Shows / The Manager's Playbook
The Manager's Playbook
Hosted by Mauricio Ruiz, a music industry executive of 15 years, The Manager's Playbook is your essential podcast for insights into the music industry. Whether you're an artist, aspiring manager, music industry professional, or just passionate about the behind-the-scenes of the music business, this podcast is for you. Mauricio brings you in-depth interviews with top artist managers, entertainment lawyers, and other industry execs. Each episode is packed with valuable tips, real-world…
Episodes
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Ray Daniels on The Biggest Lie About Publishing Deals
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Ray Daniels and I break down the real difference between pop and urban splits and how the same record can pay out…
- The Manager's Playbook
The Manager's Playbook 027: Ray Daniels - Jay-Z vs Bow Wow, Theron Thomas, Lizzo, Ciara, Breaking Into the Music Industry, Building His Brand & Lessons From the Greats
Ray Daniels has seen every corner of the music business, from making hits to being blackballed, from major label boardrooms to building R.A.Y.D.A.R. Management…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Russ on the Dark Side of Music Success & Healing
In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Russ shares the emotional cost of success and the internal reset that followed. From confronting public perception to…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Russ on How His Day-One Business Partner Saved His Music Career
In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Russ opens up about the pivotal moments that built his career. From Bugus filing the LLC at 18, to staying focused when…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Russ on How He Turned Down Labels and Made $1M/Month from Masters
In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Russ shares the story behind one of the most unconventional label deals in the industry. He went from making…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Russ on Why $100K Won’t Make You a Star
In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Russ delivers a hard truth: success isn’t about big budgets or major connections. It’s about clarity, consistency, and…
- The Manager's Playbook
The Manager's Playbook 026: RUSS - $100M Independent Empire, Master Ownership, Mental Resilience, Fan Engagement & Financial Strategy
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Russ gets real about what it takes to build a $100M career as a fully independent artist. From owning 100% of his…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Jessie Reyez on The Best Advice to Capitalize on Momentum
Jessie Reyez joins Byron Wilson and myself to trace the rise of a movement, how the Remix Project in Toronto became a launchpad for global talent and real…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Jessie Reyez on Why Systems Can Make You Unstoppable
In this clip, Jessie Reyez joins Mauricio Ruiz and Byron Wilson to break down the power of leverage, the value of numbers, and why no artist wins alone. They…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Zach Katz on Why He Left a Top Music Exec Job to Start Over
Zach Katz shares the story behind one of the boldest moves in his career: leaving his role as President of BMG North America to co-found Raised in Space with…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Zach Katz on The 5 Seats Every Artist Must Fill To Build a Legendary Career
Music and entertainment exec, Zach Katz, lays out the 5 essential roles every artist must fill: manager, lawyer, label, publisher, and agent. But the real…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Zach Katz on The Strategy That Is Changing Music Promotion Forever
Zach Katz, music exec and co-founder of Fixated, breaks down a game-changing approach to creator marketing. It’s called the clipper strategy: a network of…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Zach Katz on How Content Creators Can Make Big Money with Their Videos
Former BMG US President and Fixated co-founder Zach Katz shares why creators like The Sketch Real aren’t just chasing virality. They’re building businesses. We…
- The Manager's Playbook
The Manager's Playbook 025: Zach Katz - Jason Derulo, The Sketch Real, Sean Kingston, Creator Economy, Studio Models, Digital Power, Trust-Driven Strategy & Music’s Next Move
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Zach Katz, former President of BMG US and co-founder of Beluga Heights, joins the show to unpack the evolution of…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Jessie Reyez on The True Story Behind The Song 'Figures'
We revisit the origin story of Jessie Reyez’s breakout hit “Figures” from a chance car ride in Sweden to a full-blown industry bidding war. It’s a…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Jessie Reyez on How She Outsmarts The Music Industry
Jessie Reyez and Byron Wilson take you deep into the real-life dynamics of the music industry, from conflict resolution to creative breakthroughs. We explore…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Director X on The Precious Trap You Never Knew You Were In
In this clip, Director X unpacks the creative mindset behind some of the most iconic music moments of the last decade, from Hotline Bling to Life is Good…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Nick Raphael on The Harsh Truth About Why Your Music Isn’t Working
In this episode, Nick Raphael gets real about one of the biggest misconceptions in the music industry: talent alone doesn’t break artists. Effort does. We…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Nick Raphael on How He Beat Every Major Label to Sign Jay-Z
Before the billion-dollar empire, Jay-Z was just an overlooked artist with a brilliant album, and no U.S. label willing to take the risk. In this episode, Nick…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Nick Raphael on The Real Reason Some Artists Never Make It
