A&R Manager

The pen is mightier than the sword, especially if you’re the A&R Manager for a record label. The A&R Manager, or the Artist and Repertoire Manager, is responsible for deciding whether an up-and-coming Musician has what it takes to succeed in the music industry and make money for the company. If the music produced matches the music desired, that mighty pen will be used to sign a record deal.

As an A&R Manager, you have a keen ear for musical and vocal talent, and the ability to stand behind your decision with sound reasoning and critical thinking. Traditionally, this was a male-dominated position, but this trend has changed dramatically in recent years — good news for women in the music industry!

You work with other record label executives such as Record Producers to find the best talent, produce the best song, and market it around the world. Your talents for managing multiple projects at once and keeping your cool during creative debates make you a great candidate for this position.

A background in music, management, business, and human resource management plays a large role as an A&R Manager. You may spend your evenings at the local venue watching your latest band play, and your days coordinating performance and recording schedules.

The work may seem like play for music lovers, but it does require hard work, dedication, and a thick skin — your boss is likely to have the final say on whether your latest discovery will actually make a record. But all the long hours and smoke-filled bars are forgotten the minute you hear the song you helped produce being played on the radio.