Managing a successful teen artists.

The role of an artist manager can be a lucrative yet busy ordeal.  There are many things that can go right with your artists.  What do you do when things go wrong?

I don’t know if there is a definitive answer to this question.  Every artist is unique. Bad things happen even with good planning.  Put simply, every body has a bad day from time to time.  The question should be how do you manage the fallout when something does happen.

In recent news Justin Bieber, teen singing sensation, has come under scrutiny because a few mishaps on his recent tour.  Bieber faints backstage at his London tour stop and is rushed to the hospital, he is caught fighting with a paparazzi photographer after being heckled by his fans for appearing late to another concert at a previous tour date.  Situations like this can be a nightmare for an artist manager.

How does a manager handle things when their artist is in the midst of what appears to be a breakdown?  

Father vs Manager

Father vs. Manager

In recent years the relationships for the artist managers have grown to the closest arrangement possible.  The hiring of parents as managers is being practiced more and more.  It seems to be a logical choice in the beginning of an artist career to choose someone they can trust to handle their affairs.  The use of a parent, at first, would appear to be a logical choice.  Why not have someone who has already been tasked with developing the artist as a person to help develop the artist as an artist. This practice, however, leads to a crossroads later on in the artist career. 

If we look back to the late 80’s when Janet Jackson decided to take control of her own career.  She chose to make that statement by creating the album control.  In this case, Janet was attempting to separate herself from the shadows of her well-known parents and brothers.  Janet’s first two albums entitled “Janet Jackson” which was followed by her second album “Dream Street” where both produced by her father Jo Jackson or her brothers.  This was indeed an early example of the trend that is being practiced today. 

The two latest examples of this practice would be Beyoncé and Jessica Simpson.  Both artists chose to let their fathers manage them early in their careers, and both eventually fired their fathers as managers.  This poses a question.  Was it a good decision for the artists to hire their family members to manage their careers? 

In retrospect, in both cases, it seemed to work.  Both artists have had very successful careers under the tutelage of their parents.  Beyoncé has come up to be a very successful recording artist, songwriter, actress and performer.  Jessica Simpson has made a mark with her career as well.  Staring in her own reality shows, branding her name with a clothing line and a not so bad singing career.

It is obvious that this type of arrangement does work, but it is very short lived.  As with normal every day life, an artist will outgrow the business relation ship they have started with their parent(s).  There will always be the need for the artist to spread their wings and take complete control over their careers.  In most cases this will involve hiring someone else to manage their careers and focus on their relationship with their parent.