A@Rs THE BEGINNING OF THE END
YESTERDAYS BLOG ABOUT R&B HAS SPARKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS. BEFORE I POSTED THAT I WAS TALKING TO PEOPLE ON MY TWITTER ABOUT THE A&Rs AND HOW I FEEL YOU’VE SEEN THE LAST OF THEM. ONE OF MY MAIN REASONS FOR SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE THE BOSSES THAT RUN THESE COMPANIES ARE STARTING TO LOOK MORE AND MORE LIKE MORONS BECAUSE THERE A&Rs ARE NOT SIGNING STARS. SECONDLY A&Rs OF TODAY TO ME ARE MORE LIKE BABYSITTERS THAN VISIONARIES AND A BUNCH OF NIGGAS JUST STEALING MONEY. SO AS BUDGETS GET CUT AND JOBS GET ELIMINATED I SEE THIS AS THE NEXT ONE TO GO. I ASKED A GIRL ON TWITTER WHAT SHE THOUGHT THE POSITION ENTAILED AND SHE SAID SOMEBODY THAT’S OVER THE ARTIST PROJECT HMMMM I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE JOB THINK THIS. NEXT SOMEBODY ASKED ME IF THE A&Rs ARE ELIMINATED WHO’S GONNA DO IT AND I REPLIED THE BOSSES, THE WAY IT WAS WHEN THE BUSINESS WASN’T IN THE TOILET AND IF THEY DON’T THEY SHOULD BE FIRED. I WAS READING THE COMMENTS AND I SAW WHERE SPOCK SAID THAT I WAS RIGHT ABOUT THE STATE OF R&B BUT WAS I THE PERSON TO REALLY CHANGE IT SINCE I PASSED ON SIGNING LUDACRIS. I NEVER SAID I WAS HERE TO CHANGE THE PROBLEMS IN R&B I WAS JUS SPEAKING MY MIND. NOW MY QUESTION TO SPOCK IS WHAT CURRENT PRODUCER HAS FOUND AND PUT OUT MORE SUCCESSFUL ARTIST THAN ME? KEY WORD “FOUND” THAT’S THE JOB OF A A&R . FIND IT, UNDERSTAND IT, HELP DEVELOP IT, TAKE IT TO THE LABEL WITH A PLAN. THE LABEL IS THEN SUPPOSE TO FOLLOW AND PUT THAT PLAN IN EFFECT.
CAN YOU LEARN TO BE A GREAT A&R ? THAT I DON’T KNOW, I BELIEVE ITS A GIFT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A EAR, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EYE, YOU HAVE TO BE A CHANCE TAKER ECT…………..LIFERS WHAT DO YOU THINK ?
Omgeeee, finally somebody says something I’ve been saying for a while. Thank u JD!! Although I’m only 25 I grew up on a lot of GREAT music my parents were 10 years apart so there was an age gap between them, my father adored Sade, Earth Wind & Fire, Anita Baker & etc & my mother loved New edition, Keith Sweat, Mary j Blige etc. I remember my daddy making me learn the words to Sly & the Family Stone bcuz I was 5 & loved LL Cool J’s around the way girl(I just knew he was singing to me) . The problem I see is everybody is out just to make a sorry ass buck. There are no real A&R’s ( artist & repetroire, sic, for those who don’t even know what it means) bcuz nobody seems concerned with actually taking the TIME to build a career, to understand & see a vision & build on it! All the classic artist & albums we know were not created over night! & as far as I’m concerned there is no classic shit being created because everyone is so in a rush for one, perfection takes time, maybe not as much as dre takes but it does take time. Whatever u do u gotta perfect ur craft. If exects would stop signing these damn watered down artists & artists took the time to create some separtion between themselves & the crap that’s already playing on the sorry ass radio, then some of us would actually enjoy listening to the radio again ( cali radio is trash). I miss the 90′s, I was in middle school, there was only 3 female r&b artists out, Brandy, Monica, & the great Aaliyah. None of them sounded, looked, or acted the same, but omg *light bulb moment. They all gave us classic material!!! Ahhh falling asleep to Brandy-by Brandy….can’t even tell u the last album I bought before Love Vs Money….people need to just really do their homework & learn what goes into success overall not just a #1 song……can I get a r&b album somebody plzzzz…this girl is dying for something to make love to her husband to!!!!!
