MBUS test 1

Manager’s Role

Hub of all the artist's business activities. Promotes the artist's career in all ways. Puts out fires. Handles all DIY aspects of an artist's career

Manager’s income

15-20% of the Artist's Gross Income, minus a few exclusions. Advances may or may not be commissioned.

Is the artist exclusive to the manager?

Yes

Union regulation (manager)

No

Is the manager required to have a license?

No

Manager’s role in touring

Develops general touring plan with Agent. May select opening acts per the artist's approval. Negotiates merch deal. Hires/fires tour crew.

Does the manager tour with the band?

Rarely

Manager’s role in recording

Shops artist to record companies. Negotiates general terms of record deal. Some help with selection of producer, studio, session players, material. Stays on top of the label with regard to promoting the artist's releases

Manager’s term of employment

Can be years or Album Cycles

Manager after the employment term.

Sunset Clause provides for Post-Term Commissions.

Does the key person clause apply to the manager

Yes

Role of booking agent

Arranges concerts

Booking agent’s income

10% of Artist Performance Fees. Does not earn off merch.

Is the artist exclusive to the booking agent?

Within certain boundaries. May have domestic and international. Also 3rd party agents may be utilized

Is a license required to be a booking agent?

In some states agents must be licensed by the American Federation of Musicians. Knowns as Franchising.

Booking agent’s role in Touring

Their whole job is touring. Routes tour based on Manager's general plan. Books concerts. Negotiates performance fees with Concert Promoter or Talent Buyer. Sets ticket prices (sometimes in conjuntion with promoter). Sets date of ticket release.

Is the booking agent union regulated?

Yes. AFM. Referred to as "Franchising"

Does the booking agent tour with the band?

No

Does the booking agent record with the band?

No

Typical term of Booking Agent

Years

Booking agent after-term income

Collects commission on all shows booked, even if shows occur after Agent and Artist have parted ways.

Does the key-person clause apply to the booking agent?

Yes

Role of Business Manager

Handles finances

Business manager income

Either: 5% of Artist's Gross Income; or monthly; or hourly

Is the artist exclusive to the business manager?

Yes

Is a license required to be a business manager?

No

Business Manager’s role in Touring

Builds budget for tour. Handles accounting for all tour revenues, including merch. Issues paychecks to crew. Sounds the alarm 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

Business Manager’s role in Recording

Oversees recording budget. Recieves/distributes recording advances. Pays all bills related to production.Collects royalties and distributes accordingly.

Typical term of business manager

Vaires by compensation method. Time-based

After-term income for business manager

Commission only while working.

Is the business manager union regulated?

No

Does the key-person clause apply to the business manager?

No

Role of Attorney

Negotiates Contracts

Typical income of Attorney

Either: 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 artist exclusive to the attorney?

No

Is a license required to be an attorney?

Yes

Attonrey’s role in touring?

It is not common for the attorney to have a role in the touring operation. Most booking contracts are negotiated by the Agent

Does the attorney tour with the band

No

Attorney’s role in recording

Negotiates details of recording contract. Some attorneys shop artists to record companies, operating almost more like a manager.

Attorney’s typical term

Vaires by compensation method. Time-based or Album Cycle based

Attorney’s income after term

Typically none, or phased out after the contract expires.

Does key person clause apply to attorney?

No

Is attorney union regulated?

No

Publicist role

Arranges press coverage - reviews, concert previews, features, video premieres, tv appearances. Makes sure band has a bio. Sometimes hired before a team is assembled in order to raise an artist's industry profile.

Typical Publicist income

Monthly fee over the course of a campaign

Is this artist exclusive to the publicist?

Sometimes an artist may use their label's in-house PR to support an outside hired specialist

Does publicist require license

No

Publicist role in 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 band?

No

Publicist role in Recording

Arranges album reviews. Many campaigns start several months before an album is released

Typical term of publicist

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

After-term income for the publicist

None

Does key person clause apply to publicist

Typically, but may not be contractual

Are publicists union regulated

No