’t so hard headed.
Though he still talked so much that most of anything offered probably wouldn’t have came to fruition.
I am just stating that I do take responsibility for some of the lack of movement while he was on my team because it’s never just 1 person’s fault.
My 4th Music Manager (READ CAREFULLY)
My 4th Music Manager managed Nas for the first half of Nas’ career. I learned alot from his insane stories that really Leveled Me uP and gave me an amazing understanding of the industry.
Them New York OG’s are insanely intelligent and on their shit. The amount of knowledge and experience in that guys brain…. Jeez.
I’d still have weekly talks with him if I could but unfortunately we broke ties when he said to me
“Man I was really hoping you would quit all this rap shit out”
because he spent a whole year trying to convince me to be a pretty boy and make commercial sell out music so we can gain more exposure. I refused to bend from the person I am. He wanted to make money from me, which makes sense. But I’m not a sell out, sorry man.
My growth has to be natural, If anything like that ever comes about it needs to come over time because I find that is who I AM, not because that’s someone someone else wants me to be to line their pockets.
If you really are a fan or listen to my music, you know that’s not who I am.
My 5th Music Manager (Ugh…. just ugh)
My 5th music manager as the Vice President of Universal Motown and the guy who got MGK signed to Diddy. I won’t go into anymore detail here since it was a HUGE let down and they were just trying to milk me for my buzz at the time.
My 6th and 6 1/2th
My 6th Music Managers
(Yes Plural, I’m movin’ on up lol)
Ran Disney Radio for 5 1/2 years and have credits beyond belief for the last 20 years in the radio and music industry. As I Level uP, my managers get stronger and smarter.
My connections get better and my opportunities increase almost ten fold.
My 7th Manager
Me and my recent management parted ways. They really believed they could make things happen with their connections but it just didn’t turn out the way we had hoped.
I still stay in contact with them, actually he just hooked me up with a music licensing opportunity just two days ago.
This is a reason you NEVER BURN BRIDGES because that bridge leads to other places 🙂
I’ll be sure to keep you all updated on my future managers as well.
While this article didn’t TELL you how to find a music manager. I think it provides ten times that information by telling you ABOUT the types of music managers out there.
You will shuffle through a bunch of managers over the next few years OR you will find the perfect one for you.
I hope the latter for you.
Good luck my friend.
UPDATE: I now have a list of all of the music manager firms in the industry if you would like to check that out go here.
https://www.smartrapper.com/music-industry-contacts
Let’s keep it moving. I’ll explain other team members in the following parts!