The Manager’s Playbook 081: Jermaine Dupri - Hit Records, So So Def, Artist Development, Music Business & Finding Superstars
The Manager’s Playbook 081: Jermaine Dupri - Hit Records, So So Def, Artist Development, Music Business & Finding Superstars  
Podcast: The Manager's Playbook
Published On: Sun Aug 30 2026
Description: Jermaine Dupri joins The Manager’s Playbook for a masterclass on hit records, artist development, and what today’s music business is getting wrong.As the founder of So So Def and one of the most successful hitmakers of all time, JD breaks down how he spots superstar potential, why timeless songs still matter more than streams or first-week numbers, and what young artists, managers, A&Rs, and music executives need to understand about building real careers.We get into the stories behind Kris Kross, Bow Wow, Xscape, Da Brat, Usher’s “Confessions,” Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together,” Muni Long’s “Made For Me,” and the pressure of staying great after decades in the industry.This episode is for anyone serious about music business, management, artist development, major labels, independent artists, and the difference between hype and legacy.A conversation like this doesn’t come cheap.Book a 1-on-1 meeting with the guests you’ve been watching. See who's available on The Manager's Marketplace: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://themanagersplaybook.com/home⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want your music everywhere, properly? DistroKid is a straightforward way for independent artists to distribute globally and keep momentum moving. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://distrokid.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@managersplaybook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠New episodes drop Sundays @ 10am ET