A&R Administration Jobs

About This Music Career

The A&R (Artist and Repertoire) Administrator works alongside the A&R Coordinators, and in some cases, he or she might take on A&R administation and A&R Coordination duties if the record label is a small one. On the other hand, if the record label is large, the A&R Administrator's duties revolve around the secretarial functions like bookkeeping, office upkeep, etc. He or she would most likely handle artist budgets, which is considered one of their more important duties. Similar to how budget coordinators in other companies would go about their business, he or she would look at previous budgets and the current landscape and artist lineup, while also projecting cost estimations in order to come up with the new budget. As time passes, the A&R Administrator's success or failure largely hinges on whether or not the budget is being met.

To save on studio expenses, the A&R Administrator might work exclusively with one or two studios in order to generate volume, and hopefully volume discounts for their artists to record. To keep track of the budget, he or she keeps track of all expenses including studio time, studio musicians, and other miscellaneous expenses. It's not enough for him or her to only keep track of the expenses. They must also submit bills and purchase orders to those in the accounting department, and they must do so on time to ensure proper recording and payments. This is more than just being respectful to the artist, as Union regulations dictate payment schedules. A late payment can most certainly lead to a dispute on behalf of the Union.

The A&R Administrator works alongside the A&R Coordinator to monitor artist's progress with their record to ensure the record will be ready for release on the designated date, and to keep tabs on expenses and the overall budget.

An additional duty of the A&R Administrator is to gather all information that will be placed on record packaging. This includes the name of the artists, group members and other musicians on each track. Other necessary information includes producers, song length, and other things. Similarly, the A&R Administrator might have to apply for copyright materials surrounding any songs or album arts. With all of this, he or she must make sure all information is on file properly. As a result, he or she must be extremely organized, with excellent record company skills.

Salaries
Like other positions, A&R Administrator's salaries will vary, depending on the size of the record company, the experience level of the Administrator, and so on. Either way, salary can range from $27,000 to $65,000 per year.

Employment
Historically, the A&R department is one of the most coveted departments in which to work in any record company. Thus, competition is heavy, with many record companies promoting within. One strategy would be to try and enter the record label through a lower-paying job in a different department.

Advancement
Advancement prospects hinge on just how many individuals within the company receive promotions or move to other labels. The next step forward for the Administrator is the A&R Coordinator position within the same label. It can also be considered a move up for an A&R Administrator take on another Administrator role with a large record label.

Education and Training

Due to competition, many record labels require a college or music school degree for this position. Of course, this depends on the label, and some might only ask for a high school diploma. College majors that prove to be useful include business, accounting and administration. Less formal education options include seminars, programs, and workshops that are hosted by record companies, organizations, and colleges.

Experience, Skills, and Personality
As mentioned, budget prep and adherence are crucial skills for any A&R Administration individual. Similarly, mathematics skills and the ability to work with numbers is a must. Writing skills and the ability to communicate verbally is also imperative as other areas of the job require the Administrator to write reports and keep other departments informed.

Unions and Associations
A&R Administrators may belong to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) and might also be members of the Country Music Association (CMA) or the Gospel Music Association (GMA).

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