Choosing a manager is one of the most important decisions that an artist makes in their career. A manager is an integral part of an artist's success and can be one of the determining factor in an artist's success. A manager's income is tied to their artist's success. Which means that although there isn't a universal payment or commission rate that a music manager makes, most managers typically get paid a percentage of what the artist makes. That's right, in the music industry, managers commonly get paid when their artist or talent is paid.
It's common that artist managers are paid a commission based on the gross pay of an artist. Managers wear various hats and the typical manager is instrumental in the day-to-day operations of the artist's business. According to Berklee, managers often help clients book gigs, plan album projects, orchestrate record releases and tours, create marketing and merchandising strategies, get paid for their work, and establish and pursue long-term career goals.
The standard percentage for a manager in the United States is 20 percent. Some managers who work with superstar talent may take 10 percent. Overall, it's typical for a manager's commission to be anywhere from 10 to 25 percent in most cases.
In some instances, artists choose to pay their managers a salary. According to Zippia, Artist Managers in America who are on a salary can make an average salary of $75,053 per year. The top 10 percent of American artist managers bring in a salary of over $128,000 per year or more.
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