The Art of Music Business Management – For Artists & Managers

The Art of Music Business Management (2024) Is Out Now!

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I’m thrilled to announce that the second edition of ”The Art of Music Business Management – For Artists & Managers” is out now! This book has been meticulously crafted since last summer, and it’s finally available.

Before putting a book out, you go through a wide range of emotions. For me, the most significant aspects are always the number of revisions and what you choose not to write. You have to figure it out.

I went through this second edition probably ten times before giving it the green light to come out. I carefully revisited those experiences and methods through which I typically convey ideas to people. Then, I pondered the order of presentation and even considered how someone other than myself might teach others using this book as a guide. At some point, I just had to let go. The whole process was very different from before – I’m not exactly sure why.

Now that I’m here, I believe it all unfolded just as it should have. To my esteemed readers, I hope you’ll enjoy it. It now includes an additional 47 pages, and the structure has significantly improved.

Here’s the blurb;

THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSIC BUSINESS BOOKS IS HERE!

Karhumaa’s seventh book introduces artist management from an unprecedented perspective. Modern artist management can be divided into three compartments. When these are presented to you and reflected onto a transparent wall, you see things from a manager’s point of view. Through this, you’ll see the four audiences of the music industry. This is the scene, the areas of action, where all of this takes place.

This framework has been developed for today’s rapidly evolving world. It travels with you everywhere. Whatever you need to do, invest in understanding this framework and start taking action. This book teaches you how to utilize it.

Modern artist management is increasingly taking place in the digital realm and resembles screenwriting. As technology evolves, introducing new features almost daily, the management needs to adapt swiftly. This book discusses how success can be achieved in navigating this task.
The book is intended for all professionals in the industry. Management is a topic that touches all of us in one way or another. The book is particularly well-suited for educational purposes.

A manager needed to write this book. The author has three decades of experience in multiple capacities. Mika Karhumaa is a music business manager – specializing in artist management and contracts & copyright. He lectures on the subject and acts as a strategist in many industrial operations.

It is finally out and available on Amazon, EBSCO and many other retailers and distributors. The Art of Music Business Management - For Artists & Managers (2nd Edition, 2024)

 

On March 28th it is available – The 2nd Edition

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On March 28th, it’s finally happening! The Art of Music Business Management – for Artists & Managers is getting its highly anticipated Second Edition. With nearly 50 additional pages, the book has been completely revised. March 28th is a wonderful day to release a book – I finally get to have a book published fairly early in the year for once.

This edition embodies the experiences I’ve gained while teaching and managing artists. Additionally, a second edition is a thrilling milestone for any author – it has already met its audience. I believe you, as the reader, will appreciate the improvements it has received. In a time when artificial intelligence is increasingly integrating into our daily lives, management must adapt accordingly. At least in some aspects.

Here’s the revised back cover as it appears on the book;

THE NEXT GENERATION OF MUSIC BUSINESS BOOKS IS HERE!

Karhumaa’s seventh book introduces artist management from an unprecedented perspective. Modern artist management can be divided into three compartments. When these are presented to you and reflected onto a transparent wall, you see things from a manager’s point of view. Through this, you’ll see the four audiences of the music industry. This is the scene, the areas of action, where all of this takes place.
This framework has been developed for today’s rapidly evolving world. It travels with you everywhere. Whatever you need to do, invest in understanding this framework and start taking action. This book teaches you how to utilize it.

Modern artist management is increasingly taking place in the digital realm and resembles screenwriting. As technology evolves, introducing new features almost daily, the management needs to adapt swiftly. This book discusses how success can be achieved in navigating this task.
The book is intended for all professionals in the industry. Management is a topic that touches all of us in one way or another. The book is particularly well-suited for educational purposes.

A manager needed to write this book. The author has three decades of experience in multiple capacities. Mika Karhumaa is a music business manager – specializing in artist management and contracts & copyright. He lectures on the subject and acts as a strategist in many industrial operations.

As already said, the book is out on March 28th. From then on, it will be available on Amazon, Google Play Books, and many other retailers – and of course, for academic use, you can find it on EBSCO and Ellibs.

The Art of Music Business Management - For Artists & Managers - 2nd Edition, 2024 - will be out on March 28th! It is then available on Amazon, Google Play Books, EBSCO, Ellibs and many other distributors.

