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:

"The Only Way To Receive is To Give”

Doja Cat is one of the most influential superstars on the planet. 

You could assume her manager would be someone who is impossible to reach or have an aura of arrogance quite possibly. This is the furthest thing from the truth. 

Gordan Dillard (Doja’s Artist Manager) is one of the most well attuned giants of our business that I’ve had the good fortune to meet. He’s a humble & thoughtful executive who understands the business’ valleys and peaks and is not afraid to share his journey within the terrain. He is also a fierce competitor whose ambitions were first shaped on the gridiron. Coming from a football background, Gordan understands that in order to win you need to execute. He does both at an exceptionally HIGH level. 

That's why I'm amped to welcome to the podcast a true student of the game and a power player in artist management. It is an honor to sit down with him to discuss his beginnings, thought process, artist’s approach and his relentless drive to succeed. 

Ladies and gentlemen, a conversation like this doesn’t come cheap. The one and only, Gordan Dillard for episode 009 of ‘The Manager’s Playbook’ Podcast. 

You can watch the full TMP Podcast HERE

You can also listen to ‘The Manager’s Playbook’ Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and several other platforms HERE

-Ruiz

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STRATEGY

(By Pablo Milandu)

The Mentality That Will Take You to Success

When it comes to achieving success, especially in an industry as challenging and unpredictable as the music business, the tactics and strategies we often talk about are crucial.

We discuss how to promote yourself, how to network, and how to navigate the ever-changing landscape.

We dissect the stories of others who’ve made it, learning from their struggles, their breakthroughs, and their unique journeys.

But this week, we want to focus on what pulls it all together: the mindset—the inner mentality that will ultimately drive you to success.

You can have the best strategies in the world, but without the right mindset, you’ll never be able to fully capitalize on them.

This is the deeper, often overlooked component of success, and it’s the very foundation upon which everything else is built.

If you’re a routine reader of this newsletter, you’re already halfway there, but let’s dive deeper into the beliefs that, if adopted, will take you to the next level of your success:

1) Success is a game of attempts.

It’s like a rubiks cube: just keep solving it and eventually you’ll get it right. It’s like a science experiment: you try it 100 different ways until it works.

Let’s start with a reality that might seem both daunting and liberating: success is not a single, linear path. It’s not something you achieve by following a perfectly scripted plan. It’s more like solving a Rubik’s cube—messy, iterative, and sometimes frustrating. You don’t get it right on the first try, or even the hundredth try, but eventually, if you keep turning it, keep working at it, the pieces will fall into place. It’s also a lot like a science experiment, where the goal isn’t to get it right immediately but to keep tweaking and adjusting until the right formula emerges.

In this industry, the most successful people aren’t necessarily the ones who got it right the first time. They’re the ones who didn’t give up when it went wrong, the ones who tried again, learned from their failures, and kept experimenting until something clicked. Every attempt, even the failures, is part of the process. The only real failure is quitting, and that’s where most people fall short—not because they lacked talent or opportunity, but because they gave up too soon.

Success is a science of persistence, not perfection. The people who make it understand that they’re playing a long game, and each effort, each try, brings them closer to that breakthrough moment.

Russ’ journey is a great example of this. 11 mixtapes, before pivoting into dropping a song a week for 2 & a half years straight. Crack your code.

2) Nobody else has walked your path before. 

You know your on the right path because it disappears. It feels like swimming in the dark. That part, everyone who’s in the industry has had to go through, and likely still is. The reality of it is, you don’t need all of the answers to proceed. Focus on the activities you know you need to do: record, promote, etc. Most people know exactly what to do.

One of the greatest myths in any career is that there’s a clear, predefined path to success. We often look to others who’ve made it and think, “If I just follow their steps, I’ll get there too.” But the truth is, nobody else has ever walked exactly the path you’re on, and that means there will never be a perfect map for you to follow.

The journey to success is unique for every person. You’ll never feel 100% sure about your next move because you’re forging a path that’s never been walked before. It’s like swimming in the dark. You can’t see what’s ahead, and you often don’t even know if you’re headed in the right direction. That uncertainty? It’s part of the process. It’s something everyone in this industry—whether they’re just starting out or at the top of their game—has to deal with. And it’s something most successful people continue to experience, even after they’ve “made it.”

