There is no exact description for who will be a great Music Manager. Some of the most successful in the music industry are quiet, friendly, and they always stay in the background, allowing their clients to shine, while others like to make a name for themselves, becoming brands as well-known and powerful as those they work for. (Think Scooter Braun, for example).

First and foremost, a great Music Manager must love and believe in their clients and their work. It’s hard to put in the time and effort necessary to be fantastic if the person or the product isn’t any good. They must go out into the world convinced they have a star with the ability to craft smashes on their hands.

Great Music Managers must not only love the art but the music industry itself. They must be passionate about music, but also the business, and they must spend a huge amount of time following leaders, publications, conferences, and so on that focus solely on the industry. They should understand how it all works, or at least be in the process of learning.

Being outgoing is one trait that is an absolute must for any successful music manager. They must be comfortable communicating with a variety of different people, from industry executives to fans. They also have to be able to make a strong impression and be memorable. Managers want others in the business to think of them in the right moments. They need to be able to network effectively and build relationships with people that can help advance the careers of their clients.

Professionalism is also important when it comes to music management, even if some movies and TV shows paint a different picture. Music managers need to be able to maintain a level of decorum and discretion, especially when dealing with sensitive information or negotiations.

Music Managers must be smart and knowledgeable in many areas related to the music industry, including marketing, social media, business, legal contracts, and more. They need to be able to navigate the complexities of the industry and make informed decisions on behalf of their clients. They also need to understand when they don’t know everything and need to either learn more or seek outside help. An ego can get in the way of a manager doing a good job if they feel they already know it all.

While they are tasked with handling daily issues and tasks, music managers must also be forward-thinking, constantly looking ahead to stay ahead of the curve. They make sure to allocate time to contemplate what’s next–whether it’s the release of a new album, emerging trends in the music industry, the next big social media platform, or something else entirely. They possess the ability to predict what’s coming and prepare their artists accordingly, ensuring that they stay ahead of the competition.

A great music manager must also be detail-oriented, as they need to keep track of numerous little details that are crucial to their clients’ success. This skill can be particularly challenging, given the fast-paced nature of the music industry, and considering they also have to see the big picture.

From keeping track of a musician’s calendar to knowing the exact image size required for printing a CD to remembering the name of the person who will interview their client in a week, there are many details that a music manager must remember, or at least be able to stay on top of in some way. This is why some music managers need an assistant. If they fail to hold onto these details, it could cause problems and potentially damage their clients’ careers.

It should come as no surprise to anyone reading this that music managers must be incredibly hard workers. They must be someone who is willing to put in long hours and go above and beyond at all times. They must have a strong work ethic and be dedicated to their craft, as managing an artist’s career is not a 9-to-5 job.

Music managers must have a passion for what they do, as the music industry can be grueling at times, and managers must love the hustle and be willing to embrace the journey, not just the destination.

Working in the entertainment industry is notoriously high-pressure. Deadlines, unexpected problems, and, unsurprisingly, larger-than-life egos and some pretty out-there personalities are all part of the job. A great music manager can keep a cool head when things go wrong or if any kind of trouble should pop up, which it certainly will.

They should know how to and be willing to work with anyone they have to in order to find solutions. They understand that when the stakes are high and the clock is ticking, it’s essential to stay focused and level-headed.

Good managers are adept at managing stress and maintaining a positive attitude, even in the face of extremely difficult challenges. They have excellent communication skills and can keep their clients and team members informed and motivated, even in high-stress situations. They’re comfortable taking on multiple responsibilities and can prioritize effectively, knowing what needs to be done first and what can wait.

Ultimately, a good music manager is someone who thrives under pressure and uses their skills and experience to lead their clients to success, no matter what obstacles may arise.

A lot of the job of a Music Manager will be on their own, but as a musician gets bigger and bigger, more people will become attached to them, and the best Managers know how to manage everyone and work with a wide array of different professionals.

Summing up what a Music Manager does in one paragraph is nearly impossible since it completely depends on what kind of Manager they are (more on this below), where the musician they work with is at in their career, and who else is involved.

Essentially, a Music Manager needs to do almost everything for their client…everything that doesn’t require very specific training. For example, a Manager won’t be mixing a new album, directing a music video, or balancing a musician’s finances (at least most of the time), because those jobs all need to be handled by people who have trained to fill those roles. Beyond that, it’s up to a Manager.

A Manager needs to work on ensuring the artist has everything they need for a new music video shoot, the musician has everything packed for a tour, they have their social media presence where it needs to be, a single is ready to be posted to streaming services at exactly the right time, look for brands to partner with, and so on. The list of tasks could go on forever.

When a musician is just starting out, the Manager has a much more all-encompassing role, as they need to do everything they can to keep the artist working and raise their profile, usually with very limited resources. If a musician is lucky enough to be able to create and perform their art for a living, that’s usually when other people are involved, and then the job changes.

A Music Manager must keep all the parties connected to their client’s career in conversation, such as a record label, a PR team, the teams in charge of mixing and mastering music, directing and editing music videos, taking photos, everyone involved in a tour, and those involved in pushing songs for sync and licensing opportunities.

A Manager might not do all these jobs as an artist grows, but they must stay on top of what’s happening in all those fields because if anything slips or isn’t ready in time, it comes down to the Manager.

If this sounds like a lot…it is!

