{"id":208548,"date":"2024-08-13T12:59:59","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T11:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/?p=208548"},"modified":"2026-03-26T19:46:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T19:46:10","slug":"the-instinctiveness-with-which-an-artist-thinks-is-something-to-be-learned-from-dont-let-data-undermine-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/the-instinctiveness-with-which-an-artist-thinks-is-something-to-be-learned-from-dont-let-data-undermine-it\/","title":{"rendered":"‘The instinctiveness with which an artist thinks is something to be learned from \u2013 don\u2019t let data undermine it.’"},"content":{"rendered":"

MBW\u2019s World\u2019s Greatest Managers series profiles the best artist managers in the global business. In this feature, we interview the Pet Shop Boys\u2019 Manager Angela Becker about the duo\u2019s 40th anniversary, working with Madonna and more. World\u2019s Greatest Managers is supported by Centtrip<\/a>, a specialist in intelligent treasury, payments and foreign exchange \u2013 created with the music industry and its needs in mind.<\/p>\n

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If Angela Becker was one of those perfect one-word Pet Shop Boys album titles, it would be Reluctant<\/em>.<\/p>\n

At least when it comes to this interview. There are plenty of other single words that would far better describe her attitude towards the many duties and aspects of managing the legendary British pop duo, some (but not all) of which would fit neatly into their long-playing oeuvre: Determined (maybe), Passionate (doubtful), Collaborative (maybe a compilation), Successful (another compilation), Ambitious (yep) and Curious (definitely).<\/p>\n

But when it comes to the media spotlight being trained on her \u2013 only the R-word will do.<\/p>\n

When MBW<\/em> informs her that she\u2019s a very frustrating Google, she can\u2019t hide her satisfaction. It\u2019s not because she doesn\u2019t have an interesting story to tell, insights to share and opinions to proffer (they\u2019re all coming up), and once she green lights the process, she\u2019s generous with her time and a pleasure to talk to \u2013 it\u2019s certainly clear how and why she is the longest-serving manager of a duo imbued with taste and erudition in a way that, perhaps [redacted] are not.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s just that she thinks everything should be about Neil<\/strong> Tennant<\/strong> and Chris<\/strong> Lowe<\/strong>, the musical partners who put out their first single, West End Girls<\/em> (No.1 in the UK and US) 40 years ago.<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s where and why Reluctant gives way to Yes (produced by Xenomania, released in 2009 and, coincidentally, the first record released by PSB after Becker became their manager).<\/p>\n

It is a significant anniversary and it is the key to convincing their US-born manager that now is a good time to talk about her time with the band.<\/p>\n

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