Live music · Management · Artist development
Management, promotion, booking, contracts and artist development — from someone who has run both sides of the table for over two decades.
Live music · Management · Artist development
DeadBust Music Agency was founded by Steve Potter — a career that doesn't fit a single label. For over 23 years Steve ran a successful multi-million pound commercial fit-out contracting business, managing supply chains, negotiating contracts and building teams from the ground up.
Music has been an equal passion throughout. He has managed and performed in bands for a decade, served as a board member of the UK Blues Federation, worked with artists on contracts and promotion for five years, and brought the same commercial rigour to the music world that built his contracting business.
That combination is genuinely rare. Most music industry advisors have never run a business. Most business advisors have never been on a stage or negotiated an artist deal. Steve has done both — and it shows in how we work.
Credentials
We work with a small number of artists and bands at any one time. Not because we can't handle more — because working closely and honestly with the people we take on is how we actually deliver results.
We don't offer hype or promise shortcuts that don't exist. What we offer is hard-won experience, direct advice, and a genuine interest in seeing you succeed on your own terms.
"We don't apply a formula. We start by understanding where you are, where you want to get to, and what's currently in the way."
DeadBust has worked with artists at different stages of their careers. Here's who we work with.
UK blues band with a loyal following and years of gigging experience. Working with DeadBust on profile-raising, festival submissions and digital presence to take them to the next level of the UK blues circuit.
Five years of ongoing guidance on contracts, promotion strategy and career navigation for this established act. A long-term relationship built on trust and results — the kind of engagement we value most.
New female-fronted covers band spanning 1960s–2000s repertoire, currently in development under the DeadBust umbrella. Branding, positioning and launch strategy in progress.
An active contacts database covering festivals and venues across the UK and into Europe — built through years of direct engagement, not bought-in data. We know who to contact, how to contact them, and when.
Live performance
In the crowd
Running a band or artist career is running a business. We bring genuine senior management experience to help you make better decisions and build something that lasts.
There are thousands of talented musicians who never get heard. We build structured promotion plans with real implementation — not just a social media checklist.
Finding the right gigs at the right price takes more than a list of contacts. We produce concise, impactful artist introductions that get attention — and follow them up properly.
Contracts can define an artist's career trajectory. Steve's background in commercial negotiation means we approach artist agreements with the same rigour as a multi-million pound commercial deal.
The music industry requires many plates spinning at once. We help you build the systems and habits that let you focus on the creative work while the business side runs properly.
For upcoming bands who know they have something but aren't sure how to move forward. Honest guidance and practical steps from someone who has seen both sides of the industry.
We work with a small number of artists and bands where we genuinely believe we can add value — and we're honest when we can't. We don't take on clients we can't serve well.
Our first conversation is always without charge or obligation. We'd rather spend an hour understanding your situation and tell you honestly what we think than promise results we can't deliver.
We work best with artists and bands who are serious, self-motivated and ready to treat their music career as a business — without losing the passion that drives it.
Every artist is different. Every band has a different set of priorities, constraints and ambitions. We start with yours — not with a template.
If you'd like to talk about where your career is and where it could go, we're happy to start there. No pitch, no pressure — just an honest conversation about what might be possible.
We can help with
Upcoming acts finding their footing
Established bands stuck in a rut or ready to push further
Artists who need contracts reviewed before signing
Bands who want a structured promotion plan, not guesswork
Anyone who needs an honest outside view on where they are