The Manager's Playbook

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, I sit down with Tommy Brown (TBHits), hitmaking music producer, songwriter, and one of the most important creative forces behind modern pop music. Tommy has worked with Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Victoria Monét and more, and this conversation is a real look at what it takes to become a true hit producer in today’s music industry.
We get into the making of “thank u, next,” what actually makes a hit record, why so many successful producers and songwriters still struggle financially, and the difference between being a beatmaker and a real record producer. Tommy also breaks down artist development, publishing, producer points, label deals, streaming economics, content strategy, K-pop systems, Netflix’s Hitmakers, and the lessons he learned studying Rodney Jerkins.
This one is for artists, managers, songwriters, producers, A&Rs, music executives, and independent artists trying to build real careers, stronger teams, better systems, and long-term leverage in the music business.
If you care about music marketing, songwriting, publishing, producer income, artist growth, streaming strategy, audience building, and career longevity, this episode is for you.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it.KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

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

In this clip, LaRussell and his team break down what it really takes to build an independent music business at scale.
They talk about the infrastructure behind the operation: merch, brand identity, photography, videography, editing, security, logistics, live show staffing, sound engineers, and the contractor-based team required to keep everything moving. The conversation also gets into the unglamorous side of growth: scaling from an LLC mindset into a real enterprise, tightening operations, improving tax compliance, creating better payment structures, and learning how to delegate with trust.
LaRussell also speaks on reinvesting heavily into the business, leading with belief, questioning limits, and building without relying on a traditional label system. If you’re an artist, manager, or entrepreneur trying to understand how independent artists scale, build teams, and turn momentum into infrastructure, this is a strong one.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gh5xJy3JaJikr9JEEIZAC?si=tQwOj5sGRFKts7KWvPw3Bw

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

In this clip, LaRussell and Tietta Mitchell break down a lesson a lot of artists learn too late: before you hire help, you need to understand the work yourself.
They talk about why doing every part of the business early on - content, posting, editing, ticketing, emails, calendars, and operations - makes it easier to train people, delegate clearly, and scale without losing standards. The conversation also traces how Tietta became essential to LaRussell’s growth: first by spotting the TikTok opportunity, then proving her value through consistency, curiosity, and learning the music business from the ground up.
If you’re an independent artist, manager, or creative operator trying to understand artist management, delegation, team building, music business education, and how to scale an independent career the right way, this is a real blueprint.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gh5xJy3JaJikr9JEEIZAC?si=tQwOj5sGRFKts7KWvPw3Bw

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

Most artists don’t hate ads. They hate what bad ads reveal.
In this clip, LaRussell breaks down how he actually uses ads as an independent artist: not to force Spotify streams or fake momentum, but to amplify content that already proved itself organically. The strategy is simple but disciplined: run awareness ads behind posts that are already winning, then use retargeting, lookalike audiences, and city-specific campaigns to turn attention into real outcomes like ticket sales, merch sales, fan growth, and direct-to-fan revenue.
He also explains why shares and comments matter more than vanity metrics, how he thinks about customer acquisition cost, and why great music marketing isn’t about buying visibility. It’s about scaling demand that already exists.
If you’re an independent artist, manager, or music entrepreneur trying to understand how Meta ads, fan conversion, touring strategy, merch marketing, and artist growth actually work, this is a strong one.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gh5xJy3JaJikr9JEEIZAC?si=tQwOj5sGRFKts7KWvPw3Bw

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

LaRussell didn’t partner with Roc Nation because he needed a machine. He partnered because he built one first.
In this clip of The Manager’s Playbook, LaRussell and his manager Tietta Mitchell break down why the Roc Nation deal made strategic sense for an already thriving independent artist business. They talk about globalizing what they’ve built, expanding into radio, publicity, DSP relationships, and late-night TV, and why the right label partnership should add value without taking control.
The conversation gets into the real mechanics of a modern record deal: a non-exclusive, short-term, project-based structure, freedom to keep releasing music independently, and the importance of negotiating label deliverables, not just artist obligations. They also speak on contract language, ownership, autonomy, direct lawyer-to-lawyer communication, and what JAŸ-Z’s influence actually meant in the bigger picture.
If you’re an artist, manager, executive, or music entrepreneur trying to understand how independence, leverage, artist development, publishing, and strategic partnerships really work in today’s music business, this episode is for you.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

If you’re earning publishing income, make sure you’re collecting all of it. KOSIGN, powered by Kobalt, offers direct global publishing collections and real-time royalty transparency in a flexible, artist-friendly format. It’s highly selective, but free to apply here: https://bit.ly/4b438pj

Listen to the full episode here -
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4gh5xJy3JaJikr9JEEIZAC?si=tQwOj5sGRFKts7KWvPw3Bw

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