Job Description
Band managers are hired by musicians/bands to act on behalf of the band and handle the business aspects of the music industry: they are often also the last point of contact to the band.
As a band manager your role is to help guide the musicians’ career as best as you can, provide advice and act as a liaison between the band and others in the music industry. A band manager will often be in contact with publicists for interviews, tour promotors, venues, bookers and more.
The role isn’t always exclusive to one band and many band managers take on multiple clients in aiding them to make creative, business and personal decisions, or sometimes decisions made on their behalf.
Some smaller aspects can involve arranging travel, promoting and booking for the band. It’s a unique role and one that will often see you travelling alongside the band during tours.
If you’re interested in studying to become a band manager, Oxygen Music are a music industry specialist that offer courses in band management and music business. The college are currently offering a Diploma in Music Business which covers multiple aspects of behind the scenes functions including event management, artist management, record labels and publishing.
To find out more and to book, visit www.oxygencollege.com.au or call 1300 195 303.
Chat with the Pro: Band Manager
Band Manager Ross Macpherson
Hey Ross, please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your management company and the artists you look after?
I’m the director of Macro Music and together, with my business partner Rowan Robinson, we represent Dead Letter Circus, Drapht, Seth Sentry and Xavier Rudd. We’re both originally from Perth but formed our company in Melbourne many years ago. Last year we made the move to Sydney to be closer to our music partners and our artist’s teams agent / publishers / labels etc.
You have obviously worked your way up to managing some of Australia’s best artists, what has been the key to your success so far?
I think all artist managers start out with a little luck, followed by a tonne of work through a strong learning curve. Most people come from being tour managers, promoters and working at record labels but most often it’s being a helpful friend to the first band they manage. Then, they’re either successful or not, and you either keep up, or don’t.
What was your pathway into becoming a band manager?
I started out as a (rubbish) musician playing in (rubbish) bands in Perth in the late ’90s. It was a fun time, but I quickly learnt that my talent perhaps didn’t lay in songwriting, but more so in the organisational side of things. I then landed a job working as a quasi agent and promoter for touring acts from the Eastern states and promoting some national tours for international artists. At the ripe old age of 29 I signed on my first management client and moved to Melbourne to pursue the life of an artist anager.
Can you tell us what the working week for a band manager might entail?
It’s vastly different every week depending where in their cycle each artist is, and if you’re conducting international business it’s completely different again. I guess a “general” week entails responding to around 500 emails, 12 lavish lunches and 20 hours of phone calls. I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to be a band manager….
What are some of the most important assets someone needs to have to be a successful band manager?
I think a willingness to listen. The landscape of how people consume music, and the way you now reach people – be it selling tickets or records – is changing every week. If you think you already know everything, you’ll quickly find yourself left behind. More than anything, it’s about having patience, tolerance, and a keen work ethic.
What are some of the great aspects of the job?
Being part of a team, from the artist to the label (or distributer), publicist, publisher and booking agent – and sharing the wins.
What are some of the challenges of the job?
All of the wonderful personalities.
What sort of study or professional development would you advise a young person undertake in order to best equip themselves to become a successful manager in the music industry?
I think a firm understanding in marketing and Microsoft excel would be the key. It certainly helps if you can find the next Tame Impala too.
