Explore Being a Band Manager with Bill Boyette

By Jackie Asfoor

The Light Within

Our CareerZing advisory board member, Jackie Asfoor caught up with Bill Boyette to ask him to share his wisdom on what it’s like to manage the business of two up-and-coming, recently ‘signed’ bands. Bill gives Jackie a primer on how to achieve success and how to avoid common tricks encountered in the music business.       

About the Interviewer:

Jackie Asfoor is a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and minors in music literature and theory. She is aspiring to become more involved in the music industry with artist management, promotions, or event management. Jackie caught up with Bill Boyette as he was travelling home from Atlanta, where he met with record producers for one of the bands he manages, “The Light Within”. Jackie was very excited to speak with Bill about his involvement with the band and about the music industry in general.

About Bill Boyette:

Bill manages a private record label and two bands as well as being a full-time Certified Public Accountant. He manages “The Light Within” and “Come Down Denver”. As the record label manager, he set up the AMA (Artist Management Agreement), runs the bands’ tours, manages financing for the record and video production deal (he IS the record label!), and manages financing for booking and tour operations costs and other expenses. A business entity, of which both Bill and the band members are partners, collects the money earned from gigs, songs, and merchandise sales, and then shares the net profits, after expenses, based on the entity ownership. Bill hopes to either “upstream” his bands (that is, sell the bands to a larger record label) once they become more popular, or work full time in music.

Here’s what Bill shared with us about the music industry…

Legal Perspective on the Music Industry: Understanding Record Labels, Publishing & Ownership of Songs:

Revenue Streams: There are many revenue streams for music, for example:

Record labels are consolidating and roles are changing in the industry:

Record Labels – Copyright vs. Publishing Rights: Artists must be under contract with a record label. In Bill Boyette’s case, he IS the private record label. Here are some benefits to having your own record label:

Publishing Music: Publishers hold the publishing rights to songs. Publishing is a separate royalty to the party who holds the publishing rights. Generally, an entity

which is separate from the record company holds the publishing rights.

Record Label and Publisher Relations:

Royalties:

How to Be Successful in the Music Business When Money is not a Holdback:

If the band has the funding here are the first steps they must take on their road to success:

The Job of the Band Manager

The manager sets up the AMA (Artist Management Arrangement) which is a legal agreement (contract) between the band and the manager. The AMA can be set up any way that is agreeable to both parties. This is typically how the AMA is set up:

How to Become a Band Manager/Booking Agent:

Start by doing a Goggle search using key words like “AMA” and “how to manage a band”

Bill suggests starting off as a Booking Agent to make yourself an asset to bands and venues. Bands need gigs – so be valuable to them by finding them gig opportunities. Here are suggestions on how to do this:

Building Fan and Venue Databases

How to Become a Band Manager Once You’re a Booking Agent  

Where to Find a Band to Manage:

Songwriting and the Band:  

  

Where to Find Gigs:

Recording an Album with a Record Label:

Music Sales:

How Can a Band Distinguish Itself from Others? Branding and Identity:

Band Marketing and Fans:

Facebook Likes – Instead, Start a Fan Database:

Other Advice for Going into the Music Business: