Thando Zulu, who recently started the MA Music Business programme at Tileyard Education, has already demonstrated great success by managing two artists BEKA and JERUB.
One of the artists Thando is currently working with, JERUB, was our 2020 Vinyl Scratch showcase winner. We recently caught up with Thando to ask him a few questions about how he got into the music industry, his role as artist manager and what his ambitions are for the future.
What led you to work within the music industry?
A lot of my close friends are in music, and I grew into working with artists and producers through friendships. In 2015, I started going to a bunch of Sofar Sounds Gigs where I began MCing on those nights and over time I began looking after the artists. I then started artist booking and scouting, which was my introduction to interacting with Managers and Labels etc.
Tell us a little about the artists you manage?
I manage two great artists that are good friends of mine. BEKA is a London-based female Pop artist and songwriter. Her debut song ‘I’ll Be There’ released 2nd Oct has already captured the attention of the likes of Wonderland New Noise and Clash Track of the day. JERUB is a singer-songwriter based in Nottingham, UK. He began his journey as an artist in April 2019 when he released his debut single ‘Paint Me in Gold’. Blending a variety of music genres including Soul, RnB, Pop and Singer-songwriter, JERUB brings a combination of powerful vocals, heartfelt lyrics and magical melodies that resonate with listeners of all ages.
And of course, Jerub was our 2020 Vinyl Scratch showcase winner, how did you feel when you found out he’d won?
JERUB is great when it comes to live performances, so when I suggested he should enter the competition I was really hoping that the judges would see the talent that I see in him. I was buzzing to hear that he won and we’re excited to be working with Trina and Andrew at Electric Pineapple on an upcoming track for JERUB.
What do you think makes a good artist manager?
I think these days, empathy and care are key elements for being a good manager. Understanding your artists and taking their whole life into consideration when making decisions is so important, especially in 2020. I also think creativity and innovation is so important with everything feeling so unpredictable with the industry at the moment. Particularly when thinking about the live side of artist development.
What made you choose to study for a Masters in Music Business at Tileyard?
Studying at Tileyard felt like a great opportunity to fully throw myself into the music industry. The MA has provided me with context to grow my knowledge as a manager and has helped me develop more connections within the industry. The fact that Tileyard can facilitate both the networking and educational side of the music business industry is exactly what I was looking for.
What are your ambitions for the predicted year ahead?
This year I’d love for my artists to grow even more and I’m looking forward to spending time with the other amazing MA students. Overall, I’m hoping the releases we have planned go well and that live performances open up again in 2021 where I’m able to get BEKA and JERUB on some great live shows!
We are so excited to see where Thando’s career takes him, and in watching him develop the artists he’s working with.
To follow Thando and his journey as artist manager click here
To follow the artists that Thando currently manages click here and here.
