What to Know Before You Sign With a Music Manager
Quick answer: Before signing with a music manager, confirm the contract benefits both sides, understand the full duration and cancellation terms, get the manager’s exact duties and fee (typically 15-20% of profits) spelled out explicitly, and figure out how expenses get covered. If any part of it doesn’t make sense to you, get a lawyer to translate it before you sign, not after.
Plenty of exceptional musicians spend years trying to make it without the right help - a good manager can genuinely be that help. But “genuinely helpful” and “worth signing with” aren’t automatic, and the contract is where that gets decided.
The Contract Should Benefit Both of You
A contract that only protects the manager leaves you exposed. One that only protects you gives them little reason to actually work hard for you. A fair deal is a real win-win, and if it reads like it’s written entirely from one side’s perspective, that’s worth noticing before you sign, not after.
Get a Lawyer to Look It Over
An hour or two of an entertainment lawyer’s time is a small cost against what a bad clause could cost you years down the line. If anything in the contract doesn’t make sense on a first read, that’s exactly what the lawyer is for.
It Shouldn’t Need a Law Degree to Understand
A reasonable contract states its terms in plain language - the length, the division of income, the basics - without burying them in jargon most musicians (or most people) have no reason to already know. Excessive complexity is itself a signal worth paying attention to.
Pay Attention to the Length
Around one year is typical for a first contract, sometimes with an option to extend. That’s enough time to actually evaluate whether the relationship is working, without locking you into someone who turns out to be the wrong fit for years.
Get the Job Details Fully Spelled Out
Booking, promotion, negotiation, finances - whatever your manager is actually going to handle needs to be written down explicitly, not implied. This is the section you’ll come back to later if you ever need to answer “is my manager actually doing their job?”
Agree on a Reasonable Fee
15-20% of profits is the typical range, covering most income streams your manager helps generate - though not always merchandise or songwriting royalties, especially from deals they weren’t directly involved in negotiating. Get explicit about which income sources are actually included.
Figure Out Expenses
Your manager will likely need reimbursement for travel and other costs tied to promoting you. Decide up front whether there’s an approval threshold for larger expenses, and whether receipts are required - small details that save real arguments later.
Final Thoughts
None of this needs to feel adversarial - a fair contract is good for both of you. Take your time, don’t sign anything you don’t fully understand, and see the full list of contract talking points for what else belongs on the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a fair music manager contract? One that clearly benefits both sides - defined duties, a reasonable term, a fair commission, and clarity on expenses - without hidden clauses that only protect the manager.
How long should a music manager contract run? About a year is typical for a first contract - long enough to actually evaluate the relationship, short enough that a bad fit doesn’t cost you years of your career.
What percentage is fair for a music manager? 15-20% of profits is the typical range, applied to most income streams - though some managers exclude merchandise or royalties from deals they didn’t help negotiate, which should be spelled out explicitly.
Do I need a lawyer to review a manager contract? If anything in it doesn’t make immediate sense, yes. An hour or two of a lawyer’s time is inexpensive next to what a bad clause could cost you down the line.
Whatever contract you’re weighing, it starts with music worth managing. Submit Your Music and let’s build your case.