Recording Agreement

If you're new to the music industry one thing you'll have the daunting prospect of facing is contracts. These can be confusing but it's important to have an understanding of how they work in order to agree a deal which works for both parties. Below is an example of a recording contract and I've hopefully been able to explain some of the key points so that it isn't as complicated. I've also made some amendments from the artists point of view. Obviously in a real scenario each of the clauses would be heavily negotiated but hopefully this will give you a basic understanding of how a recording contract works. Hope you find it useful.

Publishing Agreement

If you're new to the music industry one thing you'll have the daunting prospect of facing is contracts. These can be confusing but it's important to have an understanding of how they work in order to agree a deal which works for both parties. Below is an example of a publishing contract and I've hopefully been able to explain some of the key points so that it isn't as complicated. I've also made some amendments from the artists point of view. Obviously in a real scenario each of the clauses would be heavily negotiated but hopefully this will give you a basic understanding of how a publishing contract works. Hope you find it useful.

Management Agreement

If you're new to the music industry one thing you'll have the daunting prospect of facing is contracts. These can be confusing but it's important to have an understanding of how they work in order to agree a deal which works for both parties. Below is an example of a management contract and I've hopefully been able to explain some of the key points so that it isn't as complicated. I've also made some amendments from the artists point of view. Obviously in a real scenario each of the clauses would be heavily negotiated but hopefully this will give you a basic understanding of how a management contract works. Hope you find it useful.

The Future of Rock Music Part 3

So far we’ve see how and why rock music declined, and we’ve looked at the excitement with the current resurgence in the genre, but where do we go from here? Current technology and rock music have a strange relationship. Sure, technology can benefit rock musicians in the same way it does for other genres, as a way of connecting with fans on a more personal level. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat and the many other social media outlets give the opportunity for fans to have a closer relationship with their favourite artists than ever before. In fact, when you look at how it’s changed since the 90’s, it's incredible; posters and fliers are now a thing of the past with fans, and potential new audience members, now having unlimited access to bands.

As we’ve seen in the previous blogs, rock music has been more prominent in the mainstream in the last 18 months than it’s been in around 10 years. Yet if you look at the top 30 most streamed artists so far of 2016, you’ll see that only The Beatles and Fall Out Boy represent the rock genre. Why is this? Well, simply, rock artists must be finding other ways to connect with their fans other than streaming sales. The most obvious is of course through the mediums we’ve already looked at; festival appearances, touring, merchandise and many others. However, one thing we haven’t looked at yet, which has kept the genre of rock alive and could now catapult it into the forefront of modern music is, rock fans buy their music. They always have in the past, have continued to do so even with the new ways of streaming music and, I believe, they will continue to do so. There’s always been something organic and acoustic in the sound of rock music which, for me, doesn’t give fulfilment to the listener via a YouTube video or a Spotify stream. Whether it’s vinyl, CD or download (usually with a digital booklet or bonus material to make it feel more personalised) rock fans continue to absorb their music via purchasing rather than streaming. Even when the genre had almost completely faded from mainstream music and the crazy idea that the art of music still needed to be bought, rock fans never wavered. With an ever-increasing nature of streaming, the fact that rock fans still buy, pumps money into the genre, which allows more budgets for shows, tours and support of upcoming acts. This of course means that the genre has more traction, appeal and grows and ends up pushing further into the mainstream of music. So if you're reading this as a rock fan who still goes down to their local record store, or pre orders the album or just who has never quite got the full enjoyment of a record from streaming, well done, you’re one of the reasons for this genre's revival. Something I believe, and you may or may not agree, but if something’s made on a computer it feels fine listening through a computer, if something’s created with an acoustic instrument it requires a fuller listening experience.

So can rock really move into the mainstream again? Well, I personally believe that the simple answer is yes. A brief look at the history of mainstream music trends would support this.

The 1950’s were dominated by rock n roll acts such as Bill Haley & his Comets and Elvis Presley.

 The 60’s also had outstanding rock musicians such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Who and The Rolling Stones. However, in this decade Motown also moved into the mainstream along with pop with bands such as The Supremes.

 The 1970’s brought rock to the forefront again with innovative forward thinking artists such as David Bowie, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, KISS, Pink Floyd, AC/DC and many many more. 

