what is a a&r in music

A&R stands for "Artists and Repertoire" and refers to the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists and songwriters. A&R representatives spend most of their time listening to music, scouring clubs, reading blogs, watching social media, and tracking industry buzz on the hunt for promising new musical artists. They are responsible for finding new recording artists and bringing those artists to the record company. A&R representatives work closely with the artist to find a balance between the artistic vision of the talent and maximizing sales for the record label. They also oversee the music style and recording process, including helping the artist to find the right record producer, scheduling time in a recording studio, and advising the artist on all aspects of making a high-quality recording. A&R representatives are crucial to the music industry because they are in tune with whats actually going on in the local music scene and can spot a trend before its even happening.