Ciara Smith Presentation: Importance of The A&R

The A&R & The New artist

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• Slide 1: Fact:  A&R stands for artist & repertoire. The A&R reps are the people who find new artists and sign them to the label. !McDonald, H. (2013, January 26). A&R - Artist and Repertoire. Retrieved from http://musicians.about.com/od/ah/g/artistandrep.htm !

TECHNOLOGY

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• Slide 2: Fact: In the year 2000, the record industry fumbled at the internet based digital-distribution opportunity. Due to technology, drastic record label layoffs followed. 127 A&R executives were let go or chose to leave their jobs during 2007 alone. (LA Weekly) !Rogers, P. (2010, February 11). A&R Star Makers: The Vanishing Gatekeepers. Retrieved from http://www.laweekly.com/2010-02-11/music/a-r-star-makers-the-vanishing-gatekeepers/

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NEXT LEGEND?• Slide 3: Big Idea: If record executives hired talented A&R’s to seek and strongly develop artists in order to supply consumers with timeless music as opposed to acts with trends and gimmicks, then the music produced will boost the recording industry’s sales revenue.

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• Slide 4: 1999, music sales revenue topped $38 billion. In 2013 total revenue of music sales totaled at 16.5 billion. The return of the A&R and artist development will help return sales revenue to the heights they were 15 years ago.

Photo Credit: Ciara Smith

That’s me

• Slide 5: As a past intern at Streetz 94.5, a local hip hop radio station in Atlanta, I have developed solid relationships with radio Disc Jockeys and I remember several conversations with them expressing how bad the music they had to play on the radio was. 

You’re Hired

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• Slide 6: Think of the one friend you know that has a ridiculously huge music collection or an extreme music lover, take a risk and offer them a job as your A&R.

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Action Plan

• Slide 7: Assuming the responsibility of an A&R to develop music superstars and projects include 1) Vigorously seek potential talent on platforms where talent is displayed. 2) Importance of a ‘boot camp’ style artist development for signed acts. 3)  A&R & Record Label executives solely relying on talent versus only social media numbers for the next big thing.

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Show case

• Slide 8: Vigorously seek potential on talent platforms where talent is being displayed. BE ACTIVELY LOOKING EVERYWHERE!

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• Slide 9: Pop duo Karmin found itself the music industry’s most exciting upstart after becoming a viral Youtube sensation (factual evidence from the LA Times) !Kennedy, G. (2012, May 9). Karmin drops covers, finds success with album 'Hello' Retrieved August 17, 2014, from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/05/karmin-finds-success-with-hello.html

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Discovery

• Slide 10: A story detailing Justin Bieber receiving an opportunity to perform for Usher Raymond through the discovery of his talent show performances recorded and placed on Youtube. ! Dumenco, S. (2012). Imagine a world without Justin Bieber; it's easy if you try. #worldwithoutbieber. Advertising Age, 83(37), 1.

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I WANT YOU

• Slide 11: Supporting Point Two: Importance of a hard working ‘boot camp’ style preliminary stage for the chosen potentials.

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Delivery is KEY

• Slide 12: Kevin Liles, former Def Jam record label Executive is quoted “ As long as you work hard and deliver, you can be a part of this team” (factual statement from Make It Happen). !Liles, K., & Marshall, S. (2005). A Role Model for Generation Hip Hop. In Make It Happen (No ed., p. 786). New York: Atria Books.

formidable work ethic

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• Slide 13: Story about Beyonce Knowles' extreme work ethic beginning as early of the as 10 years old. "I worked so hard during my childhood to meet this goal: By the time I was 30 years old, I could do what I want. I’ve reached that.” ( factual statement from an interview with the Huffington Post)  !Wilson, J. (2013, January 10). Beyonce's GQ Magazine Interview: Singer Talks Confidence And Shows More Skin For The 'Sexiest Women Of The 21st Century' Issue. Huffington Post. !

Talent Numbers

• Slide 14:  A&R & Record Label executives solely relying on talent versus only social media numbers for the next big thing.

Faith in yourself

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• Slide 15: Jay-Z, Def Jam record label Executive had doubts in Kanye West’s artist abilities until his debut album ‘The College Dropout’ went triple platinum. !Trakin, R. (2006). SHAWN CARTER. Advertising Age, 77(20), S-10-S-40.

That’s Cam

Photo Credit: Ciara Smith

• Slide 16: Story about my close friend Cam Wallace producing Beyonce’s ‘Upgrade U’ hit record and landing a record deal with Music World and no strong social media presence just pure talent. !Nostro, L. (2012, November 22). Sean Garrett Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records. Retrieved August 17, 2014, from http://www.complex.com/music/2012/11/sean-garrett-25-essential-songs/beyonce-jay-z-upgrade-u

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• Slide 17: Call to Action: Share this presentation from SlideShare via your social media platforms and let’s charge your colleagues to bring back real talent and real music. 

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Action Plan

• Slide 18: Summarize the main points: Assuming the responsibility of an A&R to develop music superstars and projects include 1) Vigorously seek potential talent on platforms where talent is displayed. 2) Importance of a ‘boot camp’ style artist development for signed acts. 3)  A&R & Record Label executives solely relying on talent versus only social media numbers for the next big thing.

BE LEGENDARYPhoto Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/31730516@N03/3919242764/">aleamosaic</a> via <a href="http://compfight.com">Compfight</a> <a href="Photo Credit">cc</a>

• Slide 19: Restate big idea: If record executives hired talented A&R’s to seek and strongly develop artists in order to supply consumers with timeless music as opposed to acts with trends and gimmicks, then the music produced will boost the recording industry’s sales revenue.

High Revenue

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• Slide 20: Clincher/new bliss: Participation in the presentation today has sparked forgotten emotions while educating future artists on what it takes to be a successful music artist. Sharing the presentation with your colleagues will remind other music business professionals of the road traveled to reach their personal level of success. Artist will feel appreciated for their hard work as consumers are inspired to monetarily support amazing music again and record labels will rake in high revenue on all platforms.