I think you should come find me.
That’s what I think.
Then you could add another tally to great artist that you have found.
i fully agree with the whole idea of cutting out the A&R and just letting bosses like j.d have their ear on the ground and decide as to which artist has not only full potential but also the power of longivity, you can have potential but it means nothing if you cannot stay in the game for the long run, i mean look at artist like bow wow, most child star’s like him by the time they hit their twenties they have long been forgotten. FACT IS PEOPLE IN THIS INDUSTRY HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY LAZY AND WE AS THE CONSUMERS FEED ONTO THIS LAZINESS BY BUYING THEIR RECORDS AND THEN YOU WONDER WHY SOME OF US WOULD RATHER DOWNLOAD SHIT THEN REACH OUT OF OUR POCKETS AND BUY IT. IT HAS EVEN COME TO A POINT WHERE ME AND MY OLDER BROTHER DON’T EVEN BUY NOWER DAYS MUSIC LIKE RNB AND HIPHOP, NOWER DAYS WE JUST COLLECT THAT REAL MUSIC THAT USE TO PLAY BACK IN THE DAY, AND GUESS WAT? WE BUY IT WHEREAS NOWERDAYS MUSIC WE JUST DOWNLOAD FROM THE INTERNET UNLESS IT IS REALLY REALLY GOOD, BUT WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?
First and foremost JD & Dr. Dre are the best two music producers of our age and time! I would have to take JD over Dr. Dre though for various reasons due to achievements etc…………. despite what the top hip hop earners list say every year, yall gotta do the research! JD is number 1 and Dr. Dre number 2
1.) The only 2 A&R’s that I see doing the complete job now for a minute with consistency would be Mickey Wright and Eddie Weathers, honestly because the artist both have signed has derived into superstars etc……….
2.) I think that the fact that some A&R’s aren’t contracted makes them not wanna take chances on signing new talent because they don’t wanna get fired for bringing in something that others may think is garbage! Most parent labels start there A&R’s off with 60k a year, with paid travel expense, and with a flex spending account, so its a dream job so A&R’s are relaxed.
3.) The fact that parent labels are losing money they aren’t pressuring A&R’s to find and develop more talent, they are only focusing on the head star acts in which is already signed to the label.
4.) Then for the Creative parts of A&R such as publishing companies etc….. in which alot of parent companies run or moguls run, they only stick to a certain number of producers and writers who they know who can deliver! It’s songwriters out there that can out write some of the top today but most A&R’s scared to take that chance on something new!
I think that the were being flooded with fads! Everything is about whats popn right now and not about a long musical career. Fast Money! Thats how I see it.
Looking Thru Gypzy Eyez!
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU CONSIDER SOMEONE LIKE SIMON COWELL TO BE AN A&R. I KNOW ITS A DIFFERENT GENRE OF MUSIC BUT NOT ENTIRLEY IF YOU CONSIDER LEONA LEWIS ETC. BUT HE IS OFFICIALLY AN A&R WHO HAS ‘FOUND’ WESTLIFE, FIVE, LEONA LEWIS, IL DIVO ETC. ALL OF WHOM HAVE SOLD MILLIONS OF RECORDS ON EUROPE AND WORLDWIDE. BUT DO YOU NO LONGER CONSIDER HIM AN A&R DUE TO HIS POSITION AS AN EXECUTIVE AND REALITY TV PRODUCER ETC.
