The Manager's Playbook

Hit-Boy spent 18 years locked in one of the toughest publishing deals in the music business, a contract built on outdated MDRC terms that kept him working without a clear finish line.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 He shares the mental toll of being trapped in outdated MDRC terms, how Jay-Z and Roc Nation helped him break free, and the creative freedom that’s fueled his most prolific run yet.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...

The future of music in Africa is full of energy but the infrastructure isn’t there yet. In this clip, Tuma Basa and I unpack the real story behind the rise of African music. From venue shortages and publishing gaps to the global influence of organizations like Live Nation and investors like China, we explore what it’ll take to build something sustainable. We also spotlight emerging African artists...

In Episode 031 of The Manager’s Playbook , Tuma Basa, former head of Spotify's RapCaviar and Director of Black Music & Culture at YouTube, joins Mauricio Ruiz for a deep dive into the evolution of music curation, platform strategy, and long-term artist relevance. Tuma shares his journey from BET to Spotify to YouTube, and breaks down how emotional intelligence, cultural adaptability, and curio...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , I talk with Mag Rodriguez about the artist who helped change everything: LaRussell. After being introduced to EVEN, LaRussell became the platform’s first artist, and the proof of concept. What followed was a masterclass in independent strategy: $27K in just hours, $100K within a month, and a new blueprint for how artists can scale without relying on traditi...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , I sit down with Mag Rodriguez to talk about the journey few founders ever get to share, what it means to break into venture capital as a Latino entrepreneur. Mag opens up about growing up in an immigrant household, the early lessons in hustle and resilience, and the winding path from managing artists to leading a tech company backed by venture capital. We g...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Mag Rodriguez and I explore the future of music monetization and what it means to truly go global. From innovative artist subscription models, like “pay what you want”, to untapped opportunities in the Global South, Mag Rodriguez breaks down how platforms like EVEN are making it easier for artists to reach fans in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. We dive in...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , I sit down with Mag Rodriguez to unpack the exclusive J. Cole x EVEN collaboration celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Forest Hills Drive . We get into how this drop went far beyond music; with unreleased tracks, an original audio series, real-time fan engagement, and a global livestream straight from Madison Square Garden. Mag breaks down how the projec...

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , I sit down with Mag Rodriguez, founder and CEO of EVEN, a platform redefining how artists connect with fans and monetize their work across the globe. We unpack how EVEN helps artists go direct-to-fan, unlock new revenue streams, and build real community beyond the limitations of streaming and traditional industry models. Inside the episode:→ Building for...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Laurie Lee Boutet unpacks what it really means to lead as a woman in the music business. From empathy and collaboration to navigating bias and building strong teams, Laurie shares how her values and vision have shaped a powerful approach to artist management. She also discusses the importance of choosing the right distribution partners, like AWAL, to stay f...

In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook , Laurie Lee Boutet dives into why CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is a game-changer in today’s music industry. We break down the shift from radio to streaming, the rise of TikTok and algorithmic discovery, and how smart data collection powers meaningful fan connections. Laurie shares how tools like CRM helped guide The Beaches through viral growth and...