Music Publicist vs. Music Manager

Written by: B. Brown of BREG

http://www.breg1994.com/ http://www.myspace.com/breg1994

Publicist – A person whose business is publicity. Publicity is any information or action that brings a person, cause, and/or thing to public notice. (Webster’s New World Dictionary of American Language; 1987)

Manager - *Management: The act, manner, or practice of managing, supervising, or controlling. The persons who manage a business establishment, organization, or institution; Executive skill. *Manager - One in charge of the business affairs of an entertainer. (Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary; 1984)

As you have read above, there is a distinct difference between a Publicist and a Manager. Most new artists, producers, etc. have limited knowledge of what their initial team should consist of; and just as important, knowing the actual job function of each team member.

Usually, your Music Manager is your number one (1) pick when building your team. Your Manager is your most trusted team member and is an extension of you. The Manager’s job is to “Advise & Guide”. They are not your babysitter, chauffer, personal ATM, Bondsman, etc. There are a lot of misconceptions, but the reality is that your manager is your closest confidant and assists you in picking the rest of your Team Members. Your manager can and most likely will be your initial Booking Agent which is a separate function, but when you become popular, you will start receiving requests from many different places and your manager will need to work hand-in-hand with different Booking Agencies and Promoters to confirm Performance Fees and Performance Riders. A Publicist is a key position with your team because the Publicist is responsible for getting you in Magazines, Newspaper Reviews, Award Shows, etc. As you are starting to see, a Manager and some of the other Team Members will overlap in duties, but getting publicity is not necessarily your Manager’s job. Your Manager is your Teams’ President.

Your Music Publicist is usually your third (3rd) pick after your Manager & Attorney. Possibly fourth (4th) if you need to get an accountant very quickly. Nonetheless, a Publicist is a critical Team Member because the relationships of an experienced and established Publicist may secure you opportunities that you would never believe. This is true because a Publicist may have relationships with Booking Agents, Casting Directors, Magazine Editors, Advertising Agencies, etc. So when you see certain artists in commercials, know that is a good chance that their Publicist created that opportunity. A Publicist’s job is to get you noticed by as many people as possible. They want you to be a recognizable Artist!

Now you have a clearer picture & idea of what the difference is between a Publicist and Manager. Choose your team wisely! One Love!

Rico Brooks: Yung Joc's Manager/Block Entertainment

Interview By: Shawn McAllister (The McAllister Law Group)
Southeast Independent Report Magazine (SIR Mag.)

How did you get started in the music industry?

Rico Brooks (R) - Well, my whole thing was after college my mom wasn't going to take care of me anymore. I was thinking of taking a job that summer and going to graduate school. I also loved music, so that summer I just decided to work in a record store. While I was working there I figured out that my calling was working in the music industry. By the end of the summer I was Assistant Manager, and by January of the next year, I had my own store. When I was working at the record store in Atlanta, Block used to come to the store. I started consulting with him and he gave me a position as a Manager at Block Entertainment around 2002-2003.

Today, it seems like major record companies want the artist to be established. Is that something that you have seen?

R - Oh yea, definitely. The labels' artist development can agree that building artists has pretty much gone out the window. Record Labels want to know what is your creative look and what you have done with internet advertising. They want to know how many CD's you have sold and if you have done a couple of indie records. They want to know what is going to separate you from the other artists on their roster. Also, labels are looking for a story. Someone like 50 Cent had a story where he was shot nine (9) times.

What advice would you give someone who wants to work as a manager or any other business position in the music industry?

R - For those who want to be the next Diddy or L.A. Reid, you have to be very passionate about the music industry. You have to have skills and be prepared. You need to be able to present and talk to people. You need to show people that you can put something together and complete it. The music industry can be a shady business, so you have to be prepared and well read about the industry.

Is there any parting advice that you would like to give an up-and-coming artist in the music industry?

R - Enjoy life, set goals or deadlines and have a daily to-do list. I try to return phone calls. Be respectful and courteous of people because you will never know who will be the next person to help you. It is easier to be nice than to be mean to people.

When do you need a Music Manager?

By: B. Brown of BREG Mgt.

If you ask the average aspiring artist if they need a Music Manager, they would probably say yes off the rip. When you ask them why they need a manager, you may get everything under the sun and then some. The reality is that most up and coming artists do not know when to hire a Music Manager.

Here's the scoop! All my artists out there, listen up! You need a Music Manager when you have too many phone calls coming in, too many MySpace messages asking to do business with you, and a lot feature and performance requests. You see, you have to have enough going on to warrant a Music Manager! You have to be able to pay your Music Manager. He or she works for you, not you working for them.

A lot of Artists want a Music Manager because they want he/she to get them a deal and do everything for them. Some Artists want the Music Manager to provide money to them and be their personal chauffer. Some Artists just want to be baby-sitted.

When you are ready to have a Music Manager, usually they will start approaching you and even though some may approach you at a premature time in your career, you may just find a good fit. You should interview candidates and they should definitely interview you as an Artist. Managing your Music Career is a 24 hr. business and a very personal relationship in most cases. Take your time, don't rush things, and continue to develop your craft and then poof, a Music Manager will appear. At that time, you decide if it is time for a manager and who do you pick as your Music Manager!!!

One Love!

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The Art of Music Management

Written By: B. Brown of BREG Mgt.

*Management: The act, manner, or practice of managing, supervising, or controlling. The persons who manage a business establishment, organization, or institution; Executive skill.

*Manager - One in charge of the business affairs of an entertainer. (Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary; 1984)

Hello, what’s up, como estas, hey! I’m trying to get your attention! If you are a Music Artist or Music Professional or a person trying to get into the Music Business/Industry or just curious and you want to learn more about the Music Business, then I’m talking to you!

There is a very bad myth out there which has a lot of Music Artists believing that a Music Manager is supposed to be an ATM, Mother, Father, Chauffer, Babysitter, etc. for them. A lot of Music Artists also believe that the Music Manager or Music Management Team is supposed to do everything for the Music Artist and the Music Artist does not have to do anything but be available, which could also be a challenge. Remember this; there are only a handful of Music Managers or Music Management Teams that can walk a Music Artist straight into a deal without any movement or buzz being created. Read what I’m writing very closely everyone. The job of the Music Manager is to Advise & Guide & helps create opportunities for the Music Artist. Any money spent on behalf of the Music Artist is considered an Advance and the money is recoupable off the top of any monies that are generated. The Music Manager works for the Music Artist, not vice versa. But in an ideal situation, they both must work together to achieve the goals that are set. Team Work is how things get done. If the Music Artist meets a contact or comes across an opportunity, then they need to pass the information on to the Music Manager. If the Music Manager meets a contact or comes across an opportunity, then they need to discuss the situation with the Music Artist. Work together to get things accomplished!

Now, everywhere a Music Artist goes, the Music Manager does not have to be present, but I do recommend that the Music Manager be present for Major Events and Situations. I would also recommend that the Music Manager be present at all meetings if possible with New Contacts. This is very important because it shows that the Music Artist has a team and wants to do proper business.

Length of the Music Management Agreement, Percentages, etc. should be discussed, confirmed and put together with an Entertainment Attorney. The Music Artist pays the Music Manager or Music Management Team. A percentage of Gross Income is the most traditional way, but some Music Managers receive Salaries or some kind of combination. This deal point needs to be negotiated and confirmed.

Thank you for reading this Blog and I Pray that it has helped you understand Music Management better! One Love from B. Brown of Bar-Red Ent. Grp. (BREG) – 770.912.8065 and/or
bregbrown@hotmail.com


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