ACM Alumna Amber Chen’s Success with No. 1 Breakthrough Artist Celeste

09 Mar 2021

This post was written more than two years ago. The content or information below may no longer be accurate.

We’re proud to announce that ACM Music Business Graduate, Amber Chen, has been working with BRIT Awards Rising Star winner, Celeste, celebrating the singer-songwriter’s first No. 1 album as part of her management team! We caught up with Amber to learn more about how she got involved with Celeste, her future ambitions, tips for ACM Students and more…

1) Tell us a little about yourself and how you ended up working as part of Celeste’s Management Team?

I’ve been managing friends bands since I was 16, working with ACM students too. During university I interned at a management company and went on a UK tour with a band I managed at the time. It really solidified my love for management and I knew that’s where I wanted to be. I started working with Atlas Artists in February 2020 just before Celeste won the Brit Rising Star award. I met Ben Smallwood (creative director and senior manager) through one of the artist’s they manage and started interning for them. I’ve now been working at Atlas for a year as an Assistant Manager.

2) What do you feel stands out the most about Celeste’s latest album, Not your Muse?

It’s an incredibly empowering album, to me it conveys the highs and lows of being a young woman and finding your place. Each track is unique and everyone who worked on the album is so passionate. I love ‘Tell Me Something I Don’t Know’, it’s such a strong song lyrically and is such a fun one to dance too. 

3) What did you study at ACM and how did you find the course?

I studied Music Business and Innovation at ACM London. The course tutors Dave Cronen and Patrick Rackow are the gems of the business course and they made me feel very supported during university and also after I had graduated. They’re always there if you need something and they work really hard for students. 

4) Where do you see yourself over the next few years? What are your career ambitions?

Hopefully in the next few years I’ll be in a senior management role taking on an artist to develop. I love working at Atlas and I want to grow with the company as it grows too. Management is great because you do a little bit of everything so it keeps things exciting! 

5) What would be your advice for current Music Business Students at ACM?

My advice would be to do as much work experience as possible whilst you are studying. Getting internships at big labels and companies can be like the Hunger Games, so don’t be afraid to get out there and make your own work experience. Manage a friends band or an ACM act, work with classmates, start a blog and network, network, network. Go to all the networking events, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and learn as much as you can from the people you meet. 


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