In this episode, Nick Raphael, former President of Capitol Records UK, pulls back the curtain on what actually makes or breaks an artist’s career. It’s not…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Nick Raphael on Why Indie Artists Are Winning More Than Ever in 2025
In this episode, Nick Raphael, former President of Capitol Records UK, uncovers a core truth of the music business: a hit record means nothing without the…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Director X on Mastering the Creative Hustle in 2024
In this episode, legendary filmmaker Director X breaks down how to cut through the noise in a content-heavy world, and why the best visuals aren’t always the…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Director X on Why Music Videos Matter More Than You Think
In this episode, legendary music video director Director X breaks down the role of music videos in 2024, and why they still matter in a world dominated by…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Byron Wilson on The Must Know Tips to Break an Artist in 2024
Ruiz and Byron take you on a journey through the discovery and management of the phenomenal Jessie Reyez. It all began in 2013 with a serendipitous Facebook…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Byron Wilson on The Messiness of the Music Business
In this no-fluff episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Byron Wilson breaks down what most labels won’t say out loud: the real grind behind building a music…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Byron Wilson on the Must Know Tips to Spot a Superstar Artist like Jessie Reyez
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz and Byron Wilson reflect on the unexpected journey that led them to discover and develop Jessie Reyez…
- The Manager's Playbook
The Manager’s Playbook 024: Nick Raphael - Jay Z, Sam Smith, 5SOS, Imogen Heap, A&R Evolution, Digital Distribution, Major Labels, Fan Engagement & Creative Strategy
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, we sit down with legendary music executive Nick Raphael, whose journey spans signing Jay Z, launching Sam Smith, and…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Cory Litwin Reveals What Nobody Tells You About Artist Management
Go behind the scenes of high-stakes music management with Cory Litwin - the powerhouse manager behind Murda Beatz and other top producers. In this episode of…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside The Playbook: Cory Litwin Reveals making Drake's 'Nice For What'!
Ever wondered how Drake’s “Nice for What” came to life? In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Corey Litwin takes us behind the scenes of the legendary…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside The Playbook: Cory Litwin on How Meeting Murda Beatz Changed His Life Overnight
How do you go from throwing parties to managing major artists? Cory Litwin has the blueprint. In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Cory shares his…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Nick Groff on Music Industry Insider Secrets You Need to Know
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Former SVP of Interscope Records, Nick Groff, unpacks the modern manager’s role, especially in today’s independent…
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Inside the Playbook: Nick Groff The Hidden Cost of Signing a Record Deal
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Former SVP of Interscope Records, Nick Groff, breaks down what every artist and manager should understand before…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Nick Groff on How to Break Into A&R (Without Industry Connections)
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Nick Groff shares his unfiltered journey from unpaid intern to shaping major releases at Interscope Records. He…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Nick Groff on The Untold A&R Stories Behind Avicii, MGK & Billie Eilish
On this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, former Interscope SVP Nick Groff pulls back the curtain on the evolving role of A&R at the major-label level. With a…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Kardinal Offishall on The Journey from Artist to Global A&R
Kardinal Offishall joins Ruiz on The Manager’s Playbook to share his evolution from chart-topping artist to global music executive. In this episode, Kardinal…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Kardinal Offishall on The Magician VS The Scientist Behind The Music Business
Kardinal Offishall joins Ruiz on The Manager’s Playbook to explore the powerful intersection of creativity and commerce in the music industry. In this episode…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Kardinal Offishall on The Real Secret to Musical Genius
On this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Kardinal Offishall shares what it really takes to spot future stars before the world catches on. From discovering…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Kardinal Offishall on All You Need To Know About Major Record Labels
Kardinal Offishall joins Ruiz on The Manager’s Playbook to unpack the real challenges artists and managers face behind the scenes of the music industry. From…
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The Manager’s Playbook 023: Nick Groff - Billie Eilish, MGK, Jacob Collier, Avicii, A&R, Artist Development, Major Labels, Fan Engagement & The Manager's Role
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, we’re joined by Nick Groff, a veteran A&R with 16 years at Interscope and a roster that includes Billie Eilish…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Shara Senderoff on Starting a Fund and Angel Investing
