ABSTRACT
Artist management is one of those professions that can be as much art as it is science
and business. The artful manipulation of people on behalf of the artist is one of the key
functions of the artist manager. Certainly, motivating fans to buy tickets, music, and
merchandise are highest on the list of outcomes of goodmanagement. Another exam-
ple is the use of human nature to get past gatekeepers in order to keep an artist’s career
plan moving. And certainly an understanding of business-specifically the music
business-creates an advantage for the successful manager of artists. This chapter
draws lessons from the real-world experiences of several veteran artist managers to
help build an understanding of this corner of industry.
