Q: What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

“I think people get A&R and A&R Administration confused. One if very administrative and the other is purely creative.”

Question 1

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

Joey Beran · Accepted Answer

“It’s just really pulling your contacts and doing everything you can to absorb stuff like a sponge so you can see a challenge and know what you’re speaking about. Hang out with someone who works at a studio if you can get in there and shadow someone. Or shadow someone at a label.”
“I started as an Office Assistant at a publishing company and I saw and touched everything. They had me do really mundane exercises like royalty statements and registering songs and stuff. It’s kind of easy stuff but it’s a skill that not a lot of people have.” 
“So just being an Assistant at a publishing company — a small one — is invaluable. I think if you went to a major company you’d be put into a box, like ‘this is your role, this is what you do.’ If you go to a small company, you’re going to wear like 10,000 different hats and learn it all.”

Question 2

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

Joey Beran · Accepted Answer

“Make sure you really want to do this. [When looking for work] you want to put yourself above everyone. I worked at a publishing company, then at a consulting firm, then I went to a licensing company, then I did royalties, then I went to a label. So I know a lot of stuff. Usually, people just know one thing like ‘I’m doing marketing.’”
“I started doing it all and it all applies to A&#038;R administration, for sure. People say ‘you seem to job hop a lot.’ Well, yeah it might look like that, but this is essentially me going to school.”

Question 3

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

Joey Beran · Accepted Answer

“I think people get A&#038;R and A&#038;R Administration confused. One if very administrative and the other is purely creative.”

Question 4

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

Joey Beran · Accepted Answer

“Determination. Every time I’ve been told ‘no’ and wanted to give up, no, you can’t. You just really have to keep going and pick yourself up a lot in this industry. I’ve seen a lot of people leave the industry. You’ve got to just keep at it, get back up, and keep going.”

Music Career Finder

Start Here:

A&R Administrator