Experience and How You Use It

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This story came to mind as I began building my new Music Business Management master course. Experience is something that makes these courses and their sections significant. Music business management is something that is challenging to teach solely based on theory – you need to have experience in it. One could say that experience is often the reason people participate in these courses. I’ve been lecturing on the subject professionally for over 20 years. It’s interesting that with each course, there are changes. And this time is no different.

However, this experience is more formal experience – how you build lectures and make them functional wholes. Naturally, it evolves the more you do it. If I compare my own first lectures in the early 2000s to where we are now, there’s a tremendous difference.

For me, writing books is a tool for development. I often feel the need to take breaks from lecturing and structure new material into an updated or entirely new book. Just like with lectures, I also evolve in this task. Over the years, my books and lectures have started to support each other more and more. Some things are easier to present in a book, while others are more easily understood in lectures.

However, all of the above is formal experience – how you package your lectures or books. The other side of experience is practical experience – where all the knowledge comes from. Although I do extensive research work weekly and participate in almost all forums from which that information can be drawn, nothing beats practice.

I’ve been a manager for over 30 years. For almost the same amount of time, I’ve been providing legal services in the field of copyrights and contracts. Turku Law School is a fantastic place, especially in the 90s when the level of education flourished there. It’s in these transactions that experience is brewed, and that experience will be strongly present in the upcoming Music Business Management Master Course. I feel like naming the course Modern Music Business Management Experience.

That extensive practice and wide range of activities bring along a broad network, for which I am especially grateful. I am fortunate in the sense that I am able to bring in top names in the industry, emerging stars of the future, and other relevant practitioners as guests. At this point as well, the more we collaborate, the better lectures we produce. In return, I also visit their sessions.

As we can see, implementing music business management education requires various kinds of know-how – experience in course construction, shaping course content, handling guests, practical experience, and in this situation – also writing a book. It’s not often realized that despite all this workload, one can infer the experience in just a few seconds. That experience comes through in everything, behind the scenes, in the background of sentences, and in how you utilize all these resources.

The wonderful confidence when you reach that level where you can switch sets on the fly and still maintain consistency. It’s something I strive for every day.

Stay tuned to this site; I’ll announce when the next course opens up.

It's all about experience and how you use it.

Some Words About My Schedule 2024

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This question is frequently asked on an annual basis – how do I fill my days and what does it involve. In other words, what is my schedule like. Answering that question can be both easy and challenging – depending on the perspective from which you want to approach it. I like the word schedule because it implies a sense of planning. It indeed is that – with the caveat that you have to leave room for surprises, both positive and negative. We cannot predict the reactions our actions may evoke. These reactions hold significant importance, as they often determine the degrees of prioritization. It’s our tendency to direct activities where they thrive the most, support our narrative, and also feel most meaningful.

A manager’s schedule typically spans across various layers and forums. In my case, my books and related lectures are an integral part of my daily agenda. I always allocate a dedicated space for them. I balance these tasks with artist management and music law, which I work on. In relation to books and lectures, this practice is crucial. It keeps me updated on the latest trends in the industry.

This year’s schedule includes annual contracts with three artists, IRENE, Annika Nord, and Hanna-Maaria Tuomela. They keep me busy, and the number of artists is just the right amount to handle. In addition to that, I take care of matters for other artists without being operationally responsible for their entire careers. Quite often, I get contacted for assistance in strategic online presence and related passive promotion matters. Or someone needs help with industry contracts and copyright issues. I’ve been doing this work for 30 years this year.

Another integral part of my yearly schedule is the ’Managerial and Intermediation Skills in the Music Industry’ course at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. This course is held twice a year, and the first set is currently halfway through. If the course interests you, you can inquire about it closer to the beginning of May. The next set will take place then, and anyone from anywhere in the world can enroll.

And yes, the second edition of ’The Art of Music Business Management – For Artists & Managers’ book is on its way later this year. I can’t wait to share it, as the book’s overall concept has now met its audience and has been further developed to address the modern management needs.

Just like a natural progression and due to several requests, the book is getting its own master course. I still have a few question marks regarding this matter, but I believe I’ll resolve them soon. Ideally, the course could start in August 2024. It’s advisable to stay tuned and follow on LinkedIn and Instagram – the application for the course may open anytime.

Oh, about that schedule and its emphases. It varies throughout the year based on where the effectiveness is highest. However, always ensuring that artists’ matters are never at a standstill.

In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I typically respond within 24 hours.

