"The Possible Future of A&R"

Recent innovations in digital technology have forever changed the recording industry. It is now possible to produce, manufacture, market, and distribute music as a professional product all from the digital domain. The adoption of compressed digital audio formats, such as MP3 files, forced the music industry to adapt to brand new methods of music marketing and distribution. The rise in MP3 usage has inevitably increased the amount of piracy. This factor has resulted in lower sales revenue for the record labels, forcing many these companies into closure or merger.

The surviving companies have been able to adapt to these changes in economic climate. One method of adaptation has been departmental downsizing. One of the most vital departments in a major record label is artist and repertoire. The role of artist and repertoire has undergone a few changes during the course of history. In the earlier stages of the music industry, the artist and repertoire department was primarily responsible for discovering new talent, artist development, and managing recording projects. This role was slightly reduced by the rise in independent record producers in the 1950s. Independent record producers helped balance the process by handling the creative process of producing artist, while allowing the A&R to focus on signing and developing new talent.

The modern role of the artist and repertoire department is more focused on handling artist that are sign to the label roster. Most major record labels have a much smaller A&R staff today than in the past. The major companies are signing fewer new artists now than ever before. There are also a number of “independent A&R companies” who act as a liaison between undiscovered talent and major industry. Artist development has decreased on the label end as major companies now look to partner with independent record companies who have already developed artist with a strong following. The artist and repertoire department tend to monitor new trends created by artist who have proven their marketability, but lack to resources to effectively market and distribute products on a national or international levels.

Supporting Information/Examples:

http://musiciancoaching.com/music-business/artists-and-repertorire-jj/

http://www.musiccareers.net/being-in-a-band/a-and-r/

http://www.taxi.com/