Who actually decides which bands are on which label?

As an A&R manager, you will be at the forefront of the music industry and will be essential in identifying and promoting emerging talent that fits into your music label's portfolio. You discover new artists or bands and help them develop their careers and realise their creative dreams.

To find and support the next big talents, you scour music demos and visit live concerts and online platforms. Behind every new gig or uploaded song, you could find new musical gems. You discover artists with potential, give feedback and negotiate contracts for recordings or releases. Your sense for trends and your understanding of the economic context help you to find artists who fit into the portfolio of your music label.

As an A&R manager, you need an excellent ear and a deep understanding of different music genres to identify promising talent. You can make the most of your strong communication skills in this job, as you work with artists, but also with trades such as controlling or the legal department. At the same time, you build up an extensive network in the music industry, which enables you to make the right connections and play a leading role in the industry.

There is no classical training or separate degree for A&R management. Many people who work in this job have a degree in business administration, come from the communications or marketing sector or are musicians themselves and have contacts to a record company. Practical experience or internships are mainly gained at music labels. A high level of passion for music, the music industry and the trends of tomorrow are a good indicator of whether this profession suits you.

At the REEPERBAHN FESTIVAL JOB INSIGHTS you can find out even more about entering the job market and everyday working life (in German):