A&R stands for "Artists and Repertoire" and is the division of a record label or music publishing company that is responsible for scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists and songwriters. The A&R division of a record label is responsible for finding new recording artists and bringing those artists to the record company. A&R staff may go to hear emerging bands play at nightclubs and festivals to scout for talent. Personnel in the A&R division are expected to understand the current tastes of the market and to be able to find artists that will be commercially successful. The A&R division of a record label oversees the music style and recording process. This includes helping the artist to find the right record producer, scheduling time in a recording studio, and advising the artist on all aspects of making a high-quality recording. They work with the artist to choose the best songs (i.e., repertoire) to record. For artists who do not write their own music, the A&R person will assist in finding songs, songwriters, and arrangers. A&R reps are the musicians’ point of contact at the label during contract negotiations and will offer creative input and advice during production - often putting artists in touch with producers and other important parties. They work closely with the artist to find a balance between the artistic vision of the talent and maximizing sales for the record label. A&R is critically important for a record label as it refines the sound of the music released on independent labels and then helps to connect the target audience with that music. A&R representatives have unpredictable schedules, including seeing a lot of live music, listening to mountains of demos, spending time with artists, and attending to business in the office.