The Manager's Playbook
Hosted by Mauricio Ruiz, a music industry executive of 15 years, The Manager's Playbook is your essential podcast for insights into the music industry. Whether you're an artist, aspiring manager, music industry professional, or just passionate about the behind-the-scenes of the music business, this podcast is for you. Mauricio brings you in-depth interviews with top artist managers, entertainment lawyers, and other industry execs. Each episode is packed with valuable tips, real-world experiences, and expert advice to help you navigate the complexities of the music business.
Episodes
Inside the Playbook: JBeau Lewis on The Strategy Behind Bad Bunny's Global Success
What makes a top agent want to bet on an artist?UTA partner and music agent JBeau Lewis breaks down what he looks for before signing an artist, how TikTok and YouTube have changed discovery, and why talent is only one part of the equation.JBeau also shares how UTA began working with Bad Bunny, why the team saw the global potential of Latin music early, and what it takes to build a full-service tea
Inside the Playbook: JBeau Lewis on How Bad Bunny and Karol G Took Over The World In 2026
What happens when the biggest moments of an artist’s career happen back-to-back?UTA partner and music agent JBeau Lewis takes us inside Bad Bunny’s Grammy-to-Super Bowl week and Karol G’s road to headlining Coachella.JBeau breaks down the logistics of preparing a Super Bowl halftime show in the middle of a stadium tour, what an agent actually does during a moment that big, and how Karol G’s team b
The Manager’s Playbook: JBeau Lewis - Bad Bunny, Karol G, UTA, Super Bowl, Coachella, Touring & Music Business (EP 87)
What does it actually take to build a global superstar?UTA partner and music agent JBeau Lewis joins The Manager’s Playbook to break down the strategy, teamwork, and behind-the-scenes decisions powering some of music’s biggest careers.From Bad Bunny’s historic Grammy-to-Super Bowl week to Karol G headlining Coachella, JBeau shares what these massive moments look like from inside the team and why m
Inside the Playbook: Nick Ruffalo on The Secret to Scaling Your Fanbase in 2026
ManyChat is making direct-to-fan marketing feel a lot more personal.In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Ruffalo breaks down how artists and managers can use Instagram DM automation, voice memo-style messages, Lightreel research, and CRM strategy to build stronger fan relationships.Nick gets into comment-to-DM flows, tour link automation, smart delays, viral edit research, Shopify buyer
Inside the Playbook: Nick Ruffalo on How To Scale Your Music on Spotify
Spotify data can tell you when to spend and when to wait.In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Ruffalo breaks down how artists and managers should think about music marketing budgets, release strategy, and scaling songs with real audience signals.Instead of throwing money at every record, Nick explains why the shape of growth matters more than the size of the budget. He gets into Spotify
Inside the Playbook: Nick Ruffalo on How to Test Your Music Before Release
Fan pages changed music marketing.In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Ruffalo breaks down how fan pages, edit pages, and A/B testing can help artists build demand before a song is even released.Nick explains how to test content like a marketer without losing the creative instinct: change one variable at a time, study what moves, and use the data to understand what fans actually care abo
The Manager’s Playbook: Nick Ruffalo II - Artist Marketing, Fan Pages, ManyChat, Audience Strategy & Music Business (EP 86)
Most artists don’t have a content problem. They have a fan-building problem.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits back down with Nick Ruffalo, SVP of Audience Engagement at Big Loud, to break down the biggest mistake artists and teams are making in modern music marketing.Nick dives into fan pages, ManyChat automation, Instagram group chats, Spotify for Artists data, retarge
Inside the Playbook: Asa Asika on The Reality of Breaking Records in the TikTok Era
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Asa Asika, longtime manager of Davido and co-founder of The Plug, talks about protecting the art before chasing the business.Asa breaks down why music has to stay rooted in creativity, instinct, and purpose, even as the industry shifts toward independence, platform-driven discovery, and new ways of building global careers.He also shares key moments from Da
Inside the Playbook: Asa Asika on How To Get Brands To Pay Your Artist
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Asa Asika, longtime manager of Davido and co-founder of The Plug, breaks down how brand deals, DJs, promoters, and local culture all connect when you’re building a global artist.Asa talks through Davido’s partnerships with brands like Martell, Puma, PlayStation, and major African phone companies, while explaining why artists have to be careful not to turn
