Summary
The Artist relations manager (ARM) develops and maintains relationships between the company and the artist. He/she acts as the liaison between his/her company and artists, who are usually under contract with the company of the ARM.
Duties
The job of an artist relations manager is to make sure the artist is satisfied in working for the company. To do this, the artist relations manager pampers the artists under him/her and performs various tasks to ensure the artists know they are valuable assets of the company. In this industry, companies reward artists with anything they desire, particularly if an act attains a gold record.
The ARM needs to stay in constant communication with the artist, determine and solve possible conflicts or problems between the artist and the company before the contract goes sour. Other tasks of artist relations managers include coordinating with the various departments of the company, planning promotional events for concerts, tours, or the artist’s upcoming CD releases. They are also responsible for arranging interviews and exposures in TV or radio. As a spokesperson for the record company, the ARM also gives suggestions to the artists related to their performance on stage. The ARM needs to establish a genuine friendship with the artist, while acting as the record label’s representative. Many artist relations managers have become and remained friends with artists, even after they have moved to other labels.
Education and Training Requirements
To become an artist relations manager, one must possess a high school diploma. Major record label companies prefer managers with at least a bachelor’s degree in communications, music business or merchandising or journalism among others. Experience in the industry is always a plus.
Knowledge and Skills Requirements
Effective artist relations managers have a solid understanding with the ins and outs of the recording and music business. They must have excellent communication skills, interpersonal and public relations skills, leadership skills, analytical and problem-solving skills, and a genuine love for music. Most ARMs today have advanced knowledge in computers to keep up with new media marketing.
Working Conditions
As with most jobs in the music industry, the artist relations manager has irregular, long work hours. Although these managers have their own office within the record company’s location, most of their works are done on the field with the artists they represent. Some travel may also be included in the work.
Salary
An artist relations manager makes $51,000 annually on average. Factors such as size of company, location, nature of the industry, benefits and experience may cause salaries to vary considerably among artist relations managers.
