Who Are A & R Reps?
A & R representatives (an acronym for Artists and Repertoire) are record company personnel whose job it is to discover new talent and help develop careers. The further A & R reps can climb up the corporate ladder and the bigger their salary, the more stressful their job, and also the more fearful they become of losing it. They have a great responsibility to make money for their companies and to justify their career positions. For this reason, A & R reps often follow trends, look for “sure things” or wait to see what A & R reps at other labels are pursuing. Contrary to popular belief, most A & R personnel do not have “signing power.” Once an A & R representative finds a potential artist, they have the difficult task of getting the approval of their record company presidents-and getting approval is often the hardest part of the job! The average life-span of an A & R rep at a label is three years. What Do A & R Look For In New Talent? A & R reps look for artists who have potential hit son
