In the world of music, few people can boast of a journey as multifaceted and inspiring as that of Lucas Emeodi, better known as Kiing Lu. A culture entrepreneur, A&R, music promoter, and executive producer, Kiing Lu’s story is one of resilience, passion, and relentless pursuit of dreams. From his early beginnings as a rapper and producer in Jos to becoming a significant force in the Nigerian music industry, Kiing Lu has embraced every challenge with a mindset he calls “militant.”
He began his music journey as a rapper and producer in 2004/2005 in Jos-plateau state where he was born and raised. He went through his university days there graduating with a degree in Business Administration. He left Jos for Ghana in 2008 and lived there for 7 years understudying the music Industry, collaborating with music executives, and learning the business. Kiing Lu moved back to Nigeria in 2014 after getting an invite from a label to manage their artists. “While managing those artists, I’d discovered TG Omori, the boy director.” He met the creative director at a point where he did not have any music video references. He gave him his first one and then started introducing him to other artists. In 2019, Kiing Lu got an offer from Universal Music Nigeria and joined them as an A&R “It was an exciting opportunity for me to understand the music business from a global perspective. It was exciting because I’ve done everything from online blogging, online pr, getting artists’ songs into notjustok, tooxclusive…….
I’ve always loved being a support system for emerging talents” Kiing Lu said he had worked in Alaba (Days of Alaba music marketing) at the time “I was getting artiste’s songs into those mixes and also making a living out of it” He’d transferred the knowledge and experiences he had gathered into his work with Universal Music because they were a global entity that had not yet gotten their footings in Nigeria “I was made Head of promotions at Universal though I was still working as an A&R. At some point I managed artiste’s and even events. I wasn’t just doing this for Universal, I was doing it for myself because I wanted to learn. It wasn’t about the money or salary being paid, it was more than that to me” He talked about his goal at the time being to learn more about the business and when he had soaked up some knowledge and when it was time to leave he resigned and set up his own company, speedplugpromotions “speedplugpromotions is a label servicing company that handles promotions for a bunch of artistes like Tems, Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Odumodu black, Odunsi, Bloodycivilian, wurld, Liyah, Adekunle Gold, Qing Madi, Yarden, Alpha P, Bella Shmurda, Dice Ailes, Victony, King Promise and many more. We don’t just work with individuals we work with labels, we have affiliations such as Universal, Warner Music, empire, Island Records, Virgin Music, and Def Jam. We’ve done promotions for a lot of artists in this Industry so I can hit my chest and say me and my team have done great in terms of amplifying music for artists that work with us” He went on to set up his music label “captive music” which he founded alongside his wife, Livy Land who he described as a multifaceted entrepreneur she owns her hair business, singer-songwriter, visual artist and she’s signed to his label. Captive Records is affiliated with Virgin Music and has released its first project “Militant Mindset”
Remember I mentioned he is an executive producer??? “That was the project that introduced the executive producer side of me and the A&R side of my brand. It featured a couple of artists like Odumodu black, vector, Dremo, skales, Ria Sean, and Rowlene from Ghana….” I asked about the vision behind the project and for him it was to focus heavily on Drille. “Drille resonates with my soul.” “I want to focus on pushing this to the mainstream” Kiing Lu has militant camp which is a platform created to push Drille music, it’s more like a community. As we know Drille is more like a niche and not everyone gravitates towards it here in Nigeria. He disclosed that it’s something he’d love to push the mainstream, a blend of hip-hop, Drille, and Afrobeat. “There’s a mindset embedded in this community ‘The militant mindset’ This mindset is to encourage people to pursue their dreams aggressively, relentlessly, and against all odds. We did our first event in July and the next one comes up in September.” The militant community doesn’t give room for laziness, you must have a frontier and bring something to the table, be it as a rapper, producer, graphic designer, or A&R; the end goal is the mindset. “I’m not where I want to be in life yet, I’m still pushing, I’m still building the bridges, building the networks, building the connections and the relationships.” He went on to express the importance of relationship-building in the Industry. “Relationship is one of the biggest assets you can have to survive in this music space. It’s a very priceless asset. It makes the job easier, makes the jobs, makes the journey smoother, you know?” KiingLu describes himself as a man on a purposeful journey, trying to lift others along the way, he considers himself a culture entrepreneur. Now, Lucas Emeodi who we know as Kiinglu the multifaceted cultural entrepreneur. Can we say the militant persona is more of an alter ego? “When I step my foot into the house, I am Lucas, the husband, and father but once I’m out of the house into the public I am kiing Lu but same heart, same person. The only difference is one is the professional side and the other is my personal side.” “As a brand, you need to know how to carry yourself, you always have to understand who you are. How you carry yourself is extremely important” he further expressed. Kiing Lu has been in the music industry for over a decade starting as a rapper before establishing himself in the music business and when I asked how that feels here was his response “16 years.
I feel excited that I was not forced by my parents, even though I rebelled against them wanting to be something else, I followed my heart. I followed my dreams and I am happy. I am living a very happy life now even though the dreams keep getting tougher but we enjoy the fact that we chose our paths and it’s what we want to do so we endure the pain, we endure the struggles but we also enjoy the benefits that come from it.” This brings me to a point of his journey where he after studying Business Administration decided to carve a different path for himself.
His parents were not at all supportive of this. “At some point, I was sent out of the house. My daddy wanted me to choose between his own decisions and my own. I chose my own decision, I left his house and kept doing my music thing and when he saw the resilience, passion, and energy I put into trying to follow my path he let me come back home and said he’d support me.” Do you know what’s the most striking and beautiful feeling ever? You follow your path, blocking out the noise and discouragement and it in turn works out and that was what happened in his case “On my wedding day he was so emotional, he said he remembered trying to kick against my dream and now seeing me succeeding in that same dream, it’s very inspiring to him and he has learned a lot from it.
