Music Agents and Scouts

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.