Richard Branson

This week I will be doing my Artist and Product Management blog post on the CEO of Virgin, Richard Branson. Richard is one of worlds most well known and influential entrepreneur’s of all time. He started as a trouble making young man in high school to one of the world’s richest men owning dozens of his own original companies. He does not manage a single artist or product. He manages hundreds of managers who then manage his companies for him.
Richard’s leadership qualities started at a young age. When Richard was in high school he started a student magazine at his boarding school. He was a natural born leader. Along with Leadership Richard’s second most outstanding quality was the ability to have fun. Sometimes his fun would get him into a bit of trouble. While still in high school he got caught inside the Dean of his boarding schools house sleeping with his daughter. This almost got him expelled until he wrote a fake suicide letter that made him exempt from the expulsion. On Richards’s diploma upon graduating high school his dean wrote him a small note.

“Congratulations, Branson. I predict you will either go to prison or become a millionaire”.

From this point in his life Richard decided that he wanted to pursue music management. Richard started his first record label Virgin Records. One of the first artist Virgin Records recorded was the Sex Pistols in 1977. Today Virgin records signs some of the top artists in the entertainment industry. Virgin signs some major mainstream band such as 30 seconds to mars, Gorillaz, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Saosin, and the Spice girls.

Richard Branson is an innovator. He brings joy and fun to all oh his products. From Virgin records, to Virgin mobile, Richard incorporates sex into his businesses, which motivate younger crowds to buy his products in turn creating a following.

I hope you enjoyed my latest blog post.
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References

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/

Jesse Moore: Artist Manager

For This weeks blog post I decided to contact a friend of mine Jesse Moore who graduated from Full Sail University not too long ago. He is now the manager for an up and coming band Called Stockholm. I asked Jesse some questions that I had that would help me if I wanted to become an artist manager. I had a phone interview with him and this is everything that he had to say.

Q: What made you want to become an artist manager?

A: It’s really the music scene that motivated me to be an artist manager. I’m really not talented when it comes to music. So the best way to be apart of the industry for me was taking up the business side.

Q: Do you go after the artist that you enjoy listening too? Like would you manage a country singer if you didn't like country?

A: Yes I do prefer to manage bands that I enjoy listening to. I have to know this band inside and out. If I don’t enjoy what I’m listening too I wouldn’t exactly enjoy my job.

Q: Do you have a breaking price? If a country band gave you enough money would you manage them?

A: Well I guess you can put a price on about anything. If it was a big name country artist and I was going to be paid out the nose then I guess I would manage a country band.

Q: What stress you out the most about this job?

A: You must have a very open line of communication with the band that you are managing. Most music guys are big into the party scene. It’s very stressful when a no one answers their phone and you know they were drinking the night before.
Independent bands that are used to producing themselves are also a hassle. They want a manager but then try to manage themselves.

Q: Whats your favorite genre of music?

A: I like Hardcore and Metal music.

Q: What are your main responsibilities as an artist manager?

A: My main responsibilities with Stockholm are Promotions, Organizing and Booking. Once they become a bit bigger we will then hire a booking agent. I organize their recordings and all promotions from posters to face book to music videos.

Q: Do you have any tips for a starting artist manager?

A: Start out only managing band. Its a lot more work then you think. Problems come up that you wont expect and it’s a bit easier to manage 5 guys then 10. Once you learn the ropes with one band then maybe you will be ready to manage multiple bands. Always have a plan B no matter what situation is. And Keep an Open line of communication between you and the artist. Make sure that you are able to talk to them every day. If you lose track of them things will go down hill from there.


This whole conversation was done on the phone while I was taking notes. Everything written is a summary of what Jesse said. Very little is directly quoting Jesse. I hope you enjoyed reading my latest post!

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