This part of his journey influenced his brand. “Militant” I had to spin the meaning. I’m trying to re-engineer people’s mindset.” I asked him about the feeling of ever being underappreciated “The feeling of being underappreciated is a mindset. I try to condition my mind to focus on what is important. Are you making an impact? Are you expecting applause for the impact you are making? For me, I’m not expecting applause. My focus is to make an impact and also make money to take care of my family. I don’t care about appreciation or awards. If you think I deserve it, then hand it to me and don’t tell me to pay for it. I cannot put an award in my house, looking at it knowing I paid for it.”
He is big on his purpose and being able to live a free and real life. “People will not remember you for the amount you have in your account or the awards you have, they will remember to fit the impact you’ve made.” We further conversed on the same question “I’ve done so much for the industry, people that know these things know these things, even though some of them act like they don’t see it but they come to me in private. And one thing I’ve learned from my journey is to always buy yourself flowers. Do not wait for nobody to hand you flowers. Give yourself credit. If you do something nice shout about it, if you hit a milestone shout about it. Nobody is going to shout for you, you have to blow your trumpet and that’s not for your ego, it is for your Brand.” He went on to further explain his statement on the brand “It’s so people understand your brand is credible, people want to work because they see that you are doing well with what you are doing.”
His words ring with a sense of purpose and determination that has become the hallmark of his brand. “Impact first, money follows,” he said, encapsulating the driving force behind his career.“
I asked about his point of view about the struggles of music executives in Nigeria. “First of all, I’d say we all have our destinies in our hands so as music executives we need to remember we are human beings with dreams. So the struggle I’d say is people not allowing themselves to evolve, always trying to sacrifice for others without doing so for themselves. I’ve seen a lot of bitter music executives because of their past relationships with other artists. As a manager, you need to realize that you are a brand too.” The most fulfilling moment in his career was “I envisioned militant camp, the concept in my head, spoke to my creative director, we created a 3D version of the concept and then brought it to life. Now going to the event and seeing the place packed with people singing my song word for word, enjoying themselves, I was fulfilled but it was a point I knew I needed to do more. I needed to expand my vision beyond Lagos, so we are taking this event, militant camp to Abuja, port-harcourt, Bayelsa and Jos then we’d expand to Ghana” he expressed with pride and excitement.
Kiing Lu boldly and loudly encourages every creative executive to embrace the militant mindset, believe in their dreams, and keep pushing aggressively.
Nigerian rap sensation Chinko Ekun has long been hailed as a master of his craft, weaving intricate lyrics and infectious beats into a signature sound that has captivated audiences nationwide. But beneath the surface of his chart-topping hits and sold-out shows lies a complex and deeply personal artistic journey. In a rare and intimate conversation with A&R DUTY, Chinko Ekun pulls back the curtain on his creative process, sharing the inspirations, challenges, and triumphs that have shaped him as a person.
“The Book”. Conducted by Andrea Andy, this exclusive interview offers an unparalleled glimpse into the mind of a true creative genius, revealing the passion, perseverance, and dedication that have solidified Chinko Ekun’s position as a leading voice in Nigerian music.
I engaged Chinko Ekun in a chat about his journey and plans for the future regarding his career moving forward.
Chinko Ekun stands out—a vibrant soul with an energy as infectious as his lyrics. In speaking to Chinko Ekun I encountered a man brimming with positivity, a “ray of sunshine” as I quickly realized during our conversation.
Chinko’s journey from studying law at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to becoming an award-winning rapper was far from a walk in the park. “It’s been rough around the edges…but I’m grateful for the support from my family and meeting good people,” he reflected with unmistakable humility. This humility anchors him as he navigates the choppy waters of the Nigerian music industry. For Chinko, the strength he derives from his support system is more than a safety net; it’s his driving force, a source of pride that fuels his relentless pursuit of success.
Chinko boasts about the support system he gets from his parents “My dad used to pay for my studio sessions”. He shared a story of how he got scammed once by a guy who promised to play his songs for an artiste he idolized, Jesse Jagz. “He has asked me to pay him 95k, this was in 2012 2013, I’d gone to my Dad to ask for the money. He wrote me a cheque for 100k to support me, the 5k was for my transport. I never heard back from the guy after giving him the money.”
As our conversation deepened, Chinko Ekun shared a guiding philosophy that has steered him through the highs and lows of his career: “No matter how good a product is, it takes the right people to market it,” he emphasized, underscoring the importance of teamwork. “I met people along the way who helped me amplify my craft.” Chinko’s gratitude extends beyond mere words—it’s a testament to the “God-given talent” he cherishes and the people who have stood by him.
Before he became known for his rap, Chinko Ekun explored several other talents. He played the drums in church, where he was quite well-known, and even dabbled in dancing—a talent he humorously admitted he no longer possesses. Interestingly, he also used to chant before he began rapping.
Despite setbacks in his career, Chinko Ekun spoke only with a deep appreciation for the lessons learned, with no trace of bitterness in his voice. When I asked about his early days posting freestyles on Instagram, as far back as 2011, he reminisced about just wanting to showcase himself online when the app only allowed 15-second videos. Chinko describes himself as a “soft, cool sweetheart,” a stark contrast to the fierce alter ego that emerges in his music.