Inside the Playbook: Asa Asika on the Perfect Tour Strategy
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Asa Asika, longtime manager of Davido and co-founder of The Plug, breaks down how Davido’s team built a real touring model across Nigeria and Africa.Asa explains why artists need to build and protect their fanbase at home, how Davido’s Nigeria tour came together, and what it takes to make African touring work at scale from promoters and sponsors to airline
The Manager’s Playbook: Asa Asika - Davido, The Plug, Afrobeats, Nigerian Music, Touring Africa & Music Business (EP 85)
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Asa Asika, longtime manager of Davido and co-founder of The Plug, for a deep conversation on the power of Nigerian music, the global rise of Afrobeats, and what it really takes to build infrastructure around culture.Asa breaks down how Davido became one of Africa’s biggest global stars, why Western labels often misunderstand A
Inside the Playbook: Joe Wiseman on How Insomniac Records Actually Works
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Joe Wiseman of Insomniac Music Group breaks down how Insomniac Records builds global dance music campaigns through live strategy, radio, DJ promo, editorial playlists, and artist-friendly licensing deals.Joe explains why Insomniac’s biggest advantage is not just the label. It is the live ecosystem around it. From festivals and stages to genre-focused label
Inside the Playbook: Joe Wiseman on The EDC Festival
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Joe Wiseman of Insomniac Music Group breaks down how Insomniac grew from underground LA warehouse raves into the culture-shaping festival experience behind EDC.Joe and Mauricio discuss the roots of rave culture, the rise of dance music in America, and why EDC became more than just a lineup. From stage design, art cars, rides, and immersive worlds to Pasqua
Inside the Playbook: Joe Wiseman on How John Summit Built an Empire
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Joe Wiseman of Insomniac Music Group breaks down how high-level dance artists build real careers by taking control of the business around their music.Joe and Mauricio discuss John Summit’s early approach to releases, marketing, DJ promo, budgets, and rollout strategy and why the strongest artists often think like their own managers. They also get into the
The Manager’s Playbook: Joe Wiseman - Insomniac Music Group, EDC, Dance Music, A&R, Artist Development, DJ Marketing & Music Business (EP 84)
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Joe Wiseman, Head of Insomniac Music Group, joins Mauricio Ruiz to break down how dance artists really build long-term careers.Joe pulls back the curtain on the Insomniac ecosystem; from EDC and live bookings to 20+ label imprints, DJ support, Beatport momentum, radio, editorial, and global campaigns. He explains why dance music is not one audience, why a
Inside the Playbook: David Dollimore on Major Label Roster Priorities
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, David Dollimore breaks down how major label priority really works.David and Mauricio get into what happens after a viral song starts moving, why internal champions matter inside a label, and how artists can turn one moment into a real career. They also talk release strategy, features, remixes, distribution deals, marketing support, ticket sales, and the pa
Inside the Playbook: David Dollimore on How To Start A Record Label
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, David Dollimore breaks down what it really takes to build a modern independent label.From funding and A&R to marketing, distribution, legal costs, partnerships, and staffing, David explains why building a label properly requires more than just taste. He also gets into Disorder Records, the partnership with The Warehouse Project, signing new talent like
Inside the Playbook: David Dollimore on Music Label Culture
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, David Dollimore reflects on the intense culture that shaped his early years at Ministry of Sound.He breaks down what it meant to deliver under pressure, how trust and loyalty led to equity, and why Ministry had to evolve beyond dance music. David also shares stories about signing London Grammar, hearing Jessie Reyez’s “Figures” for the first time, and why
The Manager’s Playbook: David Dollimore - Ministry of Sound, RCA UK, A&R, Artist Development, Major Labels & Music Business (EP 83)
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with veteran music executive David Dollimore for a real conversation about the hidden work behind building successful artists.David shares his journey from starting as an intern at Ministry of Sound, becoming an equity holder, helping sell the company to Sony Music, running RCA UK, and later co-founding Disorder Music Group.Togethe
