A management contract decides who controls your career, so read it like your future depends on it — because it does. The first red flag is term length: anything over three years with no exit is a trap. You want a one-to-two-year initial term with options, plus a clear way out if the manager isn’t performing. A manager confident in their work doesn’t need to lock you in for five years.
Watch the commission structure like a hawk. Fifteen to twenty percent of gross is the industry standard — anyone asking for more is telling you who they are. And check what that percentage applies to: it should be entertainment income, not your merch line you built alone, not your acting check, not money that has nothing to do with their work. Carve-outs for pre-existing income are normal and non-negotiable.
The sunset clause is where managers get paid after you’re gone. A fair one phases down over a couple of years on deals they actually brought you. An abusive one takes a cut of everything forever. Also flag: the manager taking a producer or label cut on top of commission, vague “expenses” they can charge back to you, and any clause letting them sign deals in your name without your sign-off.
Never sign without your own lawyer reviewing it — not the manager’s lawyer, yours. If a manager pressures you to sign today, that’s the biggest red flag of all; legitimate people wait for legal review. A good management deal is a partnership on paper. Get a copy of the final signed agreement and store it somewhere you can find in thirty seconds. When disputes arise years later, the artist holding the paperwork wins the argument before it starts.
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.