Who do you want in your corner? Who do you need in your corner? No matter what stage you’re at in your career, you always need a core crew—trustworthy people with real know-how. You simply can’t be expected to know everything about the music business, or the strategies needed to take you to the next level. While it’s mandatory to have an understanding of the business around your art, as your career flourishes, delegation will be key so you can focus on the music.

And what about that music? Your team isn’t just the nuts and bolts surrounding and supporting your work. Team members are also critical sounding boards. You should always trust your manager to serve it to you straight. This is no place for yes-men. Much like you trust your gut when it comes to music, building your team should also involve instinct. While they are an extension of and reflection on you, it’s not only about who you choose to surround yourself with, but knowing when it makes sense to expand.

For this installment of Co.Lab Talks we’re thrilled to present some of the best in the biz: a manager, a publicist, and a business manager (that’s entertainment-speak for a music accountant). Between them they have insights culled from decades of experience. We hope these talks below will help inform your decisions when it comes to putting together the pinch hitters who will help get you—and your music—where you want to go.

Co.Lab is an event and video series for working artists to meet their peers, get advice, and workshop their careers with the best in the business. Co.Lab is hosted and presented by Spotify for Artists. Click here to learn more.

Matt Sadie on What You Should Look for in a Manager

Seasoned manager Matt Sadie—who looks after everyone from Phoenix to Lo Moon to Hudson Mohawke—discusses how his role aids an artist’s success, plus the sort of collaboration that can and should occur between a manager and their client.

Kristin Lee on Understanding and Protecting Your Assets and How a Business Manager Can Help

In music, a business manager is ostensibly an accountant, an essential to an artist’s team. Business manager Kristin Lee explains why musicians should be financially organized and how to do it.

Jen Appel on Promoting Yourself and Your Art

As a senior publicist at Grandstand Media, Jen Appel looks after everyone from Blood Orange to Robyn to Bat for Lashes. In this talk she explains her responsibilities, how her role fits into the wider team, and what an artist should look for in a publicist.

—Spotify for Artists