My schedule for 2024 includes also spare time. Here I am seeing Something Rotten at Åbo Svenska Teatern

The Art of Music Business Management – The Course

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Here we are once more, preparing for the commencement of the ”Managerial and Intercession Skills in the Music Business – The Modern Fundamentals of the Industry” course at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The course is based on The Art of Music Business Management – For Artists & Managers book.

The course’s title itself encapsulates its core starting point. There exist specific competencies that a manager is expected to excel in, and how they navigate these competencies significantly impacts their success in the role. Importantly, this success resonates profoundly with the artist they represent, underlining the inherent interdependence between the two parties. As the saying goes, it takes two to tango, emphasizing the collaborative nature of this relationship.

Success in this domain necessitates multidimensional skills and a shared understanding between the involved parties. We operate within multiple levels of frameworks concurrently. These frameworks encompass the foundational narrative and the artist’s perspective, which this course thoroughly explores from various angles. Here’s an outline of the lecture themes and their respective contents:

  1. Digital Identity And Passive Promotion
  2. Copyright, Passive Income, And Strategies for Activation
  3. The Role of Management And Manager Contract
  4. Nurturing The Manager-Artist Relationship
  5. Active Promotion And Its Impact – The Story on Story Effect
  6. Advancement And Business Development
  7. Synchronization As A Pathway To Progress

Our course features several esteemed guests, each a professional in their respective fields. This time, our lineup includes Jennifer Pyken, Anna Turunen, Jenny Andreasson, Marilyn Reles-Lozano and Mac McIntosh.

Typically, I lead the first two lectures, establishing a foundational framework for the course. Our primary objective during this phase is to cultivate a collective understanding of the critical elements at play within this industry. When this is set up, we will invite our guests in the order that aligns with the course’s systematic arrangement. The guests have also appreciated this arrangement, as it allows them to delve directly into their specialties without any constraints or structural barriers. Consequently, the course progresses continually, preparing and ensuring the readiness for its next step – one step at a time.

Consequently, the course doesn’t merely comprise lectures or guest presentations; rather, it’s a curated journey aimed at incrementally elevating the level of engagement and expertise. Many of the case studies and examples we delve into are current and real-time. In fact, numerous productions or operations discussed in the course are either ongoing or set for release shortly, providing us with insider knowledge about the influencing factors and potential hidden motivations behind these endeavors.

The course book, ’The Art of Music Business Management – For Artists & Managers,’ is receiving a second edition this year, where these conceptual frameworks have been structured into an even clearer format.

And here we are;

The class of 2024 at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences - MANAGERIAL AND INTERMEDIATION SKILLS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS 2B00DB69 - Teams view

Live at Manchester Central Library

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It’s been a delightful day here at the Manchester Library. The afternoon has flown by, and I must say – I could have continued this for longer. If there were some particular areas of interest that stood out today, they are definitely the modern online presence and what it aims to achieve. You could say that in today’s management, it all starts with a strong online presence. You won’t be visible in front of the four audiences in the industry if this need isn’t considered.

Another noteworthy perspective is the concept of the three compartments in music business management. By internalizing this, you enable quick responses in a rapidly changing operational landscape.  And this is precisely what is expected and required not just from managers but also from artists in today’s world.

One great feature of online presence is that it doesn’t necessarily require significant financial investments. It leverages the online infrastructure in a way that achieves the desired outcome. Each of us defines our own goals, and in artist management, it often revolves around representing the artist, the artist’s story, and the associated business.

The main rule is to progress consistently until the online presence’s story root and related story are established correctly. Once you reach that level, we can say that the passive side of your promotion is in order. Since we only had two hours available here in Manchester, we presented this idea in broad strokes. So, there’s more to this than what we discussed today. The good news, however, is that once you grasp the underlying idea and significance of passive promotion, you can establish one through your own actions. Each of us will find our own style to implement it.

Rapid development is a characteristic of modern business, especially in the music industry. The music industry is a quick adopter – it absorbs every new development as its own and, if not permanently, at least tests it. This creates challenges for management. For this purpose, you need a framework – one that adapts to ever-changing situations and needs. You also need one that aligns with the modern ideals and preconditions of the industry.

I have developed the three-compartment model, which is thoroughly explained in this book. You can project it in your mind onto a transparent wall, and you’ll see the landscape that a manager is facing. Behind it lie the areas of action, the four audiences. The good thing about this model is that it can be applied globally – it is useful both in the United States and here in Manchester.

