Meet Mal Bailey | Music Industry Consultant & Artist Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mal Bailey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mal, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I saw a crucial need in the music industry for trusted & experienced professionals to help DIY indie artists grow their talents, their industry knowledge, and their careers, specifically with one-on-one consulting and support. Along with that, I noticed a drastic need for more artist representation in the LGBTQIA+ music community.

I’ve had experiences from so many angles throughout my 20 years in music i.e. radio, management, talent coaching, client representation, performing, writing, marketing, and branding, I thought it just made sense to create IT’S OKAY MGT. I wanted to create a music business where I could consult DIY artists and help grow them into being ready for management, an agency, a publishing deal, etc. while also fully managing a carefully hand-picked roster of artists that I could break into the majors. It’s the perfect mix of what I’m most passionate about and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life and career.

At IT’S OKAY MGT, my purpose is to be someone that artists can trust. These days, it’s really difficult for artists to trust anyone (and understandably so). One of my personal artist projects was burned in the past by someone who seemed so legitimate but took advantage of me and my bandmates. There are so many companies out there that claim they can boost your social and DSP followings, get you on playlists, etc, but a majority of them are scams and the legitimate ones are expensive. I wanted to bridge the gap between the two by helping artists gain significant momentum in their careers while being sensitive to their budgets. I educate artists on how they can successfully run their own release campaigns, booking, marketing, branding, and business operations at industry standards. Essentially setting them up for that label, management, agency, or publishing deal via customized consulting. At the end of the day, I just want to be able to help my clients reach a sustainable living with long-term success in the music industry.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart from others is the fact I’ve lived many lives in the music industry: as an artist who actively writes, records, and performs their music, and as a manager who represents, coaches, and advocates for their clients. I think one of the main reasons why I got to where I am today business-wise is due to the compassion I have for my clients, the partners I’m working with, and for myself. It’s a main pillar of IT’S OKAY MGT. I think it’s imperative to hold space for one another in professional settings. Every successful relationship or deal I’ve made has been based on compassion and treating each other with kindness, fairness, and understanding. Unfortunately, I’ve not always been this way. There have been many challenges throughout my life and career living as a queer person that have jaded and discouraged me, but ultimately my intense love for music has kept me fighting the good fight in this industry. These challenges are bigger than me and I’ve learned that to create change is to BE the change. I want to be remembered for breaking queer artists in music and for being an exceptional artist manager. I want to be known for the way I do business, the way I treat people, and for my love of music and supporting artists. I want to be known for giving the power back to the artists by providing sustainable and supportive systems to them. I want to be known for disrupting the music industry and claiming new territory where it’s not just about the vanity metrics and money, it’s about the art again and the impact it makes on the people of this world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Eat/Drink/Hang Out Must-Haves: -Happy hour & snacks @ The Ruby Fruit (Silver Lake)
-Coffee @ The Palm Coffee Bar (Burbank)
-Brunch @ Crossroads (WeHo) & Flore (Silver Lake)
-Lunch @ SunCafe Organic (Studio City), My Vegan Gold (Silver Lake)
-Dinner @ Tu Madre (Silver Lake), Gokoku Vegetarian Ramen Shop (Studio City)
-Hangouts @ Tiki No (North Hollywood), Tony’s Saloon (DTLA), and Drawing Room (Los Feliz)

Fun/Exciting Musts:
-Jesse & Friends @ Hotel Cafe for an incredibly intimate experience with the songwriters behind your favorite songs
-Queersound showcase @ The Silverlake Lounge
-Beach day @ Zuma Beach (Malibu)
-Thrifting @ Crossroads Trading (Studio City)
-Los Feliz Flea
-Pickup some treats @ Project Cannabis
-Visit Hollywood Forever Cemetery
-Hike @ Fryman Canyon
-Drive Laurel Canyon and Hollywood Blvd for the cute views
-Catch a movie @ Rooftop Cinema Club DTLA

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my partner, Erin Booher. Had it not been for her support, I wouldn’t have moved to LA and started my own company. Her encouragement has helped me do things I never imagined I’d be able to do. I’d also like to recognize my friend, Jose Arce, at GRL SND Studios. His love and support led me to this opportunity to speak with you at Shoutout LA.

Website: www.itsokaymgt.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsokaymgt/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mal-bailey/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itsokaymgt

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.mal.bailey

Image Credits
Erin Booher Christopher Brown Kris Hartley Jose Arce / GRL SOUND Studios Amy (AJ) Jenkins Heidi Mae Carli Lind Average Cowgirl