Inside the Playbook: Wallo267 on Earning Trust in the Music Industry
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Wallo267 talks about building Winners Win, earning real trust with artists, and why results matter more than titles.Wallo breaks down how cultural trust is built, why every team needs doers instead of dream killers, and how learning marketing in prison helped him understand pitching, advertising, and closing opportunities.From podcast sponsorships to the s
Inside the Playbook: Wallo267 on Building a Music Career With Just Your Phone
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Wallo267 shares a simple blueprint for independent artists starting from zero.Wallo breaks down how to use your phone to record music, create content, build your artist identity, secure your name, make simple visuals, and post consistently until the audience starts to form.This is for artists, managers, and creators who keep waiting for more resources befo
Inside the Playbook: Wallo267 on The Reality of Artist Management
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Wallo267 breaks down why the best artist managers are more than managers. They’re all-purpose partners.Wallo explains how a great song creates opportunity, why managers need to understand the full picture of an artist’s life, and how real leverage is built through results, brand deals, equity, and follow-through.This one is for artists, managers, and music
The Manager’s Playbook: Wallo267 - Million Dollaz Worth of Game, Artist Development, Accountability, Management & Music Business (EP 82)
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Wallo267, entrepreneur, author, speaker, and co-host of Million Dollaz Worth of Game, for a raw conversation on accountability, artist development, management, and building without excuses.Wallo breaks down why your phone is an “excuse killer,” how independent artists can start building with the tools they already have, and wh
Inside the Playbook: Jermaine Dupri on Writing 'We Belong Together' with Mariah Carey
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: https://themanagersplaybook.com/homeWatch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook
Inside the Playbook: Jermaine Dupri on What Makes a Song Last Forever
Jermaine Dupri joins The Manager’s Playbook to talk about writing songs that last, from Jagged Edge’s “Let’s Get Married” to Usher’s “Confessions.”JD breaks down how real conversations, relationship tension, and everyday details turned into timeless records. He reflects on chasing the feeling of Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,” realizing “Let’s Get Married” had become a forever copyright, and
Inside the Playbook: Jermaine Dupri on What Makes a Superstar
Jermaine Dupri joins The Manager’s Playbook to talk about spotting superstar talent, discovering Kris Kross, writing “Jump,” and why hit records still matter more than hype, charts, or streaming numbers.JD breaks down how he identifies artists with real star potential, from Bow Wow’s hunger to Latto standing out early, and explains why making undeniable songs has always been the foundation of the
The Manager’s Playbook 081: Jermaine Dupri - Hit Records, So So Def, Artist Development, Music Business & Finding Superstars
Jermaine Dupri joins The Manager’s Playbook for a masterclass on hit records, artist development, and what today’s music business is getting wrong.As the founder of So So Def and one of the most successful hitmakers of all time, JD breaks down how he spots superstar potential, why timeless songs still matter more than streams or first-week numbers, and what young artists, managers, A&Rs, and m
Inside the Playbook: Symba on Scaling Your Music Career
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Symba and Mauricio break down how artists can build the right team, avoid bad label deals, and create leverage before signing anything.They talk about hiring a coordinator or marketing lead, why artists need people thinking about them every day, and how manager incentives can get messy when the money only comes from advances or short-term wins. The convers
Inside the Playbook: Symba on How To Protect Your Career In The Music Business
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Symba breaks down why he built his own direct-to-fan app after feeling stuck inside the algorithm and major label system.He talks about creating a space where his real supporters can find the music, content, unreleased records, and community without waiting on platforms or labels to decide what gets seen. Symba also shares how the app became a new way to t
Inside the Playbook: Symba on How to Rebuild After a Failed Music Rollout
