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.

Note: For any links that are behind a paywall, copy the URL and paste it into this paywall ladder to read the article without any issues.

Ruiz Note:

If you missed it last week…I launched a podcast on the music business.

‘The Manager’s Playbook Podcast’

This podcast drops every two weeks on all platforms. It features guests who operate at the highest levels behind the scenes in the music industry. Guests like Troy Carter.

Here’s the truth of the matter. I came up with this idea 6 years ago out of a purely selfish endeavour. While still early in my career, I had many questions that felt unanswered. So, I thought to myself, why not create a show where I interview respected executives and have it documented so I can go back and reference it to get my clients to the next level.

Six years later, God had other plans.

I never shot that show, but in true fashion, I still asked a lot of questions. Finally, time opened up somewhat after moving on from my largest client and I thought to myself, maybe its time to revisit this idea.

So here we are in 2024, six years later, and it's clear that the internets are overflowing with more information than ever before. It’s at a breakneck speed.

However, how much of this info is good information?

How reliable is the source?

Transparently, there aren’t many dependable voices providing valuable information on web 2.0 (Do not get me started on 3.0).

Don’t get me wrong; there are some folks who do a really good job of disseminating sound, practical advice. But it's not easy to sift through what is what if you’re new in this space, trying to break into the music business.

So, I decided to revisit the idea of starting a podcast. Except this time the pathway to producing this content is much bigger than me. It’s for a community of people who I believe could use a bit of direction in a landscape that is full of forks in the road.

And by all means, don’t take my word for it. Sure, I have a few credentials under my belt, notched a success story or two. You’ll hear me be very open upon those experiences on the podcast. However, the real value will come from the quality of special guests that I bring onto the ‘The Manager’s Playbook Podcast’ who experience global success at the highest levels in the music industry and are forthcoming with their in-depth knowledge.

Make sure you check out the pod on all platforms: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, etc by clicking on the link HERE.

As my brother Gavin Sheppard (Co-Founder of The Remix Project with other brother Drex Jancar) says, and I quote often, “Community Over Everything”…and a little selfishness on my part 😉 .

I still have questions. Always...

And so should you. It’s the only way we’ll ever learn.

Let’s pull back the curtain on this music business…ALL THE FUCKING WAY.

-Ruiz

CONTENTS

Pay Attention:
• How Tommy Richman’s ‘Million Dollar Baby’ Became an Unexpected Smash
• Taylor Vs. Billie
• Google unveils ‘Music AI Sandbox’ with the help of Wyclef Jean, Justin Tranter and Marc Rebillet
• Sped-Up, Slowed-Down & Nowhere to Be Found

Industry News: 
• Sony Music Publishing 'Considering All Options' Against Spotify
• Sony Music Group warns more than 700 companies against using its content to train AI
• TikTok is Testing 60-Minute Videos.

What We’re Watching:
• The Manager’s Playbook Podcast

Check This Out:
• Music Industry Job Openings

PAY ATTENTION

How Tommy Richman’s ‘Million Dollar Baby’ Became an Unexpected Smash

Tommy Richman's "Million Dollar Baby," released on April 26, debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100 and topped the Streaming Songs chart, marking a significant breakthrough for him.

The song's success, driven largely by TikTok, is seen as a testament to the power of social media in today's music landscape.

Darren Xu, COO of ISO Supremacy and Billboard’s Executive of the Week, emphasizes the importance of good music reaching the right audience and hints at more exciting developments for Richman, stating, "It’s going to be all gas, no brakes."

It’s a short article that you’ll thoroughly enjoy. However, you’ll need to copy/paste the URL into this paywall ladder in order to be able to read it.

Google unveils ‘Music AI Sandbox’ with the help of Wyclef Jean, Justin Tranter and Marc Rebillet

Putting the spotlight on one of our favourite announcements in the last week or so..

Google and YouTube have launched the ‘Music AI Sandbox,’ a new suite of AI-powered music tools designed to enhance creativity, with input from Wyclef Jean, Justin Tranter, and Marc Rebillet.

This technology, developed by Google DeepMind in collaboration with YouTube, allows users to create music using text prompts and AI-generated clips, aiming to speed up and expand creative processes. Despite its potential, as usual there are concerns over the use of copyrighted materials without permission and the ethical implications of AI in music creation.

Check out the full promotional video here.

Sped-Up, Slowed-Down & Nowhere to Be Found

Well, they are to be found, but here’s what’s happening..

Young artists are increasingly creating separate Spotify accounts for TikTok-friendly remixes to keep their main profiles clean and focused. For instance, Odetari uses a second account, ODECORE, for alternate versions like "HYPNOTIC DATA – Slowed & Reverbed."

This strategy caters to fans' demand for remixes while maintaining a clear distinction between official releases and playful, social media-driven versions. This approach allows artists to engage their audience without cluttering their main catalog.

INDUSTRY NEWS

It’s been a big news week for Sony Music. Let’s dive into it..

_________

Sony Music Publishing 'Considering All Options' Against Spotify

Sony Music Publishing (SMP) is considering legal action against Spotify for reclassifying its Premium subscription tier as a bundle, which allows the company to pay lower mechanical royalty rates to songwriters and publishers.

This change has led to a 20% reduction in royalty payments to SMP songwriters.

Sony Music Publishing Chairman Jon Platt argues that Spotify's move does not meet the criteria agreed upon in the 2022 US Copyright Royalty Board settlement and is working with the National Music Publishers' Association to address the issue.

Sony Music Group warns more than 700 companies against using its content to train AI

Sony Music Group (SMG) has issued warnings to over 700 companies against using its content to train AI models without permission.

The letters, sent to generative AI companies and streaming platforms, demand they either confirm non-use of SMG content or disclose any unauthorized use.

SMG emphasized that unauthorized AI training with its content infringes on intellectual property rights and deprives artists of control and fair compensation. This move reflects growing concerns in the music industry about AI-generated content and its impact on artists' rights and earnings.

TikTok is Testing 60-Minute Videos.

TikTok is testing 60-minute videos, which could potentially expand its reach into the lucrative live concert film business. This move could position TikTok as a competitor to platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Disney+ by attracting long-form content creators and advertisers.

With the success of concert films like Taylor Swift's "Era’s Tour" and Beyoncé’s "Renaissance," TikTok's potential to host exclusive concert films and live events could significantly enhance its platform and user engagement.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

The Manager’s Playbook Podcast

As if I wasn’t going to re-plug the podcast I just launched. Come on... You should know me by now.

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.

Follow me on IG @mauroisruiz

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