Artist co-management for the world: building a platform for the facilitation of song writing and record production

This article draws an analogy between open-source software development and artist co-management networks, networks that form a platform for the facilitation of artists’ song writing and record production efforts. In the international popular music industry, the online environment is leading to more pressure being placed on artists and managers, rather than record labels, due to the fragmentation of the media landscape and the downsizing of recording labels. This is affecting the way in which song writing and record production are facilitated. In order for artist managers to help their clients to build and maximize their recording careers, the volatile environment that record labels are in means that artist managers must engineer new methods to effectively resource their clients’ album production.