Music management
In music management , natural or legal persons act as legal representatives for musicians and singers in the music industry.
The management
Music management includes organizational, business and legal issues, such as: B. the regulation of contractual matters in compliance with regularities that are complicated in the music business and constantly changing. Music managers should negotiate according to valid rules that do not take advantage of musicians and enable them to concentrate on their artistic activity. In practice, however, music management often takes place in the field of tension between the economic interests of companies, cultural institutions, artists and orchestras that employ music managers. For individual musicians and music groups, being dependent on a music manager can be problematic.
The management should observe legal aspects regarding GEMA and the artists' social security fund. Commissions of 20% of the musician's income are the norm.
As copyright experts, music managers negotiate media rights for radio, TV and video recordings and Internet presentations.
Music management functions are partly performed by music producers and artist agencies.
The managers
The music manager cultivates and promotes industry contacts and thereby represents the interests of the musician vis-à-vis potential contractual, marketing and media partners. The tasks of a traditional music manager include: B. Negotiating record contracts and performance fees, advising musicians on marketing issues and coordinating appointments. Some managers, such as Brian Epstein and Malcolm McLaren , have become famous for the musicians they represent.
Vocational training
The job title “music manager” is not protected. However, the academic degrees are protected. In Germany, music management can be studied as a university degree with a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degree.
At private universities of applied sciences, the university entrance qualification, technical college entrance qualification or a comparable international qualification is required.
University courses are offered by the University of Paderborn (popular music and media), the University of Greifswald, the Saarland University and the Danube University Krems.
The following degrees are favorable for higher positions: Second state examination in law; Business administration with a diploma or Master of Arts (MA). In all cases, professional experience in institutions of the music industry is essential.
Dubious business practices
In addition to music management, which provides a serious service for musicians, there are dubious business practices. Young talents and interpreters are selected in castings and bound by unfavorable contracts . A characteristic of dubious contracts can be that not the musician, but the manager claims the naming , license and exploitation rights from the artistic activity. Young performers as newcomers thus become mere employees of a music manager or a management company whose service contract promises a salary, but excludes them from an appropriate share of royalties and other income from their work, while the management reaps large amounts in the event of success. Many musicians complain that their manager has taken advantage of them (see web links, video by The Turtles ). They often lack the documents to prove it.
Many artists in the music industry today market themselves without a manager. You use social media networks and independent sales portals for this.
See also
Web links
- IMUC, Association of Music Managers & Consultants eV
- Video from The Turtles about their music managers
Individual evidence
- ↑ Legal aspects of musical performances
- ↑ The Musicians Guide, Berlin 1999, p. 106ff.
- ↑ Study of Music Management / Music Production - Bachelor of Arts. See requirements , accessed May 30, 2013 .
- ↑ Crash Course Music Management, Bergkirchen 2006, p. 9ff