Report Values UK Music Managers’ Contribution at £714m
The Music Managers Forum (MMF) has unveiled new independent research that, for the first time, calculates the economic value music managers bring to the UK music industry.
A new report presented at the Music Managers Forum (MMF) Manager Summit & AGM has estimated that music managers generate £714 million in value for the wider UK music industry.
The research, carried out by RMR Research, Jem Associates and The Hub, suggests that for every £1 invested in managers, £8 is created across the sector.
According to the findings, the largest share of this value – £627 million, or 88% – directly benefits artists, songwriters, and producers, linked to increased earnings, productivity, connectivity, and wellbeing.
The report also highlights a broader ripple effect, with positive impacts on record labels, publishers, booking agents, lawyers, and brand and marketing professionals.
Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive of MMF, said the research was significant in placing “a tangible value on the roles that managers perform” and underscored the essential contribution they make to the wider industry.
Alongside the report, the MMF announced changes to its membership model, introducing a new tiered structure – Emerging, Standard, Professional, and Company – designed to provide more tailored services for members at different career stages. The organisation will also launch a Manager Certification programme, described as the first of its kind, to encourage professional development and establish recognised industry standards.
The certification will be based on a two-hour exam covering key aspects of management, with the first 30 certified managers expected to be announced in November.
Paul Bonham, MMF’s Professional Development Manager, said the aim was to set shared expectations for professional standards in management, while industry leaders welcomed the initiative as a means of strengthening artist-manager partnerships and supporting career development across the sector.