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Symba breaks down what happens when a label rollout misses, momentum resets, and the records don’t match what fans first connected with.He reflects on releasing Don’t Run From Rap during COVID, dealing with constant product manager turnover, and learning how major label priorities can shift when revenue becomes the focus. Symba also shares how the Don’t Co
The Manager’s Playbook 080: Symba - Major Label Deals, Artist Development, Artist Leverage, Dr. Dre & Direct-to-Fan
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Symba joins Mauricio Ruiz for an honest conversation about major label deals, artist development, management, leverage, and the hard lessons that come from learning the music business in real time.Symba breaks down what he experienced signing with Columbia and Atlantic, how early deals and label turnover shaped his career, and why having the right team ar
Inside the Playbook: Tom Windish on The Real Cost of Touring
Tom Windish joins The Manager’s Playbook to break down why big streaming numbers do not always translate into real ticket sales, and what it actually takes to build a long-term live career.In this clip, Tom explains why artists should not be discouraged by playing smaller rooms, why superstar artists still need independent agents, and how great booking agents help create opportunities across promo
Inside the Playbook: Tom Windish on How to Build a Music Agency
Tom Windish joins The Manager’s Playbook to talk about the business behind booking, building an agency, and what it actually takes to grow artists in the live music world.In this clip, Tom shares how he went from promoting college concerts to becoming a booking agent, building The Windish Agency, scaling the company, and eventually selling to Paradigm. He also gets into the early days of electroni
Inside the Playbook: Tom Windish on How to Build a Touring Business That Actually Scales
Tom Windish joins The Manager’s Playbook to break down why artists need to take more ownership of ticket sales in today’s touring business.In this clip, Tom explains why artists are often the best advertisers for their own shows, why promoters need real fan data, and how SMS lists, email, city-level audience insights, and presale strategy can help artists understand actual ticket demand.We also ge
Inside the Playbook: Tom Windish on How Live Music Is Changing
Tom Windish joins The Manager’s Playbook to break down what booking agents actually do and why live music still matters in a world where attention is harder to earn than ever.In this clip, Tom explains how agents help artists build touring careers, why getting fans to leave the house is more difficult now, and how managers and artists should think about live shows, content, openers, festivals, bra
The Manager’s Playbook 079: Tom Windish - Booking Agents, Touring, Ticket Sales, Artist Development & Live Music
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, legendary booking agent Tom Windish breaks down what booking agents actually do and why your favourite artists can have streams, press, and viral moments but still struggle to sell tickets.Tom explains how agents help build an artist’s live career, from choosing the right rooms and negotiating fees to working with promoters, planning tours, developing fes
Inside the Playbook: Clinton Sparks on The Formula For A Career That Actually Lasts
Clinton Sparks breaks down how to build a music career people actually remember.In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Clinton shares his formula for winning in the music business, from powerful production and bulletproof business to aggressive visibility, real branding, and monetization.He also explains how “Get Familiar” became bigger than a tag, why independent artists have to think like the
Inside the Playbook: Clinton Sparks on Networking In the Music Industry
Clinton Sparks breaks down why networking is the piece most people misunderstand.In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Clinton shares how he built a reputation by adding value first, protecting his name, and staying authentic instead of chasing fake momentum.From working at UPS and producing music at night to breaking into radio, landing syndication, and building relationships across the East
Inside the Playbook: Clinton Sparks on Mixtape Culture
Clinton Sparks breaks down what it really means to do it for the culture.In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Clinton reflects on supporting Clipse’s We Got It For Cheap mixtape series without profiting, spending his own money to press and distribute CDs, and why protecting trust mattered more than chasing a quick win.He also talks about refusing payola, building Mixunit.com, helping DJ Drama
Inside the Playbook: Clinton Sparks on DJ Snake’s Rise
