Product comparison
MNGR vs. spreadsheets for artist management
Spreadsheets are inexpensive, familiar, and excellent for flexible tabular work. MNGR becomes useful when the operation needs connected records, repeatable workflows, and a clearer next action.
Comparison last checked: July 16, 2026
Who should stay
Stay with spreadsheets when it is still doing the job.
- One person manages a small amount of stable information.
- You mainly need calculations, lists, or occasional exports.
- Your current sheet is reliable and nobody is duplicating or reconciling the same data elsewhere.
When you may have outgrown it
Move when maintenance starts replacing momentum.
- Release dates and tasks are copied across tabs, calendars, and messages.
- Contacts, shows, and money records have no reliable link back to the artist or release.
- Status depends on cell colors, memory, or one person explaining the sheet.
How the operating models differ
| Decision area | spreadsheets | MNGR |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Fast blank grid | Music-specific records and workflows |
| Relationships | Manual links, formulas, or duplicate rows | Connected artists, releases, shows, tasks, contacts, and finance |
| Ownership | Columns and conventions | Assigned tasks and visible status |
| Dates | Cells plus a separate calendar | Operational dates in one calendar view |
| Growth | More tabs, formulas, and maintenance | Plan limits designed for solo, manager, and label-sized rosters |
Questions before switching
Do I need to stop using spreadsheets completely?
No. Spreadsheets remain useful for analysis and one-off imports. MNGR is intended to become the source of truth for recurring music operations.
When is a spreadsheet still enough?
When the workflow is small, stable, owned by one person, and does not require several linked records or repeated status updates.