The Manager's Playbook

What does every producer need to know about the music business beyond making great records? In this clip, Khris Riddick-Tynes gets into the side of the game a lot of creatives learn too late, publishing structures, deal terms, mentorship, discipline, and why studying the greats still matters. He also breaks down how an old MDRC publishing deal became difficult once the business shifted to streamin...

Why did Kehlani’s “Folded” work the way it did? I n this clip, Khris Riddick-Tynes breaks down how the record came together, why it needed more emotional nuance than a standard breakup song, and how trusting the feeling of a record can lead to something bigger. He also gets into how to motivate artists without forcing them, why substance matters more than technique , how he knew “Folded” was speci...

Why do some artists last while others fade after one breakout moment? In this clip, Khris Riddick-Tynes breaks down the mindset behind real music career longevity, from resilience and studying your wins to avoiding short-term money traps and building demand the right way. He gets into why you have to watch the tape after a hit, why touring still matters , and how artists, managers, and producers c...

Why do some songs fade fast while others last for years? In this clip, Khris Riddick-Tynes breaks down why the song still comes first; not the trend, not the moment, not the hype. He gets into why lyrics, melody, and emotional truth are what give records real staying power, and why track-first songs often burn out fast. The conversation also covers how SZA’s “Snooze” came together, why mentorship...

Khris Riddick-Tynes, three-time Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, and Kehlani’s executive producer, joins The Manager’s Playbook to break down what really makes hit songs last. This conversation gets into songwriting, artist development, A&R, executive production, mentorship, and music business strategy , with stories behind SZA’s “Snooze” , Kehlani’s “Folded” , and the long game behind bui...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Hitmaka and Mauricio Ruiz unpack why the music industry does not create stars the way it once did. They get into what separated artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole from the pack, how algorithms and personalized discovery have changed the way audiences connect with music, and why the business needs more fearless creatives in positions of leadershi...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Hitmaka breaks down why the music industry is really a people business. From working with labels and independent artists to building trust, collaboration, and long-term leverage, Hitmaka shares how real relationships create opportunities in music. He also reflects on developing an artist connected to Gillie, how that led to an Epic deal, why getting invited...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Hitmaka breaks down how producers really get paid in the music business. He reflects on his time during Atlantic’s high-powered A&R era, how he helped shape the sound of modern R&B and hip-hop, and why songwriters have historically been undervalued. From the making of A Boogie’s “Look Back At It” to the strategy behind producer credits, advances, and...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Hitmaka breaks down how producers really get paid in the music business. From song deals and publishing to fair splits, leverage, and non-exclusive relationships across labels, Hitmaka shares real insight into the business mechanics behind a successful producer career. He also talks about why he stays rooted in hip hop and R&B, the gatekeeping that exist...

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Hitmaka, formerly Yung Berg, for a deep conversation on the real business behind hit songs. Hitmaka breaks down how hit records actually get made, from demo-first songwriting and producer collaboration to song deals, publishing, label politics, and artist development. He reflects on nearly three decades in music, the mindset t...

Mike Caren breaks down what actually makes a song feel like a hit. This clip explores the role of A&R, taste, replay value, emotional connection, melody, lyrics, and creative judgment in today’s music business.  Mike also talks about trusting your opinion, learning from missed calls, redefining what a hit means in the streaming era, and why great executives grow by focusing on their strengths...

Mike Caren breaks down why artists and managers need to have hard conversations early if they want to avoid bigger problems later. This clip is about artist-manager communication, label frustrations, project readiness, honest feedback, over-communication, and building stronger working relationships in the music business .  It’s a sharp reminder that many issues are not solved by blame. They’re sol...

Mike Caren breaks down why consistency, discipline, and adaptability matter more than occasional flashes of brilliance in the music business. This clip explores the traits that help artists and executives build lasting careers: embracing change, staying open to new ideas, avoiding nostalgia, protecting your focus, and developing the self-awareness to regularly reassess your strategy.  It’s a sharp...

Mike Caren breaks down what actually creates longevity in the music business. This clip is about building a career the right way: bringing value instead of extracting it, thinking long term, preparing before chasing opportunity, and developing the habits that lead to real greatness. Mike also touches on confidence, artist development, smart collaboration, and the importance of understanding music...

Mike Caren is one of the most respected music executives of his generation. From his early years at Atlantic Records to building Artist Publishing Group and Artist Partner Group , Mike has played a major role in the careers of artists, songwriters, producers, and executives across the modern music business. In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Mike for a wide-ra...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Charlie Rocket breaks down how he would build an artist with no money, using speed, consistency, release strategy, and real-world fan-building . He talks through a no-budget artist development plan built around frequent releases, working with talented producers who believe in the vision, and staying always on so fans can build real habits around the music...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Charlie Rocket reflects on how he and his partners ended up managing 2 Chainz by doing the work before anyone officially gave them the title. What began as music marketing, mixtape promotion, CD street-team strategy, and fan-building quickly turned into something bigger. Charlie explains how they kept showing up with value: bringing a 30/60/90-day artist...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Charlie Rocket breaks down why so many artists in today’s music industry are too focused on virality and not focused enough on building real momentum. He shares a sharper approach to music marketing, artist development, fan-building, and independent artist growth : run the play , stay consistent, and boil a pot of water before trying to heat up the whole...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Charlie Rocket breaks down his “Blitzkrieg” approach to music marketing; a focused 30-day sprint built around urgency, consistency, and strategic execution. Instead of glorifying burnout or everyday hustle culture, Charlie explains why artists, managers, and music executives often get better results from short, high-intensity bursts of artist promotion, f...

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , Charlie Rocket joins us for a powerful conversation on artist development, music marketing, fan building, independent artist strategy, and the mindset required to win in the music business . Best known for helping build 2 Chainz and for his evolution from music executive to public speaker and entrepreneur, Charlie breaks down why he believes success ofte...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Tommy Brown breaks down why K-pop continues to win at artist development , and why its system still looks a lot closer to Motown than what much of the American music industry is doing today. We get into Tommy’s work in Korea , the session that led to BLACKPINK’s “Ice Cream” featuring Selena Gomez , the group’s studio discipline, and what that level of per...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Tommy Brown reflects on his experience filming Netflix’s Hitmakers , the pressure of creating on camera, and why the show did not go deep enough into the real lives of songwriters and producers . We get into leadership , acceptance , collaboration , and the financial reality behind the music business, including why so many creatives are not making the mon...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Tommy Brown breaks down one of the hardest truths in the music business : huge streaming numbers do not always mean real money for songwriters and producers . We get into producer points , publishing royalties , master royalties , label negotiations , and why so many creators are still underpaid. Tommy also talks about learning under Rodney Jerkins , the...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Tommy Brown breaks down why visibility and content strategy are now part of the job for artists, producers, and songwriters . We talk about why posting consistently matters, how even simple beat videos can drive massive audience growth , and why being seen is now directly tied to opportunity in the music business . The conversation also gets into streamin...

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , I sit down with Tommy Brown (TBHits), hitmaking music producer , songwriter , and one of the most important creative forces behind modern pop music. Tommy has worked with Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Victoria Monét and more, and this conversation is a real look at what it takes to become a true hit producer in today’s music industry. We get...