Tom Ross is an influential booking agent and artist manager, and one of the founders of the music department of the famed LA-based talent agency, CAA. With CAA, Ross worked with some of music’s biggest names, such as Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, Crosby Stills and Nash and Madonna. After leaving CAA in the late 1990s, Ross worked with several music and technology companies. He currently manages country artist LeAnn Rimes.
Tom Ross, an agent, offers advice to aspiring artists trying to break into the music industry. He discusses the importance of being true to one's music. Ross also explains the importance of a great manager in today's shrinking music business. A great manager knows how to identify record company lies, how to motivate the artist's team, and believes in the artist as well as himself. Also in this segment, Ross covers the significance of relationships and making the right connections. Furthermore, he talks about the two types of business each person has - their own business and show business. The importance of an ethical business manager is covered as well. Ross also shares his thoughts on the music industry's progress in becoming a sophisticated business and on developing artistry.
Tom Ross, an agent, lists different methods to learn about the industry, such as books and university programs. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the basics of the music business. Ross also covers the significance of thanking each person one comes across. He tells the story of Herbie Herbert, manager of Journey, whose goodwill helped bring the band to the top. Also in this segment, Ross discusses the ending of his career as an agent. He shares his thoughts on what would have happened to him if he had stayed in the business as well.
Tom Ross, an agent, talks about what artists should do when they're starting out. He focuses on the importance of playing locally. Furthermore, he lists bands, such as Van Halen and Journey, to show the significance of building upon a local foundation. Also in this segment, Ross discusses the changing image of television and Las Vegas. He explains why they used to be the two largest danger signs of a career. Television never captured the true essence of music and Las Vegas involved selling out at the end of your career. Ross covers why television and Las Vegas are today the quickest ways to jumpstart your career as well. Las Vegas is the most booked place in the country and television is a critical part of breaking an artist's career.
Tom Ross, an agent, talks about the impact of Ticketmaster on the music business. He discusses the loss of ticketing outlets, the ability to sell out a show in eight minutes, and the acquired knowledge of exactly how many tickets are sold. Ross also mentions how Ticketmaster takes out a piece of the ticket profits for such things as buildings. Also in this segment, Ross covers Fred Rosen, the CEO of Ticketmaster. He explains how Rosen came up with a computer model and jumpstarted Ticketmaster by building and paying for the computers at his own expense.
Tom Ross, former booking agent with CAA, discusses why concert tours were important in the days before MTV, and how the advent of video and other transmission media have changed the role of the tour in the career of an artist.