However, rock took a backseat in the 1980’s as dance music moved into the mainstream. Electronic pop and the emergence of hip-hop dominated the decade and rock tended to exist merely through over the top hair metal bands such as Whitesnake and Motley Crue as the genre lost some credibility. As a side note, for people like my parents, who grew up in the 80’s, I know there was amazing rock music in bands such as The Smiths, The Cure, Black Sabbath, Queen and Blondie.

By the 1990’s, pop was by far the leading genre in the mainstream and rock had to reinvent itself again to stay current. It did this through connecting with teenagers with sub-genres such as grunge and nu metal. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Slipknot and Rage Against the Machine struck a chord with teenagers all around the world and helped keep alive a rock genre that was quickly falling behind its counterparts. 

At the turn of the millennium, Britpop and pop punk saw rock infused with a more mainstream sound to keep it current, with bands such as Oasis, Blur, Green Day and Blink 182 achieving mainstream success. 

However, pop has continued to dominate the charts and, with an emergence of more electronic based music in the pop genre and other music such as RnB and Hip-Hop, rock has fallen behind again. It’s relied on already established artists such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2 and Nine Inch Nails and bands who infuse with a mainstream style such as Linkin Park, Maroon 5 and Fall Out Boy to keep it going. However, if you read this closely you can see a pattern emerging. Sure rock falls behind and out of the spotlight sometimes but what it has consistently done, is reinvent itself and come back again. It might not be the same rock music we’ve heard in the past, but its consistently evolving nature means the future is always bright and it’s certainly about time for a rock revival.

On a last note, my own point of view is that currently there is no better time to be a musician in the genre of rock. I myself am beginning my career in this genre and have already had lots of current professionals tell me what an exciting time it is for the genre. Even now, if you look at music lessons everywhere they’re booked full of children still learning the guitar, bass and drums. Guitars are still the most sold musical instrument around the planet (ok actually it’s the harmonica first, guitar second, but seriously) and we’ve currently got the best technology in history and we can’t replicate the true feel of a guitar. It’s exciting and, as someone who plays guitar, I can tell you there’s no bigger enjoyment on the planet than learning an instrument. For me, I try to embrace all genres of music. I think there’s incredible talent in every genre, amazing skill and something that appeals to everyone. From opera to grime, jazz to techno there’s a genre of music for everyone. The mainstream trend is always evolving and changing but what you can be sure of is that rock music will always be round the corner.

Cue Alex Turner mic drop.

For all things music check out my website Eliot Ash

The Future of Rock Music Part 2

Since December 2015, rock music has lost many of its most prestigious pioneers. Lemmy, David Bowie, George Martin and Prince are all names that will live forever in the music they created. With these tragic passings it's left for new musicians to shape the future of rock music.

So who are the current pioneers of rock music and how are they so successful? Well, the most common way is infusing rock with different genres. As the mainstream music sound at the moment is electronically based, many rock acts are achieving incredible success and acclaim by developing their sound to include electronic elements. Twenty One Pilots, Enter Shikari, Bring Me The Horizon, Biffy Clyro and Imagine Dragons are at the forefront of rock music in 2016 and they’ve put themselves in this position by carefully blending their music with a more mainstream sound. The way in which rock music is now developing to stay current shows that there’s still life within the genre. Even the old school rock fans, who might not like the new mainstream sound within rock music, must still appreciate that these artists are helping to revive the genre and propel it into the future.

Despite all these incredible new rock acts shaping the path for rock music’s continued growth, sometimes you can’t beat what’s already there. For example, one of the biggest rock news stories this year was the return of Guns N Roses. Rock elements are now found in so many different genres that it will always live on, yet still there’s something infinitely exciting about the classic rock bands still touring. Guns N Roses are back, The Rolling Stones still pack out stadiums in every country around the planet and, despite there being some extremely exciting new hard rock bands, it’s not quite a true heavy metal festival without Metallica headlining. Their fan base is incredible and they show that whilst rock might not be the mainstream genre it once was, it’s still phenomenally large. They’ve kept the genre alive through its tumultuous times and, whilst they’re always people saying their best days are behind them, they continue to show that talent never dies. They’ve truly paved the way for new rock acts and continue to do so after all these years.  

