The Role of a Band Manager

Artist and band managers are responsible for the daily business duties for the artist whether they are at home or away on tour and these duties depend on if the band is signed to a label or not. An artist manager gets paid 15% to 20% of the band or artist’s income plus their own salary.

The artist manager communicates on behalf of the band using emails and phone calls, social media such as Facebook and Twitter are mostly used for non-business related tasks and communicating with the artist’s fan base.

For unsigned bands the artist manager is in charge of sending demos, booking gigs and studio/practice time, and also conducting the majority of networking and communication on the artist’s behalf.

The artist manager sends demos of the band or artist’s work to local and national radio stations, online media such as online magazines and music review sites, the artist manager also sends information to printed media such as newspapers and magazines. The manager will also contact directly with labels and local promoters about the band or artist allowing more opportunities for gigs and the chance of being signed to a record label.

The artist manager is responsible for researching and contacting local and national venues for the artist or band to book gigs and to make the band or artist known to a range of venues for possible opportunities as the band or artist develops. The artist manager also contacts local venues, studios and specialist practice spaces for the band to practice and write new songs.

Although social media isn’t the artist manager’s main communication platform it is the artist manager’s duty to make sure the band or artist’s social media is appealing and up to date as this will be the first place promoters and young people will go when they hear about the band or the social media page will be their first time they’ve heard of the band or artist, therefore a lot of detail, time, and care will be spent on this job.

For signed bands most of the artist manager’s jobs are handed to the record label; however the artist manager still has to agree with the label about financial deals and to supervise other people working for the band or artist such as agents, accountants, and merchandisers.