Creative writer!
What agencies are and what they do What agents are and what they do The system is the same no matter what the job, ignore references to country music Contractual relationships between agent and artist, management, promoter Nashville everyone else Evolution of agency business WME is a full service agency, represents everything. Broadcast rights of about 50 universities across the country. As a career there are “many many many” facets in the business Focus will be mostly on music Translate the talents of the artists and monetise them Manager typically is the person who speaks to the agent, makes dates, etc Multiple managers agents negotiate deals for the artist A&R artist and repertoire Publishers are the people that publish the music they own the copyright (together with the artist?) promoters typically on big tours a promoter will have a tour accountant Accountants make good business managers If you are a CPA it’s about networking calling people Cleanup “does that mean we’re participating in the beer sales” festival process don’t buy just any festivals what will it look like a year or two from now questions on promoters bill sillerman
three things an agent does sign the artist typically NOT a contract it’s a handshake the reason is that whether you have a contract or not the artist will leave if they want to the big advantage is it forces the artist to the table they need to make sure that they know you’re there new talent better chance if you have something with a record label big artists get you richer than more dates TOUR: Two ways that we secure dates 1. person calls in and is datespecific, fair, etc 500 miles is about farthest to have an artist jump normally RADIUS CLAUSE artist won’t play within 150 miles say, 6 months prior and 30 days after Stay away from soft ticket events 18 months between repeats Look at last show in area Wanna be careful that ticket SALES don’t overlap ask building for protection from country shows going on sale before date plays, 30 days before/after Typical tour 40 shows hits most major radio markets marketing effort marketing plan what will they do to try and sell the show may call radio station First action from agent on a reduction is always NO “if you have the cash, you have the power” Underperforming show is unpleasent time Let’s look
Outdoor show without a covered stage is a problem bad for gear MEOW NYA SMG not part of livenation or AEG since live nation and AEG buy so many shows SMG becoming a promoter, other buildings going at risk to become promoters writers / groucho promoter calls and wants to cancel a date and doesnt care stop the bus guys not gonna pay, out of business with us dont think the guy’s got money anyway if someone’s not paying you, it’s cause they don’t have the money won’t have it in a month either if we sue agency size people burn them database of people who burned you numbers of a deal flat guarantee does not include shared revenues after a certain split point total amount an artist will make guaranteed promoter profit industry standard is 15% for promoter versus deal deal doesn’t allow a promoter profit artist is paid a guarantee vs a percentage after approved expenses whichever is greater guarantee goes away net potential calculation 1/1+tax /// signed clients can’t be kept don’t sign so you can keep your clients if you leave club agent can go sign talent
will not generally deal with a first time festival will talk to them about the second one, first year festival they put it together talent budget maybe us$100150k it happens, everybody appears to get paid, calls for next year “I coach my kids soccer team and the other parents will be mad” not as brazen as actor who plays him but says funny shit, will happily use fuck word key to phone sales is to listen when does negotiation begin? when the buyer says NO hot button get on phone hey how ya doing, use that get person to stop shaking head no start talking to them relax them really lucky i dont have to do that stuff anymore dennis has to do that