The Manager's Playbook - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Inside the Playbook: Tommy Brown on The REALITY of Music Producer Fees, Points & Publishing Mar 28, 2026

Show notes

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Tommy Brown breaks down one of the hardest truths in the music business: huge streaming numbers do not always mean real money for songwriters and producers. We get into producer points, publishing royalties, master royalties, label negotiations, and why so many creators are still underpaid.

Tommy also talks about learning under Rodney Jerkins, the difference between making beats and making records, and the kind of discipline it takes to build a real career in the music industry.

This one is for artists, managers, producers, songwriters, and music execs who want a clearer understanding of producer pay, publishing, music contracts, and long-term leverage.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/71unpLmCSi3VjbieeOMiUy?si=KmFi8zCgTqmYpznq5UdhqQ

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Inside the Playbook: Tommy Brown on Why Music Producers Need Content Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Tommy Brown breaks down why visibility and content strategy are now part of the job for artists, producers, and songwriters. We talk about why posting consistently matters, how even simple beat videos can drive massive audience growth, and why being seen is now directly tied to opportunity in the music business.

The conversation also gets into streaming economics, songwriter and producer pay, music publishing, Spotify, AI, user-generated remixes, catalog sales, and why publishing may be heading into a much bigger era.

This one is for artists, managers, producers, songwriters, and music execs trying to understand where the business is going next.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/71unpLmCSi3VjbieeOMiUy?si=KmFi8zCgTqmYpznq5UdhqQ

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

The Manager’s Playbook 060: Tommy Brown - Hit Records, Ariana Grande, Songwriting, Producer Splits, Publishing & Artist Development Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, I sit down with Tommy Brown (TBHits), hitmaking music producer, songwriter, and one of the most important creative forces behind modern pop music. Tommy has worked with Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Victoria Monét and more, and this conversation is a real look at what it takes to become a true hit producer in today’s music industry.

We get into the making of “thank u, next,” what actually makes a hit record, why so many successful producers and songwriters still struggle financially, and the difference between being a beatmaker and a real record producer. Tommy also breaks down artist development, publishing, producer points, label deals, streaming economics, content strategy, K-pop systems, Netflix’s Hitmakers, and the lessons he learned studying Rodney Jerkins.

This one is for artists, managers, songwriters, producers, A&Rs, music executives, and independent artists trying to build real careers, stronger teams, better systems, and long-term leverage in the music business.

If you care about music marketing, songwriting, publishing, producer income, artist growth, streaming strategy, audience building, and career longevity, this episode is for you.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it.KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

New episodes drop Tuesdays @ 10am ET

Inside the Playbook: LaRussell & Tietta Mitchell on LaRussell’s Operations Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

In this clip, LaRussell and his team break down what it really takes to build an independent music business at scale.

They talk about the infrastructure behind the operation: merch, brand identity, photography, videography, editing, security, logistics, live show staffing, sound engineers, and the contractor-based team required to keep everything moving. The conversation also gets into the unglamorous side of growth: scaling from an LLC mindset into a real enterprise, tightening operations, improving tax compliance, creating better payment structures, and learning how to delegate with trust.

LaRussell also speaks on reinvesting heavily into the business, leading with belief, questioning limits, and building without relying on a traditional label system. If you’re an artist, manager, or entrepreneur trying to understand how independent artists scale, build teams, and turn momentum into infrastructure, this is a strong one.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gh5xJy3JaJikr9JEEIZAC?si=tQwOj5sGRFKts7KWvPw3Bw

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Inside the Playbook: LaRussell & Tietta Mitchell on How LaRussell Picks Team Members Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

In this clip, LaRussell and Tietta Mitchell break down a lesson a lot of artists learn too late: before you hire help, you need to understand the work yourself.

They talk about why doing every part of the business early on - content, posting, editing, ticketing, emails, calendars, and operations - makes it easier to train people, delegate clearly, and scale without losing standards. The conversation also traces how Tietta became essential to LaRussell’s growth: first by spotting the TikTok opportunity, then proving her value through consistency, curiosity, and learning the music business from the ground up.

