Who is your all-time favorite artist or band? Chances are you've seen them in concert a time or five, and maybe even bought a t-shirt to commemorate the evening. Regardless of your musical preferences, fans like you make up the audience that every aspiring musician hopes to one day perform and create music for. Yet the most essential, and often overlooked, member of any band is the one who never sets foot on stage: the manager. They oversee the many business aspects of the band's career, such as booking venues and promoting ticket sales. Every successful artist in the music industry is supported by a dedicated and hard-working personal manager, who has put in many hours to gain valuable training and experience to ensure the artist's success. Although the concept of music has been around since man slammed two rocks together and discovered How to Make Sounds, the first group of musicians to turn music into a business and industry dates back to 1917 with The Original Dixieland Jass Band. Hailing from New Orleans, ODJB was the first band to make a jazz recording and even popularized the term "jazz" from its original form, "jass", common for the time period (Gracyk). This turning point in the music industry paved the way for other jazz musicians, as well as those who would follow, to begin recording, promoting and selling their own music, thus creating demand for management positions. Often the most famous and successful artists have dedicated managers who run the show behind the scenes. As one of the most successful and recognizable rock groups in history, the Beatles owe all their celebrity to their manager, Brian Epstein. After discovering the band at a small venue in Liverpool, Epstein ensured that...... middle of paper... concert promoters, business managers, marketing representatives and tour coordinators all working together to achieve success of the artist. As an artist's manager, the spotlight of fame rarely shines beyond the stage. But in many cases, including mine, those who pursue this demanding, but not so small, wing of the music industry are often more comfortable behind the scenes than stardom. Even so, I have never let my lack of musical ability hinder my passion for the industry and the impact it has on our society. Music has the power to change the world and with its powerful influence, artists are able to not only express themselves through sound but also spread a message to impressionable young minds. The music industry is an orchestra, and while each instrument can stand beautifully alone, it is when they come together in unison that it evolves into a symphony..