5 Types of Music Managers You Should Walk Away From

Quick answer: Walk away from a manager who’s more interested in partying than working, who name-drops instead of delivering results, who’s chronically unreachable, who thrives on drama, or who treats you like a kid instead of an employer. None of these are rare - they’re common enough that you’ll likely meet at least one before you find someone worth signing with.

You don’t usually find a manager - a decent one finds you, once you’ve built enough momentum to be worth their time. That also means you’ll meet your fair share of managers who aren’t actually worth yours. Here’s who to avoid.

#1 - The One Who’s There for the Party

A drink with a contact backstage is normal. A manager who can’t separate business from a good time - the one still recovering from last night’s afterparty when you need a real answer about your release schedule - is not someone you want handling your money and your calendar.

#2 - The Name-Dropper

Some managers lean hard on who they’ve “worked with” instead of what they’ve actually done for anyone. Name-dropping isn’t inherently a problem, but when it’s the entire pitch, it’s often covering for the fact that there isn’t much substance underneath it.

#3 - The One Who Never Calls You Back

Your manager will have other clients, and being busy is genuinely a good sign - it usually means they’re getting things done. Being consistently unreachable is a different problem entirely: time management is part of the job, and a manager who can’t find five minutes for you is telling you exactly how they’ll handle the bigger stuff too.

#4 - The Drama Magnet

A manager who’s constantly stirring the pot - with venues, with labels, with your own bandmates - is actively working against you, not for you. Their job is being the calm, diplomatic go-between, not another source of chaos you now have to manage on top of your own.

#5 - The One Who Acts Like Your Parent

Your manager works for you. They can offer advice, push back, disagree - that’s part of the job - but the moment they start dictating your creative direction like they’re the one in charge, the relationship has flipped in a way it shouldn’t.

What to Actually Look For Instead

Genuine excitement about your specific music (not a copy-paste pitch), verifiable experience, financial responsibility, and clarity about what they’ll actually do for you. When you sit down to talk percentage, treat an unusually aggressive ask as information, not just a negotiating position - see what percentage is actually reasonable before that conversation happens, and bring a real list of questions with you.

None of these five types are hard to spot once you know to look - the trick is not signing anything before you’ve had enough time to actually notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the biggest red flags in a potential music manager? Someone more interested in partying than working, chronic name-dropping instead of results, being consistently unreachable, thriving on drama, or trying to control your creative direction like a parent instead of an employee.

Is it normal for a manager to be hard to reach sometimes? Being busy is normal - most managers have other clients. Being consistently unreachable and slow to respond isn’t busy, it’s a sign they’re in over their head or not prioritizing you.

How much of my earnings is too much for a manager to ask for? Above roughly 20% for a standard artist management relationship should raise questions. Someone pushing hard for an unusually large cut, or wanting money upfront instead of commission, is a red flag on its own.

What should I actually look for in a good music manager instead? Genuine excitement about your specific music, verifiable experience and contacts, transparency about their process, financial responsibility, and clear communication - the direct opposite of all five red-flag types.

While you’re vetting managers, keep building the case that makes the good ones want in. Submit Your Music and let’s get you there.