Manager Spotlight: Marit Berning
The manager spotlight offers a small insight into the heads of incredible managers. This week in the spotlight is MMF Board member Marit Berning!
How long have you worked in Management?
6 years.
Who do you manage now?
Tom Rasmussen, FACESOUL, MY OH MY; producer/writers Finlay Henderson, Noah Ings; visual artist Adam Wadey.
Where did you find your first client and what inspired you to take them on?
I began my career managing visual artists, most notably immersive installation artist Adam Wadey, who remains part of the Globe Town roster. When I met my partner James, we wanted to create an ecosystem of incredible, unique talents across every genre. I’m inspired by bravery, community, and innovation.
What does a good/bad day at work look like for you?
A good day is when it’s not too chaotic, allowing us to stop and appreciate how lucky we are to do what we do. A bad day is when something beyond our control happens, throwing off our perspective. I think an integral part of a manager’s role is to guide everyone—myself included—back to that perspective.
What has been the highlight of your management career to date?
A constant highlight is watching all our artists and producers collaborate to create amazing work, whether it’s co-writing or riffing off ideas daily in our studio. Recently, we hosted a sold-out headline show for Tom Rasmussen at KOKO. Tom was supported by our latest signing, the band MY OH MY, and accompanied on stage by a bespoke laser installation created by Adam Wadey. We’ve built a community where a win for one is a win for all.
What do you think are the big challenges for a manager in 2024?
Not getting overly fixated on numbers and helping artists understand that their value isn’t determined by an algorithm.
Why would you recommend the MMF?
In a line of work that can often feel abstract and isolating, the MMF is a lighthouse in an otherwise shadowy industry. Resource and skill sharing and understanding, that, as managers who so often advocate for artists, we need advocates too.
What music are you currently listening to?
‘Live Wire’ by Tom Rasmussen, ‘CHROMAKOPIA’ by Tyler, Joanna Brouk’s ‘The Space Between’ to ease us into our mornings, and demos, always.