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Ending a management relationship: notice, handover and post-term commission

2 November 2026 · ArtistHub team

Every management relationship ends eventually: an artist moves to another agency, retires, or the agency decides it can no longer represent them well. How the end is handled affects the artist's career, the agency's reputation with presenters, and sometimes a lot of money. This guide covers notice, engagements in progress, post-term commission and handover. It is not legal advice; the terms of your agreement and local law govern what applies.

Start with the agreement

Your management agreement should already answer most questions: notice period, what happens to engagements booked during the term, post-term commission, and ownership of materials and data. The ISM's advice on management contracts highlights after-term payments as a clause to check, and the IMMF guidelines discuss post-term commission in detail. If your agreement is silent on these points, take advice; see our agreement template for future agreements.

Notice

Give or accept notice in writing, following the agreement. Confirm the end date and the arrangements for the notice period: who handles new inquiries, which engagements the agency continues to administer, and how communication with presenters will work.

Engagements in progress

Make a complete list, from your calendar and castings, of every engagement in each state:

Agree the treatment of each category in writing with the artist and, where relevant, the new manager.

Post-term commission

Post-term commission is commission on engagements negotiated during the term but performed or paid after it ends. Agreements typically limit it in time or scope. Calculate it from the contracts, invoice it on the agreed basis, and show the calculation clearly. Disputes are much rarer when every engagement and its terms are documented (commission guide).

Final statement

Prepare a final statement covering all fees received, commission, expenses and payouts up to the end date, and listing any post-term commission due later (statements guide). Pay any balance owed to the artist promptly.

Data and materials

Agree what is handed over: the artist's calendar, materials, recordings, website access, and contact details of presenters who engaged them. Your agency's wider contacts database is usually the agency's own business asset, but the artist's own data belongs to them. Follow data protection rules for what you keep and delete (GDPR for agencies).

Telling presenters

Agree with the artist how and when presenters are told. A short, gracious note from the agency, naming the new representation if the artist wishes, protects everyone's reputation. Presenters remember how agencies behave at these moments.

Handover to a new manager

A professional handover helps the artist and reflects well on you:

1. Share the calendar, including options with their priority and deadlines.
2. Share logistics in progress for upcoming engagements.
3. Confirm who invoices and collects for each engagement.
4. Confirm post-term commission arrangements in writing.
5. Agree a point of contact for questions during the transition.

When the agency ends the relationship

Sometimes the agency decides to end representation because it cannot serve the artist well (roster strategy). Have the conversation in person or by call, explain honestly, give notice as agreed, and offer a professional handover.

Keep records

After the relationship ends, keep contracts and financial records for as long as required for legal and tax reasons, and archive the artist's record rather than deleting history you may need for post-term commission. ArtistHub keeps contract, invoice and calendar history, so engagements booked during the term remain traceable after it ends.

Common mistakes

• No written list of engagements in progress at the end date.
• Vague post-term commission terms, leading to disputes.
• Withholding the calendar or materials from the artist.
• Telling presenters before agreeing the message with the artist.
• Deleting records needed for post-term commission.

A handover document outline

1. Artist details and current materials, with locations.
2. Calendar export, including options with priority and deadlines.
3. List of contracted engagements with administrator, invoicing and commission arrangements.
4. Logistics in progress for engagements in the next three months.
5. Open inquiries and conversations, with contacts.
6. Final statement and any post-term commission schedule.
7. Contact for questions during the transition.

Send it in writing and keep a copy on the artist's archived record.

FAQ

What is post-term commission?

Commission on engagements negotiated during the management term but performed or paid after it ends, as defined in the agreement.

Does the artist own their calendar and materials?

Agree it in the management agreement. In practice, artists should receive their calendar, materials and engagement details on handover.