Clinton Sparks breaks down the real story behind DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s “Turn Down for What.”In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Clinton shares how he signed DJ Snake in 2007, introduced him to Lil Jon, and watched the record grow from an early idea into a global hit. He also talks about Lil Jon’s guerrilla approach, the behind-the-scenes tension around the song, and why DJ relationships sti
The Manager’s Playbook 078: Clinton Sparks - Artist Branding, Get Familiar, Music Marketing & Networking
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with legendary producer, DJ, songwriter, and entrepreneur Clinton Sparks for a conversation on artist branding, music business relationships, and building a career that lasts.Clinton breaks down what it really means to become a brand, how he built “Get Familiar” into something people remembered, and why the best networking starts w
Inside the Playbook: Nick Groff on The CEO Mindset Every Artist Manager Needs
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Groff breaks down why great artist managers need to think like CEOs, not just operators.Nick and Mauricio Ruiz discuss the modern manager’s role in building artist businesses, aligning teams, protecting long-term vision, and creating real growth around the artist.They also get into equity, IP, joint ventures, manager commissions, hiring for emotional
Inside the Playbook: Nick Groff on The AI Music Debate Nobody Wants to Have
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Groff and Mauricio Ruiz get into the gray area of AI, creativity, and who gets to make music.They discuss whether AI can become a real creative tool for people with ideas but without formal training, while also unpacking the concerns around authorship, devalued music, bad actors, and what “human-made” music even means anymore.From Suno and AI music to
Inside the Playbook: Nick Groff on The Real Math Behind Live Music Ticketing
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Groff breaks down how BUNT. turned a viral moment into a real hard-ticket fanbase.Nick and Ruiz get into the business behind live growth: merch strategy, per-head sales, market-by-market pricing, fan accessibility, Coachella storytelling, and why viral attention does not mean much if it does not turn into real fans.They also discuss how BUNT. approach
Inside the Playbook: Nick Groff on The Artist as a Media Company
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Groff breaks down why modern artist management now looks more like running a media company.Nick and Ruiz get into storytelling, fan acquisition, content flywheels, post-show highlights, and why artists can’t rely on music releases alone to stay connected with their audience.They also discuss what artists can learn from streamers, how Billie Eilish’s “
The Manager’s Playbook 077: Nick Groff - BUNT., Artist Management, World-Building, Fan Acquisition & Music Business
Nick Groff returns to The Manager's Playbook, former Interscope and Geffen executive, longtime A&R, entrepreneur, and manager of BUNT.Nick breaks down the modern artist playbook: how managers can build artists like media companies, why storytelling and world-building matter, and how BUNT. went from being dropped to building a global fanbase, selling hundreds of thousands of tickets, and cr
Inside the Playbook: Charlie Rocket on The Fan-First Blueprint
Charlie Rocket breaks down why artists and managers need to stop waiting on labels, managers, or industry validation and start building fans first.In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie talks about fan demand, leverage, moving faster, releasing more, and avoiding the trap of getting overwhelmed by industry knowledge before there’s an actual business to protect.He also gets into why trav
Inside the Playbook: Charlie Rocket on Building an Artist Fanbase With Zero Budget
Charlie Rocket breaks down a real artist growth playbook built on volume, virality, and in-real-life fanbase building.In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie explains how he helped build Travis Porter’s momentum with no big budget, using fast music output, MySpace hustle, local marketing, and real-world events to create demand from the ground up.He gets into the nine-month blitz strategy
Inside the Playbook: Charlie Rocket on The Marketing Strategy Behind Every Superstar Brand
Charlie Rocket breaks down how artists can build a real superstar brand by giving fans something to belong to.In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie explains why fan names, colors, symbols, emojis, accessories, catchphrases, and ad-libs matter more than most artists think. These are the details that turn passive listeners into real participants.He also talks about why there are no secre
Inside the Playbook: Charlie Rocket on This Is Why Your Artist Strategy Isn't Working
Charlie Rocket breaks down the problem with viral-first artist development and why chasing views can hurt an artist’s long-term career.In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie explains why artists should not be treated like influencers, how viral trends can damage mystique, and why real fanbase building matters more than empty attention.He also shares how artists, managers, and small team
The Manager’s Playbook 076: Charlie Rocket - Fanbase Building, Law of 62, Artist Development, Viral Content & Music Business
Charlie Rocket returns to The Manager’s Playbook with a full breakdown on how artists and managers can build a real fanbase without waiting on the industry.In this episode, Charlie gets into the Law of 62, why pace matters more than slow consistency, how to create viral content without making the artist look corny, and why protecting mystique still matters in the social media era.He also breaks do
Inside the Playbook: James Beshara on Mental Wealth
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and James Beshara reframe mental health as mental wealth.James shares the personal story that pushed him to take prevention seriously, then breaks down the five daily buckets he believes help build real resilience: sleep, diet, exercise, stress management, and exogenous compounds.They also get into consistent wake times, better sleep, alcohol
Inside the Playbook: James Beshara on The Unsexy Truth About Making It in Music
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and James Beshara talk about focus, under-committing, and why artists need to stop trying to master everything at once.James breaks down the idea of doing very little and doing it big. For artists, managers, and music entrepreneurs, that means building skills gradually, releasing consistently, learning from feedback, and creating systems befo
Inside the Playbook: James Beshara on Why Most Music Artists Quit
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and James Beshara talk about purpose, burnout, validation, and what it really means to build with intention.James breaks down the idea that “industry” means to persevere with purpose, and why talent alone does not mean much if you avoid the business side, the hard conversations, or the responsibility that comes with building something real.Th
Inside the Playbook: James Beshara on Why the Solo Genius Myth is Killing Your Music Career
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and James Beshara break down why success in any creative career usually comes down to people, practices, and tools.James challenges the myth of the solo genius through Brian Eno’s idea of “scenius,” showing why artists, managers, founders, and creatives need the right scene, the right collaborators, and the right people around them.They also
The Manager’s Playbook 075: James Beshara - Silicon Valley, Artist Development, Trust, Wellness & Music Business
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with angel investor, musician, founder, creator, and Magic Mind CEO James Beshara for a different kind of music business conversation.James brings a Silicon Valley lens to artist development, independent artists, artist management, and building a career that actually lasts. We get into why “trust and a network” are the foundation o
Inside the Playbook: Amber Grimes on The Mistake Every Music Executive Makes
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Amber Grimes, EVP, GM, and partner at Love Renaissance (LVRN), to talk about self-advocacy, asking questions, and learning the business without pretending to know everything.Amber shares how asking for help changed the way she negotiated contracts, understood stock compensation, talked about pay, and recognized her own value in
Inside the Playbook: Amber Grimes on The Visual Strategy That Makes Artists Memorable
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Amber Grimes, EVP, GM, and partner at Love Renaissance (LVRN), to talk about what makes artists memorable in today’s music business.Amber breaks down the importance of visual identity, distinctive perspective, consistency, mystery, and competitiveness when building an artist brand that can actually last.She uses examples like R
Inside the Playbook: Amber Grimes on The New Rules of Artist Branding
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Amber Grimes, EVP, GM, and partner at Love Renaissance (LVRN), to talk about what artists need beyond the music.Amber breaks down the fundamentals of artist branding: authenticity, purpose, identity, community, fan access, and building something people actually believe in.She also explains how fan culture has evolved from fan c
Inside the Playbook: Amber Grimes on How LVRN Builds Artist Rollouts
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Amber Grimes, EVP, GM, and partner at Love Renaissance (LVRN), to talk about what goes into building artist rollouts that actually connect.Amber shares the story behind 6LACK’s tour promo with a real bear, how LVRN develops creative ideas as a team, and why the best rollouts start with meaning before money.She also breaks down
