$500/Month for an Artist Manager?! Music Industry Scam

09/10/2025 13 min
$500/Month for an Artist Manager?! Music Industry Scam

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Episode Synopsis

In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter, I respond to an email from an up-and-coming artist who’s been offered a management deal but there’s a catch. The manager wants $500 a month upfront for representation.The artist says this manager is “exclusive,” representing only 19 artists, and promises to:Handle music distributionMake calls to record labels and agenciesHelp secure a record deal and a booking agentIt sounds tempting especially for someone just starting out. But is it legit? Or a red flag?In this video, I break down:✅ The difference between a real manager and a pay-to-play setup✅ Why good managers don’t charge upfront fees✅ What new artists should invest in instead✅ How to spot the difference between opportunity and exploitationIf you’re an emerging artist trying to navigate management, booking, or label deals this one’s for you.💡 Got a music industry question you want me to answer?Head over to MatthewRix.com and send it in. Your question might not only help you it could also help countless other artists walking the same road.#MusicIndustry #ArtistDevelopment #MusicManager #IndependentArtist #MusicBusinessTips #RecordLabels #MusicMarketing #MattrixMinute #MatthewRix #ArtistAdvice #PayToPlay #ManagerScam #MusicCareerListen to Mattrix Minute for daily Music Business insight without the music industry hype.SpotifyApple MusicAmazon MusicYouTube