ArisingArtist

A+R and Publishing

A+R

The term A+R stands for artist and repertoire; which in turn means the artist and their recordings.

Historically, an A+R guy was responsible for everything – from ‘discovering’ the artist, to helping to craft and shape the songs and book the studio and then actually produce the record – often with the aid of a ‘sound engineer’.  He was also responsible for the artist and the artist’s relationship with the label.

Times have changed, roles have by virtue become far more specific – these days A+R people are still the ones that ‘discover’ new talent and are involved in honing and developing this new raw talent, as well as still helping to craft and shape the songs, choosing the producer and the studio, and responsible for making sure that the record is made on time and within budget.

UK Consultants

Joel De'Ath > 10 years in A&R > signed Funeral For A Friend, The Darkness, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly > Manager, The Joy Formidable

Korda Marshall > Head of A&R RCA > Owner, Infectious Records > CEO, Mushroom Records > MD, Warner Bros UK > Owner (again!), Infectious Records

Andy McIntyre > 10+ years in music > A&R projects include Muse, Ash, Symposium, Garbage, Paul Oakenfold, Babyshambles

Rene Renner > 15+ years in music > A&R Director, EMI Switzerland > MD, Gronland > Director, Feraltone

NL Consultants

Menno Timmerman > 15+ years in music > Promotion and Marketing for Polydor, BMG, WMG > A&R consultant for Universal, Sony, EMI > Talent Scout and Coach for Grote Prijs van Nederland > currently working with Sabrina Starke

Bart van Rijn > Events organizer and DJ > Paard van Troje (The Hague) and Studio 80 (Amsterdam) > finalists in Benelux's largest DJ contest, Dommelsch TWSTd, in 2007

Dennis Molema > Producer and DJ > electronic music, including lounge, trance, house, drum & bass, R&B, and hardstyle

Publishing

 Music publishing is about songwriters, composers, lyricists and their work; broadly, it is concerned with developing, protecting and valuing music.

Copyright is essentially what protects creative work and allows the creator to be rewarded for their work. This is generally signed or licensed by composers to a music publisher who helps protect their work both legally and creatively.

There are a number of core functions a music publisher performs for their contracted writers:

  • Listening, finding, developing, signing, giving support - both financial and moral 
  • Recording, disseminating, promotion & exploitation and licensing
  • Administrating music registration, protecting, tracking, collecting & processing and royalty payments

In return, a publisher will collect what is due and pay the composer an agreed royalty of income earned and collected.

Donagh O'Leary > A specialist in the UK's alternative/punk and ska publishing scene.

Songwriting

Chris Difford > 2 Ivor Novello Awards > Nordoff Robins Silver Clef Icon Award > owner, Helioscentric Studio

Chris Sheehan > singer/songwriter/producer/label/studio owner > writing partners include Chaz Jankel (The Blockheads), Chris Difford (Squeeze), Marti Pellow (Wet Wet Wet), Neill MacColl, Linda Lewis and Mark Brydon (Moloko)

Synchronisation

Synchronisation focuses on partnering artists and their music with non-typical outlets, such as films, TV programmes, adverts, games, etc.  ‘Synch’ has become incredibly important in today’s industry as record companies and artists search for new innovative methods of promoting and finding ‘work’ for music.

Sync departments are found in both publishing companies and repertoire-owning companies such as record labels.  A Sync manager will have solid relationships within various other industries, and call upon them when marketing music and artists; a Synch manager will constantly be on the lookout for opportunities or trying to create them!

Identifying appropriate relationships for music is a skill and one that takes time to hone; a synch manager must understand the process of partnering music and have the ability to spot lucrative deals!

Jemma Skidmore > Synchronisation Manager, Kobalt Music > Sync & Brand Affinity Manager, [PIAS] UK > Synchronisation Manager, Cutting Edge Group