ABSTRACT
Artists in the music business are sometimes managed by attorneys. But there is a reason why professional managers are the best choice for artists to manage their careers. The work of an artist in the music business is web of negotiated deals that requires the manager to have patience, an understanding of human nature, great communication skills, and a solid reputation of dependability. Each of these traits requires cultivation, but each will also become the foundation of a successful career in management. Nearly every text, research paper, and discussion on the topic of management embraces four classic functions: planning, organizing, directing, and controlling. These functions all apply to the work of the artist manager in the music business. Getting any career started—especially as a manager of an artist in the music business—requires a functioning network of contacts of people whom managers' can do business with. Artist managers spend much of their time planning and organizing on behalf of their artists.
