Top YouTube talent managers for creators in 2020: power list

• Business Insider is recognizing the top talent managers for YouTube creators in 2020. 
• We are highlighting 25 power players of talent management based on who is successfully assisting YouTube creators on their digital businesses.
• These talent managers help their clients diversify their online brands with consumer products, Hollywood roles, and by building lasting partnerships through influencer-marketing campaigns.
• They represent a variety of creators, from gamers to family channels to ASMR YouTubers. 
• Subscribe to Business Insider’s influencer newsletter: Insider Influencers.

YouTube stars rule the influencer industry with millions of fans, lucrative brand deals, direct-to-consumer products, and other business ventures.

And although they are the faces of their businesses, these creators aren’t doing it alone. Mega YouTubers often have a team helping them that consists of managers, agents, video editors, and even lawyers to help them navigate the industry.

In particular, signing with the right talent manager can help take an influencer’s business to the next level. Some seasoned managers have longstanding relationships with major brands and companies in the DTC space that can help quickly bulk up a business.

Talent managers do a variety of tasks like advising clients against promoting products that could damage their careers, assisting in important aspects of the business like negotiating the best rates for a brand deal, and talking clients through a sudden PR disaster.

Managers earn revenue by receiving a cut of the influencer’s earnings, which typically ranges from 10 to 20%, depending on how much the manager does for the client, according to industry insiders.

During 2020, managers have also helped clients weather the coronavirus’ impact on the business, particularly on advertising, which saw a steep decline this spring.

“We saw the advertiser opportunities ebb and flow early spring when the pandemic first hit,” said Adam Wescott, a partner at Select Management Group. “But we’ve been very lucky in this past year that our business has not just sustained, but we’ve actually seen growth, and that’s because advertisers are becoming more invested in direct-to-consumer opportunities and who best to do that with than quote-unquote influencers.” 

In our second annual power list, Business Insider is recognizing some of the top managers who are helping shape the careers of YouTube creators in 2020. In this list, we highlight 25 talent managers who are assisting YouTubers with their digital brands and businesses across content categories.

To form this list, Business Insider relied on a mix of our own reporting, nominations from readers, and industry experts to narrow down the finalists. We chose them based on their experience managing creators, their responsibilities, and their influence on the industry.

These talent managers work with a variety of creators across the most prominent content categories on the platform, from gamers and streamers to beauty gurus and ASMR YouTubers.

The managers are listed in alphabetical order by management firm below:

Check out our other power lists on Business Insider: