Aspiring artists often wonder what an artist manager does and how much they earn.
This guide will cover the salary, job description, education requirements, career path, and more of artist managers.
If you’re looking to become an artist manager, there are some essential factors to consider before you jump in feet first.
First, let’s talk about what an artist manager does daily and how you can use these skills yourself.
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Day-to-Day Tasks of an Artist Manager
An artist manager is responsible for an artist’s or band’s day-to-day tasks. This can include booking gigs, managing finances, and promoting the artist. An artist manager typically earns 10-15% of an artist’s earnings.
The job of an artist manager is to help an artist or band grow their career by ensuring they are getting exposure to the right people and opportunities.
Artist Manager Role Description
The job description of an artist manager can also vary depending on the needs of the artist they are working with.
But in general, artist managers are people who help an artist navigate the music industry.
People often take this role if they have experience in music or marketing or know an artist well.
Artist managers should be aware of all aspects of a musician’s life and work to protect them from things that could damage their reputation.
A lot depends on how much time you want to spend as an artist manager- most people need another job to support themselves while they do this full-time.
If you want to manage artists full-time, you will need at least two years of experience before charging the rates that would make it worth it for your clients.
Education Requirements
Most artist managers have a bachelor’s degree in business, communication, or a related field.
However, some jobs may only require a high school diploma or equivalent. Many artist managers complete on-the-job training to learn specific industry software and best practices.
Some larger companies may also require certification in project management.
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Certifications & Licenses
Various artists manager certification programs exist, including those offered by the International Artists Managers Association (IAMA), National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), Creative Artists Agency (CAA), SESAC-Entertainment Resources Services (SESAC), American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 47-Los Angeles Music Producers Guild.
Some artist managers are also certified through the Master Performance Rights Organization (MPRA).
Certification is not necessary to work as an artist manager.
For example, a person who has never had formal training in management could be hired to manage a band based on his or her experience with other bands.
Artist Manager Skills
Artist managers must have the following skills
Time Management
Artists managers need to manage their time well to handle various tasks.
For example, if an artist needs to attend a meeting with a prominent label executive and then film a music video the next day, the artist manager needs to keep track of his or her schedule.
Communication Skills
When working with artists who may be shy or introverted by nature, an artist manager needs to be able to speak up on behalf of their client in meetings when necessary.
A good communicator is also needed when dealing with other staff, such as personal assistants or social media managers.
Artists managers should always be sure they are fully versed on all topics before speaking so as not to misinform clients.
Financial Planning
With finances playing a significant role in being an artist manager, these professionals must know how to invest and budget money properly.
To do this, many experts recommend studying finance early on in one’s career.
This is done to better understand the ins and outs of investing and budgeting money from both those earning it and those spending it.
Business Development
When looking for new talent or different work opportunities, art managers must:
- Constantly look for new business opportunities
- Develop relationships with potential clients through networking events or personal contacts.
Social Media Marketing
There are many ways to promote artists nowadays through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Artist Manager Salary & Outlook
The median annual wage for artist managers is $62,500 ($30.05/hour).
The top 10% of earners made more than $166,400 that year, while the bottom 10% earned less than $36,540.
Employment of artist managers is projected to grow 9% from now to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the artist manager is the key to any artist’s success; they also know how to market the artist’s talent and abilities.
Artists should trust their manager with all of their career decisions.
I hope this guide has helped you better understand what artist managers do.
