What Does a Music Artist Manager Do?

Navigating the music industry can be a complex journey for any aspiring musician. The role of an artist manager is crucial to ensuring a successful career. Alongside understanding independent music distribution, knowing what a music artist manager does can significantly impact an artist's growth and success in the music world.

The Role of a Music Artist Manager

An artist manager plays a pivotal role in an artist's career, acting as the backbone and the voice of the artist in various aspects of the music business. Here are some of the primary responsibilities of a music artist manager:

• Business Development: Managers are responsible for identifying opportunities that align with the artist's goals. This can include securing record deals, negotiating contracts, forging partnerships, and more.
• Marketing and Promotion: A major part of a manager's job is to create and implement marketing strategies to increase the artist's visibility and fanbase. This can involve social media campaigns, media appearances, and other promotional activities.
• Tour Management: Planning and managing tours is a significant task. This entails booking venues, coordinating travel and accommodations, handling logistics, and ensuring everything runs smoothly on the road.
• Financial Management: Artist managers often oversee an artist's finances, including budgeting for tours, recording, and promotional activities, as well as ensuring timely payment of royalties and other income sources.
• Career Guidance: Managers provide essential guidance on career decisions, helping artists make informed choices about their music, image, and overall career trajectory.

Independent Music Distribution

In addition to having a dedicated artist manager, independent music distribution is another key component for an artist's success. Independent music distribution allows artists to release their music without the backing of major record labels, granting them more control over their work and often higher revenue shares.

Independent music distribution platforms, such as SoundOn, offer all-in-one services for marketing and distribution, helping artists build their careers and reach new audiences. By registering as a SoundOn artist, musicians can leverage exclusive partner networks like TikTok and CapCut to enhance their reach and impact.

How Independent Music Distribution Works

Independent music distribution typically involves the following steps:

1. Uploading Music: Artists upload their tracks to a distribution platform, ensuring they meet quality and format standards.
2. Metadata Submission: Accurate metadata, including track titles, artist names, album art, and release dates, are crucial for proper cataloging and distribution.
3. Distribution to DSPs: The distribution platform then sends the music to various Digital Service Providers (DSPs), such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
4. Promotion: Platforms like SoundOn offer promotional tools and insights to help artists better understand their audience and market their music effectively.

The Intersection of Management and Distribution

While artist managers and distribution platforms play distinct roles, their efforts often intersect. Managers may work closely with distribution services to ensure that every release is strategically planned and optimized for maximum impact. This collaborative approach can help artists gain more streams, grow their fan base, and increase their overall income.

Benefits of Independent Music Distribution

Choosing independent music distribution offers several advantages:

• Greater Control: Artists maintain control over their music, deciding how and when it's released.
• Higher Revenue Share: Without the need to share profits with a major record label, artists often earn more from their streams and sales.
• Flexibility: Independent artists can adapt quickly to trends and market demands without the constraints imposed by a record label.

Why Every Artist Needs a Manager and Distribution Partner

The music industry is highly competitive, and having a strong support system is essential. An artist manager provides the strategic oversight and industry connections necessary to navigate this challenging landscape, while an independent music distribution partner ensures that the artist's music reaches the right audiences.

If you're an aspiring musician looking to take your career to the next level, consider partnering with SoundOn for your distribution needs and hiring a dedicated artist manager to guide your journey. Together, these resources can help you maximize your potential, grow your fanbase, and achieve lasting success in the music industry.