Why We Love It
-
$95,810Potential Avg. Salary
-
2.5%Job Growth Rate
-
Growing DemandJob Outlook
-
Deal MakingCareer Attribute
Band managers handle all of the day-to-day business aspects for the bands they work for. This leads to a large number of responsibilities. Band managers usually assist the band by communicating with agents and labels, promoting demos, shows, and albums, handling band finances, and creating tour schedules.
Recommended Schools
What is a Band Manager?
The following job responsibilities are common for individuals in band manager roles:
- Communicate with agents, labels, venues, and recording studios to make arrangements or negotiate deals on behalf of a band
- Promote bands by conducting public relations activities, writing press releases, managing a band’s website, and sending out demos
- Handle band finances, or arrange for the handling of finances
- Negotiate contracts on behalf of bands, and read through contracts to ensure terms are to the band’s benefit
- Counsel bands on both personal and professional decisions, and help mitigate disagreements between musicians
A Day in the Life
Band managers play a complex and varied role in the music industry. While musicians envision playing in a band as a creative job, enjoying success as a musical act is no different that running any other business. There are contracts to review and sign, finances to handle, and marketing activities that need to occur in order for a band to achieve success. Because most musicians aren’t interested in these business activities and are focused on making and playing music, bands rely on band managers to conduct business activities on behalf of the band.
In part, the responsibilities of a band manager vary greatly depending on the contract between the band and its manager. Additionally, the duties of a band manager before a band makes it big are much different than those of a band manager after the band has achieved recognition. For example, a large part of a band manager’s role for unknown bands is sending out demos to record labels and live music venues. They spend a lot of time promoting the band, scheduling shows, and growing a band’s audience.
Once a band has been signed by a label, most then hire an agent who takes care of a lot of the responsibilities of finding new gigs for the band, arranging shows, and working with record labels. The band manager works with the agent to ensure that all activities are for the benefit of the band, all decisions and materials created support the band’s desired image, and all contracts delivered are in the band’s benefit. They may also handle band finances, or they may counsel band members on both professional and personal decisions.
Typical Work Schedule
Band managers commonly work irregular schedules. They may need to be available during normal business hours to work with agents, labels, accountants, and lawyers, and they also commonly attend live performances in evenings and on weekends. Travel is common, as is overtime.
Typical Employers
Band managers commonly work for one of two entities: either directly for bands they’ve discovered on their own, or for band manager consulting companies that provide bands with managers as a service.
Recommended Schools
How To Become a Band Manager
No formal higher education is required to become a band manager. Many band managers start off volunteering to help bands they’re interested in, and work their way into securing manager contracts over time. Others start off as friends of bands and become managers to be a part of the band without having a musician role. In these circumstances, there are no educational prerequisites. However, higher education can be extremely useful for aspiring band managers even if not a prerequisite for the role.
Band managers are required to wear many hats. They may conduct a variety of responsibilities that place them in roles as public relations coordinator, accountant, marketing manager, and lawyer for the band. Because of this, a bachelor’s degree in business can provide the education band managers need to succeed in their role. They’re required to read and understand contracts, manage band websites, create promotional materials, and negotiate deals with agents, labels, and venues, and a business degree provides the education they need to conduct these responsibilities.
A bachelor’s degree may also be required if you want to work for a band management consulting company. A role with a consulting company may be preferred if you’re struggling to find a band to manage on your own. Additionally, college students may be able to find internships with band management consulting companies while in school that can open doors for their future career as a band manager after graduation.
Band Manager Salary Data
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
National Anual Salary
Low Range
$40,080Average
$95,810High Range
---National Hourly Wage
Low Range
$19/hrAverage
$46/hrHigh Range
---How do Band Manager salaries stack up to other jobs across the country? Based on the latest jobs data nationwide, Band Manager's can make an average annual salary of $95,810, or $46 per hour. On the lower end, they can make $40,080 or $19 per hour, perhaps when just starting out or based on the state you live in.
Salary Rankings And Facts
#74 Nationally for All Careers
Above Average Salary Nationally
Programs and Degrees
Here are the most common degrees for becoming a Band Manager. a is usually recommended and specifically a degree or coursework that prepares you for the particular field, see below.
Highest Education Among Band Managers
- 4.4% Doctorate
- 9.4% Masters
- 46.2% Bachelors
- 9% Associates
- 20.8% College
- 9.3% High School
- 0.9% Less than High School
Job Growth Projections and Forecast
2014 Total Jobs
19,7002024 Est. Jobs
20,200Job Growth Rate
2.5%Est. New Jobs
500How does Band Manager job growth stack up to other jobs across the country? By 2024, there will be a change of 500 jobs for a total of 20,200 people employed in the career nationwide. This is a 2.5% change in growth over the next ten years, giving the career a growth rate nationwide of Above Average.
Growth Rankings And Facts
#533 Nationally for All Careers
Above Avg. Growth Nationally
What Companies Employ The Most Band Managers
| Industry | Current Jobs | New Jobs Needed | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agents and managers for artists, athletes, entertainers, and other public figures | 8,400 | --- | 0% |
| Self-employed workers | 7,500 | 300 | 0% |
| Promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events | 800 | 100 | 0% |