The most important takeaway for today is to internalize this framework. When you rearrange the pieces in front of you and tailor it to different audiences, you always see the operating environment to which you need to pay attention at that moment. This is the first foundation of management. The second is the indirect effects, which we’ll discuss next time.

And yes, not only at the Manchester Library, but I also speak on the topic elsewhere and offer one-on-one sessions. Feel free to reach out if I’ve piqued your interest. I also organize courses on the subject from time to time.

It was nice to give a lecture at Manchester Central Library and its Henry Watson Music Library

Summer Updates Before The Fall Kick-off

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Before the Fall kick-off, a few updates are in order. In this regard, I am experiencing exciting times as the meaning of ’kick-off’ remains somewhat unclear to me. There are several reasons for this. Here are a few of them.

The Art of Music Business Management – For Artists & Managers has been sold in over 60 countries. It couldn’t have not influenced the matter. Visibility has improved, and above all, the book’s content and insights have delivered their impact. Additionally, what perhaps delights me the most is that the fundamentals of modern music management, which I have been instrumental in developing, are finding their way into more and more vocabularies. Concepts like passive promotion, or the crucial significance of story root and its functional significance for algorithmic placement and copyright royalties, are becoming better understood.

Secondly, despite the increasing prevalence of artificial intelligence, the book’s embedded predictive mechanism has already taken this into account. I am not taking a stance on whether all developments are good or not, but rather emphasizing the importance of understanding what to prepare for and how they might potentially impact us. One thing can be said right from the outset – consistency in operations further increases its significance. For this purpose, a threefold diagram has been developed in the book, aiding in comprehending all the new features.

Thirdly, I couldn’t achieve all this without teamwork. All these ideas, thought structures, and the concept itself are refined in the background as I lecture with the professionals like here below. In that interaction, the end result (which is never truly finished) takes shape. This interaction also generates fresh material continuously, which increases the number of possibilities. Therefore, when I talk about the fall kick-off, it could encompass anything. Invitations to speak may come from anywhere.

Hence, the exact number of lectures for the next semester is not known, but they will be scheduled. Stay tuned!

 

Timothy Williams, a film composer, talking about scores at Mika Karhumaa's lectures. The kick-off for the Fall will take place on September.

Here’s Timothy Williams, whose music is known from films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Pearl, and Deadpool 2.

Jennifer Pyken on Mika Karhumaa's lectures - talking about music supervision. She will be a part of our kick-off also next Fall.

Here’s Jennifer Pyken, who is known as the music supervisor for shows like This Is Us or The Way Home.

And the students themselves at Mika Karhumaa's music business management lectures at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The kick-off for the next semester takes place in September.

And the students – here’s a picture from one of the lectures at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

Those whom this concerns, the fall kick-off is approaching. If you want to be prepared, here’s the book. This is where everything always comes back to, and where all these courses and affiliations begin. You can find the book on Amazon,

EBSCO,

Ellibs, and many other distributors

And yes, before the kick-off takes place, let’s enjoy the summer a little while longer!

-mika

 

Libraries and Lectures

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Libraries have played a huge part in the promotion of my books. Maintaining a life-long connection with libraries is something I hold dear. I thought I could dedicate this Sunday to this appreciation. Simultaneously, I am getting ready for the forthcoming music business management course. Why do I bring up in this context? First of all, without libraries my production would never had such a wide circulation and reach. Consequently, the amount of lectures I give have increased considerably.

A series of lectures starting next week will make the issue topical in another way. The students have had time and opportunity to familiarize themselves with the course material in advance. Such an opportunity gives the lecturer more room – and alternatives. The lectures can be enriched with a variety of examples that could otherwise be unattainable.

My main distributor for the university libraries is EBSCO. Their e-book collection is impressive. What’s even better is that all students can now borrow a book right away. My upcoming course has 47 students. I use all three books as a course material. If only physical books were available, there should be 47 copies of it. Think about the space they take.

This writing is not intended to discriminate physical books. No, they are equally important – no matter the format. I am grateful of every addition the libraries make when taking my books in their collections – whether it is physical, e-book or an audio book.

This is to every library. Thank you for creating pre-conditions for the successful courses when taking these books. It is a great help and 32 hours of teaching through Teams become doable. All this takes place within two months, and consistency as a key. Easy access to books is something that facilitates not only navigation, but also the internalization of the matter. All the essential is immediately available and not behind many gates. When the subject is artist management and related mediator skills, it involves a lot of information.

UPDATE: Here’s the latest book. Available on EBSCO as the previous ones!

