Artist Management Guru:
Johnny Wright
When is the best time to get artist management?
A colleague of mine, Cirocco Jones, author of Music Powers, asked me
that very same question. At the time he was gathering information to be placed
in the producer’s chapter of his book. This inquiry can be directed towards
artists, producers, actors, dancers, engineers, singers, writers, etc. My
response was “when you can no longer do the work yourself, but be sure you are fully
ready to represent your craft.”
Once an artist is competent enough to
enter the market place, he or she should obtain the best possible management option
available to them. This does not mean get your ‘homie’ to represent you; Well,
not at least in the major game. He or she can play acting manager until someone
of substance presents his or herself. My recommendation is to seek a monolithic
manager such as Johnny Wright. Johnny has
been a game changer for more than 25 years. I remember back in the mid 80’s
when he was on the road with New Edition. I was at one of their shows held at the
Metro Centre in Rockford, IL, my hometown. I was just a ‘young buck’ then and
in a group called Mission: Play. I remember auditioning for him and Maurice
Starr. Needless to say, they passed on us, but no love was lost.
Wrights accomplishments have been akin
to that of Colonel Tom Parker,
Elvis Presley’s former manager. Wright
started in the industry as a radio DJ. He has always had a great ear for talent
and great music. He has worn many hats from roadie, to road manager, to production
coordinator, all the way to executive. In fact, at one point he represented New
Kids on the Block, Back Street Boys, *NSYNC and Brittney Spears as clients. In
2004, I had the pleasure of frequenting his production compound, WEG (Wright
Entertainment Group) in Orlando, Florida. The place was magical. It had a beach
with a volleyball court, jet skis, swimming pools, hot tubs, game rooms, a
bowling alley, a movie theatre, and 3 world-class recording facilities inside. It
was a sister compound to his former partner Lou Pearlman’s Transcon studios (Backstreet
Boys, *NSYNC, O-Town, Making the Band, Natural, and Aaron Carter). Wright is a
classic example of what kind of mentality a great manager should have. One day,
Wright’s cousin, Melvin Brown, Vice President of A&R/now co-founder of
Konvict Music, informed me Johnny treats his artists like family. He very
rarely has any heated dispute with them. He is firm but not unreasonable. He
demands much from the artist but is not unrealistic. He pushes their threshold to
ensure greatness.
A great manager can only manage those he makes great. These are his
assets. Today, Wright is involved in multiple television shows, online Internet
talent seeking technologies, operating a full service production company,
record label, artist development, and a vast array of multi-platinum selling
recording artists. Some of these artist include: Justin Timberlake, Janet
Jackson, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Brittney Spears, Backstreet Boys, *NYSYNC, Danity
Kane, Aubrey O’Day, Menudo, Aaron Carter, Ciara, The Beach Girl 5, The Jonas
Brothers, John O’Shaunesy, Laurie Anne Gibson, 89, Nigels 11, Y6, Isaiah
Pittman V, Adrienne Bailon, Jay Sean, Sullee, Mark Russell, Jae Jonas, and Nick
Jonas.
References:
Angelfire.com
Retrieved from http://www.angelfire.com/boybands/oneinamillion/johnnywrightarticle.html
Wright Entertainment
Group. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.wegmusic.com
