Chelsea Wood, who has worked in artist management for 13 years, identifies financial sustainability as a central challenge for working-class managers and artists, with touring costs forcing some acts to decline shows.
Her current roster comprises Finn Forster, Dom Malin and Maius Mollis.
Building Wood Management
Wood connected with her first artist at Wood Management through a mutual friend while assembling her roster. The introduction arose from a conversation with someone she rarely sees.
She considers establishing her own management company her career highlight. Her work has also involved supporting hundreds of independent musicians through organisations including Generator and Help Musicians.
Another highlight was seeing Forster support Stereophonics in stadiums and arenas. Those performances strengthened their ambition for him to headline venues of a similar size.
Planning and financial pressures
Wood says her most productive days combine progress on immediate priorities with longer-term planning. Days dominated by resolving other people’s problems leave less time for those goals.
She describes financial sustainability as the hardest issue she faces as a working-class manager representing working-class artists.
Wood values live performance as a setting where audiences need not question artificial intelligence (AI) or authenticity. However, she says some artists cannot afford to accept shows because of touring expenses.
She welcomes Liveline and UKAT for helping offset losses on headline tours, alongside the Music Growth Fund’s support for managers.
Professional community and listening
Working independently, Wood values having fellow managers available to discuss ideas and concerns. She credits Music Managers Forum (MMF) events with helping build those connections.
Wood holds MMF Certified Manager status, recognising her professional knowledge and experience in music management.
Her current listening includes Twenty One Pilots, with their latest two albums, Clancy and Breach, in regular rotation.
