The Manager’s Playbook 068: Matt Hansen - 1 Billion Streams, TikTok Covers, Independent Artist Strategy, Touring ROI & Orchid

The Manager’s Playbook 074: Amber Grimes - LVRN, Artist Branding, Music Rollouts, Artist Development, Fan Communities & Music Business

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Amber Grimes, EVP, GM, and partner at Love Renaissance (LVRN), for a real conversation about artist branding, music rollouts, and what it takes to build artists people actually believe in. Amber breaks down the rules behind lasting artist brands: authenticity, purpose, community, visual identity, consistency, mystery, competitiveness, and knowing exactly why you exist. She also shares the story behind the real bear in 6LACK’s tour promo, how LVRN builds worlds around artists, and why Summer Walker’s authenticity is such a powerful example of long-term fan connection. We get into modern music marketing, artist development, fan communities, direct-to-fan strategy, manager value, self-advocacy in business, and how artists can adapt as the industry keeps changing. A must-listen for independent artists, artist managers, aspiring music executives, and anyone serious about building a career in today’s music business. Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap. If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it.KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://form.typeform.com/to/JNELnGw9?utm_source=xxxxx&typeform-source=bit.ly#fbclid=xxxxx&gclid=xxxxx [https://form.typeform.com/to/JNELnGw9?utm_source=xxxxx&typeform-source=bit.ly#fbclid=xxxxx&gclid=xxxxx] Want your music everywhere, properly? DistroKid is a straightforward way for independent artists to distribute globally and keep momentum moving. https://distrokid.com/ [https://distrokid.com/] Book a 1:1 Strategy Session with Mauricio Ruiz, host of The Manager's Playbook, with over 16 years of experience for tailored advice for artists and managers. Consultation Fees Apply https://calendly.com/themanagersplaybook [https://calendly.com/themanagersplaybook] Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook] New episodes drop Sundays @ 10am ET

Inside the Playbook: Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek on How to Build a Music Career That Actually Works

Great music still wins. In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek of Grass Fed Music talk about what it really takes to build a music career that lasts. They get into artist development, independent artists, major label partnerships, AI, superfans, touring, culture-building, and why exceptional ideas still matter more than tools, resources, or industry excuses. Nael and Alyce also break down why artists need to stop blaming playlists, focus on making better music, and build with the right people. This clip is for artists, managers, aspiring music executives, and anyone trying to understand how real careers are built in today’s music business. Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap. Listen to the full episode here - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mqdVGC0ip18qh5ZlaOVKf?si=6sl7kZnsS3eQcnhNrIbiNA Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook [https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook]

Inside the Playbook: Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek on Delusional Optimism in Music

What does it really take to last in the music business? In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek of Grass Fed Music talk about the mindset behind building a meaningful career in music. Nael shares lessons from his father’s optimism, his Palestinian roots, his brother Nasri’s resilience, and the belief it takes to keep going when the business tests you. They also get into no-agenda networking, serving others, managing with intention, why managers often work in the shadows, and how real impact matters more than just chasing money. This clip is for artists, managers, aspiring music executives, and anyone trying to build with purpose in the music business. Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap. Listen to the full episode here - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mqdVGC0ip18qh5ZlaOVKf?si=6sl7kZnsS3eQcnhNrIbiNA Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook [https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook]

Inside the Playbook: Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek on What Great Artist Managers Actually Do

What separates great artist managers from everyone else? In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek of Grass Fed Music talk about managing artists with care, honesty, trust, and real business execution. Nael shares lessons from Sal & Co, Mike Caren, and Scooter Braun, why the song has to come first, and how Grass Fed helped build DJ Habibeats by bringing Middle Eastern music into club culture in a fresh way. They also get into working together as partners in life and business, balancing creative vision with operational structure, and what real management actually requires behind the scenes. This episode is for artists, managers, aspiring music executives, and anyone trying to understand the music business from the inside. Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap. Listen to the full episode here - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mqdVGC0ip18qh5ZlaOVKf?si=6sl7kZnsS3eQcnhNrIbiNA Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook [https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook]

Inside the Playbook: Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek on Marriage and Music Business

Nael Atweh and Alyce Hayek of Grass Fed Music join The Manager’s Playbook to talk about building a music management company together as husband and wife. They share how they met, how their relationship turned into a business partnership during COVID, and how Grass Fed developed its artist services model for independent artists. Nael and Alyce get into artist development, content strategy, rollout planning, business structure, team building, and why great management needs both creative instinct and operational discipline. This episode is for artists, artist managers, aspiring music executives, and anyone trying to understand what it really takes to build artists behind the scenes. Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap. Check out Influur Pulse: https://www.influur.com/book-a-demo Listen to the full episode here - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mqdVGC0ip18qh5ZlaOVKf?si=6sl7kZnsS3eQcnhNrIbiNA Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook [https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook]