• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

Music Biz 2016 Explores Artist Management In Modern Era

May 17, 2016/by Jessica Nicholson
Pictured (L-R): Cameo Carlson and James Blades

Pictured (L-R): Cameo Carlson and James Blades. Photo: Music Biz.

Music Biz 2016 launched Monday, May 16, in Nashville with a solid lineup of speakers from the segments of publishing, artist management, touring, and more.

During a panel titled Artist Management Now: Today’s New Structures and Services, Borman Entertainment’s Cameo Carlson, Blades Entertainment’s James Blades, Mtheory’s Zack Gershen and Marbaloo Marketing’s Faithe Parker discussed the current state of artist management.

Like most sectors of the music industry, artist management is in a state of rapid change.

Carlson, the moderator for the panel, called artist managers “the global head of artist development,” emphasizing the manager’s central role to an artist’s overall career progression. Panelists agreed with the need for a constant overseer in an artist’s career, with “heavy emphasis on touring.”

According to the panelists, 75-80 percent of an artist’s income is now drawn from touring activities.

Pcitured (L-R): Zach Gershen and Faithe Parker. Photo: MusicBiz

Pcitured (L-R): Zach Gershen and Faithe Parker. Photo: MusicBiz

“Labels have historically been good at financing, radio promotion and distribution,” said Gershen, “but in today’s business, that’s not always enough. There are more options now for financing and distribution. They are still the best in the business at radio promotion, though we took [Major Lazer’s] ‘Lean On’ to No. 1 with no major label. It all goes back artist marketing.”

That is where third-party services complement the central role of managers, integrating and filling the gaps between the artist’s career needs and the services that managers can provide.

Carlson summed up the changes, saying, “”Every job I’ve had in the past 15 years, the job didn’t exist before I came on. As other parts of the industry shrink, they can’t offer certain services, and the managers have to add services and yet they keep the same commission. No one person can do everything, or can be an expert in everything. This is why you can have [third-party] companies come in.”

“You have to decide what areas you are an expert in, and bring talented people alongside you to fill those gaps,” said Parker.

The changing role of managers’ services also changes the discussion of payment.

“There are discussions of social media, regarding when does management pay for it and when does the artist pay for it?” Carlson said. “For example, [Borman Entertainment client] Keith Urban has an employee who does social media, and more. They are in our office, but they are a Keith employee, and not a Borman employee. But not every artist can afford to do that.”

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Jessica Nicholson
Jessica Nicholson
Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.
Jessica Nicholson
Latest posts by Jessica Nicholson (see all)
  • CMA Honors Robert Deaton With Chairman’s Award - December 4, 2020
  • Nashville Symphony, Nashville Musicians Association Reach Agreement - December 4, 2020
  • Zach Williams’ “Chain Breaker” Is Most-Added On ‘MusicRow’ CountryBreakout Radio Chart - December 4, 2020
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://music-row-website-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/10165439/Carlson-and-Blades.jpg 380 570 Jessica Nicholson https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Jessica Nicholson2016-05-17 09:34:312016-05-17 09:34:31Music Biz 2016 Explores Artist Management In Modern Era
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

RECENT NEWS

  • MusicRow Weekly (News, Charts, More…) July 11, 2025
  • Riley Green Releases Acoustic EP ‘Midtown Sessions’ July 11, 2025
  • George Strait & Vaqueros Del Mar Slate ‘Strait To The Heart’ Benefit For Flood Victims July 11, 2025
  • Porter’s Call Unveils Lineup For 16th Annual “Evening Of Stories” In September July 11, 2025
  • Marcus King Band’s New Album ‘Darling Blue’ On Deck For September July 11, 2025
  • The Band Loula Offers Nostalgic Postcard From Home On New EP July 11, 2025
  • Trace Adkins, Jamey Johnson & More Salute Charlie Daniels On ‘Opry 100 Honors’ July 11, 2025
  • Lanie Gardner Slates Sophomore Record For September July 11, 2025
  • Marfa Inks With Ascend Music July 11, 2025
  • Luke Bryan Rises To No. 1 On MusicRow Radio Chart July 11, 2025

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2025 Music Row Enterprises, LLC - Enfold WordPress Theme by Kriesi
Website hosted by Nashville web design company, All My Web Needs.
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to Instagram
Scroll to top