The music business has entered one of the most extraordinary eras of potential that we’ve ever seen, and a philosophical examination of A&R, at its essence, is required. This doesn’t mean we’ve gotten it wrong; in fact, recent hires and chatter amongst the business show that we’ve started to remember the much-debated significance of A&R and should take a closer look at what this means.
My initial response to these claims was one of reproach; “these people are completely missing the entire point of A&R,” I thought; although it inspired me to carefully ponder the role A&R plays in tomorrow’s music business. Is there value in identifying a shared ethos of A&R to guide us through the new era of the music business? I believe I’ve found its essence.
Speaking from experience, I see this as a fear response that cushions the disappointment when our expectations have been challenged by the market. This has become a cop out for mediocrity, and our egos have separated its possibility from our expression of it. Advances in technology have democratized the music business, resulting in an inundation of content.