The Manager's Playbook

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, legendary booking agent Tom Windish breaks down what booking agents actually do and why your favourite artists can have streams, press, and viral moments but still struggle to sell tickets.

Tom explains how agents help build an artist’s live career, from choosing the right rooms and negotiating fees to working with promoters, planning tours, developing festival opportunities, and turning online attention into real-world demand.

We also get into why artist development takes longer now, why managers and artists need more patience, how direct-to-fan data like emails, phone numbers, and ZIP codes can change a touring strategy, and why the artist is often the most important marketer for their own shows.

For independent artists, managers, agents, and aspiring music executives, this episode is a real look at the touring business and what it actually takes to build a live career that lasts.

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

Clinton Sparks breaks down how to build a music career people actually remember.

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Clinton shares his formula for winning in the music business, from powerful production and bulletproof business to aggressive visibility, real branding, and monetization.

He also explains how “Get Familiar” became bigger than a tag, why independent artists have to think like their own label, and why copying trends usually leads to short-lived careers.

A sharp lesson for artists, managers, producers, and music executives on branding, marketing, independence, authenticity, and building something that lasts.

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/60xO3CvAdGfeyyFikLsISg?si=yH1urO5uQquBCrTcW0YoJw⁠

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

Clinton Sparks breaks down why networking is the piece most people misunderstand.

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Clinton shares how he built a reputation by adding value first, protecting his name, and staying authentic instead of chasing fake momentum.

From working at UPS and producing music at night to breaking into radio, landing syndication, and building relationships across the East Coast, this is a real music business lesson on patience, reputation, visibility, and becoming useful before asking for access.

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/60xO3CvAdGfeyyFikLsISg?si=yH1urO5uQquBCrTcW0YoJw⁠

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

Clinton Sparks breaks down what it really means to do it for the culture.

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Clinton reflects on supporting Clipse’s We Got It For Cheap mixtape series without profiting, spending his own money to press and distribute CDs, and why protecting trust mattered more than chasing a quick win.

He also talks about refusing payola, building Mixunit.com, helping DJ Drama and DJ Khaled, and the late-night DJ Kay Slay story that turned into a street classic.

A real music business lesson on integrity, mixtape culture, radio, networking, and staying focused on the mission.

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/60xO3CvAdGfeyyFikLsISg?si=yH1urO5uQquBCrTcW0YoJw

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

Clinton Sparks breaks down the real story behind DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s “Turn Down for What.”

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Clinton shares how he signed DJ Snake in 2007, introduced him to Lil Jon, and watched the record grow from an early idea into a global hit. He also talks about Lil Jon’s guerrilla approach, the behind-the-scenes tension around the song, and why DJ relationships still matter when breaking records.

Clinton also reflects on DJ Snake’s drive, his “Bird Machine” breakthrough with Dillon Francis, and the early moments that helped shape his rise from Paris to worldwide success.

A sharp look at music business strategy, artist development, networking, and what it really takes to make a record move through culture.

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/2WkHm0XSp9TX4hbyUCRGxC?si=yepnZQe2QAq1dSPZ0-H66w⁠⁠⁠

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

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with legendary producer, DJ, songwriter, and entrepreneur Clinton Sparks for a conversation on artist branding, music business relationships, and building a career that lasts.

Clinton breaks down what it really means to become a brand, how he built “Get Familiar” into something people remembered, and why the best networking starts with adding value before asking for access.

He also shares the story behind working with DJ Snake years before “Turn Down for What,” his role in mixtape culture, the importance of reputation, and why authenticity still matters in an industry full of fake momentum.

A must-listen for artists, managers, producers, music executives, and independent creatives trying to build leverage, trust, visibility, and a brand people actually believe in.

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

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Groff breaks down why great artist managers need to think like CEOs, not just operators.

Nick and Mauricio Ruiz discuss the modern manager’s role in building artist businesses, aligning teams, protecting long-term vision, and creating real growth around the artist.

They also get into equity, IP, joint ventures, manager commissions, hiring for emotional intelligence, building scalable teams, and why instinct is often just experience with better timing.

A sharp listen for artists, managers, aspiring music executives, and anyone trying to understand what artist management really looks like today.

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/2WkHm0XSp9TX4hbyUCRGxC?si=yepnZQe2QAq1dSPZ0-H66w⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Groff and Mauricio Ruiz get into the gray area of AI, creativity, and who gets to make music.

They discuss whether AI can become a real creative tool for people with ideas but without formal training, while also unpacking the concerns around authorship, devalued music, bad actors, and what “human-made” music even means anymore.

From Suno and AI music tools to Timbaland, record labels, the Grammys, Napster, and the future of the music business, this is a sharp conversation about where creativity may be heading next.

A must-listen for artists, producers, managers, music executives, and anyone trying to understand AI’s impact on music.

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/2WkHm0XSp9TX4hbyUCRGxC?si=yepnZQe2QAq1dSPZ0-H66w⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Groff breaks down how BUNT. turned a viral moment into a real hard-ticket fanbase.

Nick and Ruiz get into the business behind live growth: merch strategy, per-head sales, market-by-market pricing, fan accessibility, Coachella storytelling, and why viral attention does not mean much if it does not turn into real fans.

They also discuss how BUNT. approached merch like a brand, priced Mexico City with the local fan in mind, treated Argentina differently as a market, and used intentional live moments to create momentum beyond the algorithm.

A sharp listen for artists, managers, music marketers, and aspiring music executives trying to understand touring, fanbase building, and modern artist development.

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/2WkHm0XSp9TX4hbyUCRGxC?si=yepnZQe2QAq1dSPZ0-H66w⁠⁠⁠

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

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Groff breaks down why modern artist management now looks more like running a media company.

Nick and Ruiz get into storytelling, fan acquisition, content flywheels, post-show highlights, and why artists can’t rely on music releases alone to stay connected with their audience.

They also discuss what artists can learn from streamers, how Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes” proves the power of context, and how BUNT built its world around clear brand pillars like smile, sweat, squad, and soccer.

A sharp listen for artists, managers, music marketers, and aspiring music executives trying to understand how attention works in today’s music business.

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/2WkHm0XSp9TX4hbyUCRGxC?si=yepnZQe2QAq1dSPZ0-H66w⁠⁠

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