Ian Hinksman
Musicians have a full-time job, which is futile without the help of a team.
The six key people all musicians need
The life of a musician takes tremendous patience. As many start to develop, and gain new fans. It’s essential to have the right team in place to help you go further.
The right team can help you keep up with the multiple aspects of your career. and help navigate the demands of the music industry. Especially considering the current climate, “it” requires more teamwork adaptability, and finding solutions.
An old African proverb says that. “if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together”.
Manager
The manager is the most important member of your team. He/She will allow you to free up more time to focus on your craft. While they tackle the business side of your career or brand.
They should be by your side in everything you do. Their role will involve helping you in the smaller matters such as the building of your logo and brand aesthetic. To larger matters like pitching you for brand partnerships. The manager should be well versed in multiple fields such as financial planning, marketing, and negotiations. This means constantly seeking out new networks and educating themselves on the constant changes within the industry.
The manager should ideally be the one who has pre-existing relationships with agencies. Publicists, and/or publications, as well as writers, lawyers, and distributors.
A lot of musicians recruit friends or family as their managers, this is great if you are starting out. The trick here is that whomever you decide to take on in this all-important role is as hungry for success as you are. Whilst keeping values and a focus of goals in line with yours. Communication is essential to draw a line between friendship and business.
What are the benefits of working with a family member or friend? Well, one great reason is that you will have built up a level of trust throughout the years. Starting a journey within the music industry can be lonely and shark-infested. So having someone with your best interests at heart can do wonders for your mental health. As you continue to wade through the precarious waters of the music industry.
Publicist
How are fans going to learn about the music that you produce if they never come across your name?
This is where a publicist comes in. Publicists are brand builders and master content strategists. They are able to pitch your story along with your music, to writers and publications that have the right audience that resonate with your style. Publicists will also often work with photographers and videographers. Who will help to help create promotional content for social media, press, new releases. Basically, a good publicist knows how to create hype around you.
Radio Plugger
Radio is far from dead. With a constant stream of online stations popping up every week, you can always find a new fan. Having somebody who deals with music directors specifically, gives you a great opportunity to get your music on playlist rotation and heard by a wider audience.
A radio plugger may not only work with radio stations. But also with YouTube creators that have a large following. Podcast hosts, and key influences within your demographic. This is an essential role within your team to reach a greater audience.
Music Publisher
It is impossible to collect royalties every time your song is performed or synced, without first publishing. This is why we have music publishers and companies such as PRS. They exist to make sure that you are rightfully paid. When music is used commercially (whether sold, licensed, or publicly performed), the songwriter and copyright owners are owed royalties. Keeping this in mind you can go down two routes:
A publisher will administer the copyright and the protection of the songs that are used. They will create opportunities for sync licenses for ads, TV, film, and video games. A good publisher should be active in setting up co-writes and pitching songs to labels and artists for them.
PRS
PRS is the home of the Performing Right Society (PRS and the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS). UK-based PRS is well recognized around the world. Currently, they represent the rights of over 125,000 music industry professionals. PRS for music will collect royalties and payout to you when your works are broadcasted on.
- TV, Radio,
- Performed and played in public,
- Streamed or downloaded.
MCPS pays royalties to its members when their music is: Copied as physical products such as:
- CD’s DVD’s
- Streamed or downloaded
- Used in film, TV, radio.
For more information and to sign up visit prsformusic.com
Lawyer
Do you need an entertainment lawyer? If you are a musician who’s producing songs, or you’re involved in the entertainment industry. It’s a good idea to make sure you hire somebody who represents and helps to protect the interest of creatives.
If you can’t afford to hire a lawyer at the very least book your first consultation. Which should be free of charge. However, this consultation isn’t about any pending legal issues or in-depth information. Rather determining whether the lawyer in question is right for your needs. Having the right entertainment lawyer can help boost your career and guide you in the right direction of the following:
- Contract violations
- Protection of intellectual property
- Publication and distribution rights
- Drafting of legally binding contracts
- Negotiating the terms of a contract
Distributor
If you’re about to release a single or album you need distribution for your music.
Can you imagine having to create, upload your artwork and music for each platform? This can be tedious and extremely time-consuming. However, if you are willing to put in your precious time. You should take it into consideration. that as an artist you’re not the distribution companies’ customer. Your fans are their customers.
A music distributor can share your music with a number of recipients in a variety of ways
- Physical distribution, making your CDs and vinyl available online and in high street stores.
- Digital distribution, making your music available to download via digital platforms and streaming services
- Additional services, helping you earn money for the usage of your music on Netflix, TV, YouTube to name a few.
We highly recommend signing with a music distributor such as musicgateway.com. Who will take this job from you for as little as €335 annually It’s a small price to pay to offload your workload with the added benefit of connecting your music to new fans.
Now that you have a better sense of what the ideal team should consist of. It’s time to start researching and building that dream team.
