Taming the wild ones.

When an artist's creativity and sales success occasionally gives way to illness, breakdown or other problems, record labels and management companies must pick up the pieces - but how should they deal with the fallout without repercussions?

Talk about your biggest hit coming back to bite you. As Back To Black sailed past 1m sales in the US a fortnight ago, back home the media had far more dramatic tales to recount of Amy Winehouse. Tabloid reports suggested a drug overdose, tour dates were cancelled and the word "Rehab" figured in plenty of headlines, supported in lurid tabloid detail.

The media circus this summer surrounding 2007's biggest new British star has highlighted the challenge which surrounds many of the very greatest musical acts.

Flaws and insecurities have plagued artists through the history of music, from Elton John and John Lennon through to Stephen Tyler to Kurt Cobain. But creative artists inevitably come with their demons - it is a simple fact of life.

Parlophone managing director and veteran A&R man Miles Leonard says, as a manager, label chief, A&R man, booking agent or promoter, when you buy the ticket, you take the ride.

"You have to recognise that artists are unique and individual people from the off and that's what makes them exciting and what makes them great," says Leonard, who had no qualms about signing Pete Doherty's band Babyshambles earlier this year, despite the inevitable tabloid baggage.

"They are interesting people and you have to have that perspective when you go into this job."