6 Signs Your Music Manager Isn't Looking Out for You

Quick answer: Your music manager may not be looking out for you if: you can’t reach them, they’re taking an unusually large cut, gigs have quietly dried up, you’re suddenly fielding industry calls yourself, you’re having real disagreements about your music’s direction, or they’re not being straight with you about money. One or two isolated incidents happen to everyone - a consistent pattern across several of these is the actual signal.

Music managers rarely get the credit they deserve when they’re doing the job well - most of the real work happens quietly, in the background. But the flip side is just as true: there are plenty of bad ones out there, and a bad manager can stall a promising career just as effectively as a good one can launch it. Here’s what to watch for.

#1 - You Have Trouble Reaching Them

A manager who stops returning calls or answering questions is telling you something, whether they say it out loud or not. Everyone gets busy occasionally - but a pattern of silence usually means your career has slipped down their priority list.

#2 - They’re Taking a Steep Cut

The standard management fee runs 15-20% of your earnings, sometimes adjusted for experience and where you’re at in your career. You should always be earning meaningfully more from your music than your manager is. Anyone asking for half or more isn’t managing your career - they’re renting it.

#3 - Gigs and Bookings Have Dried Up

If your calendar is empty but you’re ready to play, and there’s no real explanation, that’s a problem. A manager who’s actually working should be regularly chasing leads. Long stretches with nothing to show for it are a fair reason to ask hard questions.

#4 - You’re Fielding Industry Calls Yourself

Part of a manager’s job is being the buffer between you and the business - labels, venues, press. If you notice you’re increasingly the one people in the industry are calling directly instead of your manager, that buffer has quietly disappeared, and so, functionally, has the manager.

#5 - You’re Having Real Disagreements About Direction

A manager can offer opinions and pushback - that’s normal and often useful. But you shouldn’t be compromising your actual artistic integrity to satisfy theirs. Your manager works for you, not the other way around; a fundamental, recurring disagreement about your music’s direction is a real crack in the relationship, not a minor friction point.

#6 - They’re Not Financially Straight With You

Whether it’s carelessness or something worse, a manager who’s evasive about late royalties or vague about where money went is a serious problem. You need to be able to fully trust the person handling your income - if that trust is already shaky, it rarely gets better on its own.

Finding the Right Fit

None of this means every manager is bad - it means take the search seriously, and don’t rush into (or stay in) a relationship that isn’t working. Interview thoroughly, and make sure whoever you work with genuinely understands where you’re trying to take your music. For what to look for the next time around, see what to look for when hiring a music manager and questions to ask a potential manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a reasonable music manager commission? Typically 15-20% of your earnings. A manager asking for 50% or more is a serious red flag - you should always be earning meaningfully more from your own career than your manager is.

Is it normal for a manager to be hard to reach sometimes? Occasionally, sure - everyone’s busy. But a consistent pattern of unanswered calls and unaddressed concerns isn’t a scheduling issue, it’s a sign your career has stopped being a priority for them.

What should I do if I notice several of these signs? Start researching a replacement before you cut ties, if possible - don’t wait until you’re managerless and behind. And review your contract’s cancellation terms before you make any move, so you know exactly what leaving actually costs.

Whether or not your current setup is working, getting your music heard shouldn’t wait. Submit Your Music and let’s help it travel.