One unique aspect of his style is the infusion of fake Chinese into his rap, a tactic he used to stand out. “Till today, if you rap in Yoruba and infuse Chinese, you’d be under my shadow,” he said with a hint of pride. His stage name, “Chinko Ekun,” has an interesting backstory. Before adopting this name, he was called Chun Li in secondary school because of his Chinese-like appearance, which eventually evolved into Chinko. Not wanting to lose these identities, he fused them, inspired by his 2013 debut song “Ekun.”
One thing became clear throughout our conversation: Chinko Ekun is fiercely passionate about his craft. He eagerly wants people to hear him rap, considering himself a fierce rapper. Reflecting on the moment he won an award for “Able God,” he felt a deep sense of accomplishment. “I was given that award by one of my icons, Reminisce. I felt fulfilled. It was a moment to make my parents proud,” he said. When I asked if he was able to sleep after receiving the award because I knew I would be bubbling with way too much energy to do so if I was in his shoes, he humorously admitted, “Meeee??? I love my sleep o.” Alright, Chun Li! I guess we do not have that in common.
Chinko Ekun shared a memorable experience at the Headies Awards, where two years before winning, he had wished to be on that stage. “God listens, and it’s good to work,” he remarked, reinforcing his belief in hard work and faith.
We also touched on his “Jaga Jaga” cover, a rendition of Victony’s single that shook the internet. Chinko had much to say about his journey in the industry and the mistakes he’d made, but he mostly laughed about it. He enjoys painting his perspective on every song he listens to, even though he was initially hesitant to record the cover. “I won’t lie, I removed a lot of it…When I was done recording, I sent it to Zlatan. He wanted me to put it out and even offered to send me his video director just so I would shoot the video. I can’t lie, I felt emotional while shooting the video, and when I dropped the cover, Victony had to reach out to make sure I was good,” he recalled. Chinko took pride in owning up to his “B.S.,” as he put it, and hinted that he would speak more on that part of his journey in the future, probably through a body of work.
In 2022, Chinko Ekun released “Indoorstrict,” a project that received mind-blowing comments but strangely didn’t reflect in streaming numbers—a commentary on the consumption of rap in the Nigerian music industry. Reflecting on his over-a-decade-long journey, Chinko has gained a deep understanding of how the industry works. “I know you can paint pictures through your words, and that’s what I did on Indoorstrict. It was a risky dare because a lot of people do not like to own up and talk about what they are going through,” he explained. The project resonated with many, garnering over a thousand covers from people eager to share their own stories.
Chinko’s passion for nurturing emerging talent was evident when he pondered the challenges faced by young rappers in various parts of Nigeria. “To an extent, some of us were able to make a little success and fame via the rap genre, but now that it’s on the lower side, what is the fate of a younger rapper just starting in Benin, Onitsha, Anambra, Ogun State? Do they switch?” he asked, a rhetorical question highlighting the difficult choices faced by upcoming artists. The song was initially six minutes long but had to be shortened—a decision that speaks to the depth of his message.
Gratitude is a recurring theme in Chinko Ekun’s life—gratitude for his talent, which puts food on his table, and for the good people around him. His love and appreciation for God, his family, and his supporters are qualities I greatly admire. Fun fact: despite his fiery stage presence, Chinko Ekun is quite introverted. He candidly discussed the struggles of juggling school and his career as an artist, as well as the things he has seen in the industry.
“The industry is a challenging environment; you just need to know how to navigate it. It’s full of users—I was taken advantage of a couple of times,” he revealed.
As our chat drew to a close, I asked Chinko Ekun how he felt about his journey thus far. “No single regret, only life lessons. I’ve learned, I had to learn the easy and hard way. I feel like I’ve grown,” he said, reflecting on his personal growth. Then, he made a surprising announcement: “I’m moving to the business side of music. It’s been a journey where I’ve been able to own up to my mistakes, and I want to make sure the upcoming ones do not go through the same things.” Chinko Ekun reflected as our conversation drew to a close. It’s this growth that now drives his shift from the spotlight to the business side of music. With a decade of experience under his belt, Chinko is determined to ensure that the next generation of artists doesn’t have to navigate the same pitfalls.
Chinko’s plans for the future are ambitious and exciting. “I’ve taken like two years of my life to understand how the music ecosystem works. I’m on the wave of being able to liaise between every important creative in the music ecosystem and also monetize it,” he explained. A milestone for him is winning a Grammy and bringing up talents that would add to his purpose in life. “Success is not just about making money; it’s about the lives you’ve touched and what people will say about you when you’re gone and even when you’re there.” he shared, his voice brimming with purpose. For Chinko, success isn’t just measured by accolades or wealth, but by the lives he touches along the way.
Chinko Ekun is driven by a desire to help younger artists reach their dreams. His advice is both practical and inspiring: “First, believe in yourself. You have to believe that you can do it; if you doubt, you will see more reasons why you can’t, but if you believe, you will see reasons why you should do it amidst challenges and obstacles. You have to grow and you have to learn, even if it costs you getting mentorship. You need to understand that you will crawl before you walk. Vector once said to me, ‘Most people want the result, not the process, but they fail to remember that you don’t build a house from the ceiling.’” Chinko holds on to this wisdom, a reminder of the power of process.
As he steps into this new phase of his career, Chinko Ekun’s journey is a testament to the power of belief, perseverance, and the willingness to learn from every experience.
Written by Andrea Andy – 16 Aug 2024
A&R Duty, the trailblazing independent A&R platform in Africa, proudly announces its partnership with the remarkable music producer, Joshua Abba Jeremiah, famously known as “Hit sound,” for an audacious Guinness World Record attempt. Together, they will embark on the journey to break the record for the Longest Recording Marathon, an electrifying challenge that will span an incredible 72 hours and feature over 30 artists. This historic event will kickstart on September 21st and culminate on the 23rd, captivating audiences around the globe.
