[Fmpro] The role of managers re: royalties?

[Mark Northam]

Hi All -

The emails between Lynne and Les bring to light an interesting issue:

What role should managers have in making sure their clients receive all of
the royalties their clients are entitled to?

With agents, it's a bit different as an agent is normally employed on a
job-by-job basis to negotiate the terms of the deal. Managers, however,
typically take a role in the overall management of a client's career,
including of course the financial/income aspects of that career.

Personally, I think managers should be (or become) highly knowledgeable
about performing rights royalties, as for film and TV composers this is
typically the majority of income over the long-term. Managing the many
aspects of making sure performances are tracked, negotiating advances, and
payments are made for all performances eligible for payment seem to me to be
a natural function of someone who manages the income of a client.

Your thoughts?

Best,

Mark Northam