I was walking to class at Morehouse and I just happen to look on the ground and saw an envite to the Queen Pen album release party. I picked it up and called the number on the flyer and found out it was real. I went to the party and JD, Teddy Riley, Kriss Kross like the whole Atlanta industry was their. I went up to Kriss Kross and told them I had some beats that I was trying to get on, they directed me to Eddie Weathers, the A&R at So So Def. I called Eddie and he had me send in a demo. They were working on the So So Def Bass Album at the time. At this time Lil John was also the A&R (funny thing about this is that I met Lil John because his brother, Will, was in my same class at Morehouse so John would be on Campus all the time) Anyway, I was in class and the number to So So Def came in my pager, it was Eddie telling me he wanted a song I made (She gots the whole world) to be on the album and would send me the artist. He sent me 2 white boys Shannon and Andy (Andy yall know as Bubba Sparxxx, go to itunes to hear it bubba sparxxx doing booty shake LOL) without going on and on with this story this is an example of a good A&R, a person that is executing a plan by pulling the proper people together to make success.
I thought about JD’s question who CURRENTLY has put out more artist and I must say I really couldn’t think of too many. It has really been like JD, Dr. Dre and Puff that have brought the most new artist out to the public. (Master P put out THE MOST artist but we are talking about BIG artist) So I give JD credit for that, but I guess my problem is how to classify JD. As a producer hands down one of the best. I have never said nothing different. JD’s track record is what it is. But let’s look at JD as the head of So So Def Records.
I talked to Kandi one time from Xscape and she said it was hard to be successful as an artist with the producer trying to shine so much. Now personally, I like JD as an artist as well as a producer but the point is, if I am an artist it is going to be harder for me to recognize and find talent. Everybody in Atlanta tries to get on with SO SO DEF first before they do anything else. I use to stay at 2 Short’s studio when it was in the West End, that’s where LIL John recorded “Who U Wit” and I just never could understand why dude had to do the whole independent label thing when he already had a relationship with JD. Dude is still fighting TVT to get his money!!
So as a producer/songwriter…JD…..score 10….
As an artist….JD…score 8…That song you and snoop did with Premier on 1472..is a classic on the low
As an A&R…..4…Atlanta is the center of black music, you should have a lot more people under you. Def Jam and every other label should be on your nut sack…. Polow Da Don had to work for Timberland AND get Jimmy Ivines Nephew for a manager to get on just come right back to Atlanta.
As a CEO of So So Def Records….4…not enough artist signed and currently making music…
If you look at yourself as only a producer/songwriter and not an A&R/CEO then I am wrong and will admit it. But that is a message that you need to get out. Why do you think you get so many demos, people look at YOU as the A&R for SO SO DEF!!
I was talking to DJ Jelly yesterday… Dude is a smart as hell and said one of the biggest problems today is that the songs now are BIGGER then the ARTIST!!! WOWWW something to think about!! We get to know the songs but never get to KNOW the artist.. How do we correct this?
JD what is your role?
SPOCK
that the songs now are BIGGER then the ARTIST!!! ——————- COSIGN! I learn a lot from this blog. Thankls.
I agree with you 100% Jermaine. The A&R ( the person who finds, takes a chance, has a vision, knows the key sounds ect…) i believe as well that he no longer exists!! when was this position get created anyways… As far as I know if we take as an example MOTOWN. Berry Gordy was very involved in finding the artists and developing the artists. ( Dianna Ross, Smokey Robinson, The jacksons, Marvin Gaye ( not sure) Rick James ect…He was also their boss in terms of who is the one who pays them and makes the decision. Berry Gordy was a true visionary. Now in this day while there has been some great artists who have made an influence in today’s pop culture the question is who were they found by?
Puffy worked as an A&R discovered Jodeci, Biggie, Mary etcc… Jermaine you played a role as well in finding Xscape, Da Brat, Bow wow ect… Now we have the wave of Artists themselves acting as A&R such examples would be Eminem and 50 cents. Ludacris and Chingy or wtvr his name was ( sorry i am not bing into rap and such) Kanye and John legend, (but he’s been out for a while) Estelle. Maybe they just use their stardom to push for other artists. This eliminates the middle man who was ( is) the A&R.