At A&R Duty, we believe in unlocking the full potential of artists and propelling their careers to new heights. As the first independent A&R platform in Africa to hire professional A&R, we constantly strive to redefine industry standards and empower artists with the knowledge and connections they need to succeed. Our partnership with Hit sound is a testament to our commitment to excellence and innovation.
Joshua Abba Jeremiah Professionally known as “Hit sound” is a Nigerian Record Producer, Songwriter, Youtuber & Entrepreneur from Kogi state, Nigeria.
He diversifies in various genres, mainly Afro beats, Dancehall, and Afropop music. Growing up in a music-inclined family, Hit sound began a music career in early secondary school before taking the big step of making a successful music production career while making industry moves. With a successful online music production career, Hit sound has immersed a wide fanbase of thousands over the years on YouTube and popular streaming platforms via his consistent release of Type Beats and Instrumentals with a wide daily increase in following and subscribers. Ranking at a top spot in a new wave of Afrobeat marketing and digital production mastery.
Hit sound’s aspirations extend far beyond personal success. His vision is rooted in recognizing and honoring the immense talent of Nigerian music producers, both established and emerging. This Guinness World Record attempt is not simply about breaking a record; it’s about giving recognition and flowers to these talented individuals, showcasing the power and influence of music in transcending boundaries and fostering collaboration within the industry.
During this record-breaking attempt, Hit sound will orchestrate a continuous recording session, pushing the limits of endurance, creativity, and collaboration. With each artist bringing their unique style to the table, this marathon will not only make musical history but also create an unparalleled sense of unity and camaraderie among musicians.
The current Guinness World Record for the Longest Recording Marathon with multiple artists stands at an impressive 40 hours and 19 minutes. Hit sound Producer aims to surpass this milestone, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to his craft and amplifying the voices of music producers in Nigeria and beyond.
We invite music enthusiasts and supporters of the arts to join Hit sound and A&R Duty on this extraordinary journey. Witness the breaking of barriers, the making of history, and the creation of music that resonates with the soul. As Hit sound embarks on this epic recording session, stay tuned for updates on this ground-breaking endeavor, and be part of the movement shaping the future of the music industry.
For media inquiries and more information, please contact:
Farotimi Damilare
Talent Relation officer
support@aandrduty.com
The A&R awards are the biggest and best in the music industry. Held every year, they are the most prestigious awards ceremony of their kind. Each winning band or artist receives a statue of Alfred Nobel as a result.
Well, that was a bit special. The A&R Awards, MBW’s UK-focused annual awards ceremony in association with Abbey Road Studios, took place yesterday evening (November 8) in central London. As we announced earlier this week, the A&R Icon Award – recognizes a career’s work that has forever changed the face of the music business
You can see a full list of winners from last night’s awards below.
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR – SUPPORTED BY ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR – SUPPORTED BY HIPGNOSIS SONG MANAGEMENT
SONG OF THE YEAR – SUPPORTED BY HIPGNOSIS SONG MANAGEMENT
THE ARTIST TO WATCH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VEVO DSCVR
A&R OF THE YEAR: ADULT CONTEMPORARY
A&R OF THE YEAR: CONTEMPORARY BLACK MUSIC – SUPPORTED BY SPOTIFY
A&R OF THE YEAR: ELECTRONIC/DANCE
A&R OF THE YEAR: POP/R&B – SUPPORTED BY CONCORD
A&R OF THE YEAR: ALTERNATIVE/ROCK – SUPPORTED BY SESSION STUDIO
A&R ADMINISTRATOR (‘THE FORBESIE’) – SUPPORTED BY PPL
MANAGEMENT COMPANY (THE DAVID ENTHOVEN AWARD) – SUPPORTED BY CENTTRIP
MANAGER OF THE YEAR – SUPPORTED BY YOUTUBE SHORTS
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR (1) – SUPPORTED BY MILK & HONEY
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR (2)
INDEPENDENT LABEL
MAJOR LABEL – SUPPORTED BY VOLY MUSIC
THE RICHARD ANTWI: TRAILBLAZER AWARD
THE SIR GEORGE MARTIN AW
THE A&R ICON AW – SUPPORTED BY YOUTUBE MUSIC
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR (2)
INDEPENDENT LABEL
MAJOR LABEL – SUPPORTED BY VOLY MUSIC
THE RICHARD ANTWI: TRAILBLAZER AW
THE SIR GEORGE MARTIN AWARD
THE A&R ICON AWARD – SUPPORTED BY YOUTUBE MUSIC
The A&R awards are the biggest and best in the music industry. Held every year, they are the most prestigious awards ceremony of their kind. Each winning band or artist receives a statue of Alfred Nobel as a result.
Congratulations to all the winners! We’d like to thank the team, who put this event together; our panel of judges for their time, their expertise, and their dedication to the music industry; and of course, all the artists, labels, and recording studios involved. While we didn’t have room to feature every nominee in this piece, we’re already looking forward to next year’s awards ceremony, which will surely be yet another momentous celebration of music and music-making.
The A&R awards are the biggest and best in the music industry. Held every year, they are the most prestigious awards ceremony of their kind. Each winning band or artist receives a statue of Alfred Nobel as a result.
Congratulations to all the winners! We’d like to thank the A&R staff, who put this event together; our panel of judges for their time, their expertise, and their dedication to the music industry; and of course, all the artists, labels, and recording studios involved. While we didn’t have room to feature every nominee in this piece, we’re already looking forward to next year’s awards ceremony, which will surely be yet another momentous celebration of music and music-making.
