A guide to A&R Careers: Breaking into the Music Industry

How a Career in A&R Can Help You Get Ahead in the Music Industry

An A&R department is essential to keeping the music industry fresh - it’s also pivotal for discovering music artists that fans adore. In this article, we’ll offer a guide to how an A&R role can help launch your career in the ever-evolving music industry

A&R Job Description: What is an A&R?

The job description of an A&R professional (sometimes simply called ‘an A&R’) can be incredibly varied, depending on the label you’re working with, the type of music you’re involved with, and your own abilities.

However, at its heart, A&R is about scouting for new music talent; signing artists to a label that can help them grow; and overseeing an artist’s wider career development.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these means:

• Scouting For Talent: A great A&R professional will always have their nose to the ground in terms of the music industry. They’ll be going to concerts, listening to the radio/playlists, and be keeping abreast of which artists are creating an underground buzz amongst music lovers. The best A&Rs genuinely love what they do - and they get a kick out of helping excellent artists break into the mainstream.
  
• Signing new artists: A&R Departments typically work within a music label, which means that A&R professionals will try to sign talented acts. Signing an artist involves understanding how they can benefit the label and offering incentives to the artist themselves (such as career development). The best A&Rs will go beyond simply looking for the most talented emerging artists out there; they’ll look for artists whose sound and style complement the label they want to sign them to - this ensures a good marriage of talents.
  
• Artist Development: Once artists sign with a label, the A&R Department will work with them to hone their sound, image, style, and aspirations. This work can also be varied; it can involve collaborating with producers, making informed decisions about an artist’s look, or deciding what singles should be released in what order. There is no fixed job description, but it should be stressed again that the best A&Rs out there are incredibly knowledgeable about the music industry, passionate about discovering artists, and intelligent in terms of what they offer.
  

How to Become an A&R

Since the A&R jobs is so varied, there are no set criteria for becoming an A&R, and the people in these roles come from all walks of life.  

However, there are several routes you can take to help you kickstart your A&R career. Suppose you are considering going to College or University and starting a career as an A&R. In that case, we recommend pursuing a degree in music business, communications, marketing, or a related field (such as music technology, Business, or even Law). These will all look very good on your CV and give you the foundations you’ll need to be a great A&R.

Similarly, perhaps the best way to become an A&R is to apply for internships at record labels, where you’ll be able to gain the necessary experience. Internships at music labels tend to be very hands-on, meaning applicants learn a lot in a short space of time.

Finally, attending music seminars, networking events, or industry-related festivals is strongly encouraged, as is reading everything you can about the industry in the music press and online. Doing this will help you absorb all the insights you need to be a great A&R with sharp instincts.

What Does an A&R Actually Do?

As mentioned above, the duties of an A&R are very diverse.

Typically, an A&R will divide their time between: 1) scouting for artists, and 2) developing the artists they’ve already signed.

A&Rs will scout for new artists by listening to demos, attending concerts, tracking down independent artists and deciding if they’re a good prospect, or simply switching on their favorite radio/streaming playlist and trying to find a great emerging artist they can work with.

In terms of working on the artists they’ve signed, an A&R will try to nurture development by helping artists find that niche between being successful (ie. profitable) and being creative. A&R might not always get the credit for it, but they actually play a big part in helping to bridge the difficult industry gap between music being about originality and it being about cold, hard profit.

What is the Difference Between an Artist Manager and an A&R?

While the work of an A&R representative and an artist manager might seem to overlap (they both want to help music artists grow, they both deal with the business side of the industry, etc.), they are different in a number of ways.

The clearest difference is that an artist manager will always act on behalf of their artist, while an A&R will act on behalf of the label they’re employed by. If there is ever a conflict in terms of the direction of an artist’s development, this difference will become more apparent. Say, for example, an artist wants to pursue an unusual music style that might alienate some fans in the pursuit of more lofty ambitions; in this example, you’re likely to find that the artist manager will defend their artist’s decision as being part of their broader artistic ambitions, while the A&R will likely be reticent of a move like this, as they’ll be more focused on the needs of the label.

A&Rs Help Launch artists into the Limelight

A&Rs play an underrated role in helping great artists find their voice and secure their success. They’re integral to the business-side industry, sure, but they’re also invaluable for helping to guide artists and getting them the spotlight they deserve.

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The number of opportunities may surprise you, and you won’t need to be an expert concert pianist to succeed. If you're considering a path in the music industry, take the first steps and follow your dreams! Read The Beginner's Guide to Working in Music for you to get started!