Can Agents Work?

Jobs / Management and business operations / 13-1011.00

Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes

Represent and promote artists, performers, and athletes in dealings with current or prospective employers. May handle contract negotiation and other business matters for clients.

US jobs
12,620
Median wage
$82,890 a year
Job family
Management and business operations

Can agents do the work of agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Management and business operations:

  • Task levelPartialOnly adjacent evidence. On TheAgentCompany, which gives agents workplace tasks inside a simulated software company, the best agent resolves 42.9% of tasks (a November 2025 result). No task-level benchmark in our collection maps directly to management or business operations.
  • Project levelPartialMixed. OpenAI reports that GPT-5.5's GDPval deliverables won or tied against professionals' work in 84.9% of comparisons, and the best agent passes 73.5% of APEX-Agents tasks on the first try. Running a business is weaker: on Vending-Bench 2 the best model ends a simulated year with $15,515, about a quarter of Andon Labs' estimate for a good strategy.

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in management and business operations, not always this occupation's tasks.

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • Collect fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
  • Send samples of clients' work and other promotional material to potential employers to obtain auditions, sponsorships, or endorsement deals.
  • Keep informed of industry trends and deals.
  • Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
  • Negotiate with managers, promoters, union officials, and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.
  • Confer with clients to develop strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf.
  • Develop contacts with individuals and organizations, and apply effective strategies and techniques to ensure their clients' success.
  • Schedule promotional or performance engagements for clients.
  • Arrange meetings concerning issues involving their clients.
  • Manage business and financial affairs for clients, such as arranging travel and lodging, selling tickets, and directing marketing and advertising activities.
  • Hire trainers or coaches to advise clients on performance matters, such as training techniques or performance presentations.
  • Prepare periodic accounting statements for clients.
Other job titles for this occupation (50)

Agent · Athlete Marketing Agent · Booker · Booking Agent · Entertainment Specialist · Literary Agent · Print Agent · Talent Agent · Talent Representative · Theatrical Agent · Acquisition Agent · Advance Agent · Artist Manager · Artist Representative · Artist's Manager · Artist's Representative · Athlete Manager · Athletic Agent · Author's Agent · Band Manager · Booking Manager · Boxing Promoter · Business Agent · Business Manager · Circus Agent · Concert Promoter · Contracting Agent · Copyright Manager · Dramatic Agent · Entertainment Agent · Fight Manager · Film Booker · Jockey's Agent · Media Promoter · Modeling Agent · Music Agent · Music Promoter · Picture Booker · Promoter · Promotional Agent · Promotional Marketing Agent · Promotional Representative · Repertoire Manager · Sports Agent · Talent Acquisition Team · Talent Booker · Talent Manager · Talent Solutions Manager · Touring Agent · Touring Production Manager