A&R Internships & Jobs: Get Hired with These Tips

Ethan Caldwell

Jun 2, 2025

Understanding A&R and Where They Work

Artists and Repertoire (A&R) professionals play a crucial role in the music industry. They are responsible for discovering new talent, overseeing the artistic development of signed artists, and coordinating the recording process. A&R teams work at record labels, music publishers, talent agencies, and even within tech-driven music analytics companies. Their job is a mix of talent scouting, industry networking, and data-driven decision-making to ensure they sign artists with the potential for commercial success.

Some real-life tasks of an A&R professional include reviewing demo submissions, attending live performances, negotiating contracts, managing recording budgets, and keeping up with market trends. With the rise of streaming and social media, A&R has become more digital, relying heavily on music analytics to identify promising artists before they break into the mainstream.

Where to Look for A&R Jobs

If you're looking to start a career in A&R, popular US job portals are a great place to search. Platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn Jobs, Glassdoor, and MusicCareers offer job listings for A&R internships and full-time roles. Additionally, many record labels, such as Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music Group, post job openings directly on their websites.

However, breaking into A&R is highly competitive. Having industry knowledge is not enough—you need to use modern tools to analyze music trends and identify potential talent effectively.

Why Music Analytics Tools Matter for A&R Careers

In today’s digital music landscape, A&R is no longer just about gut feeling. Data-driven insights are essential for discovering the next big artist. Two of the leading music analytics platforms that help A&R professionals find and evaluate talent are Viberate and Chartmetric.

Pricing Comparison

• Viberate: From €19.90 per month, billed annually at €239
• Chartmetric: $1,400 per year or $160 per month

Both platforms offer comprehensive data tools, but their approaches and functionalities differ. Below, we’ll explore how each one supports A&R professionals in discovering new talent.

Viberate: The Fastest Talent Discovery for A&R

Viberate provides A&R teams with real-time, data-driven insights into emerging artists. Its A&R tools allow users to filter and analyze artist performance across multiple platforms, saving time and effort in the talent discovery process.

Use A&R Charts for Quick Talent Discovery

Viberate's unbiased ranking system sorts artists based on their music and social media performance. The Viberate Chart offers an in-depth overview of artist analytics, allowing A&R professionals to see their ranking and engagement across platforms like Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and SoundCloud.

Apply A&R Filters to Pinpoint Artists

Finding the right talent is easy with Viberate’s advanced filtering system. Users can narrow down searches based on genre, country, and performance trends. "HOT" filters highlight trending artists, while additional filters allow users to track breakthroughs in real-time by adjusting rank, fanbase size, and engagement metrics.

Save Your Charts for Future Use

With Viberate, A&R teams can save their customized charts and revisit them anytime under the “Saved Charts” section. This ensures that users stay updated with fresh analytics on their chosen artists.

In-Depth Performance Screening

Once an artist catches your attention, Viberate allows you to analyze their performance metrics in detail. Synthetic indicators like the “Career Health” speedometer and “Career Performance” trajectory give an instant snapshot of their growth and potential.

Create a "Custom View" for Faster Screening

A&R professionals can streamline their workflow by setting up a "Custom View" that prioritizes the most important analytics. This helps them quickly compare and evaluate multiple artists without having to sift through irrelevant data.

Chartmetric: Data-Driven A&R Decision Making

Chartmetric is another powerful tool that provides in-depth analytics for A&R professionals. Its predictive algorithms and data insights help music industry professionals make informed decisions about artist discovery and development.

Overview of Chartmetric's A&R Tools

Chartmetric acts as a filtering system for A&R teams, helping them narrow down a vast pool of artists into a manageable list of potential signings. The platform compiles analytics from various sources to provide a holistic view of an artist’s trajectory.

Predictive Modeling for Emerging Talent

One of Chartmetric’s standout features is its Prediction Model within the A&R Dashboard. This tool forecasts which unsigned artists are likely to gain popularity on Spotify in the coming weeks. For example, if you’re searching for a rock artist in the U.S., the system can predict and filter artists expected to grow in popularity within a specific timeframe.

By setting genre-specific filters, A&R professionals can reduce an overwhelming number of potential artists to a more refined and targeted selection. This predictive modeling saves time and ensures they focus only on high-potential acts.

Conclusion: The Future of A&R is Data-Driven

Breaking into A&R requires more than just passion for music—it demands the right tools to stay ahead in a competitive industry. Platforms like Viberate and Chartmetric offer powerful analytics that help A&R professionals make informed decisions when scouting new talent.

If you’re looking for a job in A&R, mastering these tools can give you a significant advantage. While job portals like LinkedIn and Indeed list available roles, demonstrating proficiency with music analytics platforms will make you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.

By combining industry knowledge with real-time data insights, you can position yourself as a forward-thinking A&R professional ready to sign the next big artist.