MANAGER SPOTLIGHT: CRAIG JENNINGS
We are excited to introduce our new series: Manager Spotlight. This is a way to get a small insight into the heads of incredible managers. This week in the spotlight is Craig Jennings, CEO of Raw Power Management.
How long have you worked in Management?
I started in management in 1984. So 36 years.
Who do you manage now?
Raw Power manages several artists including Bring me the Horizon, Bullet for My Valentine, Don Broco, At the Drive in, Refused, Scarlxrd, While She Sleeps.
Where did you find your first client and what inspired you to take them on?
A band called Balaam and The Angel, three brothers from Cannock, Staffs. Great songs, exciting live show, great ambition and creative vision. All good things to have.
What’s a good/bad day at work look like for you?
Most days are a mix of good and bad but hearing inspiring new music from my artists is always a massive plus. In management its very rarely a good or bad day I find, more a mix of the two! A good day is when it’s more than 80% positive, I reckon.
What has been the highlight of your management career to date?
Many highlights including Horizons first UK number 1 in 2019. Taking Horizon and Bullet into arenas over the years has also been exciting. The various international succeses of the artists have also been very satisfying including gold albums in the US for Bullet and Horizon.
What do you think are the big challenges for a manager in 2020?
I think the business is in great shape going into the 2020’s. Building relationships across all the DSPs is continuing to be important, streaming is a great thing for the industry. Getting artists properly paid for it will be a continuing ambition of all managers. I would really like to see that move along in the years to come.
What music are you currently listening to?
I love a lot of the new punk like Viagra Boys, Amyl and The Sniffers, Sleaford Mods and, of course, Idles… always QOSTA, The Stranglers and 70s disco… I enjoy listening to a wide range of music. I’m also listening to a lot of old Public Enemy and Roxy Music right now… two bands that couldn’t be further apart really!!
Read more about Raw Power Management here.