If you’re an independent artist, manager, or creative operator trying to understand artist management, delegation, team building, music business education, and how to scale an independent career the right way, this is a real blueprint.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gh5xJy3JaJikr9JEEIZAC?si=tQwOj5sGRFKts7KWvPw3Bw

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Inside the Playbook: LaRussell & Tietta Mitchell on The Music Marketing Funnel That Actually Pays Mar 21, 2026

Show notes

Most artists don’t hate ads. They hate what bad ads reveal.

In this clip, LaRussell breaks down how he actually uses ads as an independent artist: not to force Spotify streams or fake momentum, but to amplify content that already proved itself organically. The strategy is simple but disciplined: run awareness ads behind posts that are already winning, then use retargeting, lookalike audiences, and city-specific campaigns to turn attention into real outcomes like ticket sales, merch sales, fan growth, and direct-to-fan revenue.

He also explains why shares and comments matter more than vanity metrics, how he thinks about customer acquisition cost, and why great music marketing isn’t about buying visibility. It’s about scaling demand that already exists.

If you’re an independent artist, manager, or music entrepreneur trying to understand how Meta ads, fan conversion, touring strategy, merch marketing, and artist growth actually work, this is a strong one.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gh5xJy3JaJikr9JEEIZAC?si=tQwOj5sGRFKts7KWvPw3Bw

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Inside the Playbook: LaRussell & Tietta Mitchell on The Roc Nation Deal Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

LaRussell didn’t partner with Roc Nation because he needed a machine. He partnered because he built one first.

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, LaRussell and his manager Tietta Mitchell break down why the Roc Nation deal made strategic sense for an already thriving independent artist business. They talk about globalizing what they’ve built, expanding into radio, publicity, DSP relationships, and late-night TV, and why the right label partnership should add value without taking control.

The conversation gets into the real mechanics of a modern record deal: a non-exclusive, short-term, project-based structure, freedom to keep releasing music independently, and the importance of negotiating label deliverables, not just artist obligations. They also speak on contract language, ownership, autonomy, direct lawyer-to-lawyer communication, and what JAŸ-Z’s influence actually meant in the bigger picture.

If you’re an artist, manager, executive, or music entrepreneur trying to understand how independence, leverage, artist development, publishing, and strategic partnerships really work in today’s music business, this episode is for you.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gh5xJy3JaJikr9JEEIZAC?si=tQwOj5sGRFKts7KWvPw3Bw

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

The Manager’s Playbook 059: LaRussell & Tietta Mitchell - Roc Nation Deal, Independence, Ads, Direct-to-Fan, Touring & Music Marketing Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

LaRussell is the rare independent artist who didn’t partner with Roc Nation because he needed a label. He partnered because he built enough leverage to make the label behave like a partner.

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, LaRussell and his manager Tietta Mitchell break down the real strategy behind signing with Roc Nation (and what artists and managers get wrong when they hear the word “signed”). We talk record deal negotiation, non-exclusive licensing deals, and how to demand label deliverables instead of vague promises. They explain how alignment with the right people, clear success metrics (radio, press, DSP relationships, late night, sustained fan growth), and protecting autonomy can turn a major partnership into a growth lever, not a loss of independence.

Then we get into the operating system: how LaRussell’s team runs independent artist infrastructure (touring, merch, releases, content), why his marketing focuses on awareness ads over streams, how retargeting and funnels actually work for artists, the difference between clipping vs seeding, and why reinvesting into a contractor-based operation is the real “major label machine” built in-house.

