The Manager's Playbook - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

Inside the Playbook: Mike Biggane on Why Playlists Don’t Break Artists Anymore Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

Before playlists became leverage, before algorithms dictated discovery, before release strategy turned into guesswork, there was New Music Friday.

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mike Biggane, creator of New Music Friday and former Global Head of Curation at Spotify, breaks down how one early idea helped reshape music discovery and quietly changed the entire music industry.

Mike walks through Spotify’s formative years, when human curation and algorithmic programming were still in tension, and how acquisitions like The Echo Nest accelerated the shift toward personalization at scale. He explains how streaming platforms altered market dynamics, why traditional programming models broke, and how labels, A&R teams, and DSPs were forced to adapt in real time.

We also touch on how TikTok and user-generated content further fragmented listening behaviour, why release cycles lost their power, and how corporate pressures inside streaming platforms influenced music programming decisions.

This isn’t nostalgia. It’s a snapshot of how the modern music business was actually built and why it works the way it does today.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1DDs8ss1IMx7YU5OV2QtXa?si=vO7b2aHjRomFvbCIxoEO5Q

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

The Manager’s Playbook 050: Mike Biggane - Spotify, Personalization, Artist Development & The New Music Business Jan 13, 2026

Show notes

The music industry didn’t slowly evolve. It structurally changed.
And most people are still trying to operate inside a version of the business that no longer exists.

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, I sit down with Mike Biggane, creator of New Music Friday, former Global Head of Curation at Spotify, and former EVP of Music Strategy at Universal Music Group, for a grounded, honest conversation about where the music business really is right now.

Mike was in the rooms where modern music discovery was built. From shaping playlist culture and algorithmic curation to navigating the shift toward personalization, he explains why traditional artist development, marketing strategies, and release cycles stopped working the way they used to.

We talk about how Spotify algorithms, TikTok and user-generated content, and AI-driven music tools rewired how artists grow audiences, how labels allocate marketing spend, and why playlisting alone no longer builds sustainable careers. We unpack why the album model broke, why new music doesn’t monetize the same, and why labels quietly pulled back on development.

Looking ahead to 2026, Mike shares why derivatives, remixes, superfans, and artist-centric thinking will define the next phase of the music industry and why songwriters may be positioned to benefit more than they have in years.

This episode is for:

Independent artists trying to grow streams and real fans
Managers building teams, systems, and long-term strategies
Songwriters navigating royalties, attribution, and derivatives
Music executives adapting to AI, data, and personalization
Anyone serious about building a sustainable career in music

This isn’t about chasing virality.
It’s about understanding how the music business actually works now and building with intention inside the new reality.

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

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

New episodes drop Tuesdays @ 10am ET

Inside the Playbook: Nima Nasseri on The Mental Shift Artists Need to Survive the 2026 Music Biz Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nima Nasseri and Mauricio Ruiz unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of success in the music industry: visualization, mindset, and mental discipline.

This isn’t about motivation. It’s about alignment.

Nima explains why artists, managers, and creators who build lasting careers start with the internal work first. Before the streams, before the content strategy, before the opportunities, there’s clarity of vision. What you see, feel, and believe directly shapes how you move through your career.

The conversation touches on how elite performers and athletes use visualization, why mental health and gratitude are essential for creative longevity, and how building the right team culture compounds success over time. Nima also shares practical insight into daily routines, habit tracking, and goal setting, offering a grounded framework artists can actually apply.

If you’re an independent artist, manager, or creative navigating today’s fast-moving music business, this clip is a reminder that sustainable growth starts from the inside out.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/29UCcW0A5LeIquPLsdf2FB?si=9HhtH7SYQ6aurU1fq3tF8g

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

Inside the Playbook: Nima Nasseri on The One Shift Every Artist Must Make in 2026 Dec 21, 2025

Show notes

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nima Nasseri breaks down what it really takes for artists to succeed in today’s digital-first music industry.

Nima explains why talent alone isn’t enough anymore and why artists have to rethink how they show up, market themselves, and build momentum. Success today comes from mindset, consistency, and understanding how content and platforms actually work.

The conversation touches on TikTok strategy, social media algorithms, and why reframing yourself as a creator and marketer isn’t selling out, it’s adapting. Nima also speaks candidly about authenticity, mental health, burnout, and how to stay consistent without losing yourself in the process.

Whether you’re an independent artist, artist manager, or someone trying to build a long-term career in the music business, this clip offers a grounded look at what growth really requires in the current landscape.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/29UCcW0A5LeIquPLsdf2FB?si=9HhtH7SYQ6aurU1fq3tF8g

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

Inside the Playbook: Nima Nasseri on The TikTok Blueprint Every Artist Needs Dec 20, 2025

Show notes

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nima Nasseri breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in the modern music industry: virality.

This isn’t about chasing trends or hoping the algorithm saves you. It’s about why consistency, authenticity, and understanding content systems are what actually create momentum for artists and creators today.

Nima shares the real-life story of Norris Williams, a 72-year-old dog trainer who had been living on a train for years and how applying the same principles artists need to grow online turned social media into something far more powerful than views. What came out of it wasn’t hype, but community, opportunity, and a new business.

The conversation also touches on how platform algorithms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube all move differently, and why artists who fail to adapt their strategy end up stuck. In today’s music business, knowing how these systems work isn’t optional, it’s part of the job.

