Best Music Management Companies for Rising Artists!

So, you’ve made some good progress in your music career. You’ve got a decent social media following, regular shows and your music is being well-received on Spotify. If you’re at this point, it might be time to get yourself a music manager.

Music management has changed a lot over the years, just like the music business.

The Current State of Artist / Music Management

Back in the day, music managers were more like executives who looked after huge rosters of superstars like Taylor Swift and Drake.

But now, we’ve got a lot of new smaller boutique management companies that specialize in certain types or genres of music. They sign artists who they believe have the potential to be successful. There are even hybrid companies that do both publishing and artist management.

These types of companies are really important to artists who are also songwriters, especially since streaming services are paying out less money these days. A lot of artists have to turn to sync licensing just to pay the bills.

Sync licensing is when your songs are placed in film and TV shows, commercials, and even video games. The royalties from that can be a huge help to artists and can sometimes mean the difference between having to get a day job or not.

So, management companies have become really savvy when it comes to integrating special agents who can help their artists get their songs pitched for these opportunities.

Another big change in the world of music management is that a lot of these companies are also acting as record labels. This can be good or bad depending on where you are in your career.

But, with platforms like Distrokid and Tunecore making it easy for anyone to put out music without any requirements, it makes sense that there would be companies taking on the traditional gatekeeping role of major labels.

I put together a list of music management companies that handle all sorts of music and they’re great at finding new talent. Check them out.

6 of the Best Artist Management Companies

Position Music

Alright, so Position Music is the kind of company I was talking about at the beginning of this article. It’s basically a new type of music company that has a record label, artist management, marketing, and publishing all in one place. And since they’re based in LA, they’re totally on top of everything that’s happening in Film and TV.

The cool thing about them is that they don’t necessarily need you to be a superstar to sign you on. They just want to see that you’ve had some success, but more than that, they want you to have a clear brand.

And by brand, I mean that you’re an artist who can do it all – write your own songs, produce your music, and kill it on social media. Once you’re signed, they’ll focus a lot on your songs since they’re also a publisher and can help get your music on TV.

But if you’re not writing your own songs and just singing covers or songs other people pitch to you, you might not be the best fit.

That being said, Position Music is pretty flexible when it comes to managing their artists. So if you’re more of a songwriter than a performer, you can sign on as a publisher and still find your own personal music manager. They’re not exclusive in every way, which is great news for some artists.

Groundwork Artist Management

Groundwork Artist Management is a company that specializes in indie music and artists. They’re like your traditional managers, but cooler. They’ll make deals, negotiate contracts with record labels, and create customized marketing campaigns to help their artists grow their careers.

The company has worked with big names like Marc Cohn and Nikki Yanofsky, as well as a number of up-and-coming artists who are seriously impressive.

But here’s the deal: they’re picky about who they work with. You need to have already achieved some success, like selling out shows and generating significant streams.

Plus, you gotta be willing to put in the effort. At its core, the company is more like a partnership than a traditional manager, unless you’re already a superstar. This means you gotta hustle to acquire new fans, stay connected with your followers on social media, and keep your live performances exciting and engaging.

One thing that makes Groundwork stand out is their focus on artist management, rather than songwriting. You can work with them as your artist manager while also seeking out another publisher to pitch your songs for movies and TV.

If a song goes unused, they’ll even help you get it recorded by someone else. Basically, you’ve got a full team behind you instead of just one person making all the decisions.

Regime Music Group

Regime Music Group is a pretty big management company that focuses more on soulful, urban, and modern jazz-type artists. They’ve got a complete 360° type model, where they take care of being your label, booking agent, publisher, and sync agent.

They’re a bigger company with some pretty big names, but they still sign up-and-comers or rising artists as long as those artists have something very unique about them.

For example, they’ve got bands like Everlast and Tower Of Power, but at the same time, they’ve got young neo-soul artists like Kiefer and funk bands like Lettuce. So, again, they’re eclectic but definitely with a common focus on hip and cool soul artists.

It’s definitely a strength to be with a management company that also doubles as a record label. Because at the end of the day, a lot of times managers spend an inordinate amount of energy fighting record labels for a fair deal.

Obviously, if your manager IS your label, then you can almost be certain that you’re getting a fair deal, that is if you trust your manager.

Another great thing about a company like Regime Music is that because they’ve been around long enough and have some clout and big names on their roster, it benefits you to be a part of something like that.

Not only because they have the experience but also because they can probably get you more money for shows, better deals on your music being played on film and TV, and just overall knowledge of how to grow your fanbase because they’ve done it before.

Also, Regime sells merchandise from their artists in their store, and they have a really nice, laid-out website where your fans can purchase T-shirts, vinyl, hats, or any type of merchandise that might be available.

Merchandise is actually one of the few physical items besides a concert ticket that still generates money for artists beyond digital content and streams, so to be with a company that specializes in that is always a plus.

Industria Works

Industria Works is a music company that specializes mostly in alternative Latin music. Their artists are not necessarily pop, but are what we call “crossover artists”. The legend Tomas Cookman started and currently operates the company, having signed some of the most influential Latin artists in the world.

