Beau Somers
UNIFIED Music Group
Roster: Dear Seattle, Lucky, Fletcher Matthews, STUMPS
State/Territory: NSW
Listen: Beau’s Manager Of The Month Playlist
Proud Moments in Management
Seeing my artists’ creative vision run wild is probably what makes me the proudest. I think the job as a manager is to help create an environment where they feel comfortable to take risks and build a career that’s authentic to them. The best artists have big ideas, and lots of them, and sometimes our job is to help them identify what they want to achieve the most. But watching an artist go from having an idea, maybe one that landed at the bottom of the pile, or one we had to fight the label to support, to seeing that idea connect with people around the world, that’s pretty rewarding.
AAM’s Impact on My Journey
Being a manager can be quite isolating. There’s no handbook for the music industry. The internet has helped for sure, and I was lucky enough to have some knowledgeable mentors when I first started, but community as a manager is so essential, and the AAM has fostered an incredible one.
Meeting other managers at AAM events I may not have otherwise crossed paths with, picking their brain about a deal, or an advance, and learning different ways to approach each problem or task has been really helpful. Having that network of people who understand the particular challenges of management has been invaluable.
Timeless Advice
A wildly successful industry figure once explained to me that the most important pillar of the music industry is luck. A lot of hard work goes into developing an artist, or building an event, but you cannot predict everything.
It certainly impacted the way I viewed getting knocked down, or not hearing back from a pitch. You cannot control every outcome. The only thing you can control is how many times you get back up to have another swing.
Advice I’d Give My Younger Self In Artist Management
If the deal falls apart when you ask questions, good.