Another massive way in which rock is staying alive is through word of mouth and promotion of upcoming bands within the genre. It has always been common in all genres for acclaimed artists to have support acts playing at live gigs. However, as someone immersed in the genre, it’s become clear that over the past couple of years the buzz around the support acts is bigger. Successful rock bands are publicly endorsing smaller artists not just through touring with them but via mediums such as twitter, youtube and interviews. There is a feel that those within the genre sense a resurgence and are keen to promote upcoming acts which can aid the revival. I myself have discovered bands such as Asking Alexandria, Neck Deep, Milk Teeth, Moose Blood, PVRIS and Twin Atlantic all by them supporting other artists on tour or by public endorsements from other bands. As a side note, they are all worth checking out and will be dominating the rock genre in the next few years. This promotion from within the genre helps the community grow. More bands with more fans means more record sales and more gigs attended, which leads to more buzz, more media coverage and, as a result, more mainstream success. It's extremely clever and it seems to be working as a fantastic tool to revive the genre.

What’s the one thing that has never died within rock music? Even when the mainstream charting success faded it never wavered, an incredible live show! Live performances have always been a medium in which rock music has soared, with nearly all major music festivals dominated by the genre. Rock Am Ring, Download, Sonisphere, Coachella, Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds have all attracted a wide audience due to their headlining rock acts. It is true, of course, that as the mainstream music has changed so have some of the music festivals. Drake at Coachella, Disclosure at Reading & Leeds and Kanye West at Glastonbury are all evidence of this. As a side note, I thought I’d point out that Kanye West isn’t the greatest living rockstar on the planet nor is he even close! Whilst the trend of festival headliners might be evolving, it's still a staple to have a rock band on the bill. Nothing beats a live guitar or drum solo, a mental moshpit or a mass crowd surf. Whilst electronic music can entrance a mass audience and produce a captivating show, rock music is something that seems to be embedded in the live scene. Festivals give us a chance to experience music we wouldn’t usually listen to. I, for example, discovered Enter Shikari Black Honey and Skindred at festivals and, whilst I usually wouldn’t have chosen to listen to them, can now say I love them!!! Bands such as Slaves, Foals and Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls have become massive through regular festival appearances. They’ve used the platform to display music such as punk, indie and folk rock, that may not have been as accessible otherwise.

It is this live scene that is massively helping the revival of rock music. They’re many bands who are almost making their entire living and success off live show sales. In a world where people are buying less and less music but still attending lots of live shows, festival rock is able to move back into the forefront. I could examine many bands at this point, who’s live shows are a staple of their success, but I’m going to talk mainly about Bring Me The Horizon, as I can talk from the experience of seeing them live. Firstly, if you’re a rock fan and haven’t seen them yet make sure you do. It’s mental. When Bring Me The Horizon bought out their latest, and more mainstream sounding, album That’s The Spirit they began touring almost instantly to promote it. Since then, they’ve played non stop, touring in nearly every city around Europe and making appearances at festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds and Rock Am Ring. To understand the scale of how many live dates they’ve played; I saw them last November, when they were playing around 20 dates a month, and their tour is still going on to the end of 2016. In that time, they’ve still found the time to perform at The Royal Albert Hall, with a full orchestra and choir, to be released on DVD later this year. It’s this live show promotion that helped get the word out to the masses about the album in a way that would have been impossible through mainstream media. It completely worked, with That’s The Spirit getting to number 2 in the UK and US mainstream albums chart and number 1 in the UK and US rock charts. The dedication and ability of many of these rock artists to tour so regularly for so long is incredible. It shows what a great outlet performing live can be for rock musicians. It’s a way of connecting with fans and, if anything, is stronger and more prominent than ever. With a variety of rock acts at festivals and on their own tours, putting on incredible shows, the genre will never disappear. In fact, it’s resurgence and revival with the current way we absorb music could be massive. Like it or loath it, but auto tune and miming don’t translate to a live arena in the way a full band and captivating performance can.

For all rock fans reading this, seeing live shows must be a crucial part of being a music fan and for those who don’t even like the genre must admit they’ve been blown away once or twice seeing a rock show. It’s through mediums like this and through new innovative artists that the future of rock is extremely exciting. In the final blog post we’ll look at where rock music goes from here. Can it become mainstream again and what effect does technology have on the rock revival? 

For all things music check out my website Eliot Ash

The Future of Rock Music Part 1

With the current trends of the music industry focused heavily on pop and electronic based music it would be easy to think that rock has had its day and disappeared. However, over the course of the last 18 months there have been many signs that there’s a revival in the genre. As Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys predicted with his Winning Brit award speech 

‘It’s always waiting there, just around the corner, ready to make its way back through the sludge and smash through the glass ceiling, looking better than ever. That rock & roll, it seems like it’s fading away sometimes, but it will never die. And there’s nothing you can do about it.’ I personally think he is 100% right and as someone who’s grown up listening to rock music I think this is one of the most exciting times to be involved in the genre. The very definition of ‘trend’ is a direction in which something is developing and changing. So for those music fans, like me, who are bored of the stagnant EDM obsessed industry, there could be change right around the corner. Over the course of the next few blogs I will examine how the rock genre is evolving to stay current. How the artists involved are charting and rivalling the mainstream pop acts. How live shows and festivals are keeping the genre alive. And finally come to a conclusion about whether this resurgence in rock music is sustainable or weather it's short-lived. 

Nowadays the term rock music has become so broad due to all the many subgenres within it. Having genres such as; Folk Rock, Blues Rock, Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Punk Rock, Alternative Rock, Funk Rock, Pop Punk, Emo, Rap Rock, Rock n Roll, Nu Metal, Indie and Grunge all falling under one category shows how vast the genre of rock music is. You wouldn’t think that musically; Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Black Keys, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, Avenged Sevenfold, Green Day, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 182, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, The Beatles, Slipknot, Arctic Monkeys and Nirvana would have much in common but the music they create all falls under the broad banner of rock. With rock music being so diverse artists have been able to experiment and be creative taking the genre in new directions. However, with a fragmented genre of music it becomes difficult to answer the question what is rock music? For me rock music tends to center on guitars, bass, drums and vocals (And before you ask no I do not accept Coldplay as a rock band even though they fall under that spectrum). 

For me the very nature that rock evolves is what makes it exciting though this may also have hindered it’s mainstream success. Every rock fan has their favourite subgenre and some won’t like other subgenres. I think that’s part of the enjoyment of the music, there’s communities within a community. I have a broad music taste but even I can identify more closely with Punk Rock and Pop Punk than I can with the other sub genres. Whatever subgenre, band, and artist you identify with most in rock music you can be sure to find lyrics that provoke meaning, a high level of musicianship and an amazing live show. I am of course speaking broadly they’re exceptions … Nickelback.  

So is there really a resurgence of rock music? Well all us fans would say no. Rock never really went away and we’ve continued to follow the genre, buy the music and go to the shows. However, in terms of the mainstream music scene over the last 18 months there has been evidence to show a rock revival. We’ve already seen Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink 182, Biffy Clyro, Panic at the Disco, Bring Me The Horizon, All Time Low, Twenty One Pilots, Muse, Fall Out Boy and Imagine Dragons get to number one either in the UK or the USA. A few years back that would’ve been unheard of. For me personally one of the most encouraging signs that the mainstream is changing was when Blink 182 knocked Drake off the Billboard Top 200 albums chart. Of course the music Blink produce has a more pop rock sound but it showed that people aren’t just buying singles they’re buying full albums and as someone who bought the album and loved it the feeling was even sweeter. Even those rock artists that didn’t quite get to number 1 have still achieved incredible success through means such as touring. Acts such as Enter Shikari, Deftones, Weezer, NOFX and Good Charlotte have packed out arenas and festivals all over the world. Beyonce, Drake and Sia have all been pushed down the mainstream charts this year by various rock acts and we could continue to see that when bands like Green Day, Metallica, Kings of Leon and Sum 41 release albums later this year. 

