In this episode of The Manager’s Playbook, Ray Daniels – industry veteran, hitmaker, host of The GAUDS Show and founder of R.A.Y.D.A.R. Management – unpacks the real music business: the power plays, the pitfalls, and the personal lessons that shaped him.
From managing superstar songwriter Theron Thomas to being blackballed and building back, Ray takes us through the highs, lows, and everything in between. We talk about the rise of the DIY era, how data shifted the role of the A&R, and why artists and managers need to think like scientists and storytellers.
This episode isn’t just a history lesson. It’s a strategy session. Ray keeps it honest about major labels, equity in deals, mentorship, and the importance of staying authentic while evolving.
Simply put, a conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:15 Who is Ray Daniels?
02:02 The Reality of the Music Dream
04:08 Managing and Mentoring Talent
09:39 The Business of Music Splits
19:01 The Importance of Being Authentic
26:26 The Role of a Manager
32:23 The Importance of Consistency
34:22 Equity and Fairness in Record Deals
35:32 The Decline of Great Music Executives
44:29 The Importance of Storytelling in Music
46:09 Comparing Music Legends: Jay-Z vs. Bow Wow
57:13 The Influence of Kanye West
01:03:53 Debating Jay-Z vs. Kanye West
01:07:09 The Evolution of Superstars
01:25:25 Magic vs. Science in Music
01:31:26 Strategic Thinking in the Music Business
01:35:49 Reverse Engineering Success
01:39:08 Lessons from Movies
01:43:57 The Value of Authenticity
01:47:06 The Journey of Self-Discovery
02:01:49 Concluding Thoughts
The opinions shared by our guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or The Manager’s Playbook.
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Host: Mauricio Ruiz
Executive Producer: Mauricio Ruiz
Director of Photography: Will Dobak
On Location Sound: Jesse Lopez
Editor: Max Carmona
Co-Editor: Mauricio Ruiz
Colourist: Max Carmona
Sound Engineer: Madeline Currie
Project Manager: Erica Kongvongxay
Marketing Coordinator: Melanie Letra-Frade
Production Company: 8 Til Faint
#themanagersplaybookpodcast #musicbusinesspodcast #musicbusiness #musicindustry #artistmanagement #musicbusinesstips
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- artist development
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- ciara
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- The Gauds Show
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- theron thomas
Appreciate everyone tuning into these raw, honest convos about the music industry. These moments are rare and they matter.
Hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss what’s coming next. We’re only getting started. 🔥
Great video bro ignore the haters a reason why youre making content and they dont
I think this is a great interview, my only feedback for you is you would be such a great interviewer if you interrupted less. Watch Larry King, or Tim Ferris. You're not giving your guests room to finish a thought. But less from you would take this series to the top. Thanks for putting yourself out there, it's really great!
I dated him a few years back he’s a good dude honestly I have nothing bad to say about him 💯
Never heard of him but I like him great guy he’s who we need ❤❤❤❤❤❤
💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛💛🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱
Loved this interview. Curious. What "superstar" did you mention at 28:52? It sounded like you guys said Kasanot ?!
I like the reverse engineering idea literally start from from the concrete roots it's allows me to kno who I truly need to connect with early and often…Which is myself and people who mirror me
Im from Texas born 92 Wayne our superstar Zro/Boosie most influential and Scarface and 3k our Goats… DJ Screw on the 1s and 2s
Jay said I'm not a businessman, I'm a business maaan. Mr. Daniels is so on point with everything he was saying. The reason why Bow is not popping right now is that is fans grew old. Compare to pop they never grow old.
Hella knowledgeable
I clicked because I thought this was Orlando brown on the short
🔥🔥🔥
Black people should be focusing on building black 9:41 if you're not thinking about helping black people build black 🖤 we should find you of no use black people should be done with the music industry
Be safe Ray 🫶🏾 You're playing a dangerous game with your outburst…. The plants are watching your every move🎯
WHO?
Bro you gotta work on your interview skills. You cut him off a lot and that is content killers.
1:47:36 you made me feel so good about my age 😅❤
This is a dope interview 🔥🔥
Rays interviews are gold. I should be sleep but you two are cooking. I love this kind of information.
I couldnt finish the full video because the interviewer kept interrupting the guest.
Just too much to keep up. It would have been nice to hear the brother get out his full dialogue regarding certain things of the industry, however, thank you. However.
Whole episode is full of GEMS! and WHEN you KNOW BETTER, YOU DO BETTER!
You guys talk about the music industry EXACTY like how English people talk about how they once ruled the planet…., its funny!!! Now all the secrets are revealed after the money6 is gone. Interesting. You could of helped so many artist with this info 15 years ago but its not a race for these guys, its a intense competition
He was right about Jay
He even said himself that he was thinking to last it wasn’t about being the hottest
Ye definitely is that nigga you can’t deny album than College Dropout, Graduation, 808 Heartbreak!
How he gone start agreeing about what Ray said about Jay towards the end lol Jay never cared about being a star he cared about lasting
ii bet.
Amazing interview
Can you expand on music industry vs music business? Thank you!
I'm always ready to learn about the business of music 🎶!!!
Best breakdown on the music business I’ve heard and how fucked up it is in making bs music pop
im srry why have a guest if all u gonna do the entire time is talkover him…..only talk when he's done because he was going somewhere 12 diff times and this host talked and or yelled over him////bro please take this criticism well
1:30:20 Elon had to beef with Trump so Tesla can stop being attacked
What’s the name of the documentary you were talking about – with Frank Sinatra at the boxing ring please?
44:18 🤣 unconscious body language – he giving the host the finger while agreeing. On the inside he’s annoyed by the host and his unconscious reaction was to flip him off, using his middle finger to push up his glasses. Notice the next 4-5 times he uses a different finger but same hand. ✋🏾🤫 yo brain tell in the smallest ways…..most don’t pay enough attention to the details.
58:40 That’s not listening with ur 👂🏾 . That’s having a person connection to the stories & music….making it imprint on u on such a deeper level. Thus from a psychological standpoint why u’ll defend ur position so passionately…..it creates a bias.
I’ve heard the so called “pop splits” referred as “Nashville style splits” before
29:00 The artist is the product now.
Just came across your channel & Love the content
Oscar worthy performance.