A&R stands for "Artists and Repertoire" and is a traditional role in the music industry. It 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. For this reason, A&R people are often young and many are musicians, music journalists, or record producers.

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 staff will help find session musicians for the recording. A&R executives maintain contact with their counterparts at music publishing companies to get new songs and material from songwriters and producers.

A&R representatives are responsible for finding promising new artists for a record label or music publisher to sign. 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 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 also assist in marketing and promotion.

In summary, A&R is a crucial department in the music industry responsible for scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists and songwriters. They work closely with artists to find the right record producer, schedule time in a recording studio, and advise the artist on all aspects of making a high-quality recording. They also assist in finding songs, songwriters, and arrangers, and help find session music...