Why did rock music decline from the mainstream in the first place? They’re many answers to this question the simplest of which is that the mainstream became focused more heavily on pop music. In truth rock music has been on the decline from the mainstream since the late 1970’s. Whilst that decline has been steady and many incredible rock musicians have achieved success in the mainstream during the last 40 years, genres such as R&B, hip-hop, pop and electronic music have taken the driving seat and, rock is no longer the force it once was. In fact since the early 2000’s pop punk is one of the only rock genres that still charts high on the billboard hot 100. One of the biggest problems is that the highest demographic of people who consume music regularly are teenage girls and the music they consume on mass is no longer rock based. We’ve all seen the images of girls crying hysterically at Beatles and Elvis shows but nowadays it’s unlikely to see similar scenes with the latest rock band. Pop music has moved into the forefront with its large audience and acts such as One Direction and Justin Bieber appeal to the mass market whether you like them or not. 

When growing up young people usually look for music and artists they can identify with and another reason rock music lost its way was that it wasn’t diverse enough. Despite some of the greatest rock musicians of all time being black in Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Slash and Chuck Berry the rock genre has tended to lack diversity of difference races and genders. Janis Joplin, Blondie, Stevie Nicks and Alanis Morissette have all been major forces in rock music but the genre has been largely dominated by white male artists. Thankfully this is something that is changing. In fact those who are fans of the rock genre will know that bands such as Paramore, The Pretty Reckless, Evanescence, No Doubt and Alabama Shakes are owning the scene at the moment and they’re all fronted by women. For those rock fans that haven’t heard of Babymetal yet they take the stereotypical image of rock and turn it on its head. So check them out!

The rock genre certainly became stagnant towards the end of the 1990’s but it’s image and traction is changing. A new wave of fresh and innovative artists are developing the genre. During the next blog we’ll look closer at how current rock artists have infused genres to achieve success in the mainstream. How this can lead to a rock revival? And how live shows and touring can be a lucrative outlet for the genre. 

For all things music check out my website Eliot Ash

The Live Scene

With less people buying music nowadays, one of the most important revenues for artists is the live scene. I’m sure many of you have been to festivals, concerts or even heard performers play at local venues. So what goes in to playing live and how do you go about it? Hopefully, by the end of this blog, you’ll have an idea and can start to get yourself out there as a performer.

The most important part of any live performance is the preparation and planning. Performing live is the perfect opportunity to connect with fans and get your music out there for people to take notice of. It’s vital to play songs that connect with the audience, engages them and makes them want to come back for more. You can spend hours writing songs that sound great on a recording but if you can’t have a connection with a live audience your career will be held back. The bigger and more passionate the show the more engaging it will be to the audience. For example, I went to see Bring Me The Horizon at Alexandra Palace and it was incredible! From smoke machines to light shows, mosh pits and crowd surfing it was mental. I barely knew the band at the time but due to the power of the show I, like many other people, went and bought their records. Putting on a good show can lead your fan base to sore.

I’m an unknown artist, how do I get started? Thankfully, the live music scene is still buzzing on a local level. For artists starting out, you’ll generally have to find places to perform. Find somewhere that has an audience that suits the music you play. To gain a better understanding you could go to the selected venue and watch a performance. The music industry is a people’s industry and building strong local contacts can help massively. There is a wide array of pubs, clubs and bars that are looking for local talent. If you can get regular gigs on a local circuit you can make a steady income and build a large fan base. As an example, my friend Jim Sole plays locally around 3 nights per week. The exposure and popularity he has built up has given him the opportunity to play at festivals and other large events and many locals flock to the venues he’s playing at.

As a new artist, it’s important to remember that when starting out at smaller venues you will need to do a lot of work behind the scenes. It massively helps having a trusted team of family and friends. For larger venues, there may be an in-house engineer responsible for sound. It’s important to build a good relationship with them; they are in charge of your sound after all. Remember that not all venues have an engineer, so give yourself time to have a thorough sound check. Always bring your own equipment (don’t rely on the venue) and make sure to start slow and work your way up. A 20 minute set is a good length to begin with. As a newcomer, when performing as part of an evening of music, playing first can be a help not a hindrance. It may mean a smaller audience who have drunk a bit less and aren’t as enthusiastic but industry people are more likely to attend. You will also be fresher and probably more polished as you won’t have had to wait all evening to play. It gives you the opportunity to move up the bill in the future, so stay positive. No matter what stage you start at always act professional. No label, publisher, agent, promoter or manager is going to be enthusiastic about signing a diva. Work hard, perform harder and hopefully it will pay off.  

