The Manager’s Playbook: Edgar Cutino - Fridayy, Music Industry Politics, DJ Khaled, Artist Development & Management (EP 89)

Are record labels holding artists back from success? In this clip from The Manager's Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Fridayy's manager, Edgar Cutino, for an unfiltered conversation about music industry politics, artist management, and the challenges of working with major record labels. Edgar breaks down why independent artists should trust their instincts, how managers can hold labels accountable, and why being labeled "difficult to work with" often comes from asking the right questions. We get into artist development, label politics, building the right team, creative freedom, and why traditional industry playbooks don't always work in today's music business. A valuable conversation for independent artists, aspiring music managers, and executives looking to better understand how the music industry really works. A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.

What makes country music one of the strongest genres for developing artists and building long-term careers? In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Alex Lunt, founder of Type A Management and manager of Dasha, to explore what the country music industry gets right about artist development. Alex breaks down Nashville’s songwriting community, the importance of live performances, touring opportunities, CMA Fest, and how country radio continues to influence artist growth and ticket sales. We also get into the relationships that make the country music ecosystem unique, the role of media in breaking new artists, and why managing burnout and mental health is just as important as building momentum. A valuable conversation for independent artists, music managers, and aspiring executives looking to understand what it takes to build a sustainable music career. A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.

How do you know which content will actually help break a song before spending money on it? In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Alex Lunt, founder of Type A Management and manager of Dasha, to break down the music marketing strategies behind building momentum in today's industry. Alex shares how artists and managers can use Instagram Trial Reels, TikTok, content testing, and paid ads to identify what works before investing in a release campaign. He explains why testing different creative ideas matters and how to put marketing dollars behind content that's already performing. We also get into the pressure of managing a viral hit, navigating major label decisions, and making the most of an opportunity when everything starts moving quickly. A valuable conversation for independent artists, music managers, and aspiring executives looking to build smarter release strategies. A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.

What does it really take to break a hit song in today's music industry? In this clip from The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Alex Lunt, founder of Type A Management and manager of Dasha, to discuss how streaming momentum attracts major labels and what it takes to turn an independent breakout into a global hit. Alex shares the story behind Dasha’s “Austin,” the decision to partner with Warner Records, and why a great song and smart management still matter more than a massive marketing budget. We also get into country music gatekeeping, radio politics, TikTok marketing, major label deals, and the pressure of building an artist’s career when everything starts moving at once. A valuable conversation for independent artists, music managers, and aspiring executives trying to understand how records actually break. A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.

In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Mauricio Ruiz sits down with Alex Lunt, founder of Type A Management, to break down what really happens after a song explodes. Alex shares the story behind managing Dasha through the breakout of “Austin,” from viral TikTok momentum and line-dance culture to major label interest, global strategy, and the pressure of turning a hit song into a sustainable career. We get into artist management, independent artist leverage, major label deals, country music’s global moment, music marketing, social content testing, radio, burnout, and the real decisions managers have to make when success starts moving faster than the team around it. A must-listen for artists, managers, aspiring music executives, and anyone trying to understand the music business behind a viral hit. A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.