The Manager's Playbook

You can build a monster Spotify audience and still collect $0 in music publishing royalties. No warning. No system message that says, “Hey, you’re leaving money behind.” That’s because publishing isn’t an automatic payout. In the music industry, master recording royalties tend to flow through distribution, but songwriter royalties only show up when the right song registrations, splits, and publishing administration systems are in place.
On this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, I’m joined by Jacob Paul (Kobalt & KOSIGN) for a straight-up Music Publishing 101 conversation for independent artists, producers, songwriters, and the managers trying to build real teams, real systems, and real financial stability. We break down master vs publishing (two copyrights, two paycheques), how performance royalties and mechanical royalties actually work in the streaming era, and why “I registered with a performing rights organization” is a starting line, not the finish line, especially when your audience goes global and international royalties enter the chat.
We also talk about the “black box;”how unclaimed royalties can become unallocated publishing royalties if metadata is wrong or registrations are late, and why moving fast matters if you want your catalog to compound like an asset instead of leaking quietly for years. If you care about artist development, music business strategy, royalty collection, publishing deals, co-publishing vs administration deals, and building an independent career that actually pays, this is the episode.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
New episodes drop Tuesdays @ 10am ET

In this clip, Paris Cole and I break down the real mechanics of artist development and what it takes to break an artist in today’s music business, especially when you’re building without massive budgets, teams, or infrastructure.
Paris explains why there’s no single blueprint for releasing music. A smart rollout goes beyond the songs into release strategy, sequencing, visual identity, artwork, storytelling, content planning, fan engagement, music videos, pop-ups, and live reps. Some artists build the world first, others drop music and work backward, but either way, the strategy has to match the artist’s sound and identity.
We also talk about the intangible part of A&R and management: taste. Paris describes spotting great artists as an intuitive, “spirit-led” process and why she avoids building on music she has to question. From there, we get into sustainability: choosing passion over clout, protecting your creative edge, and how she’s supported herself through consulting, styling, directing, and creative agency work, including social impact projects.
Paris shares how she was pulled back into management during COVID after Kiah Victoria insisted on playing her album, leading to an independent release during distributor turnover and corporate changes. Finally, we cover the underdog reality: the long “in-between” years before the public sees the winning season, and why some artists still need real infrastructure like studio lockouts and live musicians, not just a laptop.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Topics: Artist Development • Artist Management • Release Strategy • Rollout Planning • Independent Artist Strategy • A&R Taste • Creative Direction • Fan Engagement • Music Videos • Live Shows • Touring Reps • Distribution vs Labels • Studio Lockouts • Long-Game Careers

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/27QXHfulyQlwBpZBLbzVAW?si=K28OvfA_RbqVA6Wvdq7uPQ

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Paris Cole and I break down what separates artists who build a real brand identity from artists who only get exposure.
Paris explains that it often comes down to vision, and when an artist doesn’t have it yet, that’s where the right manager, creative director, and artist development team step in to help shape and execute it. We talk about why chasing numbers can leave you “seen but not known,” and how true brand alignment creates impact that lasts beyond a moment.
We also get into the current music industry reality: labels and distributors are more risk-averse than ever, often prioritizing analytics, viral traction, and TikTok momentum, sometimes at the expense of great music and storytelling (especially in lanes like conscious rap). From there, the conversation turns practical: how independent artists build careers through strategy, narrative, live reps, ticket sales, merch, and consistent performance, even without an agent or major label push.
Finally, Paris talks about the importance of authentic fan connection, letting people in through real touch points like IG Live, pop-ups, opening slots, and community-driven moments, instead of chasing perfection.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Topics: Artist Development • Brand Vision • Creative Direction • Artist Management • Independent Artist Strategy • Streams vs Fans • Touring & Ticket Sales • Merch Revenue • Music Discovery • Radio Promotion • College Circuit • Fan Engagement

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/27QXHfulyQlwBpZBLbzVAW?si=K28OvfA_RbqVA6Wvdq7uPQ

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Paris Cole breaks down artist development through branding, styling, and creative direction and why audiences can instantly tell when an artist is “trying too hard.”
Paris explains that swag has to feel natural, and the best image-building happens through the build: inch-by-inch growth where the artist evolves in public and fans evolve with them. Using Ari Lennox and Lucky Daye as examples, she shows how intentional minimalism, timing, and consistency create trust and trust is what turns casual listeners into a real core fanbase.
We also get into the business reality: styling is a luxury service, and throwing money at glam before the music has traction often backfires. Paris shares the practical playbook for developing strong visuals on limited budgets (thrifting, consignment, tailoring, and building relationships with designers) because in the music business, taste beats budget.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Topics: Artist Development • Artist Branding • Visual Identity • Styling as Strategy • Creative Direction • Fanbase Building • Label Systems • Budgeting • Independent Artist Growth

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/27QXHfulyQlwBpZBLbzVAW?si=K28OvfA_RbqVA6Wvdq7uPQ

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Paris Cole is a true music industry multi-hyphenate, artist manager, creative director, and stylist, and in this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, she breaks down what it actually takes to develop artists from the ground up.
Paris takes us from her roots in Washington, DC, nightlife, community building, radio, and learning the culture hands-on, to helping shape the early worlds around Ari Lennox and Lucky Daye. We talk about the unsexy parts of artist development that matter most: building identity in public, earning trust with fans, moving “inch by inch,” and why forcing aesthetics too early can kill authenticity.
She shares the behind-the-scenes realities of working within label systems (Dreamville/Interscope, RCA/Keep Cool), building brand consistency through visuals and styling, and managing two breakouts at once without the infrastructure people assume you have. We also get real about the business: management is a long game, money is often delayed until touring, merch, and brand deals scale, and today’s industry is increasingly driven by analytics, risk aversion, and fragmented discovery.
Paris opens up about burnout, boundaries, and how she sustained herself through styling, consulting, and a corporate chapter as Associate Creative Director at SoundCloud, before being pulled back into management by the work she truly loves: building artists with purpose.
If you’re an independent artist, an aspiring manager, or anyone trying to understand the real mechanics of the music business, this episode is a playbook.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
New episodes drop Tuesdays @ 10am ET

Topics covered: Artist Management • Artist Development • Branding & Visual Identity • Styling as Strategy • Release Strategy & Rollouts • Label Politics • Touring & Ticket Sales • Fanbase Growth • Radio & College Circuit • Streams vs Real Demand • Burnout & Boundaries • Music Tech & SoundCloud • Independent Artist Strategy