As the music industry developed into a powerful force in America in the last half of the 20th century, resourceful business-minded people became agents when they realized that there was money to be made by controlling access to musical talent. They became middlemen between musical artists and the recording industry and owners of musical venues, charging commissions for use of their clients.
Currently, commissions range between 10 and 20 percent of the money a musical act earns for a performance. In more recent years, agents have negotiated revolutionary deals for their musical stars, making more money for agencies and musicians alike. In addition, today's music agents handle most, if not all, aspects of a musician's career, from commercial endorsements to financial investments. Growth of mobile and online platforms, including social media sites, has also added to the areas that music agents and scouts are involved in.
- Actors
- Animators
- Art Directors
- Artist and Repertoire Workers
- Artists
- Audio Recording Engineers
- Augmented Reality Developers
- Bloggers
- Book Editors
- Broadcast Engineers
- Camera Operators
- Cartoonists
- Choreographers
- Cinematographers and Directors of Photography
- Circus Performers
- Clowns
- Columnists
- Comedians
- Comic Book Writers
- Composers and Arrangers
- Computer and Video Game Designers
- Content Management Specialists
- Copy Editors
- Copywriters
- Dancers
- Digital Agents
- Disc Jockeys
- Editors
- Ethnoscientists
- Fashion Illustrators
- Fashion Writers and Editors
- Film and Television Directors
- Film and Television Editors
- Film and Television Extras
- Film and Television Producers
- Food Writers and Editors
- Foreign Correspondents
- Graphic Designers
- Illustrators
- Internet Content Curators
- Internet Developers
- Literary Agents
- Magazine Editors
- Magicians
- Makeup Artists
- Motion Graphics Artists
- Multimedia Artists and Animators
- Multimedia Sound Workers
- Music Conductors and Directors
- Music Journalists
- Music Librarians
- Music Producers
- Music Teachers
- Music Therapists
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- Music Video Directors and Producers
- Music Video Editors
- Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners
- Musicians
- News Anchors
- Newspaper Editors
- Non-Fungible Token Artists
- Online Journalists
- Online Producers
- Photo Editors
- Photographers
- Photojournalists
- Podcasters
- Pop/Rock Musicians
- Production Assistants
- Production Designers and Art Directors
- Radio and Television Announcers
- Radio and Television Program Directors
- Radio Producers
- Recreational Therapists
- Reporters
- Science and Medical Writers
- Screenwriters
- Show Runners
- Singers
- Social Media Workers
- Songwriters
- Sports Broadcasters and Announcers
- Sports Photographers
- Sportswriters
- Stage Production Workers
- Stunt Performers
- Talent Agents and Scouts
- Video Game Art Directors
- Video Game Producers
- Video Game Testers
- Webmasters
- Writers