Artist Manager - Nate Flagrant

Nate Flagrant is a man of many trades but his great passion is Hip-Hop. One of Australia's finest club/trick DJ's he manages rappers Phrase and M-Phazes.

What's your name & job title?
Nate Flagrant, Artist Manager

When did you start working as a Manager?
I started managing my first artist in 2004 and took on my second artist in 2006.

What do you do on a typical day?
A typical day for me includes speaking with numerous key people involved in the day-to-day operations of my artists. Some of those people include: Phrase's record label, Phrase's booking agent, event promoters, M-Phazes US rep, Apra, Amcos and numerous other key people. Everyday is a new experience.

Why did you decide to get into Management?
I am also a DJ and a promoter and I used to do some journalism so I guess it was kind of a natural progression that happened organically. I didnt really choose artist management, I think it actually chose me.

How did you get your first break, and did you need any experience?
Well like many artist managers starting out, I started managing my first artist - a rapper by the name of Phrase - when I had little management experience BUT I had a massive amount of industry contacts and was able to get by and learn on the job. My first "break" came when I secured a licensing deal for Phrase with Universal Records which marked the first time a street rapper had signed with a major label in Australia.

What was your best day on the job?
The best day on the job for me was when we signed the licensing deal. That was the point where all the talking stopped and the work REALLY began.

What’s been your worst day?
There isn't one day I can pinpoint as being the worst but I generally have low points when my artists have low points. An artist's success in the music business is reliant on other people (outside our immediate circle), so when my artists feel hard done by or feel like the world doesn't understand them, there is nothing I can do but stand by them and encourage them to continue forging a path forward.

If you had any handy tips for young people who wanted to do your job, what would they be?
Be dedicated, punctual, reliable and constantly find ways to improve your skill sets. Another important tip is to be open to advice from people you respect but you must ALWAYS double and triple check their advice to make sure they are pointing you in the right direction.

Every person has their own opinion on how to do things but it is up to you to decide the best way to move for your artist. Lastly but not least, when you make a commitment to manage an artist, you are literally taking their life/livelihood into your hands and that is something you cannot take lightly. If you drop the ball, slack off, get bored or stop being pro-active, you will have an incredibly negative impact on your artist’s career. When you sign an artist, it is no longer about YOU, it’s about your artist AND you.

What does music mean to you?
To me, music is a form of artistic expression that is usually created for the entertainment of others. Although I have preferred tastes in music, I respect all genres and any kind of music because it represents someone's hard work and artistry. You must always respect any type of music no matter how ear piercing it may be :)

How did the advent of digital in music change things for you?
I think digital in music is still yet to make a serious dent in the Australian market but the possibilities are extremely exciting and I look forward to seeing things unfold over the next 3-5 years.