The Manager's Playbook - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

The Manager’s Playbook 046: Machel Montano & Che Kothari - The King of Soca, Trinidad & Tobago Culture, Creative Reinvention, Team Alignment & Long-Term Success Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

For over 40 years, Machel Montano has been the heartbeat of Soca and one of the most influential voices in Caribbean music. But behind the longevity, the reinvention, and the cultural leadership is a deeper story, one of discipline, purpose, spiritual growth, and the right partner beside him.

In this episode, I sit down with Machel Montano and his manager and long-time collaborator Che Kothari to explore how a young artist from Trinidad & Tobago became the King of Soca, and how the two of them rebuilt the entire foundation of his career for long-term sustainability.

Machel opens up about being managed by his parents, navigating the pressure of yearly Carnival cycles, discovering meditation and spirituality, and learning how to carry a culture without losing himself. Che offers the strategic perspective; how he helped reorganize Machel’s operation, align the team, modernize the systems, and bring global structure to a Caribbean legacy.

This is a rare, honest look into what it truly takes to build a lasting career in Soca, Trinidad & Tobago culture, and the Caribbean music industry.
If you’re an artist, manager, creator, or someone who cares about leadership and legacy, this conversation is essential.

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: Snow Tha Product on The Independent Artist System That Actually Works Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

Snow Tha Product has been building on YouTube long before most artists realized how powerful the platform could be. In this clip, she breaks down what it’s really like to juggle multiple channels, understand social media trends, and keep showing up for an audience that’s been with her since the CD-on-the-street days.

We talk about the evolution from hand-to-hand hustle to navigating YouTube, Shorts, TikTok, and every algorithm that’s come and gone. Snow shares how she stays consistent, how she collaborates across platforms, and why authenticity still beats every growth hack the industry tries to push.

She also opens up about the pressure to scale, the burnout that comes with being “always on,” and the oversaturation artists feel when content creation becomes part of the job description. Through all of it, she comes back to the same truth: real engagement with real fans is what keeps everything moving.

Whether you’re an artist trying to grow online, a manager building digital strategy, or someone figuring out how to stand out in a crowded landscape, this conversation gives you the honest, real-world version of what it takes.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gw1OsTkuYHPVcSzys3BXp?si=w-5Rhmy-TnS4LtPoo_G6pg

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

Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on What Every Music Manager Can Learn from Snow Tha Product Nov 23, 2025

Show notes

In this clip, Snow Tha Product opens up about what it really takes to stay ahead in the music industry, and why being early isn’t always as glamorous as it looks from the outside. We get into the pressure artists feel to constantly innovate, the expectations managers are juggling behind the scenes, and the sheer amount of work required to make content feel fun, spontaneous, and authentic.

Snow breaks down the chaos of directing her own videos, organizing “party-style” shoots, and managing the creative process while still sticking to a budget. She talks about her background in music video production, the tension between artistic vision and financial reality, and how unpredictable online success truly is, even when the idea feels like a sure win.

But the heart of the conversation is about fans: what real engagement looks like, how to build connection without relying on corporate “super fan” monetization strategies, and why authenticity still outperforms every marketing funnel the industry is trying to push.

If you’re an artist, manager, or creative trying to build something meaningful in a noisy, algorithm-driven world, this clip gives you a grounded look at the realities, the pressures, and the decisions that actually move careers forward.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gw1OsTkuYHPVcSzys3BXp?si=w-5Rhmy-TnS4LtPoo_G6pg

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

Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on Why the Music Business Keeps Failing Artists Nov 22, 2025

Show notes

Snow Tha Product has one of the most unique creative processes in the game, and in this episode she walks us through all of it, from building songs completely from scratch to blending genres in ways that only she can pull off. What’s wild is how often her rough previews go viral before she’s even decided the record is finished. That says a lot about her instinct and the connection she has with her audience.

We talk about the tension every artist feels between creative freedom and industry expectations, and how Snow has learned to protect her curiosity despite the pressure to fit a formula. She opens up about using music as an emotional outlet, the role of social and political issues in her writing, and why staying true to herself is the only non-negotiable in her process.

What I love most is how she includes her fans in everything; the rollouts, the testing, the experiments, the fun. Her community isn’t an audience; they’re part of the engine. And that’s exactly why the music hits the way it does.

If you’re an artist, manager, or anyone trying to understand how creativity, authenticity, and strategy can actually coexist in today’s music industry, this conversation is a masterclass.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gw1OsTkuYHPVcSzys3BXp?si=w-5Rhmy-TnS4LtPoo_G6pg

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

Inside the Playbook: Snow Tha Product on the Harsh Reality of Record Deals Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

Snow Tha Product has lived through parts of the music industry most artists never talk about publicly. In this episode, she opens up about what it felt like to be shelved by a major label, to have music you can’t release, and to navigate a system that didn’t understand who she was or how to move her forward.

