Music Business Television - MUBUTV - Neal O'Connor

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Insider Profile | Neal O'Connor | Slush Management

Fueled by a desire to create sustainable long-term careers for artists, his meticulous, hands-on approach helps maximize each opportunity, driving long-term success and cultural impact. Slush’s artists have earned over 75 gold and platinum certifications, sold over 2 million tickets globally, and secured dozens of nominations and wins across the Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and others since the company's inception.

O’Connor has two decades of experience in artist management, previously working at Velvet Hammer Music & Management Group where he supported generational acts like System of a Down, Alice in Chains, Deftones, and Cypress Hill. His early experience working with such prominent clients gave him a firsthand understanding of the level of care and execution required to manage artists at the highest level.

Originally from San Francisco, O’Connor discovered his passion for music early, forming a band in high school and instinctively taking on the roles of manager and agent. This led him to the University of Southern California’s Music Industry program, where he built a foundation through internships and entry-level jobs across labels, distributors, and management companies in Los Angeles. That groundwork, paired with his hustle and passion for helping artists achieve their dreams, continues to shape his client-first approach today.

Under O’Connor’s direction, Slush has produced landmark moments including Porter Robinson’s Second Sky Festival and the SMILE! :D World Tour, as well as global music campaigns with partners ranging from Universal Music to Riot Games.

O’Connor lives in Los Angeles with his wife, young son, dog, and cat. Outside of music, he enjoys snowboarding and traveling off the beaten path. Whether creating arena-scale shows, plotting big album campaigns, or producing music festivals with Goldenvoice, O’Connor remains focused on the same mission that brought him into the industry: helping artists realize their vision on their own terms.

Slush Management | Official Website

Neal on discussing the misconception that being on a major label makes an artist’s life easier, Neal emphasizes the opposite.

"A lot of up and coming artists maybe have an idea in their head that if I could just sign with a major label, they would take care of so much and make my life easier. And I think maybe the opposite is true is they just ask you to do more."
-Neal O'Connor

LISTEN:

LISTEN: Leverage Over Record Deals: The New Music Business Rule
With Neal O'Connor Slush Management [MIP150]

TRANSCRIPT | SHOW NOTES

Books mentioned or recommended:

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