Industria also encompasses Nacional Records, which is a fantastic record label that makes very unique Latin music with an edge. Some of their biggest hits have been Manu Chao and Grammy winners Aterciopelados.

If you’re a Latin artist but don’t necessarily fit into the major label pop or reggaeton market, then a company like Industria Works is perfect for you.

They also put on a conference in New York City during the summer called the LAMC. It has become incredibly popular with artists from all over the world showcasing their music.

So in many ways, this company is very open to new signings, especially if you impress them as a performer at the Latin alternative music conference (LAMC).

Even if you don’t perform there, the list of speakers and industry heavyweights that attend the conference is reason enough to take a trip to New York City. You might even find another management company while trying to get into this one. Whatever works, right?

Nettwerk Music Group

There’s a Canadian-based company called Nettwerk that focuses mostly on electronic music artists who lean towards the pop side rather than EDM. It started as a record label, but then the owner, Terry McBride, who was a big manager at the time, naturally started managing the artists on the roster.

As I said at the beginning of this article, a lot has changed, and songwriting and publishing have become really important, so most management companies nowadays are also publishers.

It’s not just because they want to control more of your music, but because they want to look out for your interests as an artist without having to deal with sketchy publishers and record label people.

Nettwerk has a reputation for being straightforward and having great taste. They’re also known for signing up-and-coming artists and even helping them become pop stars.

The most famous examples are Sarah McLachlan and Coldplay, whom they single-handedly plucked from obscurity into superstardom.

This company has a great reputation for signing artists who haven’t had much success but have incredible potential and work ethic.

If you play conferences like SXSW and showcase festivals, there’s a good chance someone from Nettwerk might be in the audience scouting for new talent.

2+2 Management

Okay, so 2+2 management is seriously all about edgy electronic artists, DJs, and rock bands. Their roster is super diverse, and they’re constantly signing new and exciting talent.

Even though they’re still considered indie, they’ve totally blown up! They even have offices in LA and Toronto. If you’re Canadian, you gotta check them out because they know the scene and can hook you up with shows and distribution and all that good stuff.

Let me be clear – they’re not solely focused on their signed DJs such as Zeds Dead and TOKIMONSTA. They’re also collaborating with some talented R&B artists. However, their main priority is modern electronic musicians, regardless of whether they play instruments or sing.

One of their strengths is their ability to successfully book shows. With a diverse range of DJs on their roster, they act as both booking agents and managers. They truly offer the best of both worlds.

Things to Look for in an Artist Manager

Reputation and Clout

When you’re searching for the right manager, the main thing to focus on is their reputation and clout. After all, your manager is going to represent you. So if they’re shady or considered dishonest in the industry, that reflects on you too.

Plus, any artist can manage themselves for free. In fact, many people leave their managers because they’re better promoters than their own manager. So look for somebody who’s genuinely excited about your music and reacts positively.

Also, try to find someone who has artists that are way bigger than you. I know there’s a taboo against being the small fish in a big pond. Artists think they’ll get ignored. But that’s not true! If you want to grow and reach the level of some of the artists you admire, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have their manager as your own.

Services

So, I’ve already explained a lot about the differences between artists management companies, but when it comes to choosing the right one, I’d go with the one that has the most services.

This article is mainly for up-and-coming artists, not superstars. For artists like that, the more you have in-house in terms of publishing, label, management, and booking, the better off you are.

Especially since Film and TV are so important nowadays for making some extra cash, try to find a music company that has a sync licensing department. Those are pretty hard to find independently.

Creativity and Marketing Ideas

Okay, so this topic is a total no-brainer. But you’d be surprised how many old-school-type managers are still out there in the “new” music business.

You gotta have a manager who’s all about what young people want, not just someone who’s worked with a ton of superstars in their long and illustrious career.

Don’t get me wrong, they might still be amazing managers. But the landscape of today really requires somebody who’s got their finger on the pulse of what’s happening on the internet.

Someone who’s all over social media and knows how to grow your fan base and keep ’em engaged. A lot of times, older managers just aren’t up to the task.

Also, when it comes to choosing the right songs for your album or pairing you with the right producer to modernize your sound, older managers might be a bit out of the loop on what’s “current.”

Try to find a manager who has ideas and creative approaches to your career.

Final Thoughts

So, check this out, I once received some solid advice from a veteran friend in the music industry when I was searching for a manager. He said, “Go with the manager who really loves your music.” And, you know what? I’m totally on board with that.

There are so many things in this industry that we can’t control, and there’s also a ton of competition.

A lot of artists get really frustrated with their careers because sometimes they sign with someone powerful who’s only looking out for their own self-interest and money.

The worst part is that if you don’t start bringing in cash flow quickly, they’ll either put you on the back burner and ignore you, or drop you when you need them most (which unfortunately happens all too often).

So, here’s my suggestion: think of it like you’re dating. If there’s a connection and your gut tells you that this is the right place for you, go for it!