If you’re an artist, manager, A&R, or music entrepreneur trying to understand how independent artists make money, how modern label partnerships should work, and how to scale a music career without losing control, this one’s a blueprint.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it.KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

New episodes drop Tuesdays @ 10am ET

Chapters:

00:00 Roc Nation Partnership (Independent Artist Scale)
01:21 Artist Management Alignment (Meeting the Team)
03:07 Record Deal Negotiation (Artist Proposes Terms)
04:38 Licensing Deal Explained (Short-Term Structure)
07:01 Non-Exclusive Record Deal (Keep Dropping Music)
13:40 When a Label Deal Makes Sense (Partnership vs Dependency)
15:44 Labels Don’t Develop Artists (Modern Artist Development)
18:16 Contract Process & Entertainment Lawyer (Paperwork Fast)
20:54 JAŸ-Z / Roc Nation Resources (Access Without Giving Up Control)
27:18 Defining “Independent Artist” (Leverage & Optionality)
30:16 DSP Relationships & Global Representation (Spotify/Apple/Press)
33:55 Music Business Success Metrics (Radio, PR, Growth)
41:55 Clipping vs Seeding (Content Distribution Strategy)
58:28 Paid Ads for Artists (Awareness Ads That Work)
01:00:31 Awareness vs Streams (Music Marketing Funnel)
01:06:06 Retargeting & Lookalikes (Meta Ads / Business Manager)
01:13:33 Artist Manager Role Evolution (From Helper to Operator)
01:22:22 Delegation & Scaling (Team Systems)
01:25:46 Team Structure Breakdown (Contractors, Ops, Live Days)
01:34:16 Reinvesting Into Infrastructure (Scaling the Business)
01:53:34 Revenue vs Profit (Music Business Money Talk)
02:03:04 Catalog vs Single Push (Release Strategy)
02:13:28 Offer-Based Booking (Touring + Monetization)

Inside the Playbook: JMSN on the Anti-Ad Music Marketing Plan Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, we get into the unglamorous side of the music business that every independent artist eventually faces: release week feels stressful because you’re the label.

JMSN explains what it really means to self-fund your art, paying upfront for the rollout, the assets, and the overhead before you’ve made anything back. He breaks down the classic independent cash flow loop: release the project, tour to extract value from the album cycle, save what you can, and reinvest to finance the next record, while still paying for real life.

Then we talk music marketing and why JMSN has a real disdain for constant digital ads and billboard-style promotion. His long-game mindset is simple: invest in the product, protect the catalog, and let great work compound because the music is “out forever.”

There’s nuance, though. We separate album advertising from tour promotion, where ads can actually make sense because selling tickets is time-sensitive. We also get into promoter strategy, measuring ad baselines, building an email list, and why IRL postering can beat lazy online spend.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5v5XObpCdwwXn5N1OD1cFQ?si=iKzKWbABSoCiaw9hZxeuvg

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Keywords: music business, independent artist, self-funding, touring strategy, tour marketing, music marketing, Meta ads, promotion strategy, release rollout, artist management, direct-to-fan, email list, catalog strategy

Inside the Playbook: JMSN on Why Music Videos Can Still Win for Artists Mar 15, 2026

Show notes

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, we talk about a music marketing truth most artists learn too late: a great music video isn’t “extra content,” it’s a long-term marketing asset.

JMSN explains why he’d rather put his budget into visuals than into digital ads, paid social, or “content seeding” that disappears in a day. His thinking is simple: a strong video becomes an evergreen commercial for the song and the artist brand, something that can keep working for years as your catalog grows.

We also break down how “Soft Spot” shifted the conversation around whether videos still matter, why iconic visuals can still turn a casual listener into a fan, and what it looks like to operate like a creative director: storyboarding, “editing in your head,” and choosing speed and control by directing and editing the work himself. The bigger takeaway for artists and managers is practical: spend where the audience can see it, and let one great idea beat a big budget.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5v5XObpCdwwXn5N1OD1cFQ?si=iKzKWbABSoCiaw9hZxeuvg

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Keywords: music video marketing, music marketing, artist branding, independent artist, artist management, release strategy, content strategy, creative direction, video production, touring and merch, music business

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Manager’s Playbook

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected