When Do A & R Sign New Talent?
Pin-pointing the exact time of year that A & R representatives are most likely to sign new talent is difficult; however, one thing is certain: there are usually not many signings during the fourth quarter (October through December). During this period, most companies financial budgets for new projects have likely been accounted for or depleted. Additionally, being that it’s the holiday season, most companies are focusing on pushing their major artists whose new albums are usually timed for release right before the holiday shopping season. Of course there are exceptions to the aforementioned; it’s possible for a really hot band in the middle of a bidding war to get signed in the fourth quarter, but generally October through December is really not a good time for new bands. Final Thoughts In general, A & R representatives don’t like to be approached directly by fledgling artists. In fact, most record companies don’t even accept unsolicited materials through the mail. Though there are exc