Library, libraries and their importance with The Art of Music Business Management - For Artists & Managers book that's available on Amazon, EBSCO, and many other distributors.

 

A Few New Ideas and The Music Business

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This idea has been present a lot throughout the year. Finally I can tell you more about my upcoming publications. I’ve been thinking how to complete the trilogy. One option would be write a brand new The Essence of the Music Business book. The other is to include that updated material within the previous three. Since the first part, Contracts, was already updated in March 2019, the other two parts, Philosophy and Strategy, remain as options.

I read both books twice – thinking about how they could be improved. I was particularly interested about the structure and order of presentation. Could I get new information there without compromising anything. Whether the existing structure allow room for the new ideas and/or whether there is enough space so that the book does not become too long. I realized that the update could take place in two steps. It allows me to complete the material if needed. If I make Philosophy first with the things I could add there, I can further refine them in terms of strategy. This realization was followed by a sense of freedom. It would avoid the possibility that an entirely new book would actually be a repetition of three previous ones – with only a few new ideas. The possibility of such always exist, as the trilogy contains more than five hundred pages.

This kind of solution also allows for depreciation. I can take unnecessary songs out of the books – these always remain, at least with the first editions. When the time passes from the publication, the text can be evaluated more objectively, and from the better distance.

I have recently focused on the streaming management, in more detail than in the past. Also to gain experience how to perform this task in the 2020’s. Or rather, I started this operation a few years ago – at the national level. Now it has been transferred to the international scenes – with the same team as before. The experiences I got can be read in the new editions of The Essence of the Music Business.

UPDATE: It still so happened that I decided to write another book – not within that trilogy as I just told. Many things led to this decision. You can get this book from here.

A few new ideas and modern music business with Annika Nord - we are sitting on our kitchen with her.

There’s more to this than just writing and publishing. It’s been a pleasure to partner with Grey Beton Records. Our second joint operation, Delta Enigma’s Waterfall, will be released along through that avenue. More likely all my other artists will end up with the same solution. The vision that CEO Richard Hiles has to offer provides the experience required for the modern streaming release requirements.

 

Mika Karhumaa’s Author Page on Facebook

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This is what many of you have been waiting for – Facebook. Another inclusion on social media. I just have been waiting for the right moment to launch this. Start opening another avenue in the middle of writing processes is more difficult than one could imagine. Ending the trilogy gives you a required leisure time. Also, summer time is time for myself, but also a space to learn something new. For me, this summer is creating the Facebook pages related to my publications and affiliated activity.

And yes – I know I have been more active on LinkedIn. The question is not that it would be somehow be a priority. No, it just somehow fits to the moments of writing. And there are many of my colleagues. I have developed my own routine how to deal with the outside world, both in private life, working life and on social media. However, I have had Facebook all the time in my mind. Now that the working situation as an artist manager and lecturer is better settled, it is time to add new features.

All the things that I feel worth saying will appear on this page. My greatest source of joy has always been the ability to engage in live situations, much like the interaction in the lectures or as a manager during negotiations. Depending on the pace I learn to use Facebook’s opportunities, I will gradually include all the cool, or less cool, material over there.

One thing to mention! I have visited numerous Skype conversations with my readers – whenever it has been requested. At the moments when ’composing’ feels lonely, a good conversation enlivens your spirit up. I am extremely grateful for these discussions.

I am very pleased, if you experience my book-related Facebook page interesting. Of course, it will not replace my other social media forums and there will surely be overlaps.

Mika Karhumaa on Facebook

Quotations

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Here are some leftovers from the writing process. I will leave them exposed before I find a context or another use for them. Consider them quotations.

 

  • Make sure you are willing to accept the by-products of your achievements.
  • Don’t advertise yourself out of the game.
  • Success is really a desired state of mind.
  • Know-how isn’t synonymous with desire.
  • Whatever you are about to close, do it in a way that there is no need to return to it.
  • Be a part of your story.
  • Hearsay is not a substitute for experience.
  • They’ll give you prospects; you’ll give them history.
  • The turning point is the moment at which all that you’ve completed starts working for you.
  • The good thing about education and experience is that not all of it is necessary.
  • Apply discipline. It is always better if today’s decisions do not ruin tomorrow’s opportunities.
  • It may begin with art, but it always ends up with money.
  • Writing non-fiction is like figure skating: first, a compulsory program must be completed, followed by a free program.

 

More quotations is coming in the future as the writing process continues.

© Mika Karhumaa 2017