The Manager’s Playbook 074: Amber Grimes - LVRN, Artist Branding, Music Rollouts, Artist Development, Fan Communities & Music Business
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Amber Grimes, EVP, GM, and partner at Love Renaissance (LVRN), for a real conversation about artist branding, music rollouts, and what it takes to build artists people actually believe in.Amber breaks down the rules behind lasting artist brands: authenticity, purpose, community, visual identity, consistency, mystery, competiti
Inside the Playbook: Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek on How to Build a Music Career That Actually Works
Great music still wins.In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek of Grass Fed Music talk about what it really takes to build a music career that lasts.They get into artist development, independent artists, major label partnerships, AI, superfans, touring, culture-building, and why exceptional ideas still matter more than tools, resources, or industry excuses.Nael and Alyce
Inside the Playbook: Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek on Delusional Optimism in Music
What does it really take to last in the music business?In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek of Grass Fed Music talk about the mindset behind building a meaningful career in music.Nael shares lessons from his father’s optimism, his Palestinian roots, his brother Nasri’s resilience, and the belief it takes to keep going when the business tests you.They also get into no-
Inside the Playbook: Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek on What Great Artist Managers Actually Do
What separates great artist managers from everyone else?In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek of Grass Fed Music talk about managing artists with care, honesty, trust, and real business execution.Nael shares lessons from Sal & Co, Mike Caren, and Scooter Braun, why the song has to come first, and how Grass Fed helped build DJ Habibeats by bringing Middle Eastern
Inside the Playbook: Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek on Marriage and Music Business
Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek of Grass Fed Music join The Manager’s Playbook to talk about building a music management company together as husband and wife.They share how they met, how their relationship turned into a business partnership during COVID, and how Grass Fed developed its artist services model for independent artists.Nael and Alyce get into artist development, content strategy, rollout pl
The Manager’s Playbook 073: Nael Atweh & Alyce Hayek - Grass Fed Music, Artist Management, Artist Development, Independent Artists & Music Business
Artist management is not just about deals, rollouts, and relationships.It’s service.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek of Grass Fed Music for a real conversation about what it takes to build artists behind the scenes.Nael and Alyce talk about running a music management company as a married couple, developing independent artists, build
Inside the Playbook: Omar Grant on The Real Reason Your Songs Aren't Getting Heard
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Omar Grant breaks down the mistake too many artists make with their music: releasing without enough quality control, strategy, or honest feedback.Omar explains why great songs still need the right artist, the right plan, and the right timing. He also gets into the pressure independent artists feel to release constantly, why the market can be a useful teach
Inside the Playbook: Omar Grant on His Rise to Roc Nation Co-President
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Omar Grant breaks down the strategy behind building a real career in the music business.Omar reflects on his rise from Bronx DJ and Columbia Records intern to Rihanna’s A&R and co-president of Roc Nation, sharing the lessons that shaped his path: patience, artist development, trust, relationships, and doing the work most people never see.He also explai
Inside the Playbook: Omar Grant on Why Record Labels Don't Develop Artists Anymore
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Omar Grant breaks down why artist development no longer lives only inside record labels.As Rihanna’s longtime A&R, former Roc Nation co-president, and founder of Chapter A.R.T. Music Publishing, Omar has seen how real development actually happens: through time, trust, taste, honest feedback, and the right people around the artist.Omar explains why prod
Inside the Playbook: Omar Grant on the Bar for Rihanna’s Next Album
Rihanna’s next album isn’t just another release. It comes with the weight of everything she’s already done.In this episode, A&R executive Omar Grant breaks down the pressure behind new Rihanna music, why following records like “We Found Love,” “Diamonds,” “Work,” and Anti is so difficult, and what it takes to make songs that actually last.Omar talks about global writing camps, creative briefs,
