Welcome to The Manager’s Playbook, my personal newsletter where I share weekly insights for aspiring artists, emerging music managers and executives on how to navigate the music industry, by Ruiz.

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Ruiz Note:

It’s authenticity over everything.

At least how I see it.

One valuable philosophical principle for individuals entering the music business is the concept of authenticity over popularity. In an industry often driven by trends and commercial success, it's crucial for aspiring musicians to stay true.

Artistic vision and personal values.

Authenticity in music means expressing oneself genuinely, creating art that resonates with the musicians true identity and experiences.

This authenticity forms a deep connection with audiences, fostering loyalty and respect.

It's about being honest, vulnerable, and sincere in the creative process, rather than chasing fleeting trends or pandering to external expectations.

While commercial success and popularity are undoubtedly desirable goals, prioritizing authenticity ensures longevity and fulfillment in a musician's career.

You’re human. Attend to that need first and foremost. Let your consistent hard work in your craft guide and determine the rest.

CONTENTS

Strategy:
• An AI Tool Specifically Tailored for Artist.

Pay Attention:
• Pharrell Just Released a Full album Exclusively On His Website.
• Upload Music to Streaming Platforms Directly From the Digital Audio Workstation
• What It’s Like to Collaborate With Beyoncé

Industry News: 
• Kiss Sells Their Brand and Songs For $300m
• 200+ Major Artists Sign Open Letter Against AI
• Spotify Launches Personalized AI Playlists That You Can Build Using Prompts

What We’re Watching:
• Because I just learned this song went Gold in the US and I got to work with Eminem on it

Check This Out:
• Music Industry Job Openings

STRATEGY

An AI Tool Specifically Tailored for Artist.

It was only a matter of time!

“Co-Manager” is the latest innovation from Venice Music, brought to you by the good folks at Venice Music, Co-Founders Troy Carter and Suzy Choo.

Designed in collaboration with industry experts, Co-Manager harnesses the power of AI to offer tailored advice and insights that can help you make informed decisions about your career.

Imagine ChatGPT custom-tailored exclusively for the intricacies of the music industry.

The current model is offered in their premium subscription package of $499 annually.

Quick note: I’m not getting paid for this mention nor is this an ad. I wouldn’t compromise the STRATEGY section by sending you recommendations based on $$.

This is genuinely a piece of tech that I find to be innovative and quite possibly incredibly helpful for the artist/artist manager journey. A lot of people looking to get into the business need to arm their tool kits with the best tech has to offer. This might be a main piece.

A couple of the prompts you could send are the following:

1) Attract new fans

Use this prompt:

How do my current audience demographics compare to that of similar successful artists, and what strategies can I implement to attract a similar fan base?

2) Promote your show

Use this prompt:

How can I get people to find out about my show and come to see it in a city where I don't know anyone?

3) TikTok growth

Use this prompt:

Can you recommend any hashtags or trends I should participate in to increase my visibility on TikTok?

PAY ATTENTION

Pharrell Just Released a Full album Exclusively On His Website.

An interesting move by Pharrell Williams in deciding to give away his new album directly on his website, sidestepping streaming giants for more control and closer fan connections.

Keep mind, the effectiveness of this approach is contingent upon an artist's ability to engage a dedicated fan base and manage the logistics of distribution independently.

In any event the proof of concept is clear. Both artist and fans are clamouring for new ways to experience their artist’s music. The future is now.

Upload Music to Streaming Platforms Directly From the Digital Audio Workstation

“By eliminating artists’ need to reupload their music on a different platform from where it was created, we are enabling them to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time making music.”

Artists and others using PreSonus Studio will be able to distribute their music via TuneCore directly from the digital audio workstation.

(Digital Audio Workstation: the software in which the music is made ex. FL Studio, Logic, etc.)

What It’s Like to Collaborate With Beyoncé

Shaboozey recounts the collaborative atmosphere and the anxious wait to see if his contributions would make it onto the album, highlighting Beyoncé's creative process of blending different sounds and stories. Jones reflects on the profound connection he felt with the music and the honor of being part of Beyoncé's exploration into country, noting how she's using her platform to spotlight the genre's roots and evolution.

We don’t often get to see what goes into making albums at a high level, or what the song creation process is like, so features like this are worth looking at.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Kiss Sells Their Brand and Songs For $300m

Kiss has sold its song catalog and brand, including likeness and intellectual property, to Stockholm-based Pophouse Entertainment for over $300 million, marking the band's exit from live performances.

The deal handsover the music rights to Pophouse, and also enables them to produce future AI-generated content, continuing Kiss's legacy in collaboration with its founders.

200+ Major Artists Sign Open Letter Against AI

Billie Eilish and Nicki Minaj are among 200 artists calling for the "predatory" use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the music industry to be stopped.

In an open letter also signed by Katy Perry and the estate of Frank Sinatra, they warn AI "will set in motion a race to the bottom" if left unchecked.

Tech giants including YouTube have tested AI music-making tools.

"We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal artists' voices and likenesses," they said.

They have called on tech firms to pledge not to develop AI music-generation tools "that undermine or replace the human artistry of songwriters and artists, or deny us fair compensation for our work".

Billie Eilish, Nicki Minaj, and over 200 other artists are sounding the alarm on AI's reach in music.

They're not just fighting for fair pay but are standing up for the soul of music itself—its human touch.

Their voices amplify a critical conversation: How do we embrace the future without losing what makes music fundamentally human?

Spotify Launches Personalized AI Playlists That You Can Build Using Prompts

Spotify launches AI-powered playlists in the U.K. and Australia, letting users create personalized mixes via prompts on their phones. This builds on Spotify's AI DJ, catering to a range of requests to match users' tastes and moods, showcasing Spotify's push to use AI for a better music experience.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Because I just learned this song went Gold in the US and I got to work with Eminem on it.

Sometimes, a guy gotta flex a little.

Fortunate enough to do double duty on this one. My content agency Mad Ruk Entertainment produced this music video for Eminem where I served as an Executive Producer.

The song also features my previous client, Jessie Reyez, kicking the shit out of Eminem. Literally.

CHECK THIS OUT..

Music Industry Job Openings

Have a look at ROSTR’s job board for paid work in the industry.

Stay hungry. Stay open.

Bio

I’m Mauricio Ruiz, the Founder/CEO of 8 Til Faint, an Artist Management company with over 5 billion audio streams worldwide. Our past and current clients include Grammy nominated, Juno Award winning multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Jessie Reyez, Marley Bleu, Skratch Bastid and more. I am also the Co-Founder of Mad Ruk Entertainment, a content agency with over 3 billion long form video streams worldwide. Our client list includes The Weeknd, Eminem, and Celine Dion, along with renowned brands like Nike, Pernod Ricard, Canon, and the NBA.

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