The A & R Rep also known as the Artist and Repertoire representative is the core of any label. Before there is any success for a record label it is imperative that there is a song and artist that is unique enough to garner enough attention to gain millions of records in sales. It's about the song and the artist. If you look at music past and present and really analyze the presence that our huge artist have had, they had to be unique, and there's a song that just makes you remember where you were at that particular moment.
Attached is a video documentary segment I found on You Tube about the A & R rep for Def Jam Records. She is a young lady by the name of Tina Davis. She has been successful in spawning the careers DMX, Method Man, LL Cool J, and Redman. In this video you get a glimpse of her life as a record executive. She is seen in a few meetings with hopefuls as she listens to track after track, instrumental only or some with vocals. She gives positive yet constructive feedback. She says, its just a gut feeling that she has to have that she just knows what artist needs to be apart of the label, and what songs need to be on the album. "Her advice is to stay focused, and don't do anything that does not pertain to your goal." She believes that the A & R department is the most important part of a label that you can't do without.
If I didn't learn anything else that she discussed was the importance of asking one of the hopeful managers, "What makes him special?" As a potential artist manager, I know now that its very important not to waste anyone's time telling them they've got 'it' and they don't. What I mean by having it, means that your set apart or incomparable with what you're bringing to the industry. "Build your own story", Davis says.
Check the video out if you'd like. Tina Davis A & R Rep for Def Jam
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