How to find co-management deals as a new manager (and split the work fairly)
To find co-management deals as a new manager, partner with an established manager who needs an extra pair of hands, agree a defined role and commission split before you start, and run the bookings through one place where both sides can see what was earned. A clear role and a visible money trail are what make a co-management deal work. On iKonX the artist earns 100 percent of the price they set and iKonX takes 0 percent platform commission. The buyer pays a flat 10 percent on top, and browsing and downloading the app is free.
Co-management is one of the best ways for a new manager to break in, and it is also where new managers get burned. You team up with someone more established, throw yourself at the work, and assume the split and your role will sort themselves out. Then a deal lands, the experienced manager takes the lead and the lion's share, and you realize your role was never defined and your cut was never agreed. You did real work and have no clean claim to show for it.
The deeper problem is that a co-management arrangement without structure is just two people hoping. There is no agreed division of labor, no settled split, and no shared record of who brought what in. A new manager, eager and unproven, is the one most likely to be taken advantage of when the terms live only in a verbal understanding.
So the question is not just how to find a co-management deal. It is how to find one, define your role and split before you start, and keep the money visible, so the deal actually builds your reputation and your income instead of just your hours.
The fix is to treat a co-management deal like a real partnership from day one: find a manager who needs help, define exactly what you own and what your cut is before you start, and run the money where both sides can see it. A clear role and a settled split turn a vague handshake into a partnership that pays.
Running the artist's bookings on iKonX gives a co-management pair a shared, honest record. When features and bookings flow through one place where the artist keeps the full value, both managers can see exactly what was earned on the deals you worked, which makes splitting the commission clean and provable. On iKonX the artist earns 100 percent of the price they set and iKonX takes 0 percent platform commission. The buyer pays a flat 10 percent on top, and browsing and downloading the app is free. A transparent money trail is what protects the newer partner in any co-management deal.
Build it in order: find an established manager who needs an extra hand, agree your specific role and your split in writing before you start, and keep the bookings visible to both of you. Defined role plus settled split plus a clean record is how co-management becomes a foot in the door rather than free labor.
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- Find a manager who needs an extra hand. Look for established managers stretched across a roster who could use help with specific artists or tasks. A real need is the foundation of a real partnership.
- Define your specific role. Agree exactly what you own, whether that is day-to-day, bookings, or a particular artist, so your contribution is clear and provable rather than vague support.
- Agree the split before you start. Settle your commission share in writing up front. The newer partner is the one most exposed when the split is left to a verbal understanding.
- Run the money where both sides can see it. Keep bookings flowing through one visible channel so what was earned on your work is on the record, not just in the lead manager's memory.
- Use the wins to grow. Let each clean co-managed deal build your reputation and your case for bigger roles. Co-management is a foot in the door, not the ceiling.
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Ways to enter co-management: the honest comparison
| Setup | How your cut is protected | Risk to a new manager |
|---|---|---|
| Defined role + split, visible money on iKonX | Written terms and a clean earnings record | Low · artist keeps 100% of bookings · 0% platform commission · buyer pays a flat 10% on top |
| Co-manage on a handshake | Memory and goodwill | High, the newer partner gets squeezed |
| Help out with no agreed cut | Nothing, you are just labor | Highest, real work with no claim |
| Full solo management too early | Your own terms, but no backing | Hard to land without a track record |
The principle that a co-management deal should define each partner's role and split in writing and keep a clear earnings record is standard management guidance; the iKonX flow does not create or enforce any manager split, which is a separate agreement between the parties. The only fixed claim is the iKonX fee model: the artist keeps 100% of the price they set, iKonX takes 0% platform commission, and the buyer pays a flat 10% on top. iKonX is free to download and explore.
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How does a new manager get into co-management?
Find an established manager who is stretched across a roster and needs help with specific artists or tasks. Offer to own a defined piece of the work, then agree your role and your split in writing before you start.
How should the commission split work in a co-management deal?
Settle the split in writing before any work starts, based on the role each partner owns. The newer manager is the most exposed when the split is left verbal, so getting it agreed up front is essential.
How do I prove what I contributed to a co-managed artist?
Run the bookings through one channel where the earnings are visible to both managers. On iKonX the artist keeps the full value of their bookings, and a transparent money trail shows exactly what was earned on the deals you worked.
What is the benefit of co-managing instead of going solo?
Co-management gives a new manager a foot in the door with an established partner, real deals to point to, and a track record. It is far easier to land than solo management when you have no roster of your own yet.
Does iKonX handle the split between co-managers?
No. On iKonX the artist keeps 100 percent of the price they set and iKonX takes 0 percent platform commission. Any split between co-managers is a separate agreement; iKonX just keeps the booking money visible and clean for both of you.
What should I avoid as the newer partner?
Avoid doing real work on a handshake with no defined role and no agreed cut. That is exactly how new managers get squeezed. Define what you own and your split in writing before you start, every time.
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