Business & contracts 2 signers 3 pages 18 blanks to fill in

Artist Management Agreement Template

Bring on a manager with the commission, the exclusions, the sunset and the way out all written down — so the partnership is about the music, not the money.

Use this template — free See the agreement Signers don’t need an account
Artist management agreement
The blanks in brackets are what you fill in. FileIt adds each signer’s signature and date boxes.
Artist management agreement — page 1 of 3
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Artist management agreement — page 2 of 3
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Artist management agreement — page 3 of 3
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Use this template Fill in the blanks, name who signs, and send — from FileIt eSignature.

What is a artist management agreement?

A good manager can change an artist's career, and a bad deal with one can follow an artist for years. The points that cause trouble are nearly always the same: what income the commission applies to, how long the manager keeps earning after the relationship ends, who approves spending, and what happens if the person the artist trusted leaves the management company.

This template appoints an exclusive personal manager for music or for wider entertainment work, in a territory you choose. It lists what the manager does, and makes clear they can't sign deals for the artist or act as a booking agent where the law doesn't allow it. Commission is on gross income received, with standard exclusions such as recording budgets, tour support and money paid on to producers and band members, plus any you add. It covers client-account handling and monthly statements, an expense approval limit, the term and an optional performance target, a post-term sunset at full or reduced rate, a key-person clause, conflicts of interest, and early ending.

Best for
Solo artists and band companies appointing a personal manager
Signed by
The artist and the manager
Protections
Excluded income, approval of contracts and expenses, sunset clause, key person
Length
3 pages, initialled by both on every page

When to use a artist management agreement

  • An emerging singer-songwriter signing with their first manager
  • A manager formalising a handshake arrangement with an artist who is starting to earn
  • A management company taking on an artist, with a named manager as key person
  • An artist with an existing publishing deal excluding that income from commission
  • A DJ or producer appointing a manager for music, presenting and brand work

What you fill in

18 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: artist, manager.

1 The parties

  • Agreement date*
  • Artist's legal name*
  • Artist's professional name
  • Artist address
  • Manager (company or person)*
  • Manager address
  • Key person

2 Scope

  • Areas managed* the Artist's career in music · the Artist's career in music and entertainment, including acting, presenting and brand partnerships
  • Territory*

3 Term

  • Term (months)*
  • Performance target

4 Commission

  • Commission rate*
  • Extra income excluded from commission
  • Post-term commission period (months)*
  • Post-term commission* full rate for the first half of the period, then half the rate · full rate for the whole period · half the rate for the whole period

5 Expenses

  • Currency*
  • Expense needing the Artist's prior approval*
  • Governing law*

6 Who signs

  • Artist signature and date, initials on every page · The solo artist being managed, or a band's company signing through an authorised member.
  • Manager signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The manager or management company.

What the artist management agreement covers

  1. Appointment
  2. What the Manager does
  3. What the Artist does
  4. Commission
  5. Money and accounts
  6. Expenses
  7. Term
  8. After the Term
  9. Key person and ending early
  10. Conflicts
  11. General

Using the artist management agreement, step by step

1 Name the artist and manager

Enter the artist's legal and professional names and the manager or management company. If one person at the company matters most, name them as key person.

2 Set the scope and term

Choose music only or music and entertainment, the territory and the term in months. Add a performance target if the artist wants an early way out if things don't take off.

3 Agree commission and the sunset

Enter the rate and any income excluded beyond the standard list. Choose how long the manager keeps earning on deals made during the term, and at what rate.

4 Send for signature

Set the expense approval limit, sign as the manager and send it to the artist. The signed agreement is filed in your FileIt vault, so its end date is easy to look up.

Tips before you send it

  • Encourage the artist to get independent legal advice before signing — the agreement records that they were told they could.
  • Ask for income to be paid straight to the artist or their business manager rather than through the manager.
  • Check whether booking performances needs an agency licence where you work before the manager takes on that role.
  • Diary the end of the term and agree any extension in writing before it lapses.

Sign it online in minutes

  1. Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
  2. Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
  3. Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Use the artist management agreement template — it’s free

Artist management agreement: frequently asked questions

What is a sunset clause?

It limits how long the manager keeps earning commission after the agreement ends. Under this template, the manager earns only on deals made and music created during the term, for the number of months you set, at full rate, half rate, or full then half.

What income is excluded from commission?

Money that's really a cost: recording, video and tour support budgets, payments passed on to producers, players, band members and crew, sponsorship spent on producing content, refunds and loans, and income from deals made before the term. You can add others, such as an existing publishing deal.

What is a key-person clause?

If the artist signs with a company because of one particular manager, the clause lets the artist leave if that person stops managing them.

Can it be signed electronically?

In most countries, including the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada, an electronic signature is generally valid for an agreement like this one. FileIt keeps an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion with the signed PDF as evidence of who signed and when.

Is this template free?

Yes. The template is free to use with the eSignature app in FileIt, and the people you send it to don't need a FileIt account to sign.

Use this template — free