In the music industry, A&R stands for Artists and Repertoire. An A&R executive is your ultimate guide in approaching someone from the record label. This guide will help you prepare for an A&R meeting and get your music to market.
It’s hard to get noticed when everyone is clamoring to get noticed. There are a lot of artists in the industry and they’re all competing for the attention of A&Rs and music executives. In this article, we’ll go over how to prepare for an A&R meeting so that you stand out amongst the crowd.
A&R stands for “artists and repertoire.” In this case, “repertoire” means your music, the songs you write. A&R is the department at a record label that finds new talent, signs them to the label, and works with them to polish their artistry and release music.
When you meet with an A&R person, they want to hear your best songs the ones that demonstrate what makes you special as an artist. If you’re just starting in your career as a songwriter or musician (or if someone else is pitching on behalf of your band), it’s important to prepare yourself for this meeting ahead of time so that no matter what happens during those first few minutes together (and there will be some inevitable awkward silence), it’ll go smoothly enough that everyone leaves thinking good things about each other and looking forward to working together again soon!
A&R executives are busy people. They have a lot on their plate and aren’t going to waste their time with anyone who doesn’t follow the guidelines for booking a meeting. But if you do manage to get that meeting, then you must know what to expect from an A&R exec and how best to prepare for it.
A good way to think about this is like going on a date. You don’t just show up empty-handed and hope for the best you prep! So before booking any meetings, take some time and make sure your music has been mastered by someone who knows what they’re doing. Then make sure all of your social media accounts are up-to-date and active; including links where they can find more of your work online. And finally, have some great photos taken by professionals at least three months in advance so they will be ready when they need them.
To make the most of your A&R meeting, you should be prepared to discuss how a record deal would help you. You should know precisely what you want from the recording process and how it will benefit your career. For example, if you’re an up-and-coming new artist, perhaps having more creative control over your work will allow for a greater chance at success than releasing an album through an independent label or self-publishing on SoundCloud. Or perhaps staying away from major labels is important because they may hinder your ability to pursue other interests (like touring). If either of these scenarios sounds familiar to you, it might be time for some serious soul-searching about where and how being signed would fit into your plans.
If becoming famous isn’t necessarily one of them (and let’s face it: not everyone wants that), then consider where else this could lead in terms of exposure and publicity many artists who don’t aim for chart-topping hits still find success through touring or licensing their music; these things don’t require any kind of contract with a major record label!
Once again: before meeting with anyone in person about anything related to the music business or entertainment industry careers in general–even if they say they are just interested in helping out to make sure everything feels right!
It’s also likely that you’ll be asked how many followers you have across various social media platforms, and how well your music has been received in the press. The more coverage you can demonstrate, the better. Social media metrics (number of followers across various platforms), press mentions, and streams on various services such as SoundCloud or Spotify are likely to come up.
The best thing you can do to prepare for an A&R meeting is work on your artistry your live performance and recorded music and make yourself a unique presence on social media. You should have a clear idea of where you want to go next in your career and what that would look like. Social media metrics (number of followers across various platforms), press mentions, and number of streams on various services are important factors that A&Rs consider when deciding whether or not to sign an artist.
You can only control how much you are prepared for the meeting; everything else, like the person’s feelings about your music or whether it has potential in the market, is entirely out of your control. This is why it’s so important to be ready for an A&R meeting—your preparation will show that you’re serious about getting signed and will give you something else to discuss with the label representative besides just what they think of your songs.
A&R representatives, or “A&Rs,” are the people who work with artists to help them record their albums, find producers and songwriters, and more. They’re also responsible for signing artists to record deals and creating a marketing plan around their music.
The A&R position can be both rewarding and extremely challenging. To succeed in this role, you’ll need to have an in-depth knowledge of the music industry, as well as an understanding of how to market your artists’ work effectively. A&R reps typically work for labels or management companies that represent artists. Their primary responsibilities include:
Managing artist development: A&R reps are responsible for developing talent from the ground up. This includes everything from finding new artists to coaching them on stage presence and performance skills. A&R reps also work with managers and agents on behalf of their clients to secure gigs, tours, and appearances on television shows or at festivals.
Managing artist contracts: A&R reps negotiate contracts on behalf of their artists with record labels, publishers, and other entities involved in creating an album or single release.
This includes negotiating royalties, advances, and other contractual terms so that they’re fair for both parties involved in an agreement
A&R reps are typically paid a percentage of the artist’s royalties and other income. The exact amount varies depending on the record label, but it’s often between 10% and 25% of the artist’s publishing royalties or revenue from sales or licensing.
For example, if an artist earns $5 million in royalties over the course of their career and the A&R rep gets 15% of that money, they’ll earn $750,000 (15% multiplied by $5 million).
What the A&R Rep Does
The A&R rep is the person who signs and develops new artists, as well as helps them to create their music. The A&R rep has many roles, including finding new talent and signing artists to record contracts with their record label. They also help develop careers for their artists by helping them find producers, songwriters, and other people who can help them make their music sound great.
How an A&R Rep Finds Talent
An A&R rep finds new talent by listening to demos sent in by artists’ managers, By social media platforms, or by going to live shows where they can meet artists and watch them perform. If they hear someone they like, they approach that artist’s manager and try to get a meeting set up with him or her. Once they meet with an artist, they’ll try out different songs on them to see how well they work together musically. If these meetings go well, the A&R rep will sign that artist to a contract with his or her record label.
