The Manager's Playbook

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , publicist Loren Medina shares why passion is the foundation of every client relationship she takes on. From choosing artists based on authenticity, to navigating the evolving role of PR in the age of social media, Loren gives an unfiltered look at how storytelling drives careers forward. She breaks down her work with artists like Jessie Reyez, the strategy...

In episode 36 of The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz sits down with publicist and strategist Loren Medina , founder of Guerrera PR. From her start at Sony to building her own agency, Loren shares the unfiltered truth about navigating the music business, the importance of authenticity, and why values and strategy matter more than hype. She opens up about working with artists like J Noa and Jessi...

Music catalogs have become one of the hottest asset classes in the world. In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Dan Gonzalez and I unpack how catalogs are valued, why multiples matter, and what makes music such an attractive investment for hedge funds and capital allocators. From liquidity to long-term earnings, we explore why music is considered an uncorrelated asset, and what that means for a...

From Canadian grant writing to closing music business deals. In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , I sit down with Dan Gonzalez who has navigated both worlds, and now helps artists protect their rights and grow sustainable careers. We discuss why some artists land grants while others don’t, how to simplify overly complex contracts, and the biggest pitfalls hiding in traditional label agreements...

Royalties are the lifeblood of an artist’s career but too often, they go uncollected. In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Dan Gonzalez breaks down how business managers protect artists and producers by auditing portfolios, identifying missing income, and navigating the complex world of rights and royalties. From masters and publishing to public performance, mechanicals, neighboring rights, an...

The role of a business manager has never been more important for artists. In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Dan Gonzalez breaks down how the job has evolved from simple bill payments and taxes to becoming the backbone of an artist’s entire financial structure. With music distribution decentralized and artists taking on more responsibilities than ever, the right business manager can mean the...

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz sits down with his own business manager, Dan Gonzalez , to uncover the financial backbone of an artist’s career. Dan explains why business managers are really the CFOs of the music industry and how the right systems around taxes, royalties, and catalog sales can be the difference between wealth and bankruptcy. From the hidden costs of advan...

Hit-Boy has leveled up, not just as a producer, but as a person. In this conversation, he talks about upgrading his lifestyle and workspace to unlock peak creativity, balancing fatherhood with a relentless creative output, and quietly building an empire that spans music, film scores, video games, and major brand partnerships. We dive into the freedom and challenges of independence, the role of mom...

Ownership isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the difference between building a career you control and one that controls you. In this clip, Hit-Boy, his manager Nima Nasseri, and I break down the mechanics of the modern music business through the lens of artists like Russ, who’ve built massive success independently. From the shift in revenue models and the evolving role of labels, to the rise of distribut...

Hit-Boy spent 18 years locked in one of the toughest publishing deals in the music business, a contract built on outdated MDRC terms that kept him working without a clear finish line. In this conversation, he takes us from his early days on Section 8 housing and landing a $50,000 advance, to producing career-defining hits like N*** in Paris . He breaks down the mental toll of a bad deal, the indus...

Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy is building more than music; he’s building worlds. In this conversation, he talks about his shift from making beats to creating immersive film experiences, the hard lessons of becoming a visual artist, and how constant growth fuels his work. He opens up about collaborations with top artists, his commitment to independence, and why family remains at the center of eve...

Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy opens up about escaping an 18-year publishing deal, one of the most restrictive contracts in music, and the lessons learned along the way. He shares the mental toll of being trapped in outdated MDRC terms, how Jay-Z and Roc Nation helped him break free, and the creative freedom that’s fueled his most prolific run yet. Alongside his manager, Nima Nasseri, Hit-Boy rev...

Chris Taylor takes us inside Metric’s improbable rise, from repeated label rejections to breaking through as one of Canada’s most influential indie bands. In the early 2000s, after failed demo deals with Warner Brothers, Island Records, and Virgin, the band was at a crossroads. Refusing to let their story end there, Taylor founded Last Gang Records to give Metric their long-overdue shot. We also e...

Chris Taylor’s path has been anything but linear: lawyer, label founder, and music executive with a global footprint. In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , he shares how he scaled a thriving legal practice while launching Last Gang Records, balancing the demands of both worlds, and navigating the breakthrough moments that shaped his career. From the strategies he used to build and fund his firm...

Chris Taylor remembers the moment Nelly Furtado’s music landed in his hands, and the chain reaction it set off. From self-made tracks and photo booth snapshots to sparking one of 1999’s biggest record deals, Chris takes us inside the bidding war that had David Geffen, Madonna, and the industry’s heavyweights at the table. The result? A Dreamworks deal that helped open the door for Canadian artists...

Chris Taylor knows the role of the music manager has changed forever. In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , he shares why he launched a management company in 2024 and how managers today are building infrastructure, owning assets, and playing a bigger role than ever in an artist’s career. From navigating platforms like Spotify and TikTok to building specialized teams, Chris unpacks the power shi...

Chris Taylor has done it all: music lawyer, label founder, global executive, and now CEO of Hall of Fame Management. But his story didn’t start with a major deal. It started with a $35K personal bet on a band called Metric and a refusal to let talent get buried by industry politics. In this episode, Chris joins Mauricio Ruiz to talk about the hard-earned lessons behind his journey, what it really...

What actually builds an artist brand in 2025? In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Nick Ruffalo to break down the modern-day strategy behind artist branding, content creation, and music marketing. Together, they explore why branding is about emotional consistency, not just aesthetics, and how artists can build meaningful connections in an oversaturated digital worl...

In 2025, music marketing isn’t optional. It’s the engine behind every artist breakout. In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Nick Ruffalo to break down what branding, content, and strategy really look like in today’s landscape. They unpack how artist brands are built not just through visuals, but through voice, clarity, and emotional connection, and why artists need...

The label question isn’t major vs. indie. It’s alignment vs. confusion. In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Nick Ruffalo to unpack the evolving role of record labels in 2025. They go deep into what a modern label actually offers, what artists should demand, and how smart teams are building digital departments that prioritize branding, content, and true audience en...

What separates artists who get skipped from those who build legacy? In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Nick Ruffalo, SVP of Digital at Big Loud Rock and founder of Unleashed, to unpack what it really takes to build an artist brand that connects. They dive into why great music isn’t enough anymore, how the 80/20 rule still shapes careers, and why understanding you...

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Nick Ruffalo, SVP of Digital Marketing & Audience Engagement at Big Loud Records and founder of Unleashed, for a sharp, unfiltered conversation on what it really takes to build an artist brand in 2025. Nick breaks down the difference between branding and content (hint: most artists confuse the two), how to build trust bef...

YouTube isn’t just for views. It’s for building worlds . In this episode, we unpack why YouTube remains one of the most powerful tools in an artist’s strategy, especially in an era where the music business has shifted from gatekeeping to global access. Tuma Basa breaks down how to actually use the platform: consistency, storytelling, thumbnails, appointment drops, and understanding the full power...

Tuma Basa didn’t just build playlists. He built a perspective shaped by continents, cultures, and connection. In this clip, we unpack his global journey through music and media: growing up across countries, working through legacy and startup ecosystems, and choosing YouTube over traditional label paths. We talk about why real connection beats transactional networking, why music is more service tha...

Timbaland made headlines by signing the first AI artist but the real story goes deeper. In this clip, Tuma Basa and I dive into the tension between tech and tradition in music. From generative AI tools to the industry’s emotional resistance, we explore how this moment mirrors past disruptions; Auto-Tune, sampling, even the rise of the DJ. We ask the uncomfortable questions: Is AI a tool or a threa...