Scooter Braun at Music Biz 2018, Nashville

This week I took a listen to MusicBiz 101 & More's interview with Scooter Braun of SB Projects, recorded at Nashville's Music Biz Conference in 2018. You can check it out below.

Scooter Braun is the founder of SB Projects, an entertainment and media company which focuses on its philanthropic efforts and its elite roster including Ariana Grande, Tori Kelly, Karlie Kloss, Dan + Shay and more. Their management, record label, and publishing companies help combine music, film, television, technology, brands, culture and social good.

Here are five things I learned from Scooter:

1. Although the Don Passman book All You Need to Know About the Music Business is a great resource for students and entry-level professionals, it's not the end-all-be-all for the industry. Basing thoughts and decisions on both the book's information and personal experience can provide a more worldly approach to one's management or marketing style, all while making and saving the artist more money (Scooter Braun interview, 18:56).
2. The best deals are hard to come by for a smaller artist or manager because better deals will present themselves to those with bigger and stronger reputations in the industry. Even as students or younger professionals, it's important to set the standard for how we expect to be treated and how we expect those we represent to be treated - this will build the reputation we desire long-term (Scooter Braun interview, 20:22).
3. Management has a lot to do with moving the needle slowly and with respect. Everyone, artist or otherwise, wants to be treated with respect, and the most crucial part of being a manager and creating important opportunities for an artist is being able to sway either party in a respectful and meaningful way (Scooter Braun interview, 46:14).
4. Being on the road doesn't just include touring. Being an artist manager is another great way to combine road-life with working directly with and for the artist. By being the artist's direct contact on the road, it makes the touring party's life easier and allows the artist to have representation regarding their day-to-day needs, rather than strictly focusing on the touring aspect of their career (Scooter Braun interview, 47:07).
5. Sometimes, building your reputation and expertise in the industry doesn't include showing your experience on a resume or LinkedIn page. Scooter shared that his involvement with certain larger artists is entirely unknown to the general public, but it's not about the public recognition (Scooter Braun interview, 1:06:44). By forming lasting relationships with everyone in the business and encouraging self-growth and learning away from the public eye, he creates a stronger reputation for himself with elite artists while pushing himself constantly to be a better manager and businessperson. As students, it's important for us to do the same. While it's fantastic for us to showcase our experience and talents on our resumes and LinkedIn profiles, it's also important to work with peers or artists because we want to learn more about ourselves and the business, rather than doing it all for show. This method of learning will make us better, stronger, more well-rounded music industry professionals.

If you'd like to hear more from Scooter, check out his interview with Variety below, where he answers fan questions including "What is your ultimate 'I made it' moment in life and business?" and "What is the most unglamorous rockstar moment of your career?" Enjoy!

Theresa Abou-Daoud is a senior at William Paterson University and will be graduating a semester early with her B.A. in Popular Music Studies and a minor in Music & Entertainment Industries. She is currently working in touring and live event production.