I think what the music industry needs is a new movement. Clearly the consumer is in control in any industry at this point. We are tired of being sold garbage. Companies have to pay attention to what the consumers needs and wants are. It is the same in Music. We are tired of the clonning of artists. Clonning of sounds and music. The packaged bubble gum, manufactured, recycled artist. The music industry is in a recession. The product cycle theory applies to this as well. Now the question is who will be the next Clive Davis, Berry Gordy ectt who will take a chance ( which will put his own money into question) who is willing to invest their money into that. That is where the true visionary is born. THose who take a chance. I mean if you are sitting on millions and you have a vision but you’re not taking the chance to gamble to put forth what you have what’s the point?
My bad who is the guy who helped establish DEF JAM. Reuben something. I mean ppl have to take a chance. There are soo many ways to put an artist out these days that do not require large amount of money as we’ve been used to seeing these past 10 years. Artists are getting shitted on by record labels for no promotion. You have the internet at your fingertips. You do not need 1000,000 budget to put an artist out. The distribution might be the hardest part. Master P did it so it can be done. My question to you Jermaine is after all this complaining on the part of the big morons you work for, what are you going to do about it?
The biggest problem is, A&Rs, DJs, etc. tell R&B artists that in order to get a street buzz, they MUST have a song bangin’ in the clubs, and in order to get a R&B record played in Atlanta, it has to be a “party” record (it MUST have a hip hop feel to it). Trust me, I have a record label, Reign Check Ent. and we hear this ALL the time. The R&B group signed to my label is Next2U, the group has CLASSIC R&B records like “Lover’s Lane” but the DJs will only spin Next2U’s hip hop songs like “The Baddest” or “Dip It Low”—–if you listen to Next2U’s music, you’ll hear what I am talking about (myspace.com/reigncheckent) It seems as if R&B artists are in a losing battle!!!!
@ spock, i agree with you. but you got to understand that the songs are BIGGER for several reasons:
1. music equipment is more advanced nowadays. beat machines, software programs, etc. this make the sound seem larger.
2. some artists actually lack TALENT! even if they recorded over a simple beat, the record would be horrible. so why not cover up the vocals with a more instrumentation.
3. records are used in many more outlets than back in the day. a song is used on commercials, movies, at the stadium during halftime, ringtones, elevators, etc.
4. it could be just a fad though. nowadays songs sound like their scored for a movie. which they probably are that way on purpose ($$$).
keep doing ur thang JD! i know you don’t receive the accolades as often as you should. but just know that there are people out here that love and respect what you do.
i think i want to start posting ur “informative” write-ups on my STACKS Mag blog site. it’s information and insight such as this our young people need to grab hold to, learn, and understand. hope you don’t mind!
yo was hood JD this K-R im from jerz but im livin in GA and i got some hot songz and i want you to listen to them when ever you got time 2 and hit me up on my e-mail but on some real shit im 19 teen and music is my life for real and i love this shit my nigga
yo was hood JD this K-R im from jerz but im livin in GA and i got some hot songz and i want you to listen to them when ever you got time 2 and hit me up on my e-mail but on some real shit im 19 teen and music is my life for real and i love this shit my nigga
LOL i hate A&R’s… Those people dont understand what the people like!! For example Usher’s Album… it flopped so hard, but they did some great songs (RADAR, GET USE 2 HER,…) and they arent on the tape?! HAHA fuckin bunch of nobodys.. i can beat every A&R in the game! they cant stop leaks, they cant took great songs for the tapes (cuz they are out of concept?!). I told jay stevenson bout the usher situation and he agreed… i hope u guys learnd and im rdy to hear ushers greatest album, ever.
bye the way.. fuck off dre N vidal (they got their hits in the past). watch out for darkchild, maddscientist, saint nick, rob knox, sean garrett, james fauntleroy, Oak & the surf club (hitboy, chase N cashe)… they are the future!! – keep it on fya – oceans5 or nuthin!
bye the way, jd: if u need some tipps for usher and ur buiss get back at me.. (some of your emails are still hacked) – i can save it
@bels…It’s not just the equipment, its the lack of the label to even want to groom artist. I graduated from Morehouse with a degree in Accounting, I also have 2 MBA’s one in Accounting and one in Marketing, the point is is that I know business and how businesses work. So let me break it down for all the musicians on here that don’t know how it works.
