Showing up at a club on the weekend and hoping for a chance to impress an A&R by handing off a demo C-d is no longer the best method for trying to get your music signed. The chances of the A&R actually listening to your CD aren’t great, and you won’t be getting any feedback either. These days it’s all about social media. So here are some tips for you to help increase the chances of getting signed by an A&R.
A&R stands for “Artists & Repertoire” and this is the role of the A&R person in a record company. With the advent of digital music and self publishing, there have been many changes to this role such as finding ways to present artists to labels and measuring fan interaction using social platforms.
How To Become An A&R
An A&R coordinator, or artist and repertoire coordinator, acts as a talent scout for musicians and producers. They work to find new artists who have the potential to be successful in their genres. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the music industry, consider working in the field of A&R. In this article, we discuss how to become an A&R coordinator, define the role, explain the job duties and salary and provide tips for those seeking to enter this field.
Related: 13 Jobs for Music Business Degrees
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What is an A&R coordinator?
An A&R coordinator, also known as a music talent scout, is responsible for finding new artists or producers to add to their label. They help bring the artists into the label and oversee the recording and production of their songs and albums. A&R professionals work directly with artists to help them make foundational decisions about their music and the future of their careers. Typically, people in this field spend time working late in the studio while recording music or holding long meetings with potential talent.
What does an A&R coordinator do?
The A&R coordinator at a music label works with others in the department to contribute to the success of talent acquisition. The coordinator works to stay updated about the current trends in music, find talent before other labels, produce high-quality material from the artists and producers and find ways to best market each artist. They also act as the main point of contact between the artist and the record label to ensure good communication.
The A&R coordinator also collaborates with others in the department, including A&R directors, managers and administrators. Each person involved helps contribute to obtaining, signing and marketing artists while helping them produce music to release to the public.
How to become an A&R coordinator
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the A&R field, consider following these steps:
1. Pursue education
Consider pursuing higher education to earn a degree in a field such as communication, marketing, administration or music business. These courses may equip you to enter the field with a wide range of theoretical and practical skills. It can be best to choose a field of study that could benefit you in the music industry. Certain roles may not require advanced education, such as a master’s degree, but it can be a helpful asset that can help you distinguish yourself from other candidates.
2. Get involved in the industry
Because the music industry can be competitive, it’s important to get involved in the industry in any way you can. Consider doing an internship for a record label or producer to gain experience within your specific field. You might attend concerts or other music events to meet others in your industry, which can help build your professional network. It’s likely that knowing other professionals in the music industry could help you learn more about ways to enter the field or find a potential job opportunity.
3. Conduct research
Before you begin working for a label, it’s helpful to conduct research about the label’s history and business practices. You might learn valuable information that allows you to make an informed choice about where you’d like to work. Additionally, consider doing research to better understand the field or decide which type of artists or genres interest you the most.
4. Write a resume
As you begin applying for jobs, it’s important to have a highly detailed and effective resume. You might revise each application to best fit the specific job description to show the hiring manager you have the skills and qualifications needed for the job. Other important elements to put in your resume include:
- All relevant work experience
- Technical and nontechnical skills
- A resume objective that details your goals
- Level of education
- Professional achievements and accomplishments
Skills for an A&R coordinator
People who scout and acquire talent have a unique skill set that prepares them for the job. While each label might have different skills that help A&R coordinators successfully complete their work, there’s a wide range of skills that may benefit these professionals, including:
Ability to see an artist’s potential
A significant portion of work in this field revolves around seeing potential in new artists, bands or producers. A&R coordinators with an understanding of what factors make a good artist can make informed decisions about which artists to sign. It’s important that these professionals can see the artist’s potential before another A&R coordinator does so that their label benefits from the recognized talent.
Interpersonal skills
Working in the A&R department of a music label leads to several interactions with performers, producers, music publishers and more. Each album involves a large number of people who contribute to its production, and the people in A&R are responsible for coordinating efforts between each participant. This job benefits from interpersonal skills because building relationships and expanding the label’s network can lead to the overall success rate of each newly signed artist.
Related: Interpersonal Skills: Definitions and Examples
Communication skills
Building relationships with artists and producers requires strong communication skills. Additionally, professionals complete a record successfully and within budget through effective communication. A&R professionals are responsible for communicating expectations or changes to everybody involved in production, so strong skills help this aspect of their job function efficiently.
Related: Communication Skills for Career Success
Musical knowledge
Another key skill for people in the A&R industry is extensive knowledge of music, including genres, instruments and current trends. Musical knowledge equips A&R professionals to find artists who are unique in their genre or style. You can use this knowledge during production as well in order to give guidance about what songs sound good and how to best market the new artist to the public.
Related: 12 Jobs in the Music Industry
Tips for success as an A&R coordinator
There are several components of being a successful music scout. Some tips for success as an A&R coordinator include:
Specialize in a certain genre
Focusing on one type of music might help you enhance your ability to successfully find new artists. As you become more familiar with trends within the genre, it may get easier to understand what qualities make an artist successful within that musical niche. Specialization can also lead to expertise and a deeper knowledge of how to identify potential talent.
Network consistently
Even after getting a job as an A&R coordinator, it’s important to continue networking. As you add people to your network, you might have more people to assist you with the production and marketing of artists. A large professional network may lead to more career opportunities as you advance in your vocational journey.
Familiarize yourself with the competition
When working in a specific industry, it’s helpful to understand what other labels are doing to obtain similar artists as you. Familiarizing yourself with the competition and the benefits they offer to artists prepares you to negotiate effectively with potential new clients. This negotiation process allows you to discuss different options with the artist and distinguish yourself and your music label from others.
Average salary for an A&R coordinator
The national average salary for someone working in A&R, or talent acquisition, is $46,730 per year. However, these professionals may earn more if the artists they sign have significant success. Location and the size of the label they work for also affect the average salary for positions in this field.
