MBUS 3010 - Artist Team

What is the manager's role?

hub of all of the artist's business activity, promotes their career

What is the manager's pay?

15-20% of the artist's gross income minus a few exclusions, advances may or may not be commissioned

Is the manager's role exclusive?

yes

Does the manager have union regulation?

no

Does being a manager require a license?

no

What does the manager do when their artist is touring?

develops general touring plan with agent, may select opening acts, negotiates merch deal, hires/fires tour crew

Does the manager tour with the artist?

rarely

How does the manager relate to record deals?

shops for record deals for the artist, negotiates general terms of record deal

What is the term of a manager?

years or album cycles

Does the manager collect commissions after their term is over?

yes, Sunset Clause provides for post-term commissions

Is the manager a key person on the artist team?

yes

What is the booking agent's role?

arranging concerts

What is the booking agent's pay?

10% of the artist's performance fees, does not earn $ off of merch

Is the booking agent's role exclusive?

yes and no, domestic and international agents, sometimes 3rd party agent

Does the booking agent have union regulation?

yes, AFM, referred to as "franchising"

Does being a booking agent require a license?

in some states like California and NY

What does the booking agent do when their artist is touring?

(THEIR WHOLE JOB IS TOURING. BASICALLY MANAGER OF THE TOUR.) routes the tour based on the manager's general plan, books concerts, negotiates performance fees with concert promoter or talent buyer, sets ticket prices, sets date of ticket release

Does the booking agent tour with the artist?

no

Does the booking agent have anything to do with record deals?

no

What is the booking agent's term?

years

Does the booking agent collect commissions when their term is over?

yes, collects commissions on all shows booked, even if shows occur after agent and artist have parted ways

Is the booking agent a key person on the artist team?

yes

What is the business manager's role?

handles finances

How much does the business manager get paid?

either 5% of artist's gross income, or monthly or hourly

Is the business manager's job exclusive?

yes

Does the business manager have union regulation?

no

Does being a business manager require a license?

no

What does the business manager do when their artist is touring?

builds the budget for tour, handles accounting for all tour revenue, including merch, issues paychecks to crew, sees if tour is over budget, cross checks payments from Agent and daily financial reports from Tour manager

Does the business manager tour with the band?

no

Does the business manager have anything to do with record deals?

oversees recording budget, receives/distributes recording advances, pays all bills related to production, collects all royalties and distributes accordingly

What is the business manager's term?

varies by compensation method, time-based

Do business managers get commissions after their term ends?

no, only while working

Is the business manager a key person on the artist team?

no

What is the attorney's role?

negotiating contracts

How does the attorney get paid?

hourly or flat fee; or retainer vs. hourly; or one of two commission models: 5% of artist's gross entertainment earnings during the time they work with the attorney, or 10% of an advance on a specific deal being negotiated

Is the attorney an exclusive role?

no

Does the attorney have union regulation?

no

Does being an attorney require a license?

yes

Is the attorney involved with their artist's tour?

not commonly, most booking contracts are negotiated by the agent

Does the attorney tour with their artist?

no

Does the attorney have anything to do with record deals?

yes, negotiates details of recording contract, some attorneys shop artists to record companies, operating almost more like a manager

What is the attorney's term?

varies by compensation method, time-based or album cycle based

Does the attorney get commissions after their term is over?

typically none, or phased out after the contract expires

Is the attorney a key person on the artist team?

no

What is the publicist's role?

arranges press conferences, reviews, tv appearances, etc., sometimes hired before a team is assembled in order to raise an artist's industry profile

How does the publicist get paid?

monthly fee over the course of a campaign

Is the publicist an exclusive role?

yes and no, sometimes an artist may use their label's in-house PR support an outside hired specialist

Does the publicist have union regulation?

no

Does being a publicist require a license?

no

What does the publicist do when their artist is touring?

coordinates tour press, features and concert previews in tour markets timed to promote ticket sales, arranges radio interviews, and tv appearances

Does the publicist tour with the artist?

no

What does the publicist do in terms of record deals?

arranges album reviews, many campaigns start several months before an album is released

What is the publicist's term?

typically a PR campaign begins 3-6 months before the release date of the music being promoted

Does the publicist get commissions after their term?

no

Is the publicist a key person in the artist team?

typically, but may not be contractual