What Are the Duties and Responsibilities of a Music Manager?
A music manager job description not only includes tasks associated with the business side of music but also the mentor side, as managers help musicians navigate their careers. Keep reading to explore music manager duties and more.
Music Manager Job Description
Music managers or artist managers are professionals who are responsible for representing musical artists, like musicians, bands, and singers, in business dealings and helping promote their clients' careers. Most music managers work full-time with long hours, conducting business during the day and attending performances at night, and some music managers may have multiple artists or acts that they manage. Below, we examine different aspects of a career as a music manager, including specific job duties, education requirements, and salary.
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Music Manager Duties
Individuals wondering ''What does a music manager do?'' or ''What is the role of a music manager?'' should know that many music managers form close professional relationships with their artists as they work to help them advance in the music industry. Music managers not only help artists plan for the future and look at their long-term career goals, but they also help handle day-to-day tasks for their artists. Music managers may be responsible for job duties like:
- Negotiating contracts and collecting payments for artists
- Discussing career strategies with artists
- Scheduling concerts, promotional appearances, interviews, etc.
- Advocating for an artist's mental and physical health as needed
- Handling interpersonal conflicts between artists, such as band members
- Enforcing terms of a contract
Music Management Education Requirements
The education requirements for a music manager are very similar to the typical education requirements for a business manager in that most music managers need at least a bachelor's degree and some prior work experience. While some music managers may pursue a traditional business degree or even a music marketing degree, there are also bachelor's degree programs specifically in music business or music management.
Bachelor's degree programs in music business may be offered as a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Professional Studies degree. Some of these degree programs may be available in online formats and/or at accelerated paces that can allow students to finish their degree in as little as 20 to 29 months. Coursework for these programs may include subjects such as:
- Music management
- Music marketing
- Legal aspects of the music industry
- Music business finance
Bachelor's degree programs in music management are usually Bachelor of Science degrees and are usually on-campus programs. Many of these degree programs include hands-on learning experiences through internships. Coursework may include topics in:
- Music marketing
- Music publishing
- Business communication
- Accounting
Music Management Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the projected job growth for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes from 2018 to 2028 was 10%. This job outlook is faster than the national average and equates to about 2,000 new positions during the decade.
Music Manager Salary
The BLS reported that the average annual salary for agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes as of May 2018 was $90,930. Those who worked for performing arts companies made an average salary of $71,580, and those in sound recording industries made an average salary of $85,970 the same year. Agents and managers who worked in the management of companies and enterprises made the highest salary of $109,010 in 2018.
