Music manager burnout becomes an entry point into a larger discussion about what it takes to support Canadian music as art. Managers are often positioned as the people behind the artist, coordinating opportunities, shaping strategy, managing relationships, solving problems, supporting releases, navigating funding, protecting boundaries, and helping artists build sustainable careers.
Yet this work is often invisible, under-resourced, emotionally demanding, and difficult to measure. As artists are asked to do more with less, managers are often expected to absorb industry pressure while also providing care and long-term vision.
What happens when the people responsible for supporting artists are themselves unsupported? This panel aims to make visible the value of managers as cultural workers, creative partners, advocates, and caretakers of artistic possibility.