After a record company signs an artist, it is the A&R rep’s job to help build the artist’s career. The A&R rep often works closely with the artist and his or her manager to develop the artist’s image and music. The rep will also work with radio stations, television shows, and other media outlets to promote the artist and his or her music. In addition, an A&R rep may book concerts for their artists or arrange for them to appear on television shows like American Idol or The Voice.
The A&R rep may also be responsible for selecting songs for an artist that they want to be included on an album. The rep listens to new songs submitted by songwriters and decides which ones are good enough for inclusion on an album. If a songwriter does not submit a song that is good enough for one artist, he may send it along to someone else at the same record label who needs new material for a different artist in their stable of artists.
The A&R rep is the person who finds new artists, develops them, and helps to get their music heard by record labels. The A&R rep will also help to manage the artist’s career once they’re signed.
The job of an A&R rep is not just about finding new music; it’s also about helping the artist grow as a performer and a musician. One of the most important functions of an A&R rep is to find new talent and allow help that artist develop into a successful performer.
In today’s world of music, there are thousands of artists looking for a big break in the business. Many people think that being signed by a major label is all it takes to make it big, but this isn’t necessarily true. Today’s music industry has changed drastically from years past, largely due to technology and social media taking over everything we do online. The internet has brought us closer together than ever before; this includes musicians who are all trying to get noticed by fans all over the world through social media sites like Facebook or Twitter. This has become one of the best ways for musicians to market themselves today because it allows them to reach out to millions of people in just minutes!
The job of an A&R rep is to scout and sign new artists, as well as develop existing artists. A&Rs are also responsible for overseeing the careers of artists they have signed. This includes things like negotiating contracts, making sure that albums are promoted properly, and helping to plan tours.
A&R reps can work for record labels or be self-employed. In either case, they may be involved with several different artists at once. A&R reps typically work with several different genres of music, although some specialize in one type of music (e.g., afro beats, hip hop, R&B, etc).
Senior A&R Executive: Senior A&R executives oversee all aspects of an artist’s career and work under the supervision of the president of the company or label they are working for. They may also have their staff and assistants who carry out various tasks related to signing new artists, developing existing artists and promoting albums and songs on radio stations, television shows, and other types of media outlets that play music videos, such as HIP TV, M TV BASE, etc.
A&R reps are responsible for scouting out new artists and developing them into stars. As you might imagine, it’s a very competitive field with lots of competition from other A&R reps who have similar goals.
So what does an A&R rep do? What do they get paid? And what are the steps to becoming one?
A&R stands for Artist & Repertoire, which means that the person in this position is responsible for finding new talent and then molding them into stars. They’re also responsible for choosing songs and overseeing album production by signing off on budgets, approving artwork, and more.
A&R reps can make a lot of money, but they don’t always. The average salary for an A&R executive is $77,000 per year. If you’re an A&R rep at a major label, your salary may be higher or lower depending on how successful you are at signing artists and getting them recording contracts. If you’re working as an independent A&R rep, like me, your payment will be much higher.
As an independent A&R rep, I charge 6 figures per artist that I sign to my label. That’s the price you’ll pay if you want me to find you a deal with one of the major labels. If I sign an artist directly to my label without going through a major label first, then I charge less. (because it’s easier for me).
Music publishers are the people who handle the songwriting credits and royalties. They act as a liaison between the artist and the record label, ensuring that the songwriter is compensated for his or her work.
The A&R rep often works with music publishers to make sure that they have all of their ducks in order before they send out tracks to labels. This means checking up on things like copyrights, publishing splits, and royalties owed. If you’re an artist who has written songs for other artists, you need to know how much money you can expect to make from them.
A&R reps can help with this by keeping track of royalty splits that were agreed upon in contracts. They also ensure that everyone involved receives their fair share of royalties when they’re due!
The A&R rep is an important member of a record label, who helps to find and develop new artists. They also have other tasks that help the label, such as creating compilations or writing liner notes for albums.
music companies are responsible for the production of albums and singles, the promotion of albums and singles, the marketing of albums and singles, the time scheduling of album recording sessions and singles recording sessions, the correct signing of new artists to contracts that are fair to both parties, and more. It is a difficult responsibility. A&R representatives are also responsible for some of these things as well, but they’re also required to be great listeners–not necessarily good musicians–to be able to tell if an artist or band will be successful on stage and record with their recently signed contract. They must be professional when meeting with the artist and his or her band members during the signing process so trust will be created between the two parties. They must be able to effectively tell when an artist needs help in getting their band’s career off of the ground again by issuing them either a letter or a phone call or by having dinner or drinks with them so that they can better assist them from thereon out toward success. And if you want your artists to not get lost in the shuffle of all of the other bands out there now competing for fame (which is more difficult than ever these days), they need an A&R rep they can trust wholeheartedly.
You are reading this article because you want to change your life. That’s great! I’m here to tell you that it is possible, and becoming an A&R will help you with that. Here are just a few of the ways:
Once you start doing your job, you will never get tired of it. Because every day is different and there is always a new challenge to work on. You will always be learning something new and making progress in your career. This can keep your mind active and engaged throughout the day, which will make time fly by quicker than ever before!
If you’re bored with your current job then this might be what’s causing it:
You’re a part of the team that helps people with their careers. You can help people with their careers in a way that no one else can, and it feels great!
You are important for the success of the company you work for.
You may not think that your job is very important, but it is! You are responsible for finding new talent and helping them succeed in their careers. The A&R person hears songs first, so they have an opportunity to help artists figure out what works best for them with their image and sound. They can also help connect them with producers who will make their music sound better than ever before!
