what is an a and r

A&R stands for Artists and Repertoire, which is 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 division of a record label is responsible for finding new recording artists and bringing those artists to the record company. A&R staff may go to hear emerging bands play at nightclubs and festivals to scout for talent. 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. A&R executives rely mostly on the word of mouth of trusted associates, critics, and business contacts, rather than on unsolicited demo tapes. Overseeing the recording process is another responsibility of the A&R division of a record label, which includes 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. For artists who do not write their own music, the A&R person will assist in finding songs, songwriters, and arrangers. A&R staff will also help find session musicians for the recording.