Artist and manager: define the work, commission and release authority

Start with the work you need

Write down the practical problem: coordinating a release campaign, developing a longer-term plan, handling business discussions or managing particular relationships. Ask what the person will actually do, which decisions remain with the artist and how progress will be reviewed. A project consultant and an ongoing manager may have different scopes; do not rely on a title alone.

A clear brief is useful before either side commits. It should name the parties, the activities and the territories involved. Legal interpretation and a suitable agreement require advice for the actual circumstances and jurisdiction. This guide is a discussion aid, not a model management contract.

Prepare an appointment discussion sheet

• The artist or band and the person or company doing the work.
• The services included and the activities or side projects excluded.
• The territory, intended period and agreed review process.
• Decisions the manager can recommend, approve or carry out only with separate authority.
• Reporting, expense approval and where both sides keep the relevant records.
• What happens when the work or relationship ends.

Ask how potential conflicts will be handled if the same person also supplies production, label or marketing services. Keep the scope and payment for each role visible. Do not assume a manager’s invoice also covers a separately ordered creative service.

Define commission without prescribing a standard rate

A percentage is incomplete without the income it applies to. Ask which activities and receipts are included, what is excluded, whether the calculation is before or after specified costs, and when accounting occurs. Discuss how expenses are authorised and supported. Do not accept an unexplained “share of everything” as a complete calculation.

The UK Musicians’ Union’s management notes distinguish the scope of the appointment, the financial basis and any commission after the relationship ends. Their specimen is jurisdiction-specific guidance, not a universal rate or term for every artist. Work through the proposed clauses with your own adviser rather than importing a percentage from an online example.

Keep a distribution split within its real scope

DistroBolt can allocate agreed recording income through its verified royalty-split workflow. That does not collect the artist’s live fees, publishing income or other earnings, determine whether a management commission is legally due, or recreate a complete management contract. Confirm the recording, basis, recipients and period before any setup.

For example, a manager might coordinate a campaign for one release while an agreement addresses a wider set of activities. A track-level payment entry cannot by itself establish the wider financial arrangement. Equally, a manager may be paid under a separate accounting process rather than a distribution allocation. Neither choice proves ownership of the master or song. No 50/50 or other management rate is recommended here.

Create a release authority matrix

• Audio: who recommends a change and who approves the final export?
• Credits and artist identity: who checks the source record and confirms corrections?
• Budget: who approves a purchase before it is made?
• Delivery: who has authority to submit or request a change?
• Reporting: who checks which statement and how an issue is escalated?

This is your own team document, not a promise of manager permissions or shared access inside DistroBolt. Never share a password or verification code as a substitute for an authorised access arrangement. Start from the release approval checklist and confirm actual account capabilities before delegating an account action.

Discuss the end before changing live settings

Ask what notice, continuing accounting and any post-term commission the actual agreement provides. Identify the covered work and income rather than assuming every future royalty is included or that all obligations disappear immediately. Preserve the accepted agreement and relevant release records privately.

If a payment change is agreed, confirm its effective period and ask DistroBolt about future reported royalties and any historical issue. Do not use a new percentage to settle an unexplained old balance. A manager change does not automatically require a catalogue takedown or a new artist identity.

An original preparation example

A hypothetical artist wants a manager to coordinate a two-single campaign. They list the deliverables and approval points, ask how costs and commission will be calculated, and record whether other projects fall outside the work. They separately confirm the authorised distribution contact. Before signing, they ask an adviser about an unclear post-term clause. The example is a preparation method, not a recommended commercial deal or promise of campaign results.