Interpersonal and communication skills are also important, as are observation and analytical abilities. You’ll probably need to be involved in the local music scene, which includes attending performances and building relationships with local music producers and managers. People who want to become an A&R rep typically are naturally outgoing, make friends easily, and have the ability to work evenings and weekends. Music journalists, business managers, and administrators all have the opportunity to gain practical experience about how the music industry works. Sales experience in particular can be beneficial because the A&R rep uses his or her sales techniques to encourage artists to sign with the record company, as well as to identify artists that will appeal to the target customer base.Īny experience in the music industry is helpful, especially in main office administrative functions.

Time spent as a business development representative, sales executive, or product manager is often helpful, since all of these jobs require cooperation with people across multiple areas, business negotiation skills, and the ability to build and maintain relationships. You can come into this career from a variety of different backgrounds, but in most cases you’ll need a certain set of analytic and people skills. The ability to work well with people and bring divergent individuals together to mete out contracts and build business relations is equally important, and is a skill recruiters often look for in potential hires. As is so often true in most any job, you often need to know the right people, or at least be close with those who know the right people, in order to find out about A&R openings in the first place. There are two different, but equally important, types to be aware of: first, networking within your organization and profession, making connections and building confidence with your superiors and second, facilitating communications within the artist community. Most people in the field agree that networking is one of the keys to getting your foot in the door. Formal education in music and marketing can be helpful, but in most cases your experience and the value you can bring to a label are more important than your diplomas. People from all backgrounds and experiences can succeed in this job, but you’ll usually have the best shot if you’re outgoing and willing to take big risks.

Cultivating a wide understanding of many types of music is helpful, as is an ability to network, both with industry executives and artists. Some people get hired into this job right away, but it’s more common to have worked elsewhere in the music industry for at least a little bit first. There is no guaranteed formula for what it takes to become an artists and repertoire representative for a music label - sometimes referred to as simply an “A&R rep” - but in most cases getting the job is a matter of having the required knowledge, experience, and networking skills. An artist and repertoire representative helps recording companies find new musical groups, often acting as the connection between art and industry.

Artist and repertoire jobs