Sam Hunt

“He’s very Southern, grew up listening to country, but also lived in weightlifting rooms where he got into rap and R&B,” Belanger told Pollstar. “A lot of kids say, ‘That makes sense to me.’  I look at Twitter and they don’t care. They just want to listen to good music.”

Belanger was comfortable making a comparison between Hunt and Eric Church. The music may be different but the fan bases are similar.

“Eric Church defines himself. If you’re an Eric Church fan, I know things about you already,” he said.  “And I think Sam is the same way. There are a lot of fans out there that are fans of country music. They may have a dozen bands that they love, but Sam and Eric are examples of being so definitive that you either love it or hate it, and the people who love it really love it.”

Hunt developed his fan base long before his record deal. It didn’t come from touring as much as from an acoustic mixtape, Between The Pines.

“It was the best decision he’s made. He gave out 15 songs for free. He didn’t have to put an email out, and we gave out 150,000 copies. I think that’s where we started seeing hardcore fans that ‘owned’ it. They felt like they found it. And that fan base is why you saw ‘Leave The Night On’ come out of the box so strong.”

Hunt is the only artist Belanger manages, and the first. Belanger was a videographer / photographer for Keith Urban, who covers a mixtape tune, “Cop Car.” Hunt asked if Belanger would be his manager and it was an easy answer. It also meant Hunt’s team would remain efficient.

“It’s a very small, core team,” Belanger said. “He recorded the album in his producer’s living room, and they co-wrote all the songs. I’m his manager but I do all the photography, I directed the music videos, I edit every piece of visual, the record cover. 

“It’s absolutely key. I run this business out of my apartment. My assistant works from a couch and I sit at my desk. … [Hunt] lives with his entire band, and his tour manager, at a little house in Nashville. They all grew up together. We got here a certain way, so we just fight, fight, fight to keep it in that small circle.”

Hunt’s Lipstick Graffiti Tour kicked off Jan. 29, then will join Lady Antebellum and Hunter Hayes on an arena tour.