The DIY Phase vs. Team Building
As an indie artist with your first single, you're likely in the DIY (Do It Yourself) phase of your career. This is normal and even advantageous in many ways. Understanding when to continue handling things yourself versus when to bring in team members is crucial for sustainable growth.
Benefits of the DIY Approach
- Complete creative control over your music and brand
- Higher profit margins since you're not splitting revenue
- Valuable learning experience in all aspects of the music business
- Building direct relationships with fans, venues, and industry contacts
- Flexibility and agility to pivot quickly as needed
Signs You're Ready to Expand Your Team
While the DIY approach is valuable, certain indicators suggest it's time to bring in help:
- Time constraints - You're spending more time on business than creating music
- Reaching capacity - You're turning down opportunities due to bandwidth limitations
- Skill gaps - Certain aspects of your career need expertise you don't possess
- Growing revenue - You can afford to invest in team members
- Increasing complexity - Your career has more moving parts to manage
- Scaling audience - Your 90k TikTok following is translating to streaming growth
"The most successful indie artists in 2025 aren't necessarily those who do everything themselves, but those who know exactly when and where to bring in help strategically."
- Future of Music Coalition Report, March 2025
Key Team Members for Indie Artists
Here are the most important potential team members to consider, in the typical order of priority for emerging artists:
Producer
You already have good producers helping with recording, which is an excellent foundation.
- Role: Shapes your sound, oversees recording process
- When to add: Already in place (maintain these relationships)
- Cost structure: Usually per-project fee or royalty percentage
- Finding the right match: Chemistry and shared vision are crucial
Distributor
Digital distribution is essential for getting your music on streaming platforms.
- Role: Delivers your music to streaming platforms and stores
- When to add: Immediately (required for releasing music)
- Cost structure: Annual fee or percentage of royalties
- Options: DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby, Ditto, AWAL
Session Musicians
While you play piano and guitar, you might need other instruments for certain tracks.
- Role: Provide instrumental parts you can't play yourself
- When to add: As needed for specific recordings
- Cost structure: Usually flat fee per session or per track
- Finding them: Through producer connections, music schools, online platforms
Publicist
Helps secure media coverage and build your public profile.
- Role: Pitches your story to media, creates press releases
- When to add: For EP/album releases or significant career moments
- Cost structure: Monthly retainer ($1,500-3,000) or campaign-based
- Alternatives: Start with DIY PR, then hire for specific campaigns
Manager
Oversees your career strategy and coordinates other team members.
- Role: Career planning, negotiation, team coordination
- When to add: When you have consistent income and growth momentum
- Cost structure: Typically 15-20% of music income
- Finding the right match: Look for experience with similar artists, shared vision
Booking Agent
Secures and negotiates live performance opportunities.
- Role: Books shows, negotiates fees, plans tours
- When to add: When you're ready for regular gigging or touring
- Cost structure: Usually 10-15% of performance fees
- Alternatives: Self-booking local shows until you have demand
Social Media Manager
Helps maintain and grow your online presence.
- Role: Content planning, posting, community engagement
- When to add: When social media demands exceed your capacity
- Cost structure: Monthly retainer ($500-2,000) or hourly rate
- Alternatives: Part-time assistant or content scheduler tools
Attorney
Provides legal guidance and contract review.
- Role: Contract review, copyright protection, legal advice
- When to add: Before signing any significant agreements
- Cost structure: Hourly rate or flat fee per service
- Alternatives: Legal consultations as needed rather than retainer
Recommended Team Building Timeline
Based on your current stage (first single, 90k TikTok followers), here's a suggested timeline for building your team:
Phase 1 (Current - Next 6 Months):
- Maintain: Producer relationships
- Secure: Digital distributor
- Consider: Session musicians as needed
- Explore: DIY PR with potential for campaign-specific publicist for next release
Phase 2 (6-18 Months):
- Consider: Part-time social media assistant to help leverage TikTok following
- Explore: Manager relationships (if growth continues)
- Consult: Music attorney for contract review as needed
Phase 3 (18+ Months):
- Consider: Booking agent (if performing regularly)
- Explore: Full-time manager (if career momentum justifies)
- Evaluate: Label services or indie label partnerships
Finding and Vetting Team Members
Adding the right people to your team is critical. Here's how to find and evaluate potential team members:
Where to Find Potential Team Members
- Personal network - Ask your producers for recommendations
- Industry events - Music conferences, workshops, networking events
- Online platforms - LinkedIn, music industry Facebook groups
- Similar artists - Research who works with artists at a similar career stage
- Educational institutions - Music business programs often have talented graduates
- Industry directories - Resources like Indie Bible, Musician's Atlas
Questions to Ask Potential Team Members
Key Vetting Questions:
- Experience: "What artists similar to me have you worked with?"
- Results: "What specific results have you achieved for clients at my stage?"
- Strategy: "How would you approach working with an artist with my profile?"
- Communication: "What's your communication style and frequency?"
- Network: "What industry relationships do you have that could benefit my career?"
- Passion: "What about my music/brand interests you specifically?"
- References: "Can I speak with current or former clients?"
Red Flags to Watch For
- Upfront fees without clear deliverables (especially for managers)
- Promises that sound too good to be true
- Inability to provide references or examples of past work
- Pressure to sign long-term contracts immediately
- Lack of specific strategy for your unique situation
- Poor communication during the initial discussions
- No clear understanding of your music or target audience
"The right team member doesn't just have industry experience—they have a genuine connection to your music and vision. This alignment is what transforms a business relationship into a true partnership."
- Music Management Quarterly, February 2025
DIY vs. Label: Understanding Your Options
As your career progresses, you may face the decision between remaining independent or pursuing a label deal. Here's what to consider:
Types of Label Arrangements in 2025
- Major Labels (Universal, Sony, Warner) - Traditional full-service deals
- Independent Labels - Smaller companies with more artist-friendly terms
- Distribution Deals - Label handles distribution while artist retains ownership
- Label Services - À la carte services without full label commitment
- Joint Ventures - Partnership arrangements with shared investment/ownership
- Artist-Owned Labels - Creating your own imprint, possibly with distribution support
Comparing Independent vs. Label Approaches
| Aspect | Independent | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Control | Complete control over music and image | Potential input or restrictions from label |
| Ownership | Retain ownership of masters and publishing | Often give up ownership of masters for a period |
| Financial Investment | Self-funded or investor-backed | Label provides advance and funding |
| Revenue Split | Keep 80-100% of revenue (minus distributor fees) | Typically 15-25% of revenue after recouping advance |
| Team Access | Build your own team piece by piece | Access to established team and infrastructure |
| Industry Connections | Build connections gradually | Immediate access to label's network |
| Marketing Reach | Limited by your budget and resources | Potentially larger marketing budget and reach |
| Timeline Control | Release music on your own schedule | Release schedule may be determined by label |
| Data Access | Direct access to all streaming and fan data | May have limited or delayed access to data |
Leveraging Your TikTok Following in Negotiations
Your 90,000 TikTok followers represent significant value in any industry conversation. Here's how to leverage this asset:
Using Your Social Media Presence as Leverage:
- Demonstrate engagement metrics beyond just follower count
- Show conversion data from TikTok to streaming platforms
- Highlight your content creation abilities as a marketing advantage
- Use your audience as proof of concept for your music's appeal
- Negotiate better terms based on the audience you've already built
- Consider distribution or service deals rather than traditional contracts
"In 2025, a strong, engaged social media following is often more valuable to an artist's negotiating position than traditional metrics like radio play or press coverage. It represents direct access to an audience that you own."
- Digital Music News, April 2025