Companies are owned by share holders. Every fiscal period (half a year, per quarter, etc etc) the CEO’s of the record label have to send in their forecast for the up and coming year. In other words they have to project what sales they expect. This is how the labels set up their budgets. (This is how they know how much money to spend on employees, artist, promotions..etc etc)
HERE IS THE PROBLEM!!! When the CEO’s make the forecast they look at HISTORICAL DATA!! In other words past record sales. What that means is that the record company is going to look at certain songs and styles and if they have worked in the past they will try to duplicate that success. (OK we had a white male rapper that sold good, so lets get another one) (Ok that dance record sold a million ring tones so lets get another dance record) Yall get the point.. So in this process NEW, DIFFERENT Music is going to be ignored because it doesn’t have the track record of success EVEN if it is more creative. What now all the records sound the same!!!
Another reason why labels don’t want to groom artist is because as the artist gets more successful they get cocky as hell. Who is getting album deal these days, all the contracts are single deals. Many times these deals will not even let the artist make money. You should see the Contract that Dallas Austin gave me at Rowdy Records for Crank That Roadrunner. So the artist are only making money from shows and THEN they get hit was a 360 contract so they don’t even get all the show money!!!
So lets talk about some solutions instead of just the problems.. Take the damn music back!! Everything in America is for sale. As soon as you get a hit record the majors are coming for you. On one side you need to get with them because they control the radio, Tv, etc, but once you get you fan base, you can leave and do your own thing.. And start making different music. REAL MUSIC!! PERFECT EXAMPLE PRINCE!!!.. Dude’s 3 CD album is coming out in Target on Sunday. I am going to support him because I understand what he is doing..
That is why I go hard on this web site. I want to always be honest. If a song is Wack I am going to tell JD, if its hot I am going to tell him that too. Dude is like 5’2 with a heart of a 6’4 nigga, but being real is the best way to show respect!! SPOCK!!
JD I agree that the A&R’s are pretty much done in the game….I work in the industry and I constantly see artist that have no talent slide in the door just because they fit the “Whats hot now” trend. I beleive that the game has too many ass kissers and not enough risk takers….at times it is so frustrating to be in an industry when everybody runs around sayin they are so “real” but I havent seen a real person stand up since at least 2004. I am often the outcast in meetings because I am not afraid to take a chance and go against the gimmicks….but as long as there is money to be made in kissing ass…the game as we knew it will never be again….key word “money” to be made. So niggas keep your lip gloss handy cause as long as the companies keep hiring niggas with no integrity; the stand up niggas will continue to fade into the black and the game will as well!
im starting to think that is the reason why music is going down in this shit now.. Nobody wants to be creative and make music that is gong leave a statement! its not just about ring tones and getting million with success and time that will all come. A& R jobs are to develop a artist have plan and set goal on what is going to be accomplish with that artist. Jobs get eliminate in the industry everyday because people don’t listen to music anymore they go based off what is marketable and profitable! not what is a going to hit hard months & years from now!! smfh Greed play major roles in this and CEO and EXEC will never do the dirty work of a A&R because most of them feel that they are to good to get into that part of the creative process! from my understanding there use to be a lot going into making a artist successful, no one take the time to put that together anymore because exec are suppose able to ‘BUSY” and mainly don’t give a fu*k, the check clearing is all that matters! take music where it was and get the GENRE that were created for a reason!!! stop bullshit thinking this industry will survive on greed!! IT WONT HAPPEN.Everyone wants to point fingers instead of doing there part of saving a industry to where everyone made money and did it because the love the art not the weak ass check!!!SH*T IS WEAK AND MOST OF THESE EGO HAVING A** NI**AS ARE THE REASON WHY ITS NOT GOING ANYWHERE..I AGREE WITH SPOCK
SPOCK you a smart dude,glad someone spoke on this in a intelligent way.
Just thinking about some of the A&rs over the year that I’ve seen slide threw the revolving door because they were expendable and never really provided any talent or ideas while they were in the building is crazy.
I would say more then 50% of the A&rs I’ve met have or had no clue what they were doing but they were great “yes” men.
At this point the only way things will change is by placing the right people in these positions and throw some of these A&rs on college radio promo.Let them call somebody about a record spin,that shouldn’t be that hard.
Also find the next Jay Z and the next Jagged edge and force all these less talented artist to confirm and step up there game.
Whats up JD…check out the song on http://www.youtube.com/studnga25…..we‘re a female rap group openly gay….we’re all studs so you know we get it in wit da ladies too…LOL…But check us out please….FIRST STUDS OF SO SO DEF…WHATS UP…YALL KNOW WHAT DIS IZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whats up JD…check out the song on http://www.youtube.com/studnga25
…..we’re a female rap group openly gay….we’re all studs so you know we get it in wit da ladies too…LOL…But check us out please….FIRST STUDS OF SO SO DEF…WHATS UP…YALL KNOW WHAT DIS IZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think you are right in a sense because no one is looking for real artist anymore that includes a&r’s and the bosses they are just looking for someone to make quick money and to me that’s wrong. JD check out these two artist I know and its not because I know them personally I really believe they are talented so if you do can you hit me back i am on youtube its bubbanotfit and the artist page’s are http://www.myspace.com/daprinceofrnbstreet and http://www.myspace.com/snakethegreat229 and yes they are right here in GA. Tifton,GA to be exact
I’ve had the same conversation with every wanna be producer and up-and-coming artist I’ve worked with in the last couple of years (since the drastic turn in the music industry). I agree with you (JD). Being a great A&R takes gifts that only God can bless you with. Like in any job, you can be taught to be efficient BUT to be exceptional, there has to be passion. Passion comes from a natural calling to do something. You wake up in the morning and the first or 2nd thing on your mind is “what am I gonna do about (whatever it is that you’re passionate about) today? Even when you’re doing something else, you’re thinking about your passion. I’m still reading your (JD’s) recent book, and the way you discovered KrissKross is a perfect example of that. They weren’t even rappers, but you saw their ability to attract attention. You developed it. You made everybody a lot of money (I was working for Ruffhouse back then lol). Now regarding phasing out the A&R job at labels… I honestly can say that in the last 15 years, the majority of A&Rs didn’t deserve their paychecks. Again, I agree with you. If you look at the industry, right now, and see who has actually put out good-to-great music, CONSISTENTLY, then go back and see which A&R tree they fell from, you’ll have a hand full of great A&Rs. Anybody can get lucky once. And even the great A&Rs have missed out (on signing someone who went on to be a great artist). As we gain more technology, the need for certain jobs just ISN’T there anymore. The artist’s manager is his/her babysitter. The budget should be released to the business manager c/o the artist, this way you need two signatures to move any paper. Before a check is cut, the direction of the album should be agreed upon by the label and the artist’s team. If the label doesn’t trust an artist or like their vision, they can hire FREELANCE A&R SERVICES (coming to a city near you ’09 lol). Artists and A&R alike were accustomed to getting the budget and then half steppin’ on the product. Artists are gonna have to do more for less right now, and that’s what’s gonna really show who has the passion for the game.
JD i feel that your right about everything you have stated and that you have found a lot of artist and you know how to represent them in every way,shape, or form. But my question to you is why dont a lot of record labels hire more interns. I feel that as an intern we all have a lot to learn from people that have been in the industry for a long time, but we also can give labels positive feedback as to what kids are really feeling or what they want to hear more of. I’m not saying that you all may not know how to find talent or anything like that, i just feel labels should give more people chances to help and and give their input in the music industry because you never know if that next intern will be that next producer, A&R, singer, rapper, or CEO that might help to get things back on the right track within the music industry.