Instead of hiding the struggle, Snow chose transparency. She let her fans into the reality of what she was going through, and that honesty ended up changing her career. She breaks down the pressure to “look successful,” the internal battles that come with stalled momentum, and the moment she realized she needed to rebuild her career on her own terms.

We dive into the practical lessons too; why release timelines matter in record deals, how artists can leverage platforms like YouTube to stay active, and the importance of developing new skills when the industry isn’t moving. Snow shares her perspective on managers, independence, and why she eventually decided to build her own ecosystem from the ground up.

This conversation is equal parts vulnerable and tactical. It’s a look at the music business from someone who’s lived its harshest realities and still came out with clarity, ownership, and a renewed sense of purpose.

If you’re navigating your own path, artist, manager, creative, or executive, this episode will give you a blueprint grounded in honesty, resilience, and real-world experience.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gw1OsTkuYHPVcSzys3BXp?si=w-5Rhmy-TnS4LtPoo_G6pg

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

The Manager’s Playbook 045: Snow Tha Product - Independence, Creative Infrastructure, Artist Autonomy, Fan-Powered Ecosystems & Building a Self-Sustaining Career Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

Snow Tha Product is one of the clearest examples of what real independence looks like in today’s music industry, not the aesthetic, but the infrastructure.

In this conversation, Snow opens up about the reality of being a fully independent artist: building her career without a label, operating her business with family, creating her own systems, and turning her fanbase into a real community that sustains her life and art.

We get into her early struggles, the misunderstandings that shaped her journey, what it means to be ahead of your time, and why autonomy became the only path that made sense. Snow breaks down her label experience, how she built a direct-to-fan ecosystem, the emotional and mental weight of independence, and the power of showing up authentically in a world that often rewards the opposite.

From bilingual creativity and touring realities to the merch engine, content workflow, and personal discipline behind it all, this episode is a blueprint for any artist or creative building a career on their own terms.

If you care about music, culture, leadership, or entrepreneurship, Snow’s story is a masterclass in authenticity, resilience, and long-game thinking.

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: Austin Dunn on the Marketing System That Broke Victoria Monét Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

Victoria Monét didn’t just have a viral moment, she built one.

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin Dunn breaks down how Victoria’s journey from songwriter to star was powered by smart storytelling, community-driven marketing, and a deep understanding of what fans actually connect with.

He shares how leveraging her work with Ariana Grande, using faceless pages, and focusing on low-cost but high-impact content helped build a movement around her music.

From the viral Sol Blume performance to the now-iconic “Sum Cut” Challenge, this is a masterclass in how to grow a fanbase through authenticity, strategy, and consistency.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/30xK6cQ7CM379uuTuvK6T8?si=WHE9_oBBTtqYM8R0hZZ3Jg

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

Inside the Playbook: Austin Dunn on Why Most Artists Will Never Go Viral Nov 16, 2025

Show notes

The way artists connect with fans is evolving, and Austin Dunn has been studying the shift in real time.

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin breaks down the new rules of content in the music business: why vertical video wins, how authentic storytelling builds audience trust, and what it really means to stay “cool” online.

Using examples from artists like Jessie Reyez and Sasha Keable, he shares the creative and strategic playbook behind content that actually connects, not just performs.

For any artist or manager trying to stay relevant in 2025 and beyond, this conversation is a masterclass in how to make your message move.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/30xK6cQ7CM379uuTuvK6T8?si=WHE9_oBBTtqYM8R0hZZ3Jg

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

Inside the Playbook: Austin Dunn on The New Rules of Music Marketing Nov 15, 2025

Show notes

The rules of digital marketing in music have changed, and Austin Dunn has lived every version of them.

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin breaks down how music marketing has evolved from the height of COVID to where it’s heading by 2026. From the rise and fall of influencer campaigns to the dominance of TikTok and user-generated content, this is a real look at how attention actually moves online.

He also gets into why authenticity still wins, why major label strategies are struggling, and how repetition, not virality, builds real momentum.

If you’re serious about understanding how to grow in today’s digital landscape, this episode is your blueprint.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/30xK6cQ7CM379uuTuvK6T8?si=WHE9_oBBTtqYM8R0hZZ3Jg

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

Inside the Playbook: Austin Dunn on Cracking SoundCloud Before It Blew Up Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

Before algorithms ran the music business, Austin Dunn was already building his own.

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin breaks down the SoundCloud era, from bot networks and repost hacks to turning underground records into viral movements.

He shares how those same tactics helped launch artists like 6ix9ine and Trippie Redd, and how a kid studying accounting turned his early experiments into a full-blown career in digital marketing.

If you’re an artist, manager, or strategist looking to understand how songs really break online, this conversation is your blueprint.

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/30xK6cQ7CM379uuTuvK6T8?si=WHE9_oBBTtqYM8R0hZZ3Jg

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