Nov 3

It Takes What?!?!

Category: How to Do a&r

The thing about working a&r is that you are always, Always are on the job! You are expected to be at the office for some hours. When you finish work at 6:30 or 7:00, there is barely enough time to grab some food before you need to be out in your other office, the club!

And what about myspace. So many unsolicited bands want to be your friend. 95% of the music on myspace is garbage anyway. A little daunting, huh…But what about when you find that act that has the goods? Very satisfying experience, really. But don’t look for any credit because no matter how much a&r’ing you do to the project, it is always somebody else’s victory.

For these reasons, and these are only a fraction of them, it takes superhero dedication, talent and good fortune (yeah, your own $$ too) to make a difference in the music business. And at the end of the day? It all comes down to the fan.

What do you maintain that makes you a good a&r man?

1 Comment so far

  1. stinson November 5th, 2008 9:26 am

    “it all comes down to the fan.” i echo your attitude here. any a&r person who not only understands this, but also puts it into their daily practice, is head and shoulders above the rest-ready for the future.

    the climate of the industry has changed. traditional media is no longer the gatekeeper it once was. instead, the fans themselves have become a new form of gate keeper.

    great thoughts in this post!

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