ROSTER is set to launch the ROSTER Playbook: Introduction Edition on Monday, 28 September 2026, giving artists and music-industry professionals a practical introduction to managing the business behind their music.
The playbook has been created for artists, managers, labels, publishers, promoters and booking agents who often have to manage multiple aspects of their careers across different systems and platforms.
Rather than focusing only on the creative side of music, the guide looks at the business infrastructure behind a career – including songs, contributors, contracts, rights, income, registrations and upcoming commitments.
ROSTER says the playbook is designed to show users how its platform works, how its different features connect and where they should start.
The business behind the music
For many independent artists and music teams, important information can end up scattered across email inboxes, spreadsheets, cloud folders, contracts and informal conversations.
ROSTER is positioning its platform as a way of bringing those different areas into one connected workspace.
The introductory playbook takes readers through six steps, beginning with setting up business details and organising a music catalogue.
It then moves into connecting existing platforms, tracking registrations and income, working with ROSTER’s specialist AI agents and managing the week-to-week demands of running a music business.
The objective is to provide a starting point for people who may be comfortable creating and releasing music but are less familiar with the administrative and commercial systems that support a sustainable music career.
Meet the characters behind ROSTER
Alongside the playbook, ROSTER is introducing an animated ensemble called Meet the Cast.
The characters will become the platform’s voice across social media, using short stories, humour, familiar industry situations and practical demonstrations to explain aspects of the platform.
The cast represents different roles found within the music business, allowing ROSTER to explore the same industry problems from different perspectives.
The audience will meet Zola, an artist with big dreams and a collection of unfinished voice notes, while Sbu is the producer whose beats are apparently more organised than his file names.
Lerato plays the manager responsible for turning ideas into plans and deadlines, while Kai is the booking coordinator dealing with dates and travel arrangements.
Tebo represents the label operator who is constantly thinking about the next opportunity.
Asha is the publishing coordinator, following the paperwork and story behind each song, while Naledi is the rights coordinator focused on ensuring contributors receive their credit.
Ben is the business manager who asks the questions before anyone signs, while Ama is the vocalist who brings the hook and wants to know about her split.
Musa rounds out the group as the songwriter who remembers every chord – even if passwords are another matter.
From catalogues to contracts and splits
Through the characters, ROSTER plans to tackle situations that are familiar to people working in the music industry.
Their stories will cover issues such as documenting contributions to songs, organising catalogues, keeping track of bookings, understanding rights and making informed business decisions.
The approach is intended to make some of the less visible aspects of the music business easier to understand, particularly for emerging artists and teams building their operations.
The introductory video, “Every music team has characters. Meet ours.”, will give audiences their first introduction to the animated ensemble.
A platform built around music businesses
ROSTER describes itself as a music business platform designed to connect business information, catalogue records, contracts, rights, income and day-to-day operations in one workspace.
The platform is aimed particularly at emerging markets and connects with platforms already used by music professionals.
It also incorporates specialist AI agents designed to support different aspects of music-business management.
The launch of the playbook therefore serves as more than an introduction to a software platform. It is an attempt by ROSTER to explain the often complicated business systems surrounding music in a format that artists and their teams can follow.
When the playbook launches
The ROSTER Playbook: Introduction Edition will be available from Monday, 28 September 2026.
ROSTER will also release its Meet the Cast introductory video as part of the rollout, with the animated characters expected to feature in the platform’s ongoing social-media storytelling.
The playbook and video links will be made available through ROSTER’s official channels.
