The Manager's Playbook

Nick Groff returns to The Manager's Playbook, former Interscope and Geffen executive, longtime A&R, entrepreneur, and manager of BUNT.
Nick breaks down the modern artist playbook: how managers can build artists like media companies, why storytelling and world-building matter, and how BUNT. went from being dropped to building a global fanbase, selling hundreds of thousands of tickets, and creating real momentum around live shows, merch, content, and community.
We get into artist management, fan acquisition, touring strategy, merch, market-by-market pricing, Coachella, AI, the creator economy, and why the modern manager has to think more like a CEO than ever before.
A must-listen for artists, managers, aspiring music executives, and anyone trying to understand how the music business really works today.
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

Get 20% of Magic Mind with code TMP20 ⁠⁠https://magicmind.com/⁠⁠

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Want your music everywhere, properly? DistroKid is a straightforward way for independent artists to distribute globally and keep momentum moving. ⁠⁠⁠https://distrokid.com/⁠⁠⁠

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
New episodes drop Sundays @ 10am ET

Charlie Rocket breaks down why artists and managers need to stop waiting on labels, managers, or industry validation and start building fans first.
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie talks about fan demand, leverage, moving faster, releasing more, and avoiding the trap of getting overwhelmed by industry knowledge before there’s an actual business to protect.
He also gets into why travel can help artists spark creativity, change perspective, and find new ideas before a breakthrough.
For independent artists, managers, and aspiring music executives, this is a reminder: build the fans first, then let the industry catch up.
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

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WkHm0XSp9TX4hbyUCRGxC?si=yepnZQe2QAq1dSPZ0-H66w⁠⁠

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Charlie Rocket breaks down a real artist growth playbook built on volume, virality, and in-real-life fanbase building.
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie explains how he helped build Travis Porter’s momentum with no big budget, using fast music output, MySpace hustle, local marketing, and real-world events to create demand from the ground up.
He gets into the nine-month blitz strategy, why artists need to move faster, how to build local buzz before chasing the whole internet, and why real fanbases are still built person by person.
For independent artists, managers, and aspiring music executives, this is a reminder: the internet matters, but the streets still talk.
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

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WkHm0XSp9TX4hbyUCRGxC?si=yepnZQe2QAq1dSPZ0-H66w⁠

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Charlie Rocket breaks down how artists can build a real superstar brand by giving fans something to belong to.
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie explains why fan names, colors, symbols, emojis, accessories, catchphrases, and ad-libs matter more than most artists think. These are the details that turn passive listeners into real participants.
He also talks about why there are no secrets in marketing: study what already works, decode the pattern, and build a world fans can recognize instantly.
For independent artists, managers, and aspiring music executives, this is a simple but important reminder: great branding is not just how an artist looks. It’s how fans know they’re part of something.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Want your music everywhere, properly? DistroKid is a straightforward way for independent artists to distribute globally and keep momentum moving. ⁠https://distrokid.com/

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WkHm0XSp9TX4hbyUCRGxC?si=yepnZQe2QAq1dSPZ0-H66w⁠

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Charlie Rocket breaks down the problem with viral-first artist development and why chasing views can hurt an artist’s long-term career.
In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Charlie explains why artists should not be treated like influencers, how viral trends can damage mystique, and why real fanbase building matters more than empty attention.
He also shares how artists, managers, and small teams can use social media, fan pages, and smart content strategy to grow without relying on a record label.
For independent artists, artist managers, and aspiring music executives, this is a reminder: views are cool, but fans build careers.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Check out Influur Pulse and stop chasing the moment after it passes: ⁠https://www.influur.com/book-a-demo⁠

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WkHm0XSp9TX4hbyUCRGxC?si=yepnZQe2QAq1dSPZ0-H66w

Watch the Episodes On Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook