The Manager's Playbook

In this clip, Steve Rifkind breaks down the year he spent managing New Edition, and why it became his real-world education in the music industry. From meeting key players like Lady B, Hiriam Hicks, and Russell Simmons, to learning how artist management, A&R instincts, and music industry networking actually work in practice, Steve walks through the moments that shaped his approach to building c...

Steve Rifkind helped build the modern music business playbook, and he’s one of the people who created and popularized “street teams” before anyone had a marketing department to hand it to. In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , Steve Rifkind (founder of Loud Records and SRC Records ) breaks down how culture turns into commerce: A&R instincts, artist development, record label strategy, gra...

The music didn’t get worse. The way it travels changed. In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mike Biggane and I unpack why hits feel smaller in the streaming era; not because of talent, but because algorithms now control scale . Platforms reward consistency and predictability, which quietly reshaped how big songs can actually get. We talk about why artist development is making a comeback , wh...

Most conversations about streaming focus on artists or platforms. This one starts where the pressure shows up first: songwriters, publishers, and the economics underneath the music. In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Mike Biggane and I unpack how the streaming era, personalization, and AI quietly reshaped the value chain of the music industry and why the next phase won’t be driven by loude...

The music industry didn’t pivot because of trends. It pivoted because the returns disappeared. In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Mike Biggane unpacks why major record labels quietly changed their entire approach once it became clear that new music investments, viral signings, and influencer-driven marketing weren’t delivering sustainable results anymore. Referencing the Goldman Sachs “Mus...

Before playlists became leverage, before algorithms dictated discovery, before release strategy turned into guesswork, there was New Music Friday . In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Mike Biggane, creator of New Music Friday and former Global Head of Curation at Spotify, breaks down how one early idea helped reshape music discovery and quietly changed the entire music industry. Mike walks...

The music industry didn’t slowly evolve. It structurally changed. And most people are still trying to operate inside a version of the business that no longer exists. In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , I sit down with Mike Biggane, creator of New Music Friday , former Global Head of Curation at Spotify , and former EVP of Music Strategy at Universal Music Group, for a grounded, honest conv...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Nima Nasseri and Mauricio Ruiz unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of success in the music industry: visualization, mindset, and mental discipline . This isn’t about motivation. It’s about alignment. Nima explains why artists, managers, and creators who build lasting careers start with the internal work first. Before the streams, before the content...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Nima Nasseri breaks down what it really takes for artists to succeed in today’s digital-first music industry. Nima explains why talent alone isn’t enough anymore and why artists have to rethink how they show up, market themselves, and build momentum. Success today comes from mindset, consistency, and understanding how content and platforms actually work ....

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Nima Nasseri breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in the modern music industry: virality . This isn’t about chasing trends or hoping the algorithm saves you. It’s about why consistency, authenticity, and understanding content systems are what actually create momentum for artists and creators today. Nima shares the real-life story of Norris Willia...

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , I sit down with Nima Nasseri, artist manager for Hit-Boy , former VP of A&R Strategy at Universal Music Group , and one of the clearest thinkers in the modern music business. This conversation is about the shift most artists and managers are still resisting. We’re no longer in a talent-first industry. We’re in a content-led, motion-driven business wh...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , host Mauricio Ruiz and Azad Naficy break down one of the biggest questions in the music industry today: Does every artist need a major label or can you build a successful career independently? Azad offers a refreshingly honest look at the advantages and limitations of major label partnerships , from global reach and international infrastructure to the rea...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz and Azad Naficy explore one of the most transformative shifts happening in the music business today: the explosive rise of ambient , instrumental , and neoclassical music and why it’s creating new financial opportunities for artists who approach it with intention. Azad breaks down how changing conversations around mental health , peace of mi...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz and Azad Naficy break down the real mechanics of touring in the modern music business . Not the highlight reel, the reality. Azad opens up about the challenges artists face when they jump into touring too early, the financial and physical toll of the road, and why developing a strong live performance strategy is essential for long-term success...

In this episode clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz sits down with artist, executive, and Avant Garden co-founder Azad Naficy to unpack one of the most important truths in the modern music business : The people who make the most money in music aren’t the artists, they’re the ones who own the copyright. Azad breaks down how record labels build wealth through ownership and equity , why...

Azad Naficy has lived every corner of the music business - artist, manager, A&R, label co-founder, and the architect behind Peace of Mind Studio and Avant Garden Records. In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , Azad breaks down what most artists, managers, and entrepreneurs wish they learned years earlier: how the modern music industry actually works. From artist development and music mark...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Grammy-winning songwriter Theron Thomas breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in the music industry, the myth of “selling your soul,” and why people reach for conspiracy theories when they don’t understand the real work behind success. Theron speaks candidly about his journey in music, the challenges he’s faced, the deals he’s navigated, and th...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Grammy-winning songwriter Theron Thomas breaks down the real stories and strategy behind some of the biggest hit records of the last decade. From writing for Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Enrique Iglesias , and Akon , Theron shares how hit songs really come together, the collaboration, the competition, the timing, and the cultural instincts that make...

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Theron Thomas opens up about the part of the music industry that rarely makes headlines: the grind, the pressure, and the personal history that shapes real artists and leaders. Theron talks about growing up in poverty , navigating adversity, and how the responsibility of providing for family became the foundation of his success in the world of songwriting...

In this episode clip, Grammy-winning songwriter Theron Thomas dives into one of the biggest truths in today’s music industry : the entire business is built on the backs of songwriters , yet they’re still the last ones to get paid. Theron breaks down the real economics behind the hits that turned artists like Rihanna, Jay-Z, and Kanye West into global moguls, and why the people who wrote those reco...

Most people talk about hit songs. Theron Thomas writes the ones that define entire eras. In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , I sit down with one of the most influential songwriters in modern music, Theron Thomas, the 2nd recipient ever to win GRAMMY Songwriter of the Year and the pen behind hits for Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Lizzo, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake , and so many more. This...

In this conversation, Machel Montano opens up about what truly goes into crafting a great live performance, not just the music, but the presence, discipline, and attention needed to make a crowd feel something real. He talks about reading the room, trusting spontaneity, and treating every show like a conversation with the audience. Che Kothari adds the structure behind it all, the systems, rehears...

In this conversation, we dig into one of the most important parts of an artist’s journey: learning how to invest in yourself long before the world believes in you. Machel Montano and Che Kothari break down what that looked like inside the Caribbean music ecosystem, the risks, the reinvestment, the discipline, and the vision it takes to build something that lasts. They talk about the lessons they l...

In this conversation, we dive into one of the most demanding parts of the Caribbean music ecosystem: the race to create a Road March hit for Carnival. Machel Montano and Che Kothari walk through the pressure artists face every season, from recording music in October to delivering multiple festival-ready hits by February. It’s a nonstop grind. Endless studio sessions, back-to-back fetes, live shows...

In this conversation, we unpack one of the biggest turning points in Machel Montano’s career, choosing the right partner to help him grow, evolve, and carry the weight of being the King of Soca. Machel reflects on the early years of being managed by his parents, navigating major-label expectations, and the moment he realized he needed someone who understood both the music and the mission. That per...