Manager Spotlight offers a small insight into the heads of incredible managers. This week in the spotlight is Melody Perry, San Remo Music.

How long have you worked in Management? 

Unofficially I’ve been doing bits of management and helping friends out since 2018 but in April 2020 I started at San Remo Music assisting across their management roster and have recently taken on my first official solo client!

I’ve also tried to keep active in the management community by founding the MMF Southampton Tribe and organising educational and social events for managers in and around Southampton.

Who do you manage now?

I’ve just taken on producer/writer Cameron Nesbitt who has produced for content creator turned artists James Marriott and Lovejoy and through San Remo I work across producer Pete Robertson, writer Miranda Cooper and mixer Josh Ager.

Where did you find your first client and what inspired you to take them on?

Although I was never managing them officially, my first “client” was a band I met whilst studying music management at uni called BASH! As a super eager first year I was looking to get involved in music in any way I could, they were a pretty hyped band across the music courses so I heard tons about them. Once I met them I absolutely fell in love with the band both as a project and as people and wanted to be able to help them as well as putting some of the skills I learnt from my degree to use.

What’s a good/bad day at work look like for you? 

I think a lot of different things can make a day a good day but the best way to describe it is being busy but the kind of busy that feels productive and not stressful. I also think finding new music that you or your clients are excited about, getting great feedback on a pass of a song or meeting someone new that you really click with can help make an average day into a good one! I think the opposite of any of those can definitely result in a bit of a bad day, being overworked, getting bad feedback, not listening to good music or having a less than productive meeting never feel good!

What has been the highlight of your management career to date?
Although I have dabbled in management and been assisting for a few years it really feels like my “management career” has started now I officially have my own client so I guess finding someone I’m really excited to work with and taking the step to look after him on my own is my current highlight but i’m very excited to make many more!

What do you think are the big challenges for a manager in 2021?

As a new manager I think the biggest challenge is networking. Music is such a social industry and I think people who already have large networks often forget how impactful they are to business, whether it’s helping to build respect and trust, finding projects to work across or simply gossiping about what music you’re loving at the moment.

As amazing as zoom is, it’s incredibly difficult to build genuine connections with people virtually and I think any managers that have started since the pandemic are really struggling.

What music are you currently listening to?

My music taste is honestly all over the place at the moment but right now i’m listening to a lot of hyperpop and really loving Glaive but if you ask me the same question in a week and a half it’ll probably be a totally different answer!