The Manager's Playbook

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Hitmaka breaks down how producers really get paid in the music business.

From song deals and publishing to fair splits, leverage, and non-exclusive relationships across labels, Hitmaka shares real insight into the business mechanics behind a successful producer career. He also talks about why he stays rooted in hip hop and R&B, the gatekeeping that exists in pop, why the industry is in a “refresh” era, and why building new talent matters now more than ever.

A must-listen for producers, songwriters, artists, managers, and music executives trying to better understand how money, leverage, and opportunity really work in today’s music industry.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7tjdQ69aragoLlzVBOxsFT?si=0hO2glznQ2GUHa1IU6j0Og

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Hitmaka, formerly Yung Berg, for a deep conversation on the real business behind hit songs.

Hitmaka breaks down how hit records actually get made, from demo-first songwriting and producer collaboration to song deals, publishing, label politics, and artist development. He reflects on nearly three decades in music, the mindset that kept him going through every era of his career, and the lessons he learned building records like “Sexy Can I,” Big Sean’s “Bounce Back,” and A Boogie Wit da Hoodie’s “Look Back At It.”

They also get into why writers often do not get paid properly, how producers create leverage, the importance of relationships in the music business, and why the industry needs more creative leadership.

A must-listen for artists, producers, songwriters, managers, and anyone serious about understanding how the music industry really works.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it.KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Want your music everywhere, properly? DistroKid is a straightforward way for independent artists to distribute globally and keep momentum moving. https://distrokid.com/

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

New episodes drop Sundays @ 10am ET

Mike Caren breaks down what actually makes a song feel like a hit.

This clip explores the role of A&R, taste, replay value, emotional connection, melody, lyrics, and creative judgment in today’s music business. 

Mike also talks about trusting your opinion, learning from missed calls, redefining what a hit means in the streaming era, and why great executives grow by focusing on their strengths instead of rushing titles.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UnV1d2ltTCO1rfjqhTKc4?si=seltDGQ-RvWE9fwshY-f3w

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Timestamps:

00:00 Have an Opinion

00:58 What Makes a Hit

03:18 Replay Test for Songs

05:37 Gut Instinct Explained

07:08 Defining Hits Today

08:04 Culture vs Chart Peaks

09:42 Career Moves for Execs

10:58 Turning Down Promotions

11:36 Choosing Your Strengths

13:00 Closing Thoughts on Growth

Mike Caren breaks down why artists and managers need to have hard conversations early if they want to avoid bigger problems later.

This clip is about artist-manager communication, label frustrations, project readiness, honest feedback, over-communication, and building stronger working relationships in the music business. 

It’s a sharp reminder that many issues are not solved by blame. They’re solved by clarity, direct conversations, and the willingness to address problems before they get expensive.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UnV1d2ltTCO1rfjqhTKc4?si=seltDGQ-RvWE9fwshY-f3w

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Timestamps:

00:00 Label Frustrations

01:21 Tough Talks Early

01:43 Is It Ready

03:11 Feedback Not Gossip

04:24 Ad Break Publishing

06:12 Challenge To Improve

08:13 Learning Softer Critique

10:10 Over-communicate Always

11:05 Decisions And Regret

Mike Caren breaks down why consistency, discipline, and adaptability matter more than occasional flashes of brilliance in the music business.

This clip explores the traits that help artists and executives build lasting careers: embracing change, staying open to new ideas, avoiding nostalgia, protecting your focus, and developing the self-awareness to regularly reassess your strategy. 

It’s a sharp conversation on artist development, music business longevity, creative discipline, release strategy, and staying relevant in a constantly evolving industry.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UnV1d2ltTCO1rfjqhTKc4?si=seltDGQ-RvWE9fwshY-f3w

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Timestamps:

00:00 Consistency Beats Brilliance
00:29 Adapting to Industry Change
01:27 Letting Go of Old Ways
02:47 Hip Hop Cycles and Optimism
05:54 Nostalgia vs Innovation Mindset
06:53 Distractions and Staying Focused
08:45 Quarterly Self Review Habits
10:09 Reputation Takes Time to Shift
11:16 Release Strategy and Artist Growth
13:12 Discipline and Consistency Wrap Up

Mike Caren breaks down what actually creates longevity in the music business.

This clip is about building a career the right way: bringing value instead of extracting it, thinking long term, preparing before chasing opportunity, and developing the habits that lead to real greatness. Mike also touches on confidence, artist development, smart collaboration, and the importance of understanding music publishing and songwriting royalties.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2UnV1d2ltTCO1rfjqhTKc4?si=seltDGQ-RvWE9fwshY-f3w

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Timestamps:

00:00 Value First Mindset
00:34 Longevity Over Hype
02:58 Preparation Beats Opportunity
04:02 Superstar Myth Reality
04:29 Publishing Royalties Break
05:20 Cosign Win Win Model
07:35 Traits of Long Term Thinkers
09:39 Mentorship Asking Questions
11:49 A&R Practice and Confidence
15:36 Habits of Elite Artists
17:04 Chasing More vs Mastery
19:09 Yin Yang Collaborations
19:50 Staying Fresh Closing

Mike Caren is one of the most respected music executives of his generation.