In all aspects of the industry that we’ve looked at so far, the artist can be exploited and unfortunately it is the same in the live scene. A lot of the time artists are expected to promote their own shows and sometimes the venues and promoters think more of the money than the music. In this case, an alternative could be to organize your own shows. This would mean a lot more work but the benefits could be a lot more rewarding. Setting up your own shows means you can offer real value for money. You can host the event wherever it suits you and can control the artistic and visual experience. If you can get a loyal team to help with promotion and setting up you could host a brilliant show. Remember though, that setting up your own show can be expensive and there are licensing issues to consider from both PRS and the local council.

What are promoters and how important are they to the live scene? A promoter is a person or company hired on contract by entertainment venues to promote an event such as a sports match or concert. Promoters are usually paid an agreed fee or a royalty (cut). The royalty is usually a percentage of the admission fees and/or food and drink sales. In the case of smaller venues, it’s typical for the promoter to earn the admission fees while the venue takes the food and drinks revenue. Promoters are vitally important and they can be the difference between a successful event or a failure. They need to have an understanding of what people want to here and match venue to artist. Good promotion companies can build a strong reputation such as The Barfly Group who are based in London. Nowadays, the economy has left the general public with less money to spend on going out. Good promoters will know to place events towards the end of the month (payday) and in late Spring as the weather gets better. Promotion has also expanded into social networking and can take advantage of being able to access a wider audience. Promoters need to keep a close relationship with everyone; Artists, Managers, Booking Agents, Record Labels and the Venue. If a show is well attended and enjoyed, everyone’s status is increased.

Now we know about promoters, it’s important to also know about booking agents. Booking agent’s work for the artist and it is their role to organize and plan the ‘live side’ of the artists career. Their role is crucial to building a growth and progression of live events that co-ordinate with the release of the artists recorded work. For example, it’s incredible to see how the band Biffy Clyro have played at Reading and Leeds festival an amazing 5 times, working their way up the bill until they eventually headlined in 2012. Booking agents book tours, negotiate fees and get the best billing for their acts. They should always book a contract that can include rider requests, confirmed fees and percentage splits over sales figures. Booking agents will secure deposits from promoters when securing tour dates. These deposits will be 50% of the fees and if the show is cancelled it will be paid to the artist for compensation. Many of the most talented booking agents have come from being promoters so they know what’s needed to make a show work. Booking agents are paid on commission, similarly to managers, however they are only paid based on the income generated from live performance fees. They tend to only work with signed acts because, as we said earlier, unsigned acts usually book their own gigs. However, they are always on the look out for new talent. A booking agent should be the first target for any new artist as finding a good one will encourage industry interest and lead to bigger exposure. Building a strong live following can speed the path to success. Just look at System of a Down, Arctic Monkeys, Frank Turner, Disclosure and Slipknot.

Without a doubt, the most enjoyable and exhausting aspect of the live scene is touring. As a new artist there are two ways to go; either organizing a tour of different venues or supporting a more established artist on their tour. If you choose to set up your own tour, you can start building a following in many different locations. You have more control as an artist and if you can establish a touring circuit without money from a label and it could become a good source of income. However, there are costs to consider such as; where to stay, transport to venues, equipment required and staff needed. As we mentioned earlier, this can’t be done alone and having a good sound engineer is very important. In order to make your own tour work you should contact promoters and send demos to them. Club nights are also a good way to pull in a large crowd and teaming up with other artists in different areas can help promotion.

If you feel this is too much work you could try supporting a bigger artist on their tour. How would you begin going about that? This is a ‘people industry’ so as a new artist build up your contacts. Attend shows regularly and try to speak to the performing artists or their management. Find an artist who you think will like your music and send the booking agent a demo. Some tour support acts are decided by agents, managers and record companies but more and more artists choose who will tour with them. Supporting a larger act on tour can mean brilliant exposure for an upcoming act. Some of my favourite bands such as Neck Deep, All Time Low, Pvris and Twin Atlantic, I discovered by hearing them supporting other acts.

So, in conclusion, get yourself out there; you never know who is watching. Take time to plan your live shows, engage the audience and make it fun. A&R representatives, promoters and booking agents all attend local music venues and if you can attract one to support you it can catapult your career. Good luck!