Being a freelancer, you have the freedom to work from home and take time off when you need it. If you don’t like your current job, then quitting is easy because there’s no one looking over your shoulder or keeping track of your hours. You can even travel around the world while still being able to do your job thanks to technology today!
Your salary is great, and it doesn’t stop when you are in retirement.
A&R salary is not tied to your age or performance. As long as you’re working for an A&R company, your salary will be the same regardless of whether or not your team wins a game or how many hours per week you put into the job. This may sound like a dream come true for some people who hate their jobs but can’t quit because they need the money so badly. But what if there was another way? What if I told you there was another way?
If you want to change your life then becoming an A&R is the way to go!
A&R stands for Artists and Repertoire, which means that you are in charge of finding new talent or artists and helping them develop their music careers. You will be working closely with producers, managers, and record labels to make sure everything goes smoothly with each artist’s career. It sounds like a lot of responsibility but it also gives you a lot of freedom in your work and life since there are no strict hours at this job.
The A&r’s Role In The Music Industry And How It Benefits Artists: A blog about the importance of a&r in the music industry and how a&r has helped beginners succeed in the music industry.
The A&R department, or the Artist and Repertoire Department, is a very important part of the music industry, but have you ever noticed it?
This is an article that proves how A&R can help and even benefit artists, I’m going to tell you what it means for someone to be an A&R, and why every artist needs an a&r.
The A&R department is so often overlooked as a part of the music industry. The role of the A&R is to discover, develop, and champion artists and most importantly, to secure recording/publishing contracts for those artists with record labels. Many people think that the recording industry is all about producing albums but the truth is, without amazing songs and artists that can deliver life, there is nothing for anyone to sell.
The A&R is really the internal affairs of the label. Their main job is to pick potential upcoming artists and work with them till they become massive names, both within and outside the music industry. In order for an artist to succeed, they must have a strong relationship with the A&r. A strong partnership between the two of them can be beneficial to both parties.
While streaming services now offer a pretty good income to artists, artists still have to deal with a lot of problems. There is no such thing as free money. Artists are bound by contracts and have to deal with many people who are involved in their careers, many of whom don’t even understand the music which makes the job of understanding and helping them even more challenging for an artist.
The role of A&R in the music industry is one of the most interesting and misunderstood. We’re here to shed some light on what A&Rs do, and how they can help you.
A&R stands for “artists and repertoire,” which is a fancy way of saying that A&Rs find musicians that they believe in, and help them develop their careers. They’re often likened to talent scouts, in that they go out into the world looking for artists with star quality. But that’s really just the start of it!
A&Rs are also responsible for putting together teams that can help an artist achieve their vision. They work collaboratively with their artists to build a plan for their career including everything from recording to marketing to touring. This can be a pretty big job since it includes everything from getting the right producer on board to finding the right photographers for album art.
When an A&R finds an artist or song they like, they present it to the record label’s executives. If the executives approve of the idea, the A&R will then take on a managerial role of sorts for that artist; they’ll help them sign with a producer, negotiate contracts, plan tours and appearances, and resolve conflicts with other labels or artists.
It can be hard to know where to start if you’re trying to get an A&R’s attention—and that’s where we come in! We’re experts at helping emerging artists get themselves noticed by people who can help them develop their careers.
They also work with record labels to ensure that their artists are performing well by comparing their sales numbers to those of similar artists. This can help them determine whether or not a particular tour or appearance has been successful.
A&Rs are typically music lovers who spend their days listening to songs, attending shows, and discovering new music. They network with artists, producers, managers, and other industry professionals to find the best talent for their label.
Working in the music industry is all about networking. You can’t just send your resume to a company and expect them to call you back. Instead, you need to build relationships in order to make your way into the industry.
The job requires an understanding of where music is in terms of development as well as what audiences are looking for, so anyone interested in being an A&R should have a deep knowledge of current trends and know how to analyze data. They should also be able to recognize talent in a variety of different genres.
We did some research on How to get a job as an A&R, the music industry is a welcoming, fun place to be, but it’s also complicated and competitive, and here’s what we came up with.
You’re going to need connections in order to get anywhere in this business. If you don’t have any connections yet, start making them now: follow industry people on social media and engage with their content; attend conferences and events where music people might be; volunteer at local shows and festivals; etc. Get yourself out there so that industry people start recognizing who you are and what you’re capable of.
You won’t get far in music if you don’t know how to look things up online. You should be able to quickly find the names of pretty much anyone relevant in music—artists, producers, labels, executives, etc—and then know how to find information about them and their business practices. For example, if you want to pitch an artist or producer about working with your label, learn as much as you can about them online so that your pitch sounds more informed and less generic.
If you want to get a job as an A&R, you need to do your research and learn how the industry works. Research research research. How do you discover new talent? How does the process work? What does the hierarchy look like? You can do this by reading books about the music business or talking to people who work in the industry.
The best way to get a job in any field is to build relationships with people who work in that field and build your own network of contacts. When you have a network of trusted friends who are working in the music industry, you’ll have someone who can introduce you to potential employers or give you advice on what steps you should take next.
Building relationships with industry professionals is not only helpful for finding out about open positions at labels or management companies, but it’s also good practice for being an A&R in itself because they need strong communication skills.
Sometimes there’s no substitute for doing an internship at a label or management company if possible. This will give you first-hand experience of what it’s like on the inside and help you build up valuable contacts that may lead to jobs later down the line!
Many people do not understand the role of A&Rs in the music industry. Here are some tips on how to be an effective A&R and create a strong relationship with the artist.
Tip 1: Be reliable.