If you’re an independent artist, creator, or manager trying to understand how discovery really works in a post-gatekeeper industry, this clip offers a clear reframe worth sitting with.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/29UCcW0A5LeIquPLsdf2FB?si=9HhtH7SYQ6aurU1fq3tF8g

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

The Manager’s Playbook 049: Nima Nasseri - Content, Consistency, Algorithms, Artist Strategy & The New Music Industry Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, I sit down with Nima Nasseri, artist manager for Hit-Boy, former VP of A&R Strategy at Universal Music Group, and one of the clearest thinkers in the modern music business.

This conversation is about the shift most artists and managers are still resisting.

We’re no longer in a talent-first industry. We’re in a content-led, motion-driven business where consistency, systems, and storytelling matter more than waiting to be discovered. Nima breaks down how TikTok, short-form content, and algorithms have quietly replaced traditional A&R and why artists who don’t adapt are falling behind, regardless of how good the music is.

We talk through real strategy:

how to stay consistent without burning out,
how to think about content as a system instead of a chore,
how artists actually convert attention into fans and streams,
and why mindset, visualization, and mental health are no longer optional if you want longevity.

Nima also shares the story of using content to help Norris Williams, a 72-year-old man experiencing homelessness, rebuild his life, a powerful reminder that these platforms aren’t just tools for marketing, but for real human impact.

Whether you’re an independent artist, artist manager, producer, or music executive, this episode will challenge how you think about growth, discovery, and what it really takes to build a sustainable career in today’s music industry.

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

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

New episodes drop Tuesdays @ 10am ET

Inside the Playbook: Azad Naficy on Why Artists Get Screwed by Major Labels Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, host Mauricio Ruiz and Azad Naficy break down one of the biggest questions in the music industry today:

Does every artist need a major label or can you build a successful career independently?

Azad offers a refreshingly honest look at the advantages and limitations of major label partnerships, from global reach and international infrastructure to the realities of misaligned deals and lost creative direction. He also explains why some artists thrive in the independent sector, especially when they build a strong, bespoke team that actually understands their vision.

This conversation dives deep into:
• how to evaluate a record deal and what a label can really offer
• why artist development is still the foundation of every long career
• the qualities that make a great A&R
• challenges artists face when signing too early
• what independence looks like when done intentionally
• how to build a team that supports your long-term goals

Whether you're considering a label deal, building an independent operation, or trying to understand how to scale your music career the right way, this clip delivers practical guidance you won’t hear in most industry rooms.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5OEmeP3qCOLotxuji6se0j?si=IGzhU94zT2ydsy63TGkhuw

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

Inside the Playbook: Azad Naficy on The Untapped Music Genre Making Artists REAL Money Dec 14, 2025

Show notes

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and Azad Naficy explore one of the most transformative shifts happening in the music business today: the explosive rise of ambient, instrumental, and neoclassical music and why it’s creating new financial opportunities for artists who approach it with intention.

Azad breaks down how changing conversations around mental health, peace of mind, and emotional well-being have opened the door for a new wave of artists who aren’t chasing virality, but instead building real, sustainable streaming revenue through catalog depth and consistency.
Ruiz highlights how Peace of Mind Studio has built an ecosystem where artists are already earning six-figure incomes, powered by high-quality production, smart catalog strategy, and genre innovation.

They also dive into the business mechanics behind this success:
• better deal structures,
• thoughtful recoupment models,
• smart financial literacy,
• and the intentional development that leads to long-term sustainability.

From innovative partnership models to building a multimillion-dollar operation without sacrificing artistic integrity, this conversation is a roadmap for anyone looking to understand the future of independent artist monetization, instrumental music growth, and the systems required to build a stable, fulfilling career in today’s industry.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5OEmeP3qCOLotxuji6se0j?si=IGzhU94zT2ydsy63TGkhuw

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

Inside the Playbook: Azad Naficy on Why Your Show Isn’t Selling Dec 13, 2025

Show notes

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and Azad Naficy break down the real mechanics of touring in the modern music business. Not the highlight reel, the reality.

Azad opens up about the challenges artists face when they jump into touring too early, the financial and physical toll of the road, and why developing a strong live performance strategy is essential for long-term success.

They explore how great artists build unforgettable shows through fan engagement, experience design, and intentional stage development, and why choosing the right venues, pacing your growth, and investing in your live show matters more than chasing big stages prematurely. Azad also speaks on the importance of tour economics, mastering different revenue streams, and why longevity often comes from patience, restraint, and incremental growth.

Whether you’re an independent artist, manager, or anyone navigating the touring ecosystem, this conversation offers practical insights on sustainable touring, fan-building strategy, and making smart business decisions that support your career instead of draining it.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5OEmeP3qCOLotxuji6se0j?si=IGzhU94zT2ydsy63TGkhuw

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

Inside the Playbook: Azad Naficy on The Steps Successful Artists NEVER Skip Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with artist, executive, and Avant Garden co-founder Azad Naficy to unpack one of the most important truths in the modern music business:

The people who make the most money in music aren’t the artists, they’re the ones who own the copyright.

Azad breaks down how record labels build wealth through ownership and equity, why understanding your masters, publishing, and copyright is essential, and what artists should look for before signing any record deal.

He also shares how early collaborators like Brittany Crawford and Brando shaped his approach to artist development and why great management is always centered on people, not numbers.

Whether you’re an independent artist, aspiring music executive, manager, or someone trying to understand how real careers are built, this conversation offers clarity on:

• The real economics of the music industry
• How labels profit from ownership and catalog
• What makes effective artist development
• The mindset shift from artist to executive
• How to build the right team for long-term growth

This is a candid, strategic breakdown of how the business actually works and why artists need to understand it before they give anything away.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5OEmeP3qCOLotxuji6se0j?si=IGzhU94zT2ydsy63TGkhuw

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