what is an a and r in music

In the music industry, A&R stands for "Artists and Repertoire". It 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. 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 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 work with the artist to choose the best songs to record and create a vision for their careers. Once an artist is ready to release an album, the A&R person also helps promote it and get it played on radio and television. They are also responsible for negotiating contracts with artists and managing relationships. A&R executives play a major role in shaping the sound and direction of popular music.