Welcome to The Manager’s Playbook, my personal newsletter where I share insights from Music Executives and Artists for aspiring and emerging music managers, executives and artists on how to navigate the music industry. This newsletter is brought to you by Mauricio Ruiz.

Ruiz’s Note:

Season’s over but the work never stops

The Blue Jays lost. Not just in any game, but in arguably the greatest World Series ever played. Arguably the best World Series Game 7 w in the history.

That shit stung.

But there’s something to admire about teams, and people, who stay true to their process when the outcome’s uncertain. Those Jays captivated not just Canada, but the entire baseball world. Class acts with real fight. And when the pain subsided, in a way, it felt less like a loss and more like a celebration of a team that went the distance when no one expected them to.

That mindset has been on my mind lately, especially after my conversation with Nic D, my next guest on The Manager’s Playbook Podcast.


-Ruiz

THE MANAGER’S PLAYBOOK PODCAST

(FEAT. Nic D)

“You say Tactical, I say PRACTICAL”

Stopped Me Dead in My Tracks

Podcast is back!

There are moments in these conversations on the pod when a guest says something that hits deeper than expected. For me, that moment came when Nic said one word: “practical.”

It stopped me dead in my tracks.

It wasn’t about hustle, something I religiously say, or strategy, or innovation. His whole career was about being very clear on how to survive in this career of music with a streaming first mentality. That means not relying on any other income.

And guess what…it worked.

This episode of The Manager’s Playbook Podcast is about this one thing:

Success isn’t about access; it’s about alignment.

PRACTICAL

Nic built his career around practicality.

He went from being a wedding videographer to over 1.5 billion streams, and did it without a label, manager, playlist editorial, or industry connections.

He just kept releasing music on DSPs.

One song every week or two.

Three to seven short-form videos per song.

Constant testing and iteration. If one piece of content didn’t work, he tried another angle.

Nic wasn’t chasing virality; he was collecting data.

Every post, every reaction, every save. It all told him what resonated. That’s how he built his audience and learned the market, one feedback loop at a time.

It made me rethink how anyone, artist or manager, should approach the business.

Yes, managers are essential for many careers. But we’re also in an era where a certain type of artist can self-manage if they just take practical steps: build an internal and external system, lower their burn rate, track what works, stay consistent and ultimately understand their goals.

For some, that might be all it takes.

Compounding Survival

Funny how life works.

As we’ve been prepping this episode, tuning into the World Series, I’ve been reading The “Psychology of Money” by Morgan Housel. This is a book Troy Carter, a legendary figure in the music business, mentor turned friend, first mentioned back in the debut episode of The Manager’s Playbook podcast.

I’m halfway through the book and it’s easily one of the most fascinating reads I’ve come across. Much like the convo with Nic, it’s really making me reframe my relationship with success.

One line in particular stands out:

That’s survival. It applies just as much to music careers as it does to money. Housel breaks down the difference between getting rich and staying rich.

Getting rich takes optimism and risk.

Staying rich takes paranoia and humility.

For a sustainable music career with a compunding catalogue, that translates to this:

• Don’t burn out chasing one viral hit.

• Don’t overspend trying to look like you’ve made it or to “keep up”

• Protect your ability to keep creating.

Nic D is the embodiment of that idea.

He recorded numerous songs in his van to avoid waking his family, built a simple setup, and kept his total monthly costs under $1000. Further broken down that means 1 song a week for $250.

Even further that $250 includes:

Production, mixing, mastering, content, marketing and ads (until 2020)

He focused on compounding output instead of optics.

That practicality gave him freedom — financial, creative, and emotional.

Watch Episode 43 with Nic D LIVE NOW

1:1 CONSULTATIONS WITH RUIZ

I’m offering private 1-on-1 sessions for artists, managers, and execs who want real, practical advice on how to move their careers forward.

With 16 years in the music business and experience working with some of the biggest artists and executives in the world, I’ll share insights that can help you take the next step.

Book your private consultation below.

PODCAST WRAP UP

Nic D found success because he built a process.

“Practical” isn’t a small word. It’s a shift in how we build. It’s the reminder that you don’t have to outsmart the industry, or have the biggest payroll in baseball to compete, you just have to outlast.

For some artists, that will mean finding the right manager.

For others, it might mean becoming one for themselves.

Either way, the game rewards those who can survive long enough for momentum to compound.

Nic D didn’t blow up overnight; he stacked small, consistent wins until the curve bent in his favour. That’s the real power of compounding: when discipline becomes your algorithm.

Full episode is out now on YouTube and your preferred streaming platforms.

Check out the full conversation with Nic D and myself for all the insights.

Share your thoughts with me on IG @mauroisruiz.

Watch the episode with Nic D NOW

DON’T FORGET to Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE

You can also listen to ‘The Manager’s Playbook’ Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and several other platforms HERE

Simply put, a conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.

-Ruiz

Bio

I’m Mauricio Ruiz, the host and creator of The Manager’s Playbook podcast, dedicated to demystifying the world of music management, and Founder/CEO of 8 Til Faint, an Artist Management company with over 5 billion audio streams worldwide. Our past and current clients include Grammy nominated, Juno Award winning multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Jessie Reyez, Skratch Bastid and more.

I am also the Co-Founder of Mad Ruk Entertainment, a content agency with over 3 billion long form video streams worldwide. Our client list includes The Weeknd, Eminem, and Celine Dion, along with renowned brands like Nike, Pernod Ricard and the NBA.

Follow me on IG @mauroisruiz

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