Welcome to The Manager’s Playbook, my personal newsletter where I share insights, tips, and strategies for artist managers on how to navigate through the music business.

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’s Letter:

As we approach International Women's Day, it's crucial to shine a light on the trailblazers who shape the sounds and stories of our time.

In this special edition of The Manager's Playbook, we're celebrating the formidable women in the music industry, highlighting their achievements, challenges, and the paths they've paved for future generations.

Drawing insights from Billboard Music Magazine and other sources, we will feature stories of female executives who not only navigate but also lead the ever-evolving landscape of music with grace, determination, and unparalleled skill.

Join us in honoring these remarkable women, whose contributions not only enrich the music industry but also inspire a more inclusive and diverse future.

CONTENTS

Pay Attention:
•Billboard’s Women In Music 2024 Top Executives
•Women in the Male-Dominated Indie Music Sector Need Female Mentors. Merlin Is Here to Help
•Empowering Women in Music: Girl Connected's Multilevel Platform Spurs Professional Growth and Global Networking
•T-Pain Gives the Realest Advice on Signing the Right Label Deal

Industry News: 
•RAYE: Are We Witnessing the Rise of Britain’s Next Music Superstar?•Michelle Jubelirer is Billboard's 2024 Women in Music Executive of the Year
 

What We’re Watching:
•Billboard Women in Music 2024 - Stream
•The Recipe For Dropping New Music in 2024

Check This Out:
•Music Industry Job Openings

PAY ATTENTION

Billboard’s Women In Music 2024 Top Executives

Billboard's Women in Music 2024 highlights top female executives across the industry, led by Michelle Jubelirer, Capitol Music Group’s first female CEO, among 14 Hall of Fame honorees.

The list also includes insights and advice from past honorees like Sylvia Rhone of Epic Records, Golnar Khosrowshahi of Reservoir Media, and leaders from Roc Nation, Universal Music Publishing Group, and more, each sharing their wisdom for the next generation.

These executives are names that you sought to know, as you may very well run into them on at some point on your journey.

To add..

To get a sense of how dominant women are in the industry, check out the above article. It does a beautiful job highlighting and illustrating the women that run all of the labels, as well as the artists, that create the music we all love.

Highlights include.. 

• Epic Records' success with artists like Travis Scott and Tyla, Verve's Grammy wins, and Sony Music Nashville's achievements with Luke Combs and Megan Moroney.

• 300 Entertainment celebrated YSL Records' resurgence, while AWAL's marketing campaigns led to record certifications.

• Big Loud Records emerged as a leading country label, and Warner Music Latina signed major artists, enhancing its roster.

• Atlantic Records played a pivotal role in the success of the Barbie soundtrack

-and other executives across companies like Republic Records, Universal Music Enterprises, BMG Nashville, and more contributed to significant industry achievements.

Women in the Male-Dominated Indie Music Sector Need Female Mentors. Merlin Is Here to Help

In theme with this week’s edition we wanted to highlight one of the coolest initiatives happening in the indie music space right now. In summary..

Merlin Engage is addressing the gender gap in the indie music sector by pairing executive-level women with early-career female mentees to navigate the challenges of a male-dominated industry.

The mentorship program, initiated by Marie Clausen of Ninja Tune North America, aims to build community, leadership skills, and offer guidance for women to advance in their careers.

The inaugural program saw 18 mentor-mentee pairs, with plans to continue and expand in 2024.

Participants benefit from sharing experiences, gaining confidence, and learning strategies for professional growth and leadership in the music business, emphasizing the importance of female mentorship in achieving gender equality in the industry.

Empowering Women in Music: Girl Connected's Multilevel Platform Spurs Professional Growth and Global Networking

Putting you onto another fantastic opportunity for women looking to get into the music business..

Girl Connected is an industry-leading organization dedicated to empowering women professionals in the music industry through a comprehensive platform that includes both in-person and online events, alongside a global mentorship initiative.

The program’s aim is to foster professional growth, inspire, and help participants build networks.

What stands out about Girl Connected is The Girl Connected Mentorship Program, which offers 20 aspiring women a curriculum-based mentorship, guided by industry experts, to develop their careers through project assignments, workshops, coaching, and hands-on experience in event planning.

Girl Connected is a great way to get your foot into the music business and receive the connections + support you need to be successful early on.

T-Pain Gives the Realest Advice on Signing the Right Label Deal

@drewonspotify

Proof that you should never focus on a quick bag 💰 if you want a successful career in music #upcomingartist #musiciansoftiktok #independen... See more

This is a must watch for any up and coming artist or manager. We all like to think that we are great negotiators, and that we’ll stand firm when the money starts to come around.

The truth is, it takes an incredible amount of discipline, and a team of people you can trust, to be able to make the decisions that will grant you longevity. Had T-Pain not met Akon, his story line would look a lot different. Such is the case with every successful artist.

Do you have people around you that are smarter than you, more experienced than you, and that have your best interest in mind?

INDUSTRY NEWS

RAYE: Are We Witnessing the Rise of Britain’s Next Music Superstar?

In case you missed it..

At the BRIT Awards (March. 2nd), RAYE not only made history by winning a record-breaking six awards, including Album of the Year for "My 21st Century Blues" and Artist of the Year, but she also solidified her position as Britain's next music superstar.

With an unprecedented seven nominations, she outshone previous records held by Harry Styles, Adele, and Blur.

From what we’ve seen, RAYE has everything needed to be a global music superstar: undeniable star power, a rapidly growing fanbase, and impactful music.

Her time is now.

Michelle Jubelirer is Billboard's 2024 Women in Music Executive of the Year

Michelle Jubelirer, who we’ve featured in the past editions of TMP, has been named Billboard's 2024 Women in Music Executive of the Year. She tied a bow on this by reflecting on her transformative tenure as Capitol Music Group's first female chair/CEO.

Some highlights..

Since her appointment in December 2021, Jubelirer tackled significant challenges, revitalizing the label through strategic signings, including the breakout star Ice Spice, and enhancing artist support.

Her approach, rooted in her deep industry experience and advocacy for artists, led to notable successes such as winning a highly competitive bidding war (for Ice Spice) and invigorating the music video art form.

Despite her impactful contributions, Jubelirer announced her departure following UMG's restructuring plans. Her legacy, marked by her dedication to artist advocacy and innovative leadership, leaves a lasting impact on Capitol and its artists.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Billboard Women in Music 2024 - Stream

The 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards is a sold-out event this year, celebrating the industry's most influential women.

Thankfully those interested in watching will be able to stream it beginning Thursday, March 7th. This was a standout year for women in the music industry, and many of those who are being recognized are going to be dominant forces in this space for years to come.

This year's highlights include Karol G being honored as Woman of the Year, Victoria Monét receiving accolades for her three Grammy wins, and Kylie Minogue taking home the Icon Award.

It’s great to see these incredible talents being recognized. For any up and coming artist or managers, get to know these names. A lot of these folks and their teams are more accessible than one would think.

The Recipe For Dropping New Music in 2024

@crackalack_

The Recipe For Dropping New Music in 2024 #musicartist #independentartist #musicstudio #musicmarketing #content

The reality of things is that no matter what discipline you’re in, if you want to see the kind of success that is life-changing, you need to become a content machine.

In the early stages of your music career (managers as well), you want to give yourself as much of a fighting chance at being successful as possible.

This means building momentum, and removing any baggage or resistance that is going to slow you down.

Takeaway: How can I make a bunch of songs, and content as easily as possible?

Don’t overthink it.

Produce. Produce. Produce.

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

Follow me on LinkedIn