Artist Managment

We hear about artist management all the time but do you really know what their roles are and why they are so important? Hopefully, by the end of this post, you will. The relationship you have with a manager is probably the closest in the music industry. Managers are there to guide, advise and take control over business affairs. Finding a good manager can take an artist from being an underground talent to worldwide stardom; such as Brian Epstein (The Beatles), Simon Fuller (The Spice Girls), Malcolm McClaren (Sex Pistols) and Paul Rosenberg (Eminem).

A key thing to remember is that as an artist you employ your manager, not the other way round. They are employed as your representative for the business side and their jobs can include bookkeeping, organizing bills and contracts. It is also their responsibility to find, and negotiate, the best business deals for their artist. As their representative, a manager should always put their artist first. For example, if a record company offers a small advance but higher funding for promotion the manager should advise the artist to take it. It would be preferable for the manager if there were a higher advance so that he could commission more money but he should always put the artist first expecting bigger rewards at a later stage. This will become clearer later on when we look at how managers are paid.

However, when it comes to managers, it isn’t all about business. Many management companies play the role of assistants to the artists and may have a close involvement in daily activities. These jobs might include paying bills, sorting shopping and even buying birthday presents. The relationship formed with a manager can be almost like a marriage so it is imperative that you get along. If the relationship does turn sour it’s dealt with in a slightly different way than other music industry disputes. Courts usually don’t insist that artist and managers must continue working together. This differs from many record label disputes as we’ve seen recently with ‘Kesha’. However, it’s common for courts to enforce that the artist continues to pay commissions to the manager. So finding someone you can work closely with is vitally important and we’ll examine what to look for in a manager, in a bit.

How are managers paid? Managers are usually paid differently than record labels and publishers. They are paid a commission on the gross sums that an artist is paid. As the manager is an employee of the artist, and is hopefully working to get them the best opportunities, they are paid a commission of what the artist earns. The standard rate in the UK is 20% but always remember every contract is different so these things can be negotiated. If you change managers it’s common for the new one to a receive commission of 15% as the previous manager will still be taking their 5%. This is known as an ‘override’ and is in place because the previous manager, usually, will have been the one who brought the artist their first success. Managers are only allowed to commission money from certain activities and not from others. It’s vital to know these so if you choose to employ a manager you don’t get taken advantage of.

What managers CAN commission money from:

• Record Company advances and royalties
• Publishing Company advances and royalties
• Merchandising Company advances and royalties
• PRS and MCPS payments (that go to the artist)
• Appearance Fees for example; Film, TV, Live Shows
• Creative Fees for example; books and articles

What managers CAN’T commission money from:

• Recording Budgets paid by a Record Company
• Touring Budgets paid by a Record Company
• Merchandise Budgets paid by a Merchandise Company
• Tax Repayments

Managers do not usually invest in the artist. They are employees after all and they will expect to get back the costs made on activities such as phone calls, transport, meals, software and promotional activities. It is important to consider that no matter what level of fame you reach you look after your own money. A successful relationship can crumble easily over money. Managers often prefer not to have direct access to the artist’s money so that they are not vulnerable to being accused of mishandling funds. A clever idea would be to set out all duties, tasks, payments and territories early on so these problems don’t arise. You could also set an amount a manager can spend per month and should an expense supersede this, the artist can be contacted.

There are so many managers out there, what am I looking for? Well it’s simple really, you’re looking for someone you can work well with and that will represent you professionally and work hard for you. It’s important to have vigorous interviews in order to find out whether the relationship is going to work. In many cases managers and artists start their business with a trial period in order to see if they can work well together. If you are thinking about finding a manager here are some important questions to consider finding out the answers to.

• How experienced are they?
• How successful have they been?
• How long have they worked in the industry and in what roles?
• What is their reputation?
• What are their strengths?
• Do they focus more on the business or the creative side?
• Are they currently working with any other artists? If so how many? (You want a manager that has time to focus on your career)
• Where are they based?
• How much do they know about you as an artist?
• What contacts do they have?
• Do they have experience of the industry outside the UK (preferably with good contacts in America)
• How often would the contact be between artist and manager?

If you take all of these questions into account and you are able to find answers that satisfy you, and you feel you could work well together, then you may just have found the winning formula. Artist management is one of the most important roles within the music industry and finding the right partnership can lead to a long and extremely rewarding relationship.