The Manager’s Playbook 072: Omar Grant - Rihanna, A&R, Roc Nation, Artist Development, Songwriting, Music Publishing & AI
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Omar Grant, Rihanna’s longtime A&R, former Roc Nation co-president, and founder of Chapter A.R.T. Music Publishing.Omar breaks down what real A&R looks like today, why great records feel harder to find, and how Rihanna’s creative instincts continue to raise the bar for the entire music industry. He shares how global wr
Inside the Playbook: Lecrae on the Business Behind Reach Records
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Lecrae breaks down the business behind Reach Records and what it really takes to run an independent label.He explains how Reach operates with a 20-person staff, 11 artists, multiple departments, and four studios in Atlanta, while also sharing how he balances being both Artist Lecrae and CEO Lecrae.Lecrae also gets into marketing budgets, recoupment, expens
Inside the Playbook: Lecrae on How Christian Radio Really Works
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Lecrae breaks down how Christian radio really works and why gospel, Christian music, and mainstream radio operate in very different ways.He explains the cultural divide between gospel and contemporary Christian music, how artists get boxed into categories, and how Christian radio can connect records to major touring opportunities like K-Love and Winter Jam
Inside the Playbook: Lecrae on the Hidden Business of Christian Music
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Lecrae breaks down the hidden business behind Christian music and why the niche is much bigger than most people realize.He explains how independent Christian labels built real revenue before major-label partnerships, how church licensing through CCLI can become a major income stream, and why Christian hip-hop developed its own touring power through live sh
Inside the Playbook: Lecrae on Why He Stayed an Independent Artist
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Lecrae breaks down how he built independently after major hip-hop labels said his music was “too Christian” and gospel labels said it was “too hip-hop.”Lecrae talks about being both authentically hip-hop and authentically Christian, the business influence of Texas trunk-sale culture, and how Reach Records became a fully independent label without a major-la
The Manager’s Playbook 071: Lecrae - Christian Hip-Hop, Reach Records, Independence, Faith, Artist Development & Music Business
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Lecrae for a conversation about faith, hip-hop, independence, and what it really means to build when the industry doesn’t know where to put you.Lecrae breaks down how he navigated the divide between mainstream hip-hop and Christian music, why Reach Records had to become fully independent, and how community, touring, and direct
Inside the Playbook: Veikko Fuhrmann on The Touring Business Behind Latin Music’s Global Rise
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz talks with Peso Pluma’s Tour Director, Veikko Fuhrmann, about the business behind Latin touring across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America.Veikko breaks down how touring deals differ by market, from flat promoter packages in Latin America to U.S. and Canadian models built around splits, overages, settlements, taxes, union fees, and visas.They
Inside the Playbook: Veikko Fuhrmann on What a Tour Director Really Does
In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Peso Pluma’s Tour Director, Veikko Fuhrmann, to break down what a tour director actually does on a music tour.Veikko explains why the job is so much more than logistics. It’s cash flow, startup costs, payroll, vendor payments, credit card spend, delayed settlements, promoter advances, and making sure the tour can keep moving with
Inside the Playbook: Veikko Fuhrmann on The Hidden Tour Expenses Artists Don’t Understand
In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with live touring specialist and Peso Pluma Tour Director Veikko Fuhrmann to explain why a tour guarantee does not always mean an artist is making money.Veikko breaks down how tour offers are built, what guarantees and overages actually mean, how promoter splits work, and why every expense matters once a show moves past the guarantee.
Inside the Playbook: Veikko Fuhrmann on Tour Money for Artists and Managers
In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with live touring specialist Veikko Fuhrmann of We Are Live to break down how artists lose money on tour and how the right team can fix it.Veikko explains why tour management is really about protecting the artist’s money, from club-level P&Ls and merch sales to promoter expenses, cash flow, insurance, touring LLCs, and upfront cos
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