The Manager’s Playbook 051: Steve Rifkind - Loud Records, Street Teams, Wu-Tang Clan, Akon & Record Label Strategy

Steve Rifkind helped build the modern music business playbook, and he’s one of the people who created and popularized “street teams” before anyone had a marketing department to hand it to.

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Steve Rifkind (founder of Loud Records and SRC Records) breaks down how culture turns into commerce: A&R instincts, artist development, record label strategy, grassroots marketing, touring impact, radio promotion, and the real math behind traditional record deals. From Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, and Big Pun to the early breakout of Akon and lessons from New Edition, Steve shares the behind-the-scenes stories, hard calls, and systems that actually break artists.

If you’re an independent artist, artist manager, or aspiring music executive, this is a masterclass in fanbase growth, music marketing strategy, and career longevity, from the streets to the boardroom.

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

Topics covered: street teams, radio promotion, touring vs streaming, record deals & leverage, label politics, building systems, loyalty & relationships, breaking artists market-by-market

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

New episodes drop Tuesdays @ 10am ET