The Medics, Thelma Plum Manager Retires From Music Business

Veteran Brisbane-based artist manager Leanne De Souza has announced that she has fallen "out of love with the business of music" and said that she will be taking a period of "extended long-service leave" from the industry after nearly 25 years in the business.

Taking to social writing platform Medium.com to express her thoughts on withdrawing from the industry, De Souza explained that, 23 years after starting in the industry, she "can no longer sustain the energy and resources required without a personal toll".

Having begun her career in July 1992 "with $20 in the bank and a gut-load of energy, passion, determination, sheer bloody-mindedness, naivety and a whole stack of heart", De Souza has spent the past two-and-a-bit decades slogging it out on the front lines of one of the roughest industries out there,  establishing herself as one of Queensland's most recognisable names in management through her work with acclaimed artists such as The Medics and Thelma Plum, among several others.

"What an extraordinary privilege it's been to work with, champion and observe at work and play, some of the most beautiful, creative and hilarious human beings you could ever hope to meet in one lifetime," De Souza wrote in her message.

"I've also found myself in a ball of tears on the floor more than once, living on way too little sleep, burning the candle at both ends AND in the middle simultaneously. In an increasingly difficult external environment, the long tail of the 'great digital crash' is now biting deeply — I can no longer sustain the energy and resources required without a personal toll."

De Souza explains that, after more than two decades of dedicating her time, energy and resources to others, she's pulling back a little to focus elsewhere, to "steer a course to 50 with the energy to give back to this world in a positive way".

"I am choosing to liberate myself — slow down, and walk toward a whole stack of glorious time with friends and family, find peace, explore my creativity, travel the world and have space to think," De Souza wrote.

"I am proud of the accolades and impact of the music of all the artists I have worked alongside — THANK YOU, I have loved you all. The Medics, Thelma Plum, Liam Gerner, The Painted Ladies, Kate Miller-Heidke, Transport, george, Misinterprotato, stringmansassy, Se7en and those thousands of kilometres in the van with Miles From Nowhere."

Taking the time to thank, at length, the "agents, label folks, publishers, publicists, promoters, venue bookers and event producers" who have been a part of her journey, De Souza concluded her farewell with a clarification that, although her zest for the business is gone, her love for the medium has never been stronger, and she moves onto her next challenge at peace with (most of) her decisions.

"I am in love with music more than ever and have zero regrets — except perhaps that fifth tequila shot at a BIGSOUND after-party," De Souza wrote.

"Actually, no, not even that."

Read Leanne De Souza's full farewell message below:

In July 1992, with $20 in the bank and a gut load of energy, passion, determination, sheer bloody-mindedness, naivety and a whole stack of heart I started my first music business. Twenty three years later, I am choosing to let it all go — I fell out of love with the business of music.

I’ve chosen to take extended long service leave from a long, self employed tenure as an artist manager.

What an extraordinary privilege it’s been to work with, champion and observe at work and play, some of the most beautiful, creative and hilarious human beings you could ever hope to meet in one lifetime. I’ve also found myself in a ball of tears on the floor more than once, living on way too little sleep, burning the candle at both ends AND in the middle simultaneously. In an increasingly difficult external environment the long tail of the “great digital crash” is now biting deeply — I can no longer sustain the energy and resources required without a personal toll.

I believed in a holistic approach to the artist-manager relationship and have given so much time, energy and resources to others. It is time for me to stop, listen to my heart and focus elsewhere. To steer a course to fifty with the energy to give back to this world in a positive way. I am choosing to liberate myself — slow down, and walk toward toward a whole stack of glorious time with friends and family, find peace, explore my creativity,travel the world and have space to think.

I am proud of the accolades and impact of the music of all the artists I have worked alongside — THANK YOU, I have loved you all. The Medics, Thelma Plum, Liam Gerner, The Painted Ladies, Kate Miller-Heidke, Transport, george, Misinterprotato, stringmansassy, Se7en and those thousands of kilometres in the van with Miles From Nowhere.

I am grateful for the knowledge I have garnered across the years in a highly complex industry. One that has undergone seismic changes in technology and suffers from its own confusion, anxiety and at times panic. I pinch myself that I started with nothing but a seven digit land line and a dot matrix printer!

Thank you to all of the broader music community that I have worked, caroused, moaned, celebrated, traveled and danced with.

To the hard working session musicians, production crews and tour managers, thank you. You were my communication and morale bridge builders. Across all the miles traveled, hurry up and wait times, sold out and at times bizarre live shows— even when the accommodation and rider were shit. All the artists have stood on your shoulders, supported to be as great as they can be for that hour or so, night after night.

To all the the agents, label folks, publishers, publicists, promoters, venue bookers and event producers that have believed in my artists, thank you. I have planned, strategised, negotiated, thought deeply and argued with many of you. Together we have worked out the best path for every artist, song, release and tour. We have not accepted just “whatever” until we have discovered, not always the obvious or easiest path, what felt right to get that next step solid. Then the next and the next, always for the long term benefit of the artist and not the short term gain for others. I have learnt so much from each of you.

I salute every other music manager I know and those that I don’t — past, present and future! The internal strength, resilience and intrinsic motivation that is required, no one else in the business can ever really fully understand. Thank you to all my peers over the years — without your inspiration, encouragement and solidarity I could never have achieved what I have done.

Finally, respect and thank you to the elders, mentors, sounding boards, entrepreneurs, personal and business advisers over the years. Your combined experience, perspective, wisdom and knowledge of what really matters made me a better manager and person generally.

I am in love with music more than ever and have zero regrets — except perhaps that fifth tequila shot at a BIGSOUND after party. Actually no, not even that.

I was told early on “the hands you shake on your way up are the ones you shake on the way down”. I can proudly say I took this on board and don’t think there are too many bridges burned or people I would not like to sit down with and talk about life, the universe and everything music.

I am off to sit under a palm tree with my gold watch.

Thank you all, goodnight.

Leanne de Souza