Music Industry Contacts

Who do you need to make
your career a success?

 
Personal Manager
(or Artist Manager, Agent)

Personal managers represent one or more musical groups or artists, and oversee all aspects of an act's career. They deal with and advise the act(s) on all business decisions and many of the creative decisions an artist must make, and attempt to guide the artist's rise to the top.

Booking Agent (or Talent Agent)

Booking agents work to secure performance engagements for musical artists and groups. They work to find talent to book, and may be involved with developing the talent toward a goal.

They must possess good communication skills to sell talent and develop contacts in the music industry. They often work closely with an act's Manager, and may be involved in setting the fee and negotiating with promoters or clubs. A booking agent is paid a percentage of the negotiated fee
for an act's performance.

Concert Promoter

The concert promoter presents, organizes, advertises, and in many cases, finances concerts at performance venues such as arenas, festivals, clubs, church buildings, auditoriums, etc. The promoter often secures money for the concert by finding others to share in the profits/expenses. However, it is often times the concert promoter who absorbs all the financial risk.

Independent Radio Promoter

The Independent Radio Promoter (IRP) has a similar role as that of a Promotional Staffer at a record label, except the IRP is usually employed by an Independent Radio Promotions Company or they may work freelance. Often times a record label, artist/band or manager will hire the services of an Independent Radio Promotions Company to generate airplay of a particular song or record.

The IRP contacts radio station program directors, music directors, and disc jockeys in a local, regional, national or even an international market. They set up appointments with these station people and bring a number of new album releases as well as a supply of promotional or press material relating to the artist or band. An IRP may socialize frequently with program directors and music directors to help improve the chances that a radio station will add a song to its playlist.

An IRP often will often take key radio station personnel out to lunch, dinner, or for drinks. They may also bring a program director to a club in order to listen to a group play a song(s) live and gauge audience response.

Entrepreneur (Music Business)

A person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a music business venture. Some common businesses started by music entrepreneurs are: Recording Studio Facility, Private Teaching Practice, Performing Band, Booking Agency, Artist Management, Music Retail, Music Publishing Company, Record Label, etc.

Entertainment Attorney

An entertainment attorney handles any contractual matters conceivable within the Entertainment industry. Entertainment attorneys can be freelance, hired on retainer or as an employee of a company or business within the entertainment industry.

Entertainment attorneys generally specialize in one of three separate fields within the entertainment industry: Sports, Film and Television, and Music. An attorney that specializes in the music industry usually has a solid depth of understanding with regard to copyright laws and artist/band agreements with managers, publishers,
record labels, booking agents, etc.

Successful completion of Law school and a state bar exam are requisites for being an entertainment attorney as well.

Publicist (or Staff Publicist, Press Agent)

A Publicist handles the publicity and press needs of acts signed to a label. Publicity helps the label sell records and produce income.
 
A publicist must be able to get an artist's name in the news (magazines, music trades, TV, radio, etc.) as often as possible. This is accomplished by writing press releases, sending them to the correct media, talking to media about acts, and arranging interviews. The Publicist often arranges a series of print interviews, radio interviews, and TV appearances in conjunction with the release of a new record.

Staff publicists spend a lot of time on the telephone, and are usually the first to send out promotional copies of new records and other important materials to the media. After a new record is released, a publicist may work with the A&R or promotional departments on a showcase booking of the group, and make arrangements for a press party.

Music Publisher

Music publishers are responsible for acquiring the copyrights to songs and publishing them. They may work for a very large music publishing company and perform one or two specific duties as a music publisher.

They may work for a relatively small firm and fulfill a variety of functions. Many individuals in music publishing or songwriting become independent music publishers, running their own music-publishing firm. The goal of the music publisher is to find and acquire potential hit songs (copyrights) and songwriters, promote them for financial gain and serve as copyright administrator whereby tracking, licensing and payment collection can be done efficiently. A good music publisher has knowledge of all facets of the music business, an understanding of music industry dynamics, an ability to hear hit tunes, knowledge of copyrights laws, and contacts in the music business.

Tour Coordinator

The tour coordinator is responsible for coordinating the many facets of an act's tour, including travel, lodging, arranging for services, and budgeting for expenses.

Road Manager

Road managers handle the problems that occur while an act is traveling. They supervise equipment, sound, and light personnel.

Sound Technician

Sound technicians are responsible for high quality sound during the live performance. They usually arrive at the concert sight before the performers and are involved in unloading and setting up the equipment and instruments along with the road crew.
 
The sound technician supervises the placement of equipment, and works with the talent during the sound check to achieve the best sound. They may even work a soundboard during the actual performance.