"What Is an A&R And What does it mean?"
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Standing for ‘Artists and Repertoire’, an A&R department is one of those terms that gets thrown about in the music industry all the time, even if people don’t exactly know the full extent of what it offers for developing artists. Here, we’ll explain what an A&R Department does and why they’re vital within the music industry
1. First up, what is an A&R?
An A&R department is typically found within a record label, whether it’s a major one like Universal Music or Sony Music, or an independent label.
The department is made up of professionals who try to discover new up and coming artists, sign them to the label, and help them grow their careers.
2. What does an A&R do?
They are tasked with responsibilities such as; working with new artists, helping them grow, and matching them with producers and writers who can bring out their best.
Here’s some of their responsibilities before and after you release your music.
Before
Negotiating contracts with producers, artists, and managers
Directing recording, mixing, and mastering sessions
Providing creative input where necessary
Even becoming involved in selecting singles or album tracks.
After
Promotion
Marketing campaigns
This is a very general job description, but the important point to make is that a good A&R department will try to bridge the gap between music artists (who often prioritise creativity) and music business managers (who prioritise money and profitable returns).
3. Why are A&Rs Important in the Music Industry?
When music began being ‘popularised’ in the mid-20th Century, it moved away from simply being about songs and instruments and live shows - to becoming about business, too.
Millions of dollars were pumped into trying to find the next big artist, then more money was put into getting these artists into the best studios with the best producers.
From this context, A&Rs became a necessity. A&R people had the job of finding good artists in the first place and signing them to labels. They then ensured their artists had the encouragement and resources to bring their music visions to life.
Beyond this, they played a role in helping them navigate the music business - including dealing with record labels, management, and promotional activities related to the work they made.
So why is this all important?
Well, the main reason is that music doesn’t get shared with the world if it remains in a vacuum.
Perhaps the most famous A&R man of the 20th Century, John Hammond, helped discover and hone the careers of artists like Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, and Bruce Springsteen (to name just a few of the big names that he worked with).
Had it not been for him, Billie Holiday might’ve stayed as a part-time performer in Harlem, while Bob Dylan might have remained a session harmonica player in Greenwich Village. It’s not an overstatement to say that one shrewd A&R man helped spark a formative era in American music, and generated millions of dollars for a lot of people in the process…
4. Who pays an A&R person?
Record labels
A&R departments are typically part of a record label or music publisher, meaning they are paid by the organisations.
While they’ll be closely aligned with the artist they’re working with, they won’t typically receive a cut from every album sale or stream from that artist - although they’ll likely receive a commission from their label if a certain artist performs well.
Royalties and fees
Some A&R people work as consultants on a freelance basis, meaning they find artists themselves and work independently to link them up with labels, producers, or other people in the music industry who can assist in their development. In this situation, an A&R consultant might take a percentage of an artist’s royalties, or they will ask for an upfront fee.
5. How does an artist find an A&R?
In the past
In the old days, an artist who wanted to seek out an A&R might’ve sent off a dozen demo tapes in the post, hoping that someone in a department somewhere might hear it. Alternatively, an A&R person would head down to a local venue whose booking agent they trusted, and they’d scout for new acts there.
Modern day
Nowadays, with the advances in the music industry and the billion-dollar nature of the business, things are a lot more managed. Music artists and their management teams often attend major music industry events (Spotify even facilitates events like these across the UK), where they can meet A&Rs and network with them.
As well as this, it’s obviously much easier for A&Rs and music artists to connect online, such as through casual settings like social media, or more formal online settings like LinkedIn or other websites.
However, despite all the advances in the industry, many record label figures still maintain that the old ways are best. This means you shouldn’t be surprised if you hear that a band got signed to a good record label because an A&R person simply stumbled upon them at a small live event in a local venue!
6. Are A&Rs still important in the Digital Age?
There have been suggestions that the role of an A&R department might be lessened in the digital age, since artists have more power when it comes to seeking out producers, promoting their music, and reaching out to their fanbases. Similarly, artists can upload their music in a more independent way (such as through streaming services like Spotify and Amazon Music). The theory seems to be: if an A&R was needed in the past to scout for new artists, then surely they’re not needed anymore when it’s much easier for us all to find the music we love?
However, these suggestions take quite a limited view of the role that an A&R department plays. No matter how an artist emerges, A&Rs are there to offer more long-term assistance with their career and their direction. They’re there to provide guidance and development for an artist, as well as offer them a vision for the type of music they want to create.
Beyond that, A&R departments will always be able to handle aspects of the business end of the music industry that most artists aren’t naturally equipped to deal with. Even in a digital age, the music industry is a very difficult landscape. Often, A&R departments help artists navigate that landscape.
