what is a&r on an album

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. The A&R division of a record label 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. Personnel in the A&R division are expected to understand the current tastes of the market and to be able to find artists that will be commercially successful. The A&R division of a record label oversees 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. They work with the artist to choose the best songs (i.e., repertoire) to record, and for artists who do not write their own music, the A&R person will assist in finding songs, songwriters, and arrangers. As the record nears completion, the A&R department works closely with the artist to determine whether the record is acceptable to the record company. The A&R department also continues to work with the artist to craft the best marketing strategy for the album and promote it on relevant channels, based on the budget established in the initial contract with the label.