Must Read: 5 ways to Get A&R Attention

HOW TO GET A&R ATTENTION

Getting the attention of an A&R can be difficult, but there are some things you can do to increase your chances of being seen by one. An A&R is responsible for signing new artists and developing careers. Not only does this person see potential in your work, but he or she can also provide feedback on how your music will fit best in the high-profile industry it was created for.

1. BUILD YOUR BRAND

In today’s music industry, branding can play more of a role in an artist’s success than the music they create. Artists are not merely selling their music; they’re selling an image, an experience, and a message which defines them.

An artist is defined by their brand. People will remember the name of an established musician or artist much more than a person with no brands at all. You need to build your brand to get A&R (artists and repertoire) attention. This post will help you do just that!

2. BUILD YOUR FAN BASE

A&R reps take more interest in an artist with a strong fan base. Expand your fan base by:

• Developing a social media presence is one of the best ways to promote your music, expand your fan base and engage with fans.
• Getting your music featured on Spotify playlists isn’t easy. To get listened to, you need to create great music that already has an amazing following. And let’s face it — promoting through Spotify isn’t exactly cheap. But one of the best things about scoring a spot on their playlists is that it can help expose you to a massive audience of new fans.
• The first step to gaining exposure and establishing credibility is getting your music featured on a popular music blog. When you are featured on a music blog, your music will receive more plays, views and downloads. This will impact your brand as well as your sales because there are millions of blogs that link back to each other. Allowing this ecosystem to work is important because it ensures visibility and legitimacy for all artists in the process.
• Playing lots of shows is a great way to build your brand and increase awareness. While streaming music has become more prevalent, live performances are still crucial for building brand recognition. And it’s even better if you manage some of those gigs yourself.
• Email marketing and social media are powerful promotional tools for musicians. Email alone can generate significant attention, leads, and sales – what many consider to be the most cost-effective form of promotion. However, like any tool in your promotional arsenal, email has its strengths and weaknesses – so it’s crucial you know how to use it effectively!
• Building your brand through video content is not a new idea. Yet it is not as common as it should be today thanks to our tools and technology, which make creating and sharing highly engaging content more accessible than ever before. For example, YouTube has become a must-use media platform for musicians seeking to gain exposure. Video is an effective medium for music promotion — it tells a story, can retain attention and can be shared on multiple platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to name just a few.

Having an established brand can give you an edge over other brands and producers. The more momentum and excitement you can build around your brand, the more likely an A&R will take notice.

3. NETWORK AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

Building relationships and networking in the music industry is always helpful. Boost your chances of getting noticed by making connections. Get out and connect with people, regardless of their status. Try to meet other artists, producers, DJs, publicists, booking agents, label staff, fans, and anyone else in the music scene. These connections could lead to opportunities. But you must be professional and approach them in a way that makes you seem like a businessperson.

4. GET DISCOVERED ON MUSIC DISCOVERY WEBSITES

Music discovery websites make it easier to capture new fans, discover new music, and more. Many connect you with the right people and services to help you advance your career in the music industry… They serve a valuable role in assisting independent musicians with industries for promotion, sales, and engagement. But which sites are best? Here’s a list of my top 4 favourite music discovery websites: SubmitHub, Pitchfork, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and ReverbNation

5. APPLY MARKETING STRATEGIES

Marketing and promotional strategies are essential in increasing outreach and getting your music heard. An effective marketing campaign will help you increase exposure, establish credibility, and open new opportunities. There are several excellent ways to promote your music and reach new audiences. Do some research on public relations and marketing strategies for musicians. Here is a description of the five most effective strategies you can use:

6. Build the right team

The best way to build and maintain a large, successful music career is to surround yourself with people who are just as passionate about your music as you are. You may not believe it at first, but there are many pieces to the puzzle when it comes to building this foundation. There’s management (with representation), publicists, agents, and attorneys. Each of these groups has relationships with label A&R reps — meaning if you’ve already got someone representing you — then all these people have some sort of pull in the form of following-up phone calls, emails, and future discussions/parties that could help move your career forward.

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