what is 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. The A&R department is responsible for finding new recording artists and bringing those artists to the record company. A&R representatives spend the majority 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 work closely with the artist to find a balance between the artistic vision of the talent and maximizing sales for the record label. A&R reps act as an artists link to the company and are responsible for signing the artist, guiding the artist's subsequent career, and representing the artist's interests within the larger organization. A&R is critically important for a record label as it refines the sound of the music released on independent labels and then helps to connect the artist with the audience.