From his early years at Atlantic Records to building Artist Publishing Group and Artist Partner Group, Mike has played a major role in the careers of artists, songwriters, producers, and executives across the modern music business.

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Mike for a wide-ranging conversation on A&R, artist development, music industry leadership, publishing, record labels, management, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.

Mike breaks down why great creative executives need strong opinions, why long-term thinking beats short-term hype, and how the best artists and executives separate themselves through discipline, consistency, communication, curiosity, and self-awareness. He also shares his perspective on identifying hit songs, building sustainable careers, filtering distractions in the age of social media, and creating teams that challenge artists instead of simply validating them.

This episode is a masterclass for anyone serious about artist management, music executive leadership, independent artist growth, A&R development, career longevity, and the inner workings of the music business.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it.KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

New episodes drop Sundays @ 10am ET

Timestamps:

00:00 Why opinions matter
00:27 Mike Caren career breakdown
03:40 Giving back with facts
07:22 Service over extraction
08:09 Longevity mindset
17:00 Mentorship, not commands
19:10 A&R taste test routine
20:29 Time management and boundaries
23:11 Elite artist habits
26:30 Collaboration and trust
31:42 Optimism and embracing change
36:18 Focus versus distractions
39:29 Consistency and catalog growth
44:01 Tough conversations early
47:00 Feedback over complaints
48:12 Why hard conversations matter
50:53 Learning from mistakes
52:16 Overcommunicate to win
57:22 Teamwork and opinions
59:09 What makes a hit
01:03:20 Defining hits today
01:05:57 Getting ahead as an executive
01:10:04 Hiring and scaling slowly
01:14:54 Building around artists
01:17:59 Consistency for artists
01:22:57 Hiring passionate talent
01:27:23 Long-term career patience
01:28:28 Closing thoughts

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie Rocket breaks down how he would build an artist with no money, using speed, consistency, release strategy, and real-world fan-building.

He talks through a no-budget artist development plan built around frequent releases, working with talented producers who believe in the vision, and staying always on so fans can build real habits around the music. Charlie also explains why mixtapes, bigger projects, versions, and steady output often do more for fan engagement, streaming growth, and artist momentum than short, low-commitment releases.

The clip also dives into real-world music marketing: listening parties, release parties, meet-and-greets, video shoots, and neighbourhood-level promotion. Charlie’s bigger point is that local scene momentum still matters, and that artists can build enough heat in real life for the internet to catch up later.

A strong listen for independent artists, managers, A&Rs, and music executives thinking seriously about music marketing, artist development, release strategy, fan-building, and long-term career growth.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2rJBuPhpk34kdSw9Dc2MCX?si=OIqpw0t1R5KHv2Qa1GAnig

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie Rocket reflects on how he and his partners ended up managing 2 Chainz by doing the work before anyone officially gave them the title.

What began as music marketing, mixtape promotion, CD street-team strategy, and fan-building quickly turned into something bigger. Charlie explains how they kept showing up with value: bringing a 30/60/90-day artist development plan, investing in physical promo, lining up opportunities, and creating momentum around the artist until the role naturally became theirs.

The clip also gets into a deeper idea that matters across the music business: the tension between being “smart” and being willing to move before the proof is there. Charlie argues that in artist management, A&R, artist development, and hip-hop marketing, conviction and action often create opportunities that logic alone never will.

At the centre of it all is a simple truth: sometimes you recognize superstar potential before the rest of the industry does. And if you believe strongly enough, you move accordingly.

A strong listen for independent artists, managers, A&Rs, music executives, and anyone serious about breaking artists, building momentum, and understanding how artist careers really get shaped behind the scenes.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2rJBuPhpk34kdSw9Dc2MCX?si=OIqpw0t1R5KHv2Qa1GAnig

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie Rocket breaks down why so many artists in today’s music industry are too focused on virality and not focused enough on building real momentum.

He shares a sharper approach to music marketing, artist development, fan-building, and independent artist growth: run the play, stay consistent, and boil a pot of water before trying to heat up the whole world. Using Travis Porter’s early run in East Atlanta as an example, Charlie explains how repeated club appearances, street marketing, direct fan engagement, flyers, CDs, and weekly presence helped turn strangers into loyal fans.

He also introduces his idea of “mom-ology” - the process of building superfans through connection, consistency, vulnerability, authenticity, and time spent. The clip goes further into why time spent has become one of the most important drivers of audience loyalty, and why the loss of mixtape culture changed the way hip-hop artists build fanbases, release music, and stay connected between projects.

A strong listen for independent artists, managers, A&Rs, and music executives thinking seriously about artist promotion, fan engagement, direct-to-fan strategy, and long-term music career growth.

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2rJBuPhpk34kdSw9Dc2MCX?si=OIqpw0t1R5KHv2Qa1GAnig

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook