What Should You Look for When Hiring a Music Manager?

Quick answer: Before signing with a music manager, look for genuine rapport, real industry experience with contacts they can actually use, real enthusiasm for your music, financial responsibility, and someone you can trust with your income. Take your time, talk to more than one candidate, and check references from artists they’ve worked with before - this is closer to choosing a business partner than filling a job opening.

Hiring a music manager is a major decision, and the right one can genuinely help you gain recognition while freeing you up to focus on your music. Here’s what to actually look for, whether you’re a solo artist or part of a band.

You Should Have Real Rapport

You don’t need to be best friends, but you do need to get along - your manager directly shapes how you’re presented to the industry and the public, so a baseline of trust and comfort matters more than it might seem at first.

Look for Real Industry Experience

Experience isn’t strictly required, but it usually comes with contacts that genuinely help book gigs and generate attention. A friend who’s enthusiastic but inexperienced can still be a real hindrance if they don’t yet have the relationships to back up the effort. When you meet a candidate, ask for names on their roster, look into what they’ve actually done for those artists, and see if you can verify any of it independently - a manager confident in their work will be glad to connect you with references.

They Should Be Genuinely Enthusiastic About Your Music

A manager doesn’t have to love every song, but they do need real enthusiasm for helping get your music out there. That energy is part of what makes their advice worth taking and their pitch to others convincing.

They Should Be Good With Money

Managing your career almost always means managing at least some of your finances too, so financial responsibility isn’t optional. Pay close attention to their cut when you’re reviewing a contract - they should never be taking a larger share than you or your bandmates.

Find Someone You Can Trust

Since a manager is directly involved in your income, trust isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s foundational. If you’re not confident judging that on your own, get help - an outside opinion you trust, or if you’re in a band, a real group consensus rather than one person’s gut feeling.

Take Your Time

Don’t rush this. Talk to more than one candidate, dig into their history, and reach out to artists they’ve worked with directly if you can. Treat every meeting like a real interview - if someone shies away from direct questions, that’s information too.

The Bottom Line

Finding the right manager can genuinely change your trajectory - but only with the right fit. For what to watch out for once you’re working together, see signs your manager isn’t looking out for you and questions to ask a potential manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a manager is trustworthy before signing with them? Ask directly about their finance track record, get references from artists they’ve previously worked with, and if you’re in a band, get a group consensus rather than relying on one person’s read. If you can’t tell on your own, get an outside opinion you trust.

Does a music manager need direct experience in my genre? Not necessarily, but they should genuinely understand and get what you’re putting out, even if it’s not personally their favorite style. A manager who doesn’t connect with your sound at all will struggle to pitch it convincingly to anyone else.

What questions should I ask a potential manager? Ask about their past artists and what they actually did to promote them, their experience in the industry, and their approach to finances. Treat the meeting like a real interview - a manager who dodges direct questions is telling you something important.

Whether or not the right manager has found you yet, getting your music heard doesn’t have to wait. Submit Your Music and let’s help you build the case.