What separates those who succeed from those who don’t isn’t the ability to see the path clearly; it’s the willingness to keep moving even when the path isn’t clear. You don’t need all the answers to proceed. What you need is the confidence to take the next step, even if you’re not sure where it will lead. Most people already know what they need to do—the key is in doing it consistently, even when the future feels uncertain.

Focus on the core activities you know will move you forward: recording your music, promoting it, networking with others in the industry, and continuing to develop your craft. The magic happens when you stop waiting for clarity and start taking action.

3) You’ve never lacked anything. You’ve just been holding back.

This one’s easiest to convey with a letter that I wrote to myself:

“deep down you’re secretly waiting for permission to let it loose;

the fire in you.

your dark side.

you’re looking for permission to turn your ego on again.

you got too soft on ‘em.

whose permission are you waiting for anyway? & why?

what if i told you that everyone’s life gets better when you flip this switch;

-when you stop holding back.

& that the same people you’re worried about upsetting are actually waiting for you to turn it on..

you don’t need answers.. you don’t need clarity that’s just your go-to excuse.

because you’re stalling.

because you know that once you turn it on you will take over the world,

heaven & earth will be moved and nothing will be the same.

you’re not afraid of anything or anyone,

you’re just too in love with the status quo.

you’ve picked it over your dreams, kid.

nothing comes before your dreams.

go forth.”

Also, read Relentless.

PAY ATTENTION

NotesNoted | Artist Development

NotesNoted is a Music Business Agency designed to help you unlock your potential and succeed in the music industry.

Its founder, Jasmine Brito, has over two decades of experience in the industry, most recently as the Vice President of Marketing at Universal Music Group/Def Jam. She’s worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and knows how to guide people successfully through the industry.

Whether you're an artist looking to grow your audience, a manager wanting to promote your artists better, or an aspiring executive aiming to build industry knowledge, NotesNoted has the tools and resources to support your journey.

Check them out below.

A new take on how artists bring music to market - Seth Power

Sharing (a snippet of) Seth Power’s LinkedIn post here as it’s something you should be paying attention to. At least, we are.

“Announcing…

A new take on how artists bring music to market and build their own channel (not someone else's).

It’s no secret getting fans to take action is hard...

…and it’s become abundantly clear that building a social media following is (close to) meaningless if you can’t reach those fans when you need to!

Hell, only 10% of your social followers see your posts.

And fans get nothing out of pre-saving or signing up.

Artists shouldn’t have to fight algorithms or advertise to reach the audience they worked to create.

That’s why we built Tribly.fm

A better way to launch music and drive action.

All by giving fans a reason to join in.

Here’s how it works:

1) Create a drop featuring unreleased music

2) Choose how fans unlock it (sign-up or pre-save)

3) Customize your splash page

That’s it.

Once there, fans can save, comment and share.”

This is worth checking out. View the full post on his Linkedin below:

INDUSTRY NEWS

Linkin Park is BACK.

Linkin Park is making a powerful comeback after a seven-year break, following the heartbreaking loss of Chester Bennington.

With their new album From Zero dropping on Nov. 15, and a couple of new additions to the band, it’ll be interesting to see how they execute this new chapter of their journey.

Looks like they’re off to a great start. Check out the full feature on Billboard below:

STAGECOACH 2025 LINEUP

After a record-breaking year, Stagecoach (festival) is bringing another big, diverse lineup. With Country music being as hot as it is, this festival is likely going to be its biggest yet.

For those who are interested tickets go on sale Sept. 13.

Ticketmaster is Being Investigated in the UK Because of Skyrocketing Prices for Oasis Tickets

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking into Ticketmaster after fans were left frustrated during the Oasis 2025 tour ticket sale, where prices unexpectedly skyrocketed due to dynamic pricing. Millions of fans trying to buy tickets, so this left a lot of people outraged.

Oasis (the band) has distanced themselves from the pricing decisions, saying the strategy didn’t go as planned. Now, the CMA is investigating whether Ticketmaster’s actions broke consumer protection laws, adding to growing concerns over how dynamic pricing affects fans.

Be a Shark in Your Business and Your Art.

Be a humble person, but a shark in business.

The same applies to your art & craft. You need to be on the offensive. Put yourself out there. Be sharp, know your numbers. Be a shark.

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 and nominated singer/songwriter Jessie Reyez, 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. Most recently I am the Founder of ‘The Manager’s Playbook’

Follow me on IG @mauroisruiz

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