| For musicians or singers just starting, there is no more | | | | be able to find the A&R staff on their web sites. |
| important record label contact than a Artists and | | | | Word of mouth can be a great tool for identifying |
| Repertoire reps. Once called talent scouts, it is their job | | | | A&R reps. If you are playing gigs at local clubs, |
| to discover and develop talent. It's also their job to | | | | ask the owner if they would introduce you to any reps |
| anticipate any emerging musical trends. In short, | | | | they may know. Music festivals and showcases are |
| A&R people are the gatekeepers that hold the | | | | two great venues for meeting label reps. A&R |
| key for getting signed by a label. | | | | reps can specialize - some may focus on |
| Being an A&R rep is a high pressure, 24/7 job | | | | contemporary pop, others on country or jazz - so |
| and according to report, the average professional life | | | | make sure to find out what genre any given A&R |
| expectance, as it were, of an A&R rep is three | | | | rep specializes in, if any. |
| years. With so much turn-over in the field it's important | | | | Every industry has trade conventions such as the |
| to keep current so you're sending your demo or | | | | Winter Music Conference, South by Southwest, and |
| invitation to the right person. You never want to send a | | | | the Dewey Beach Music Conference. While you may |
| demo package addressed "To Whom it May | | | | not be able to attend in person, you can go to the |
| Concern." | | | | conferences web page to look up the schedule of |
| If you have the money to spend, there are several | | | | presentations. Check out the panelists to see if any |
| music reference books that list the names of | | | | A&E reps are participating in order to get their |
| A&R reps along with other record executives. But | | | | names and affiliations. |
| buyer beware! Even recently published directories | | | | When all else fails, pick up the phone. Depending on the |
| could be out of date by the time they hit the | | | | individual label's policy, you may be able to get their list |
| bookstores. Depending on the record label, you may | | | | of reps directly from the label. |