what is a and r in music

In music, A&R stands for "Artists and Repertoire". It is the department 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 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 staff will help find session musicians for the recording, and they work with the artist to choose the best songs (i.e., repertoire) to record. They also help the artist to find the right record producer, schedule time in a recording studio, and advise the artist on all aspects of making a high-quality recording. A&R representatives rely on a finely tuned and constantly evolving understanding of current music tastes and trends to identify acts with talent, drive, buzz, and more. They are also responsible for negotiating contracts with artists and managing relationships.