1. How did you get started in the music business? I started while in college at Howard University working as Bad Boy producer Chukie Thompson’s assistant.

2. How long have you been working in the business? 10 years.

3. Have you always been interested in management? Yes, I felt that as a manager, I could build a firm foundation and understanding of the music business and most of the people I respected in the music business started their careers as managers.

4. What was your progression to where you are now in the business (how did you get where you are today)? After graduation from college I went on to become Director of Finance at Tommy Boy Music. After I left Tommy Boy in 1998, I founded Edwin Holmes Management and also partnered with Cuddah Love and started Fo’ Reel Entertainment.

5. Who was the first artist that you represented (with a deal)? Amerie

6. How did you gain the experience necessary to effectively manage an artist’s career? Starting in the Finance department allowed me to work with all the departments and it gave me an understanding of how labels work and how they generate revenue.

7. What do you like most about management? Because management is so broad, you’re not confined to one specific role or area. The flexibility.

8. What do you like least about management? Working as a manager, you can’t help but develop a personal relationship with your clients. So their personal problems become yours, their bad day becomes your bad day. That can become tricky to navigate.

9. Have you managed more than one artist at a time that were signed to different labels (if so, who)? In the process of doing that now, Amerie & Mason Betha.

10. Were they working at the same time on their own albums?Yes

11. How did you manage your time and handle them effectively? You build a strong team and you depend on the right people.

12. When you are looking for songs for your artist(s), how do you go about picking what is best for him/her? I look for songs that fit their personality and that help build their image and fan base and just move them to the next level.