The Manager's Playbook

Snow Tha Product has one of the most unique creative processes in the game, and in this episode she walks us through all of it, from building songs completely from scratch to blending genres in ways that only she can pull off. What’s wild is how often her rough previews go viral before she’s even decided the record is finished. That says a lot about her instinct and the connection she has with her audience.We talk about the tension every artist feels between creative freedom and industry expectations, and how Snow has learned to protect her curiosity despite the pressure to fit a formula. She opens up about using music as an emotional outlet, the role of social and political issues in her writing, and why staying true to herself is the only non-negotiable in her process.What I love most is how she includes her fans in everything; the rollouts, the testing, the experiments, the fun. Her community isn’t an audience; they’re part of the engine. And that’s exactly why the music hits the way it does.If you’re an artist, manager, or anyone trying to understand how creativity, authenticity, and strategy can actually coexist in today’s music industry, this conversation is a masterclass.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Listen to the full episode here -Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gw1OsTkuYHPVcSzys3BXp?si=w-5Rhmy-TnS4LtPoo_G6pgWatch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Snow Tha Product has lived through parts of the music industry most artists never talk about publicly. In this episode, she opens up about what it felt like to be shelved by a major label, to have music you can’t release, and to navigate a system that didn’t understand who she was or how to move her forward.Instead of hiding the struggle, Snow chose transparency. She let her fans into the reality of what she was going through, and that honesty ended up changing her career. She breaks down the pressure to “look successful,” the internal battles that come with stalled momentum, and the moment she realized she needed to rebuild her career on her own terms.We dive into the practical lessons too; why release timelines matter in record deals, how artists can leverage platforms like YouTube to stay active, and the importance of developing new skills when the industry isn’t moving. Snow shares her perspective on managers, independence, and why she eventually decided to build her own ecosystem from the ground up.This conversation is equal parts vulnerable and tactical. It’s a look at the music business from someone who’s lived its harshest realities and still came out with clarity, ownership, and a renewed sense of purpose.If you’re navigating your own path, artist, manager, creative, or executive, this episode will give you a blueprint grounded in honesty, resilience, and real-world experience.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Listen to the full episode here -Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/1gw1OsTkuYHPVcSzys3BXp?si=w-5Rhmy-TnS4LtPoo_G6pgWatch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Snow Tha Product is one of the clearest examples of what real independence looks like in today’s music industry, not the aesthetic, but the infrastructure.In this conversation, Snow opens up about the reality of being a fully independent artist: building her career without a label, operating her business with family, creating her own systems, and turning her fanbase into a real community that sustains her life and art.We get into her early struggles, the misunderstandings that shaped her journey, what it means to be ahead of your time, and why autonomy became the only path that made sense. Snow breaks down her label experience, how she built a direct-to-fan ecosystem, the emotional and mental weight of independence, and the power of showing up authentically in a world that often rewards the opposite.From bilingual creativity and touring realities to the merch engine, content workflow, and personal discipline behind it all, this episode is a blueprint for any artist or creative building a career on their own terms.If you care about music, culture, leadership, or entrepreneurship, Snow’s story is a masterclass in authenticity, resilience, and long-game thinking.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠New episodes drop Tuesdays @ 10am ET

Victoria Monét didn’t just have a viral moment, she built one.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin Dunn breaks down how Victoria’s journey from songwriter to star was powered by smart storytelling, community-driven marketing, and a deep understanding of what fans actually connect with.He shares how leveraging her work with Ariana Grande, using faceless pages, and focusing on low-cost but high-impact content helped build a movement around her music.From the viral Sol Blume performance to the now-iconic “Sum Cut” Challenge, this is a masterclass in how to grow a fanbase through authenticity, strategy, and consistency.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Listen to the full episode here -Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/30xK6cQ7CM379uuTuvK6T8?si=WHE9_oBBTtqYM8R0hZZ3JgWatch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

The way artists connect with fans is evolving, and Austin Dunn has been studying the shift in real time.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin breaks down the new rules of content in the music business: why vertical video wins, how authentic storytelling builds audience trust, and what it really means to stay “cool” online.Using examples from artists like Jessie Reyez and Sasha Keable, he shares the creative and strategic playbook behind content that actually connects, not just performs.For any artist or manager trying to stay relevant in 2025 and beyond, this conversation is a masterclass in how to make your message move.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Listen to the full episode here -Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/30xK6cQ7CM379uuTuvK6T8?si=WHE9_oBBTtqYM8R0hZZ3JgWatch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

