Natalie Prosper talks the Dedication Required to Manage a Grammy-Winning Artist like Lucky Daye

Belief in an Artist

Natalie Prosper first met Lucky Daye at Harmony Samuels' studio in Los Angeles in 2010, where he was working as a songwriter. Even in those early days, Natalie saw something special in him. "He had this incredible voice, undeniable pen game, and charisma," she said. "But he had settled into the songwriter box because people kept telling him he wasn’t an artist."

Despite the doubt surrounding him, Natalie became one of Lucky's earliest believers. "I told him, 'You are an artist. Stop letting people put you in that box,'" she recalled.

When Lucky eventually decided to take the leap into pursuing his artist career, Natalie played a pivotal role in encouraging him to move to Los Angeles. "He called me one day and said, 'I’m driving to L.A. right now.' He packed up his car and made the drive nonstop," she shared.

The Struggle Behind the Scenes

The road to success wasn’t smooth for Lucky or Natalie. Early on, financial struggles loomed large, and the sacrifices were real. "His car got repossessed not long after he moved to L.A., and I ended up driving him to his sessions," Natalie revealed. "Then my car got repossessed too. It was rough."

Despite the setbacks, Natalie stayed committed to Lucky’s vision. "I was setting up his sessions, making sure he was in the right rooms with the right people. It was about putting him in places where he could shine," she said.

Trust and Transition

As Lucky's career began to gain momentum, Natalie brought in a co-manager to help manage the increasing workload. However, cracks in the dynamic began to show. "They eventually sat me down and told me it felt like the other manager was doing everything because I wasn’t physically in the sessions," she said. "But the reality was, I was the one setting up those rooms and opportunities."

Rather than holding on to the title of manager, Natalie chose to step back gracefully. "I’ve never been the type of manager to hold someone back. The moment you feel like you want to go in a different direction, I’ll step away," she explained.

Lasting Impact

Although Natalie and Lucky parted ways professionally in 2020, their relationship remains rooted in mutual respect. Natalie shared a recent moment that reaffirmed her impact on Lucky’s career. "He did a Q&A on his Instagram, and someone asked him how his career took off. He said, 'Natalie Prosper believed in me when no one else did.' That meant so much to me."

Lessons Learned

Reflecting on her time managing Lucky Daye, Natalie emphasized the importance of belief and advocacy in an artist-manager relationship. "Artists need someone who sees them fully, even when the world doesn’t," she said.

Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the role managers play in not just guiding careers, but also instilling belief and confidence in their clients.

As the music industry continues to evolve, voices like Natalie Prosper’s shed light on the complexities, sacrifices, and rewards of management—a role that often goes unseen but is undeniably essential.