Commission Take-Home Calculator

Artist managers commonly take 15 to 20 percent of gross income, a standard that has held for decades. That commission typically covers career development, deal negotiation, and business strategy — but not the separate fees for booking agents, lawyers, accountants, or publicists. The percentage is worth it when the manager generates income you would not otherwise earn; scrutinize it when they do not.

Booking agents commonly take 10 to 15 percent of live performance income, separate from your manager's commission. Their cut applies to guarantees and show fees they book, not usually to your other revenue streams. Because agent and manager commissions stack, it pays to understand exactly which income each percentage applies to before signing either agreement.

With a manager at 15 to 20 percent, an agent at around 10 percent, and a lawyer commonly at 5 percent or billing hourly, a full team can take roughly 30 to 35 percent of gross income before your own expenses come out. That is the math worth running before building a team — commissions on gross can leave a surprisingly small net.

Commission is commonly calculated on gross income — the total before expenses — which matters enormously on low-margin activities like touring, where 20 percent of gross can exceed your actual profit. Some agreements carve out specific income types or calculate certain commissions after agent fees. Read the commission clause carefully and negotiate carve-outs where gross-based math would leave you underwater.