The A&R Division, or, How To Achieve a Recording Contract
So you are a singer, a writer, a group. You think you are good enough to be noticed and signed by a record company. But how do you do it?
As with all the creative arts, there is of course no definite answer and the solution is usually a combination of talent, dedication, contacts and luck, not necessarily in that order.
A&R
Two letters and a symbol. This mysterious trio will be mentioned in every reply to the question "How do I gain a recording contract"?
It stands for 'Artists & Repertoire' and dates from the days before the Beatles, when singers sang and writers wrote, but rarely did the two combine in one person. The record companies in those days looked for singers and musicians. Having found them, their first task was to find songs suitable for those singers. For these they went to the publishing houses. Publishers handle the affairs of songwriters.
Many successful artists/groups still rely on songwriters for their music. However, the vast majority of all artists and groups prefer to write their own material.
The A&R person when seeing and hearing new artists/groups will be listening to the songs, looking at the musicians and judging the overall merits of the performance and the way in which the audience reacts. |