The Manager’s Playbook sits down with Shara Senderoff, tech entrepreneur, investor, and Forbes '30 Under 30,' to break down what it really takes to start a…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Shara Senderoff on How a 20 year old sold a pitch to Steven Spielberg
The Manager’s Playbook dives into the incredible story of how Shara Senderoff, a visionary tech entrepreneur and Forbes '30 Under 30' honoree, sold a pitch to…
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Inside the Playbook: Shara Senderoff on Gender Roles & Perspective in the Tech Space
The Manager’s Playbook features visionary tech entrepreneur and Forbes '30 Under 30' alum Shara Senderoff, as she shares the mindset that’s powered her success…
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Inside the Playbook: Shara Senderoff on 5 Books Every Entrepreneur MUST Read
The Manager’s Playbook sits down with music-tech entrepreneur Shara Senderoff as she shares five must-read books for anyone looking to create real change in…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Dame Ritter On How Artists Can Make Real Money from Music Streaming in 2025
The Manager’s Playbook cuts through the noise around streaming with Dame Ritter, who breaks down the real financial upside for artists who know how to leverage…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Dame Ritter On How to Build an Independent Record Label in 2025
The Manager’s Playbook takes you inside the world of launching and growing an indie label in today’s music industry. Dame Ritter shares how to structure the…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Dame Ritter On What Every Artist and Manager Should Know in Today's Music Business
The Manager’s Playbook brings real-world wisdom from Dame Ritter, founder of the Music Entrepreneur Club, on navigating the complex relationships in the music…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Dame Ritter On The Secrets Behind a Successful Brand Identity
Dame Ritter, co-founder of Funk Volume, dives into the realities of succeeding as an independent artist or manager in today’s music industry. Ritter reveals…
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Inside the Playbook: The Core Entertainment on How Mental Health Needs to Be A Priority
The Manager’s Playbook tackles two essential topics in today’s music industry: mental health and work ethic. Simon Tikhman and Chief Zaruk, co-founders of The…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: The Core Entertainment on How They Signed Nickleback
The Manager’s Playbook goes behind the scenes with Chief Zaruk & Simon Tikhman, co-founders of The Core Entertainment, as they share Chief's early days working…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: The Core Entertainment on How Artist Development Was Destroyed By The Internet
Simon Tikhman and Chief Zaruk, co-founders of The Core Entertainment, break down the evolution of artist development in the digital age. The internet may have…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: The Core Entertainment on How Country Music is Driving Culture
Chief Zaruk and Simon Tikhman, Co-Founders of The Core Entertainment, explore how country music is shaping culture, from lifestyle and fashion to entertainment…
- The Manager's Playbook
The Manager’s Playbook 022: Dame Ritter – Funk Volume, Hopsin, Bigg Jah, Independent Record Labels, Music Entrepreneur Club, Streaming, Revenue Streams, Brand Identity, Content Strategy
In this episode ofThe Manager’s Playbook, Dame Ritter, co-founder of the influential Funk Volume label joins the show to share hard-earned lessons from…
- The Manager's Playbook
The Manager’s Playbook 021: Promogod – Music Marketing, Monetization, Funnels, Fanbase Growth, PR, Organic vs Paid Ads & Artist Business Strategy
In Episode 021, Promogod joins The Manager’s Playbook to deliver a masterclass in modern music marketing. With over 230K Instagram followers and a track record…
- The Manager's Playbook
The Manager’s Playbook 020: Lex Borrero Pt. 2 – The Art of Management, Loyalty, Authenticity, Sacrifice, Brand Discipline & Industry Pressure
What does Lex Borrero mean by "Managers Should Get 50%"? THE RETURN OF controversial manager Lex Borrero on The Manager's Playbook Podcast! We dive even deeper…
- The Manager's Playbook
The Manager’s Playbook 019: Chris Anokute – Katy Perry, Iggy Azalea, Bebe Rexha, Muni Long, Rihanna, Album Creation, A&R, Gatekeepers, Market Share, Pay-to-Play, Fake Streams, Industry Secrets
In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, we sit down with Chris Anokute, the industry veteran behind the success of Katy Perry, Iggy Azalea, Bebe Rexha, and…
- The Manager's Playbook
The Manager’s Playbook 018: Rachelle Jean-Louis – Behind Victoria Monét’s Success, Artist Development, Breaking Barriers & The Business of Artist Management
From Underdog to Superstar: The Unfiltered Truth About Artist Management with Rachelle Jean-Louis What does it really take to break an artist into the…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Chip Sutherland on The One Person EVERY Recording Artist Needs
Chip Sutherland, Co-Author of ‘All You Need To Know About The Music Business’ Canadian Edition, Top Music Lawyer and Artist Manager to Feist (yes, he’s both a…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Chip Sutherland on an Artist's First Step - Manager or Lawyer?
Chip Sutherland, Co-Author of ‘All You Need To Know About The Music Business’ Canadian Edition, Top Music Lawyer and Artist Manager to Feist (yes, he’s both a…
- The Manager's Playbook
Inside the Playbook: Chip Sutherland on All You Need To Know About The Music Business
Chip Sutherland, Co-Author of ‘All You Need To Know About The Music Business’ Canadian Edition, Top Music Lawyer and Artist Manager to Feist (yes, he’s both a…
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Inside the Playbook: Che Kothari on How he became Machel Montano’s Manager
Listen to the full episode here - Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ngLJkKqbpyfki3LwJwXER Watch the Episodes On Youtube -…