Articles & Advice
It
is often said, "If you want to defeat your
enemy, sing his song."
While the relationship between artists and label
representatives isn't
necessarily that adversarial, there is definitely
room for more
communication.
This second A&R roundtable
provides practical insider advice on how musicians
can best present themselves to record labels,
and also gives insights into the way A&R people
work and think: what they're looking for, what
they're not looking for, and their perspective
on where the industry is going.
(If you're looking for weekly insider info and gossip
on these topics, see Hits magazine, or for daily updates, try to get access
to The Velvet Rope at www.velvetrope.com.)
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The participant
BRIAN LONG:
Director of A&R for Geffen Records. Formerly Director
Of Label Operations and A&R for Caroline Records,
founder of Astralwerks Records, also formerly with Rockpool
magazine and SST Records. His current acts include Robbie
Fulks, Pitch Shifter, and Cuckoo.
JOSH SARUBIN: Senior Director of
A&R for Columbia Records. His current acts include
the Presidents Of The United States Of America, Stabbing
Westward, DAG, Sweet Vine and Cry Of Love. (He turned
up a few minutes late, so his silence early in this
conversation is due to that, not shyness or a mouthful
of food.)
JIM WELCH:
Director of A&R for Atlantic Records. Formerly Director
of A&R for Columbia Records, Label Director for
Earache Records, and Label Director for Combat/Relativity
Records. He signed Corrosion Of Conformity and Josh
Wink/Ovum to Columbia, and his current Atlantic projects
include Babel Fish, Pandemonium, and the Road Rash II
video game soundtrack.
JEM ASWAD:
ASCAP Online Editor -- formerly A&R Manager and/or
Product Manager for Caroline Records and Collision Arts
Recordings, former Associate Editor of CMJ New Music
Report, and a freelance writer -- here playing the dual
role of moderator (in italics) and participant.
The discussion which follows took
place in ASCAP's New York office on November 18th,
1997.
TOP
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