Legendary Manager Bruce Allen’s Advice To Younger Managers

What’s the one piece of advice you would give to a young manager today?

Listen.

When someone who’s been in the game a while takes time to talk to you, just listen.

Also, you gotta trust each other. I have never, never, never had an act under contract. When I left Martina McBride, there were no lawsuits, no nothing, I was gone. I’ve had acts, like Tom Cochrane, where I just couldn’t work with this person anymore. No contract is gonna hold that together. I don’t need to sign a contract with anyone.

I don’t have side deals, I look after my people and I’ve never had any complaints. Listen, if I wasn’t able to do the job, I’m sure I’d be fired. But I don’t care what anybody says, my track record speaks for itself.

I’ve been here a long time, I’ve broken five acts, I don’t need to sign a contract, I shake your hand and that’s good enough for me.

– Manager Bruce Allen in Music Business Worldwide