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Billboard’s 2026 Top Business Managers Revealed
Billboard has named its 2026 class of top music business managers, whose work spans financial planning, touring, royalty audits and music rights. Their role is especially significant as artists face complex estate matters and new disputes over how artificial intelligence companies use copyrighted material.
The managers are nominated by firms and peers, then selected by Billboard editors. The article highlights a US appeals court ruling in a dispute over AI training and copyrighted legal research, which music groups say is relevant to their own cases against AI services; it also cites Dolly Parton’s estate dispute as a reminder that careful planning cannot prevent all disagreements.
In short
- Billboard has revealed its 2026 class of top business managers.
- Their work includes finances, tours, royalties and intellectual property.
- AI copyright disputes and estate planning are pressing concerns.
Explained simply
Music business managers help artists handle the financial and practical side of a career, including earnings, touring costs, royalties and music rights. They may also advise on long-term plans for an artist’s estate, which covers how money and rights are managed after their death.
Their work matters as artists face questions about who can use their music and on what terms. Disputes over artificial intelligence companies training systems on copyrighted material have raised concerns for music groups, while disagreements over estates show that planning ahead cannot prevent every conflict.
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