From the course: An Insider's Guide to Today's Music Biz: 7 Record Labels

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A&R

A&R

From the course: An Insider's Guide to Today's Music Biz: 7 Record Labels

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A&R

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- Let's start with the A&R department. The A&R department at labels are there to find artists and to make records. That A&R rep is likely going to be the first person you will meet at the label and the one you'll spend the most time with once you're there. They will be your key link to the company. And I can tell you this, having an influential A&R rep can make things go a lot smoother when you're on that label. The main function of that A&R exec is to identify talent with commercial potential, sign them to the label, and then work with that artist to make the best record possible. To do that that A&R exec will work with the artist's management and the artist to find the right producers, engineers, song writers, and studios, whatever it takes to make some great music. At the major labels the VP of A&R is the one that presides over that A&R staff and is typically the person who ultimately signs off on every artist that gets signed to the label. In a big label that A&R department might…

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