The Manager's Playbook

Hosted by Mauricio Ruiz, a music industry executive of 15 years, The Manager's Playbook is your essential podcast for insights into the music industry. Whether you're an artist, aspiring manager, music industry professional, or just passionate about the behind-the-scenes of the music business, this podcast is for you. Mauricio brings you in-depth interviews with top artist managers, entertainment lawyers, and other industry execs. Each episode is packed with valuable tips, real-world experiences, and expert advice to help you navigate the complexities of the music business.

The Manager's Playbook is a music podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 373 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts The Manager's Playbook, a music show with 373 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  The Manager's Playbook

  Inside the Playbook: Asa Asika on the Perfect Tour Strategy

  Sep 29, 202612 min

  In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Asa Asika, longtime manager of Davido and co-founder of The Plug , breaks down how Davido’s team built a real touring model across Nigeria and Africa. Asa explains why artists need to build and protect their fanbase at home, how Davido’s Nigeria tour came together, and what it takes to make African touring work at scale from promoters and sponsors to airline partners, routing, ticketing, and infrastructure. He also gets into why stronger live music systems across Africa are essential for the future of Afrobeats, and why global success means more when the foundation at home is strong. A sharp look at touring, artist management, African music infrastructure, and the business behind Davido’s global movement. A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap. Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want your music everywhere, properly? DistroKid is a straightforward way for independent artists to distribute globally and keep momentum moving. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://distrokid.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want the full conversation? TMP Patreon members get early episodes, exclusive clips, and two live Q&As with guests every month. Join at ⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheManagersPlaybook⁠ Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes drop Sundays @ 10am ET

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  Episode #85

  The Manager’s Playbook: Asa Asika - Davido, The Plug, Afrobeats, Nigerian Music, Touring Africa & Music Business (EP 85)

  Sep 27, 20261h 52m

  In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook , Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Asa Asika , longtime manager of Davido and co-founder of The Plug , for a deep conversation on the power of Nigerian music, the global rise of Afrobeats, and what it really takes to build infrastructure around culture. Asa breaks down how Davido became one of Africa’s biggest global stars, why Western labels often misunderstand Afrobeats, and why data alone can’t measure cultural impact. He also shares what it takes to tour across Africa, build trusted local partnerships, work with DJs and promoters, and create long-term business opportunities without losing the foundation that made the movement powerful in the first place. The conversation also explores The Plug’s growing ecosystem across management, events, distribution, publishing, sports, and brand partnerships, along with lessons on leadership, friendship, burnout, artist development, and the next chapter of Davido’s career. For artists, managers, executives, and anyone paying attention to the future of African music, this episode is a masterclass in global strategy, local culture, and building power the right way. A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap. Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want your music everywhere, properly? DistroKid is a straightforward way for independent artists to distribute globally and keep momentum moving. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://distrokid.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want the full conversation? TMP Patreon members get early episodes, exclusive clips, and two live Q&As with guests every month. Join at https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheManagersPlaybook Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New episodes drop Sundays @ 10am ET

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  The Manager's Playbook

  Inside the Playbook: Joe Wiseman on How Insomniac Records Actually Works

  Sep 25, 202613 min

  In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Joe Wiseman of Insomniac Music Group breaks down how Insomniac Records builds global dance music campaigns through live strategy, radio, DJ promo, editorial playlists, and artist-friendly licensing deals. Joe explains why Insomniac’s biggest advantage is not just the label. It is the live ecosystem around it. From festivals and stages to genre-focused label teams, 50/50 deals, recoupable advances, and single-driven release plans, this conversation gives a clear look at how dance records break around the world. For DJs, managers, artists, label executives, and anyone studying the music business, this is a real playbook on building careers beyond streams. Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap. Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

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  The Manager's Playbook

  Inside the Playbook: Joe Wiseman on The EDC Festival

  Sep 23, 202610 min

  In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Joe Wiseman of Insomniac Music Group breaks down how Insomniac grew from underground LA warehouse raves into the culture-shaping festival experience behind EDC. Joe and Mauricio discuss the roots of rave culture, the rise of dance music in America, and why EDC became more than just a lineup. From stage design, art cars, rides, and immersive worlds to Pasquale Rotella’s creative vision and Insomniac’s focus on community, this conversation is a look at how live experiences become movements. For DJs, managers, promoters, music executives, and anyone interested in dance music culture, this is a lesson in building scale without losing the roots. Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap. Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

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  The Manager's Playbook

  Inside the Playbook: Joe Wiseman on How John Summit Built an Empire

  Sep 21, 202611 min

  In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook , Joe Wiseman of Insomniac Music Group breaks down how high-level dance artists build real careers by taking control of the business around their music. Joe and Mauricio discuss John Summit’s early approach to releases, marketing, DJ promo, budgets, and rollout strategy and why the strongest artists often think like their own managers. They also get into the underground DJ business, the importance of live credibility, and why streaming numbers do not always tell the full story. The conversation also explores AI’s real impact on music creation, from faceless AI artists to tools that can empower songwriters and independent artists, while raising new questions around samples, interpolation, and vocals. For DJs, managers, artists, and music executives, this is a sharp look at artist strategy, dance music, and the future of the music business. Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap. Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

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