Just as there is no exact type of person who makes for a perfect Music Manager, there is no one path to becoming a Music Manager, much to the chagrin of many young people who want to know how to jump into the business.

Music Managers find their way to the job by doing any combination of the following:

For those looking to start a career in music management, internships can be a great way to gain valuable experience and form important industry connections. Aspiring music managers can seek out internships at record labels or music management companies to learn about the industry and observe established professionals in action.

Through these sometimes-unpaid, rising professionals can gain a deeper understanding of the music industry, from the creative and production aspects to the business side of things.

Simply said, just start. Find a band or an artist who is also at the beginning of their career and offer to help them by managing their career. Since you don’t have any contacts or experience, you will be limited in what you can do, to begin with, but any help is better than none at the outset of their professional life. Work hard to grow their fan base, book them shows, make them money, and your name will rise as theirs does.

Many Music Managers actually get their start doing something else in the industry. They work as Publicists, at record labels, booking companies, or venues, or perhaps somewhere else where they get to meet people in the business, spend time with artists, and learn what Managers do and what it takes to be successful as one.

It’s also possible to secure entry-level jobs at management companies where you can work with talent, but those jobs typically go to people who have some kind of experience.

There are a few colleges offering degrees in music management, and if you’re sure this is what you want, you can sign up. Many other universities with entertainment-related focuses have courses in music management which can be hugely beneficial.

As you begin researching what it takes to be a Music Manager and thinking about whether or not it’s what you want to do for a living, know there are three main types of Managers who work in the music industry:

When most people think of a Music Manager, they envision a Personal Manager. This is the person who works most closely with the artist day-to-day, doing everything from making sure a music video will be filmed at a certain time to thinking about what brand may want to work with the star in a year for their next campaign. They spend a lot of time with the artist, perhaps more than anyone else (other than bandmates, if it’s actually a group).

This person manages every tiny detail involved in a tour, which can be a massive job. On smaller treks, it’s easier for one person to tackle the role, ensuring the venue will have a certain type of microphone and learning what time their client needs to load in.

When it comes to the biggest names on the planet, the same person needs to coordinate shipping an elaborate stage show and thousands of pieces of merchandise across the world. Those Tour Managers usually work with a large team.

A Business Manager is almost like an Accountant in many ways, as they help manage the musician’s money more than their career (though the two are very closely intertwined). A Business Manager pays bills for the artist, handles their taxes, balances their books, and finds investment opportunities, should the client be one who has impressive resources and star power.

Most Managers don’t work for a set annual salary, but rather a portion of what their clients earn. This incentivizes them to work harder and push to ensure the artists they work with brings in as much money as possible. Typically, Managers can bring in 15 – 20% of their client’s total income before taxes, so it’s tough to make a living when the musician is unknown, but if a Music Manager can sign a handful of acts who all develop sizable fan bases, suddenly the money is much better.

According to Billboard¹, a Manager of a developing act can bring in between $30,000 and $200,000 (“developing” is a vague term, to begin with), the owner of a music management company with several clients bringing in a good amount of revenue can reach toward $1 million, and those who work with the biggest names in the business can make $2 million or more per year. A Manager’s Assistant, typically an entry-level position, may earn up to $50,000 per year.

There is a lot of incentive for a Manager to turn their client into a true star, as there is plenty of money, opportunity, and glamour that comes with this coveted position…though it’s very difficult to get there in the first place.

In the past decade or two, many higher education institutions have recognized the growing demand for professionals in the entertainment and music industries, and have tailored their programs to cater to this need.

While a full degree may not be required for a career in music management, it is certainly advantageous to have a foundational understanding of the industry. A number of colleges and universities offer courses in entertainment or music business that may prove useful for individuals looking to pursue a career in music management.

Here are three of the best-known and most accessible colleges and universities for those looking to become music managers.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive course that delves into the nuances of artist management, Full Sail University might be the perfect choice. The Florida-based school’s Artist Management course is a key component of their Music Business Bachelor of Science degree.

The course provides an in-depth exploration of the manager’s career path, with topics ranging from the artist/manager relationship to the development and sustainability of an artist’s career. Students will learn about the intricacies of launching the career of an up-and-coming musician, as well as some of the legal aspects of management contracts.

Berklee College of Music is renowned worldwide as an institution that cultivates excellence in music education, and it now touches every aspect of the industry. For those who are passionate about music and aspire to enter the music business, the institution offers a Bachelor of Music in Music Business/Management degree.

This program provides a unique perspective on the business aspects of the music industry, and in a unique spin, it is taught from a musician’s point of view. Students in this program will learn the most basic building blocks of the music industry, and the curriculum is designed to provide a deep and comprehensive understanding of problems that face everyone in the music industry–especially managers.

One of the core courses in this program is Principles of Business Management, which gives students a broad understanding of the music business world. The management track, a focus that students can choose, includes courses such as Record Company Operations, Music Publishing, Music Intermediaries: Agents, Managers, and Attorneys, and Concerts and Touring.

The University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music is a brand that is well-regarded throughout the music industry for its excellence and track record in turning out successes in the biz. The school’s Bachelor of Science in the Music Industry program is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in this field.

The program offers a variety of core classes and electives, giving students the flexibility to customize their degree to their interests. One course that may be of particular interest to those looking to get into artist management is the Artist Management and Development course. This class is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the personal management of music artists, including negotiating contracts, image development, career growth, what agents do and how to work with them, as well as everything about touring, merchandising, and money in the business.