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:

Micromanagement kills momentum.

-Ruiz

THE MANAGER’S PLAYBOOK PODCAST

(FEAT. Jared Cotter)

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song” spent 19 weeks at #1 this year. Half a year on top of the charts independently. Historic.

But as Jared Cotter told me in our conversation, that kind of run doesn’t just happen because of one hit song. It happens because there’s a team behind it. And if the manager tries to carry it all, everything falls apart.

The bigger the success, the heavier the weight. That’s when delegation becomes not just smart, but essential.

In my conversation with Jared Cotter, co-manager to breakout artist Shaboozey, one message was clear: If you want to build something that lasts, you can’t do it alone.

This is not only a message for managers but for artists. Pay close attention.

This episode of The Manager’s Playbook Podcast is about 3 things:

Learning to delegate.

Choosing the right team.

Leadership is empowerment.

The Chaos of Success

When “A Bar Song” exploded, Jared described being “inundated constantly with opportunities.” 

Every day brought another request; press, shows, brand deals, syncs.

At that scale, a manager who tries to hold everything quickly becomes the bottleneck. Instead of leading, you end up reacting. Instead of being strategic, you get stuck in the weeds.

That’s why delegation isn’t just a tactic. It’s survival.

Delegation Is Strategy, Not Weakness

The best managers know delegation isn’t about giving up control. It’s about putting the right opportunities in the hands of the right people.

Delegating well means trusting specialists, empowering decisions, and protecting your own energy so you can focus on what only you can do: guiding the bigger picture.

Leadership Means Empowerment

But here’s the key: delegation only works if you lead in a way that empowers your team.

Micromanagement kills momentum.

If every decision has to pass through you, your team becomes hesitant, second-guessing themselves instead of moving with confidence.

Empowerment is giving your team permission to own their lane. It’s letting the tour manager make the final call on logistics, the digital lead drive the online campaign, and the publicist decide the best narrative, without waiting for your stamp of approval.

When you empower people, three things happen:

1. They move faster.

2. They think bigger.

3. They feel true ownership of the artist’s success.

That’s how you scale.

Jared couldn’t manage Shaboozey’s historic run and develop Paul Russell without a team he trusted to execute boldly.

Empowerment wasn’t a luxury. It was the only way forward.

Hiring the Right People

Of course, empowerment depends on having the right people. The right hires aren’t just competent. They’re aligned with the vision.

They don’t just “do tasks.” They think like owners.

If you hire people you can’t trust, you’ll never empower them. And if you can’t empower them, you’ll always be the bottleneck.

From Manager to Leader

The real evolution of a manager is moving from doing to leading.

Your role is not to hold every detail. It’s to set a clear vision, surround yourself with people who can execute it, and then get out of their way.

That’s what turns chaos into progress. That’s what turns one hit into a career.

Watch Episode 37 with Jared Cotter LIVE NOW

1:1 CONSULTATIONS WITH RUIZ

I’m now offering 1-on-1 strategy sessions for artists, managers, and execs serious about building beyond music.

Fully tailored to you.

We’ll break down the traditional drivers—masters, publishing, touring, merch—and then map out how to leverage them into real equity: consumer brands, media, real estate, tech, even catalog plays that turn creative work into capital.

With 16+ years across management, development, brand, content, and marketing, I’ll bring honest insight and practical frameworks that move your career forward.

If you’re ready to invest in the long game and build a team that benefits your career, much like the above concepts discussed above with Jared Cotter, let’s get to work.

PODCAST WRAP UP

Jared Cotter’s story with Shaboozey is proof: historic wins come from empowered teams.

As a manager, your job isn’t to do everything.

It’s to build the environment where your people can do their best work.

Because in the end, leadership isn’t about control. It’s about empowerment. And that’s what creates movements that last.

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

Check out the full conversation with Jared Cotter and myself for all the insights.

Share your thoughts with me on IG @mauroisruiz

Watch the episode with Jared Cotter 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

THE MANAGER’S PLAYBOOK DISCORD IS LIVE!

We’re Hosting Real Conversations, LIVE.

Today, I’m bringing my friend Mag Rodriguez, Founder and CEO of EVEN, into the Discord chat!

Today, Wednesday at 5pm EST/2pm PST, mark your calendar because Mag Rodriguez (CEO of EVEN, a platform empowering artists to monetize their music through direct fan connection) will be hopping into our Discord for an in-depth discussion on artist monetization, fan connection and the globalization of music.

No gatekeepers. No fluff. Just straight talk with the CEO changing the way the business looks at artist careers.

Nearly every week in our Discord, we’re going live for Q&As with music industry experts, pulling back the curtain on how the industry really moves.

You never know who might pop in and drop game.

Get in early.

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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