The Manager's Playbook

Jermaine Dupri joins The Manager’s Playbook to talk about spotting superstar talent, discovering Kris Kross, writing “Jump,” and why hit records still matter more than hype, charts, or streaming numbers.

JD breaks down how he identifies artists with real star potential, from Bow Wow’s hunger to Latto standing out early, and explains why making undeniable songs has always been the foundation of the music business.

He also reflects on how “Jump” changed his life, the role his father played as his manager, and why younger artists, managers, A&Rs, and music executives need to stay focused on the one thing that still moves everything forward: the song.

This clip is a lesson in instinct, artist development, and what it really takes to build a lasting career in music.

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

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

Jermaine Dupri joins The Manager’s Playbook for a masterclass on hit records, artist development, and what today’s music business is getting wrong.

As the founder of So So Def and one of the most successful hitmakers of all time, JD breaks down how he spots superstar potential, why timeless songs still matter more than streams or first-week numbers, and what young artists, managers, A&Rs, and music executives need to understand about building real careers.

We get into the stories behind Kris Kross, Bow Wow, Xscape, Da Brat, Usher’s “Confessions,” Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together,” Muni Long’s “Made For Me,” and the pressure of staying great after decades in the industry.

This episode is for anyone serious about music business, management, artist development, major labels, independent artists, and the difference between hype and legacy.

A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.

Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Symba and Mauricio break down how artists can build the right team, avoid bad label deals, and create leverage before signing anything.

They talk about hiring a coordinator or marketing lead, why artists need people thinking about them every day, and how manager incentives can get messy when the money only comes from advances or short-term wins. The conversation also gets into label bidding wars, why advances are not always the flex they look like, and how direct fan communication gives artists more control outside the algorithm.

A practical music business conversation for artists, managers, and aspiring executives trying to understand team building, artist management, label deals, leverage, and long-term career strategy.

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

Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bfrDmiSjjkWgdH24954jQ?si=QusPqMgoRNOqnjOuvt9k3A⁠⁠

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

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Symba breaks down why he built his own direct-to-fan app after feeling stuck inside the algorithm and major label system.

He talks about creating a space where his real supporters can find the music, content, unreleased records, and community without waiting on platforms or labels to decide what gets seen. Symba also shares how the app became a new way to take ownership, build recurring revenue, and connect directly with fans on his own terms.

A sharp music business conversation for artists, managers, and aspiring executives thinking about direct-to-fan strategy, artist ownership, fan monetization, and what it really means to build outside the system.

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

Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bfrDmiSjjkWgdH24954jQ?si=QusPqMgoRNOqnjOuvt9k3A⁠

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

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Symba breaks down what happens when a label rollout misses, momentum resets, and the records don’t match what fans first connected with.

He reflects on releasing Don’t Run From Rap during COVID, dealing with constant product manager turnover, and learning how major label priorities can shift when revenue becomes the focus. Symba also shares how the Don’t Condone series helped him rebuild momentum independently, and how working with Dr. Dre taught him the difference between rapping well and really performing a record.

A sharp music business conversation for artists, managers, A&Rs, and anyone trying to understand label rollouts, artist development, performance records, and what it takes to build a career that actually connects.

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

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bfrDmiSjjkWgdH24954jQ?si=QusPqMgoRNOqnjOuvt9k3A

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

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Symba joins Mauricio Ruiz for an honest conversation about major label deals, artist development, management, leverage, and the hard lessons that come from learning the music business in real time.

Symba breaks down what he experienced signing with Columbia and Atlantic, how early deals and label turnover shaped his career, and why having the right team around an artist can make or break momentum. He also reflects on Kendrick Lamar’s influence, working with Dr. Dre, going viral after his LA Leakers freestyle, touring with Joyner Lucas, and the importance of keeping the song as the main thing.

This episode is a sharp, grounded look at what artists, managers, and aspiring music executives need to understand before signing deals, chasing advances, or trusting the wrong system. Symba also shares how he’s rebuilding independently through his own direct-to-fan app, exclusive music, brand deals, and a deeper connection with his audience.

A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.

Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get 20% of Magic Mind with code TMP20 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://magicmind.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Tom Windish joins The Manager’s Playbook to break down why big streaming numbers do not always translate into real ticket sales, and what it actually takes to build a long-term live career.

In this clip, Tom explains why artists should not be discouraged by playing smaller rooms, why superstar artists still need independent agents, and how great booking agents help create opportunities across promoters, festivals, cities, and markets.

We also get into the real cost of touring, how artists can tour smarter on a budget, why fan-shot content can be useful, and how patience, curiosity, and relationships helped Tom discover artists early, including The xx.

For artists, managers, agents, and aspiring music executives, this is a practical look at touring strategy, ticket sales, artist development, and the live music business.

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

Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iOGoCNraEzW4SV2QbtZAU?si=w8RtcXRkSDWxRj8iXiOIdg⁠⁠

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

Tom Windish joins The Manager’s Playbook to talk about the business behind booking, building an agency, and what it actually takes to grow artists in the live music world.

In this clip, Tom shares how he went from promoting college concerts to becoming a booking agent, building The Windish Agency, scaling the company, and eventually selling to Paradigm. He also gets into the early days of electronic music booking, promoter-agent relationships, artist services, and the hard reality of management.

For artists, managers, agents, and aspiring music executives, this is a real look at how live music careers and music agencies get built from the ground up.

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

Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iOGoCNraEzW4SV2QbtZAU?si=w8RtcXRkSDWxRj8iXiOIdg⁠⁠

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

Tom Windish joins The Manager’s Playbook to break down why artists need to take more ownership of ticket sales in today’s touring business.

In this clip, Tom explains why artists are often the best advertisers for their own shows, why promoters need real fan data, and how SMS lists, email, city-level audience insights, and presale strategy can help artists understand actual ticket demand.

We also get into when it makes sense to skip steps in touring, how to choose the right room size, and why the music business still needs better direct-to-fan systems.

For artists, managers, booking agents, promoters, and aspiring music executives, this is a practical look at how touring strategy, fan data, and ticket sales actually work.

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

Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iOGoCNraEzW4SV2QbtZAU?si=w8RtcXRkSDWxRj8iXiOIdg⁠

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

Tom Windish joins The Manager’s Playbook to break down what booking agents actually do and why live music still matters in a world where attention is harder to earn than ever.

In this clip, Tom explains how agents help artists build touring careers, why getting fans to leave the house is more difficult now, and how managers and artists should think about live shows, content, openers, festivals, brand deals, and long-term artist development.

We also get into the difference between online attention and real fan connection, why patience matters early, and what it actually takes to build a career beyond streams.

For artists, managers, agents, and aspiring music executives, this is a real look at the live music business from one of the best to ever do it.

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

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

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4iOGoCNraEzW4SV2QbtZAU?si=w8RtcXRkSDWxRj8iXiOIdg

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