A bad manager costs you more than their commission. They cost you years. If your manager is not returning calls, not booking anything, or making moves without your approval, it is time to act. Firing a manager is business, not personal, and doing it clean protects your career.
First, read your management agreement word for word. Note the term, the termination clause, the notice period, and the commission structure, especially the sunset clause that lets them collect on deals they touched for months or years after you split. Know exactly what you owe before you make a move.
The clean exit
Send written notice exactly as the contract requires, by email plus certified mail if it says so. Keep it short, professional, and factual. Do not vent, do not threaten, and do not badmouth them publicly. The industry is small and gossip always travels back to you.
Settle the money. Get a final accounting of everything owed in both directions, and get the release in writing. If they claim commissions on future income, negotiate the sunset down. A shorter tail on fewer revenue streams is standard, and an entertainment lawyer earns their fee right here.
Then move fast: notify promoters, collaborators, and your team directly that you are self-managed or under new representation, lock down your accounts and passwords, and keep creating. The best revenge on a bad deal is a career that keeps rising without it.
Document everything before the split: unanswered emails, missed opportunities, unauthorized commitments. Paper trails win disputes.
Never sign a new manager while the old agreement is still active. Overlapping managers means overlapping commissions coming out of your pocket.
About the Author – Ruben Burgos: Ruben Burgos brings over 25 years of music expertise and more than 15 years of model guidance to the table. He is the indie major pinnacle to retaining credits for musicians and helping them navigate this wicked industry without the fuckery.