The rules of digital marketing in music have changed, and Austin Dunn has lived every version of them.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin breaks down how music marketing has evolved from the height of COVID to where it’s heading by 2026. From the rise and fall of influencer campaigns to the dominance of TikTok and user-generated content, this is a real look at how attention actually moves online.He also gets into why authenticity still wins, why major label strategies are struggling, and how repetition, not virality, builds real momentum.If you’re serious about understanding how to grow in today’s digital landscape, this episode is your blueprint.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Listen to the full episode here -Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/30xK6cQ7CM379uuTuvK6T8?si=WHE9_oBBTtqYM8R0hZZ3JgWatch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Before algorithms ran the music business, Austin Dunn was already building his own.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Austin breaks down the SoundCloud era, from bot networks and repost hacks to turning underground records into viral movements.He shares how those same tactics helped launch artists like 6ix9ine and Trippie Redd, and how a kid studying accounting turned his early experiments into a full-blown career in digital marketing.If you’re an artist, manager, or strategist looking to understand how songs really break online, this conversation is your blueprint.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Listen to the full episode here -Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/30xK6cQ7CM379uuTuvK6T8?si=WHE9_oBBTtqYM8R0hZZ3JgWatch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

Most artists are chasing the algorithm.Austin Dunn built systems that outsmart it.In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook Podcast, I sit down with Austin Dunn, digital strategist, cultural curator, and founder of @rnbmusic, one of the most influential community pages in music.Before most labels understood content seeding, Austin was already engineering digital ecosystems, helping artists like Victoria Monét, 6ix9ine, and Teddy Swims break through the noise by focusing on storytelling over virality.We talk about the early SoundCloud era, the rise of meme pages, and how community-driven platforms quietly became the new gatekeepers of culture. Austin shares his journey from building @rnbmusic to running global digital campaigns, and why the future of artist growth depends on narrative, not algorithms.This episode is for anyone working in the modern music business, artists, managers, marketers, or executives, who wants to understand how culture actually moves online.Because the truth is:You don’t need to go viral.You need a story worth following.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠New episodes drop Tuesdays @ 10am ET

What if the key to building a real music career wasn’t luck, playlists, or connections, but how you show up online?In this clip, Nic D breaks down how he turned content into a career. No label. No team. No shortcuts. Just strategy, discipline, and storytelling.From recording songs in a minivan during the pandemic to going viral on TikTok, Nic shares how creativity, consistency, and what he calls “delusional self-belief” built the foundation for 1.5 billion streams.This conversation is for any artist trying to build an audience from scratch and every manager learning how to guide them.Topics include:How to approach content as an artistBuilding momentum without industry connectionsTurning limitations into leverageWhy consistency matters more than viralityThe power of mindset and self-beliefWhether you’re an independent artist, music exec, or creative entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical insights and frameworks for growth.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Listen to the full episode here -Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/10DPIZCQj0y3LYNTYgo3Yy?si=etxiAgH1TJOVZRCaJjeQ-gWatch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook

What if walking away from touring wasn’t a step back, but the smartest move an artist could make?In this conversation, Nic D opens up about why he turned down major touring opportunities to focus on family, balance, and ownership. Despite the potential for fame and fast money, he chose freedom over burnout, and built one of the most successful independent artist careers in the process.We dive into the financial reality behind touring, the myth of “you have to be everywhere,” and how streaming revenue and smart systems gave him more control than any tour could. Nic also shares how private strategy sessions and creative consistency helped him build community without sacrificing his peace.This isn’t about rejecting success. It’s about redefining it.Topics include:Why Nic D chooses not to tourBalancing family, fulfillment, and musicThe mental and financial cost of touringHow streaming and ownership changed the gameThe new definition of success for artistsFor every artist, manager, or creative chasing longevity, this one’s a reminder that the real win is balance.Simply put, a conversation like this doesn't come cheap.Listen to the full episode here -Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/episode/10DPIZCQj0y3LYNTYgo3Yy?si=etxiAgH1TJOVZRCaJjeQ-gWatch the Episodes On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook