HITS presents a brand-new feature on the agents who work behind the scenes to help get your favorite tours up and running. Do they want to deal with us? We're pretty sure that's a no. But ready or not, here comes...

Brian Manning: Co-Head Nashville Music, CAA

Beginning his 25-year career at CAA as an assistant to current co-head of Global Touring Darryl Eaton, Manning now co-heads the company’s growing Nashville operations. He also represents talent in all genres and provides strategic counsel on concert tours and artists' overall careers.

Manning currently works with such acts as Maroon 5, Niall Horan, Tate McRae, Meghan Trainor, 5 Seconds of Summer, Demi Lovato, Nickelback, New Kids on the Block, Pentatonix and Julia Michaels.

And now, two questions:

Name an act you foresee taking a big leap forward in 2025?

Tate McRae should make a well-deserved leap to arenas nationwide in 2025. Having already delivered hits, sold-out shows, amazing performances with imaginative set design, exhilarating choreography and an undeniable breakout performance at Lollapalooza, Tate is just getting started and the best is yet to come.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

I cannot recall where I first heard it, but I have since adopted it as a credo: “Assumption is the mother of all failures.”