A&R Coordinator
A&R Representative, A&R Rep, A&R Coordinator, A&R Staffer, Talent Acquisition Representative
Career Description: Searches to find new artists or bands that fit well within a label's genre and framework, and sets them up to sign a record deal with the record label.
Salary: $29,000 to $150,000+
A&R Coordination Jobs
About This Music CareerThe A&R (Artist and Repertoire) Coordinator is responsible for various activities. Actual functions depend on particular record company the Coordinator works with, the size of the record company, its geographic location, and other factors.
No matter the company, the A&R coordinator's main responsibility is to find and recruit musical talent for the record company review and possibly sign to a recording contract. How he or she goes about finding this talent can be undertaken in a few different fashions, including (but not limited to) surfing the internet for leads, visiting musical showcases, clubs and bars. Many artists submit demo recording and performance videos, so the A&R Coordinator can listen to or watch these video in hopes of encountering a new talent. Because of these responsibilities, the A&R Coordinator's hours can vary drastically and can be quite irregular.
The A&R Coordinator is not relegated to only finding new talent, as they can perform all of the same actions to get in contact with artists who already have a record contract with another label. In such an instance, the A&R Coordinator can wait for the artist's existing contract to expire, or they can even offer to purchase the artist's contract. Of course, the offer must be much more attractive than the existing contract in place.
Another important A&R Coordinator responsibility is tracking down songs for their artists to record. This can be done again, by going through the vast number of demos submitted to each record company by aspiring song writers. Another popular trend is to listen to already released songs, old and new, that can be rearranged or remixed and then re-released for the public to hear. The A&R Coordinator can also match a staff writer up with the artist in hopes the two can work together to churn out a hit record. In a perfect world, the artist is also a song writer with plenty of their own material to record. The next step in the process, after a song is selected to be recorded, is for the A&R Coordinator to locate a producer who can work with the artist to actually record the song.
Basically, the A&R Coordinator is the artist's overseer; working very closely together from the time the artist is signed to the record label in an attempt to cultivate the artist into a success commercially. This also means that the A&R Coordinator must work closely with any other department that might be in contact with the artist in order to make sure everything is running smoothly on all fronts. Depending on the structure and makeup of the record label, the A&R Coordinator answers to the VP in charge of A&R, the VP in charge of talent acquisition, or the A&R Director.
Salaries
Again, salaries paid to A&R Coordinators will vary depending on record company size, but in relation to other careers in the industry, salaries can be pretty high, ranging anywhere from $29,000 to $150,000 per year. You can also expect bonuses to be paid out to any Coordinator who signs an artist who finds huge commercial success, or one that is already considered a superstar.
Employment
Usually, record labels search for qualified individuals within the company to take on the role of A&R Coordinator. However, like most jobs, if a qualified individual who has found success as a coordinator for another company exists, they too would be considered for the job. The emergence of smaller indie labels increases the prospects for A&R Coordinators.
Advancement
From the position of A&R Coordinator, an individual may move up into the position of A&R Director within the same record company. Another possible move could be for the A&R Coordinator to maintain the same position, only at a larger, more prestigious record company
Education and Training
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Experience, Skills, and Personality
As previously mentioned, A&R Coordinators usually have experience in the music business, with record labels. They must possess a keen eye and ear to not only recognize a quality act, but to also be able to visualize each act as a commercial success. From this, the A&R Coordinator must stand by their selections, selling others on each artist's potential.
Unions and Associations
A&R Coordinators 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).
Suggestions for Getting Started
- Try to get your foot in the door by being willing to performing any task possible - even if it means performing the job nobody else wants to do. This is because many companies promote from within, and once they label you as an energetic, talented, bright individual, you will be presented with opportunities to move on to something bigger and better.
- For this position, you begin your career by scouting local talent. If you are able to identify something special, you can gain useful experience managing or working with the act.
- Stay up to date on current events and trends in the industry. Read trades or magazines because trends have a way of repeating themselves over a period of years - this could greatly benefit someone with this type of knowledge.
- Spend time visiting different recording studios to get to know those who book studio time, as well as Producers, Engineers, and more.
- Similar to #1, look for a position as an intern with a record company, which will allow you to gain experience and establish contacts in the industry.
