The Future of A&R

It’s 2023, the future. The world has been democratized for music. We can distribute, post on social media to people who like our music, buy ads for $50 that reach like-minded people, and do it our way! Is that a good thing? Here in the future do we want a record deal? WHY do we want one? In this heavy-hitter panel with Kate Hyman (who has signed artists like Moby and Sinead O’Connor), Jeff Rogers (who has managed Crash Test Dummies and The Pursuit of Happiness), and Jay Emmons (guitarist for The Glorious Sons, founder 745 Music) we discuss what A&R people do and their role in in the music industry, here, in the future!

A&R stands for “Artist & Repertoire.” It remains one of the most sought-after, competitive, and influential roles in the music industry. A&R reps are best known for scouting and discovering musical talent. This includes listening to demos, going to live gigs, and more, scouring online streaming platforms and social media sites, all in search of the next big thing.