sorry 4 the late comment, been under the weather but i must say something on this matter. i am thankful 2 GOD that i had the chance 2 experience music in the 80′s and 90′s. it seemed that the perfect artist sang the perfect song. i personally believe that there were more passionate a&r’s, producers and label execs then. they knew when they heard a song or a beat just what artist would make that track a hit. thats why the rise and domination of r&b/hiphop music was so powerful then. it was always being challenge and pushed 2 the limits. money is always a factor in business but the passion and love of the gift is what should drive anyone in the music biz. 2day a@rs, producers, and label execs seem 2 be in it simply 4 the glory, power, and money. its no longer about making kick ass music 4 the right artist 2 make a hit. they look 4 a trendy sound only insted of creating new sounds. jd i am sure u have had some idiots try 2 tell u what 2 create insted of just letting u do ur magic. there r still a few of yall left but i will be honest with u. my ipod is filled with back in the tracks more than whats out now. u tell us. as a label exec, producer, and hit maker for over 2 decades now, what needs 2 be done in this crisis?
I used to want to be an A&R…
But I mean… IDK… I kinda agree. Look at the damn game. Jay-Z is still fucking making albums for crying out loud. But I guess if LL can he can too… IDK…I dont have an opinion on this one. I know the state of the game is so fucked up… its a wonder A LOT of people are still getting money in it.
And as for you JD…. u do have an ear for talent… no one can deny that… but the world is waiting for u to step shit up a couple notches too… from a label stand point… not just production. ::Shrugs:: Im just saying….
@spock. funny u mentioned u have a background in finance/accounting. because i do too. over 15 years as an accountant/business analyst managing projects over 300M. so what corporations do with their funds…i get. i also majored in music and been a musician since i was 8 yrs old. music…i get. and that’s where my opinion stemmed from. just the actual music.
Well I write this kind of songs jd is talking about that is missing and I still can’t find an A&R or record label that wants to use my lyrics I wrote a song that is for Usher and I posted in on a comment for jd still nothing happen and I left an A&R at so so def a message and still nothing happen cause I know I got the lyrics that the world wants to hear.
A&rs spend more time ducking calls,deleting emails and out at the club trying to stand in pictures with the female bartenders then in the office working on a project.
I know a lot of these guys started out as interns and built a good rapport inside the building but they never really started off with the talent to begin with.
At the end of the day its not just their fault but its everyone from the street teams to CEOs because they are all there to win and it takes a team to win.
The industry could have all the little tricks and moves it wants but if the final product does not appeal to the consumer then you have nothing.
@bels.. I hear you bro…Accountants do make good musicians. Musicians are suppose to be good at math!! I agree with you about the music
I believe It has alot to do with the companies these days. Alot of the older people are not moving on with the next step. We have young a&R’s out here finding talent and developing them ie: sickamore , plain pat, young sav , stev-o. RIP : Shakir “Shake” Stewart . Untill we have open minded executives all of this will be done in vain. i feel a&r ‘s are visionaries in some sense. They def see whats coming before it actually comes out. All of the old heads are trying to hold on to the past or either trying to follow trends. It’s so many talented people here in Atlanta and around the country that are putting in their grind with quality music and they always get slept on. Untill the A&r steps up and works with the marketing department to build a brand , along with executives having a vision on a bigger level. We will continue to see the decline in quality output. I’m a up and coming a&r and i’m Always @ lenny’s bar , the bench , the 5spot , apache cafe and many other spots here in town checking out quality new talent. YoUr not gonna find the next hot artist on the new joint on 107.9 or in the V.I.P. YOu gotta get out here and check out some performances.
@ spock…i’m a LADY! not a bro’.
lol
I feel the same way.I believe the job of the A&R is to find the talent then present it and if the boss likes it and feels things will happen then compensate the A&R. You know there really has not been too much good stuff to come out since the 90′s,and the stuff that is good is not being marketed right if i had the money and connections to show a label how i would market i would. There are a lot of labels that put their best talent on the back burner just to market some garbage. Also what is up with these artist putting their best work on mixtapes and then when the album releases they don’t put but about 4 good songs on it and then everything else is alright, okay, or just plain sucks.
The bottom line is niggas need 2 stop following trends and make history. I’m so sick of these fucking lazy ass , bullshit ass, hatin ass A&R’s . The game got fucked up when a&r’s started to pop bottles in the club and thought they was the fucking star i.e. Sickamore. These niggas wanna fuck with the bitches and act important instead of being that humble dude thats always on the hunt. These niggas don’t know what a hit record is anymore . Niggas is guessing. J.D. Why do niggas like you got 2 fucking argue with labels about records that end up being hits anyway?
How many times we have heard those stories about the record that was a smash and almost didn’t see the light of day? The reason why that record don’t sound like radio cause the record got its own swagger! Period.
Right now 2day its prolly some fucking kid that lives in Butte Montana whom spend his days shoveling shit , feeding chickens and herding cattle . After this kids day is done he in the corner of his barn making some shit that will fuck the whole game up and make niggas get back on their toes!! unfortunately he may never be found or given a chance cause niggas ain’t flying 2 Montana, they comfortable with signing niggas from somebody they know or somebody else said they hot!!!!! A&r’s suck. Jd. Niggas like you, timbaland, polow, b. cox, swizz , chad& pharrell need 2 be a&r’s not some nigga that just want 2 feel important. Niggas need 2 catch them pink slips early.
there are no more risk takers.. niggas is scared to fail.. niggas is scared to try… from my prospective.. being a artist.. i never seen a a&r in my 7yr career!! everr!! it doesnt even seem like tha labels look for talent in they backyard!! tru its a lotta bullshyt.. out here.. but that dont meann a&r’s should stop listening!! waht ur doing iz huge!! by makin a nigga with such a huge musical stature.. available.. for tha average artist like myself 2 get in contact with.. but waht is a label with no talent?? or a label without a hot act in each genre?? of course the labelz are going 2 lose!! clearly.. what happen to artist development?? the game is changin’ @ a rapid rate.. tha labelz bette catch upp.. and get bacc in these streets and stop ignoring starz in they backyard.. if they continue 2 ignore.. they will continue to lose. especially in this recession.. but music.. iz recession proof!! clearly..
holladay said it..
Wesstttt!!!
orr…
I feel what your saying bc in a sense its true. But the problem now days is the way people accept new artist. That makes an a&r’s job hard bc your looking for something that is not going to please your listeners at that point in time so they recruit whats hot. Myself, im graduating with a Business Admin/marketing degree, and i just so happen to love music so thats exaclty what i wanna do for a living. I’m well aware that the job of the a&r is to search and sign profitable,yet talented artist, deal with managers,lawyers, producers, and not just a&r the project. But with how the industry is today, if they aint danicing around half naked like some of the male r&b artist, but can actually sing…i mean sing, this generation of listeners is less likely to listen to them. The same is true for the female artists to a certain extent. You have people like Beyonce, who is well established, so no matter what she does…she’s good. But u have your true singers that have been in the game as long as if not longer, like Tamia for example, who is a very talented singer, who won’t be accepted as much as a Ciara, who with all do respect is not a vocally gifted as she. Hopefully the job of the a&r is not eliminated bc it would be a shame. The label heads definately aint gonna find talent…they’ll be looking for cash cows. Then the industry will be really fucked up.
I think that the reason artist development is going out of the window is because every label, these days, has started to think that what they need is another 50 cent.
Now when I say that, I mean itin the sense that when 50 signed his Million dollar deal, he really didn’t need that much developing. At the time he was selling mixtapes like crazy. If I’m not mistaken, his last mixtape before he dropped his first album sold like 200,000 copies.
Same thing when the artists here in Houston started jumping off. Paul Wall and Chamillionaire had over 300 thousand tapes sold. Lil Flip had over 100 thousand.
These labels aren’t looking for a Talib Kweli anymore. They’re looking for Solja Boys. It’s sad, but it’s reality.
But I hope the industry doesn’t do away with the A&R position though. That would finish killing the game.
Plus it would mean that I’ve wasted the last 5 years of my life going to school, and gaining experience with these independents. I wont have a job.
i would one day be able to have my own recording label. i wish that you will be able to give me great advice like you do on this website
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Ciaras brand new song Ride is so amazing! Im her #1 fan n everybody best be on the lookout cause Ciara be smashing dem charts with this new song.
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