2026 Women Of Live: Sarah Montgomery

Sarah Montgomery
Full Stop Management | Manager

IT’S A MARATHON | “Surround yourself with people who both challenge and champion you. And remember this is a long game where relationships are everything, trust is earned slowly and reputation is built in the quiet moments, not at parties, LinkedIn posts or press releases.”

While there are many different and fascinating origin stories for people in the music business, artist manager Sarah Montgomery believes it always begins with one thing.

“It all starts with great music,” Montgomery tells Pollstar. “Everything builds from the right song.”

It also requires one to trust their instincts, and it’s safe to say it’s panned out for Montgomery, who worked with Full Stop Management clients like Lizzo, Tears for Fears, Bon Jovi and Savan Kotecha last year and helped them find success in various ways.

“The common thread in all of it is a real belief in their unique voice and purpose,” Montgomery says. “I feel lucky to stand behind artists in moments that matter.”

The manager has taken advantage of every moment that mattered, from meeting artists to music executives, and the first of many meaningful encounters was when she graduated from college and visited Nashville for the first time. She went on to work for Big Machine before joining Full Stop.

“Over time, I realized I loved the bigger picture even more,” she says. “Shaping careers, not just campaigns, which is why I moved into management.”

And she’s learned from some of the best in the business, including legendary music mogul Irving Azoff and Marc Robbins. From Azoff, she learned about fiercely protecting artists, and Robbins’ perspective on touring has “been a guiding light.” With that knowledge and experience, Montgomery has found success with artists from different generations and genres, making her an all-star among female managers, a privilege she doesn’t take lightly, especially in a time when women are still having to kick open doors just to have their voices heard.

“The world feels like it’s literally been flipped upside down, but when it comes to gender equality in the music industry, this has always been a male-dominated industry. That is not new,” Montgomery says. “What matters is how we respond. It is more important than ever that we support and empower each other and truly show up for each other. There is room for all of us at the table. I would not be where I am without the powerful women who surrounded and supported me along the way.”