subject: How To Find Record Label Contacts [print this page] For musicians or singers just starting, there is no more important record label contact than a Artists and Repertoire reps. Once called talent scouts, it is their job to discover and develop talent. Its also their job to anticipate any emerging musical trends. In short, A&R people are the gatekeepers that hold the key for getting signed by a label.
Being an A&R rep is a high pressure, 24/7job and according to report, the average professional life expectance, as it were, of an A&R rep is three years. With so much turn-over in the field its important to keep current so youre sending your demo or invitation to the right person. You never want to send a demo package addressed To Whom it May Concern.
If you have the money to spend, there are several music reference books that list the names of A&R reps along with other record executives. But buyer beware! Even recently published directories could be out of date by the time they hit the bookstores. Depending on the record label, you may be able to find the A&R staff on their web sites.
Word of mouth can be a great tool for identifying A&R reps. If you are playing gigs at local clubs, ask the owner if they would introduce you to any reps they may know. Music festivals and showcases are two great venues for meeting label reps. A&R reps can specialize some may focus on contemporary pop, others on country or jazz so make sure to find out what genre any given A&R rep specializes in, if any.
Every industry has trade conventions such as the Winter Music Conference, South by Southwest, and the Dewey Beach Music Conference. While you may not be able to attend in person, you can go to the conferences web page to look up the schedule of presentations. Check out the panelists to see if any A&E reps are participating in order to get their names and affiliations.
When all else fails, pick up the phone. Depending on the individual labels policy, you may be able to get their list of reps directly from the label.
