This is another topic that comes up pretty regularly in conversations we have with our artists. EMG provides project management services to artists who need help with the management of their activities and career, but we are not a traditional artist management firm who essentially become fully responsible for moving your career forward in exchange for a healthy percentage of your earnings.
Oftentimes, the goal of our project management activities is preparing an artist to be shopped (and then providing shopping) to traditional management companies. Finding a smart, experienced, well-connected manager or management company in your niche to take you on as an artist can mean all the difference in the world to your career.
But how do you know it’s time to make searching for artist management your focus?
01.
You either have or have concrete plans in the works to produce a serious record. Artist management is very unlikely to take you on until they hear the product they’d be working with to help you advance your career. Songwriting demos are very rarely enough to get a credible management firm interested in you.
02.
You have some digital market presence. An artist website, logo, professional photos, an electronic press kit (EPK), and probably at least a music video or two. Without this type of content, I know of no serious music managers that will take an interest in your project.
03.
You’ve done some serious heavy lifting to develop and grow a fanbase. Instagram follows and Facebook likes can help. A serious email list, Bandsintown presence, and Spotify streams may help more. Most importantly, if you can demonstrate your ability to draw crowds to a show both in and outside of your home market, this will help your efforts tremendously.
There are a lot more benchmarks you can strive for. But at the end of the day, if you have the above three boxes ticked and need help getting from there to the next level, it might be time to seriously search for management.
At EMG, our work in production, fundraising, and project management have helped four artists go on to traditional artist management signings over the last couple of years. You can check out all our results for yourself!
If we can help you on a path to signing with management or any of your other career goals, please let us know by contacting us today!
