The Work Podcast welcomes a new guest to the table 00:02:08, including Julien McKee, manager and founder of @otherside.nyc, and artist Low.bō. The episode kicks off with a real convo about what a fair artist-manager split actually looks like 00:06:22—and why "50/50" only makes sense when you're building it from scratch.

From there, they break down the difference between being ready for management vs. just wanting help 00:11:23. The crew shares how trust, initiative, and mutual investment are the real foundation of artist/manager partnerships 00:16:00.

Later, it gets into label deals, fake artist development, and what "breaking an artist" really means in 2024 00:26:10. The group discusses how too many artists chase virality without structure—and why long-term success isn't built on momentum alone.

They highlight the rise of middle-class artists like BigXthaPlug 00:43:00, and how Empire, Even, and Spotify's Loud & Clear report reveal a shift toward independent wins and sustainable careers 00:49:10.

All that, plus how to think about money, ownership, and long-term strategy in an industry that rewards shortcuts—but punishes the unprepared.

In this episode, guest Julien McKee (Artist Manager & Founder of @otherside.nyc) and artist Low.bō (Recording Artist, Spotify) join the table alongside the hosts Melanie McClain (Founder of Blurred Lines, DSP Music Programming) Michael Pelczynski (Co-Founder Voice-Swap and EVP Rostrum Pacific

rollout.cc