A&R 101 - Getting a record Deal
By John Braheny | October 26, 2007
I often get asked about “how to get a record deal,” and while my answer has changed substantially in the past two years, it’s still crucial to understand the basics — starting with A&R.
What does A&R stand for?
Artist & Repertoire. The term was coined to describe the function of people at record labels who are in charge of finding and developing new talent.
Development typically includes finding the right material for the artist to perform if they don’t write their own songs, hooking them up with the right producer, engineer, studio, etc., deciding which of their songs are the most viable, and shepherding the making of the record.
After the record is done, it’s not unusual for the A&R person to be responsible for getting the other departments such as retail sales and radio promotion excited about the record so that they do their jobs well. If all the parts of the record company “machine” work well together, the act just might have a hit.
Today, A&R people seem to concentrate less on developing artists, and often look for artists that have “developed” themselves. It’s not unusual for the boards of directors to look more at the bottom line and less at talent development. Hence, A&R people are under pressure to find hits, rather than finding potential hits and nurturing them until they bear fruit.
How do I get my music to an A&R guy?
The best way to get your music to an A&R person is to cause them to come to you. You can do that by building a fan base through constant touring and relentless self-promotion. Couple that with making, marketing, and selling several thousand of your own CDs, and it’s likely that you’ll show up on their radar. When you do, they’ll call you.
Can you get through to them with an unexpected phone call? Very doubtful. If they took calls from every person who wanted to pitch their music to them they wouldn’t have time to do any of their other work.
Can you send an unsolicited demo? Yes, but it will most likely come back to you or end up in the round file. A&R people are extremely busy, and generally listen only to the material that comes to them from a trusted resource such as a high-level manager, a publisher, a music attorney, and if you’ll forgive the little plug - TAXI.
What makes an A&R person want to sign you?
Hit songs and “star” quality. Those are requisites. Beyond that, you can increase your odds by doing your own artist development and proving that the public loves you and is willing to plunk money to buy your CD.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...About the Author
John Braheny is a songwriter's best friend. The author of The Craft and Business of Songwriting, he is a highly sought after private consultant and screener for Taxi.com, the worlds leading independent A&R company. He offers valuable feedback on songwriting craft and business, and career strategies for performers. Visit Author's Website.
Last 5 posts by John Braheny
- How to Present Your Demo: 10 Biggest Mistakes Artists Make and How to Avoid Them - October 29th, 2007
- How to Improve Your Songwriting Once and for All - October 25th, 2007
- Publishing 101 - October 24th, 2007
- Interview with Danny Elfman - October 2nd, 2007
- Interview with Alan Silvestri - September 30th, 2007
Email Notification
Enter your email address below to be notified of new entries to this blog. For your protection, a verification email will be sent to you. Check your inbox.
Related Entries
- No Related Posts
