Guide
Artist Management vs Distribution
A manager runs your career. A distributor gets your music onto the platforms. They are different jobs, and most independent artists need the distributor first.
The short version
- A distributor delivers your music to streaming platforms and collects your royalties.
- A manager runs your career: strategy, deals, bookings, press, and day-to-day decisions.
- You do not need a manager to distribute music. You do not need a distributor to have a manager.
- A manager usually takes 15 to 20% of your income. A distributor takes a fee or a revenue share.
- Nice Set is a distributor. It does not manage artists.
What a distributor does
- Delivers your music to Spotify, Apple Music, and 250+ platforms.
- Collects your streaming royalties and pays them to you.
- Offers sync submissions, so your music can be pitched for TV, film, and ads.
- Turns your streaming data into ranked venue picks, so you can pitch the venue, find local artists to collab with, and find musicians for your band.
What a manager does
- Runs your career. Strategy, release plans, deals, bookings, press, and the calendar.
- Takes a cut, usually 15 to 20% of your income, for as long as the management deal runs.
- Opens doors you cannot open yourself. A good manager's relationships are the job.
- You hire a manager when your career needs running, not when you need a release out.
What you need first
- Distribution. Without it, your music is not on the platforms and your royalties have nowhere to go.
- Then bookings. Your streaming data shows where your listeners are. That is your tour map.
- Then a manager, when the work of running your career is bigger than the work of making music. A manager is a hire, not a requirement.
Questions artists ask
Do I need a manager to distribute music?
No. A distributor puts your music on the platforms without a manager. You keep your masters.
What does a music manager do?
A manager runs your career: strategy, deals, bookings, press, and day-to-day decisions. Managers usually take 15 to 20% of your income.
What does a music distributor do?
A distributor delivers your music to streaming platforms, collects your royalties, and may offer sync submissions and promotion.
Is Nice Set a management company?
No. Nice Set is a distributor. It distributes your music, submits it for sync, promotes it, and turns your streaming data into ranked venue picks.
Apply for distribution
Start with the release.