An effective A&R will always be available when they are needed by their artists, whether it is advice that is needed or just someone to listen to them. Always being there for your artists will build trust in your relationship and they will know they can count on you.
Tip 2: Be supportive.
Whether in the studio or at a show, an A&R should provide support to their artist. This support can come in many forms, such as giving feedback on their songs or providing constructive criticism or words of encouragement during a show, but it is all about helping them grow and develop as an artist.
Tip 3: Listen.
One thing that an A&R should always do when working with its artist is to listen. Listening to what the artist has to say about their music and listening for what could make their music better, or even just listening for any ideas that the artist may have for future projects.
A&R managers are gatekeepers to the industry. They find new artists and develop their careers by helping them get record deals and guiding them in their professional development.
The music industry is filled with different departments, roles, and responsibilities. From A&R to talent management to distribution and beyond, it takes a team to create the perfect song.
But some people forget one crucial role: artist and repertoire. A&R is the department that is charged with finding new talent and keeping them on track to succeed. But what exactly does A&R do?
A&R reps work directly with producers, songwriters, managers, and others in the music industry to find new talent for their labels. They also work with artists on the label to develop their careers and make sure they’re on track for success.
While many people still think that A&Rs are just responsible for signing artists, they actually do a lot more than that! For example:
Music is the universal language. It can transcend culture, language, and distance to bring the whole world together. If your dream is to make it big in the music industry, you’re going to need a lot of help to accomplish your goals.
Artists need A&R because they are experts at marketing your music and making sure it gets heard by the right people. They have relationships with radio stations, press outlets, playlist curators, influencers, etc., and know how to maximize your exposure. This is their job—they do it every day! Without an A&R professional on your side, you’re essentially going solo against an entire industry: not smart!
A&R can help you with all of that. The expertise and experience of an A&R representative can point your career in the right direction—and fast.
A good A&R rep will do more than just try to get you a record deal. They’ll also help you manage your career by giving you advice on your songwriting and performances so you can grow as an artist.
Since we started back in 2006, we’ve always made artists our first priority. This new feature helps artists, managers, and indie labels track measurable success on TikTok, and we’re stoked to be able to offer it before anyone else.
“How people are consuming and interacting with music is evolving at such a rapid pace. As a distributor, it’s critical that we move quickly to get this data into the hands of our clients so they can maximize their reach. Our team is laser-focused on delivering value and we’re excited to be the first distributor to offer this level of insight into TikTok data,” says Symphonic VP of Product, Ali Lieberman.
This tool makes it easier for creators to understand the TikTok metrics that really matter and helps maximize the impact of their future TikTok marketing campaigns. Importantly, Symphonic’s proprietary TikTok analytics makes the distinction between views and creations. While view counts get a lot of attention, it is creations that actually drive royalties on the platform.
The new tool delivers comprehensive and easy-to-read metrics on how many videos have been created using an artist’s music as well as how many views, likes, comments, and shares the video generated.
Navigate to this feature by clicking on Analytics -> TikTok
The landing page provides a catalog-level view of performance across the entire catalog on a given date range that you can change. The page is broken down into the following cards:
Activity counts are displayed for Videos and Views. The video count is the metric that generates royalties. Hovering over any bar will show you the detail of a specific day.
Activity counts are displayed for each time the video using your music receives a Favorite, Comment, Share, and Like during the time period selected across your entire catalog.
Each section shows the top 5 entries sorted by Videos (created) in descending order (e.g., the Territory section shows the top 5 countries where videos were created on TikTok using your songs). Click the ‘View All’ button to see more data if available.
Source symphonic distribution
I’ve been a Spotify user for years, and I’m always learning new things about it. The best part of using Spotify is that it’s constantly improving thanks to its algorithms — and you never know what you might discover next! In this article, we’ll discuss how the Spotify algorithm works and how it affects your listening experience on the service. We’ll also explore how you can use your personalization algorithm to improve your Discover Weekly playlists.
The reason why it’s secret is that Spotify does not disclose the algorithm to the public, and it’s constantly changing. The Spotify team updates it whenever they find any flaws or bugs in their system, so you never know what will happen next with your music.
The algorithm is made up of many algorithms working together to deliver you the best possible listening experience. It uses machine learning to improve itself over time.
In addition to your listening habits and social media activity, the algorithm also considers how other users are interacting with your music.
Spotify uses all of these factors to create a personalized experience for each user. This means you might see one kind of playlist in one week and something completely different the next time you log on–but that’s okay! You can always find what you want on Spotify if you know where to look and how best to use their tools (like those featured here).
Spotify’s algorithm is what drives your Discover Weekly playlist.
Discover Weekly uses machine learning to recommend songs to you. It is a personalized playlist that is based on your listening habits, so it can help you find new artists and genres that you might like without having to spend hours searching for them.
There are two kinds of algorithms — personalization and discovery. Yours does both!
Personalization is about making your experience on Spotify better. It’s what makes the app feel like it knows you so that it can recommend music that fits your tastes and moods, or help you find new artists to love. Discovery is about finding new music that you’ll love: whether it’s an album by a band you’ve never heard before or an artist with whom you share friends on Facebook (or both).
The Spotify Algorithm is constantly changing. The way it works is that, as a creator, you want to make sure that your music is being heard by as many people as possible. This means uploading new songs and promoting them through social media channels like Instagram and Twitter. It also means getting your fans involved by sharing links with them so they can listen before they buy!
Once you have all of these things in place, then comes the hard part: waiting for results from the algorithm. While there are no guarantees when it comes to what will happen next (or even if), there are some things we know about how this process works at its core level–and we’d like to share those tips with our readers here today!