Inside the Playbook: Milana Lewis on The Reality of Music Advances & Shelving

In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Milana Lewis, CEO of Stem, to break down how Stem approaches artist partnerships and deal-making differently.

Milana explains why Stem works on a project-by-project basis, how they manage capacity to protect quality, and how their simulator tool helps artists actually understand the financial reality of a deal. She also unpacks the new Concord partnership, designed to expand reach while keeping fairness and flexibility at the core.

The conversation doesn’t shy away from hard truths, including why major labels sometimes sign artists just to shelve them and control market share.

If you’re an artist, manager, or anyone navigating the music industry, this is a must-listen for understanding how to build smarter, more autonomous careers.

A conversation like this doesn't come cheap.

Listen to the full episode here -

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7qj5aAUZJEh9bVIWWq596j?si=kORo9PheQ4G3mqg_t5X1PA

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