A&R Jobs: How to Get Hired & Find New Talent Faster

Ethan Caldwell

Sep 5, 2025

What Is A&R and Where Do A&R Professionals Work?

Artists and Repertoire (A&R) is the department within a record label, publishing company, or music management firm responsible for scouting and signing new talent. A&R professionals play a crucial role in shaping an artist’s career, guiding them through recording, marketing, and promotional strategies.

A&R professionals typically work in record labels (both major and independent), music publishing companies, talent agencies, and management firms. Some also work for streaming platforms and music technology companies, where data-driven talent discovery has become essential. Their day-to-day responsibilities include scouting new talent, analyzing music trends, attending live performances, negotiating contracts, and working closely with artists to develop their sound and brand.

Where to Find A&R Jobs?

If you're looking to start a career in A&R, several job portals in the U.S. specialize in music industry opportunities. Some of the most popular platforms to search for A&R jobs include:

• MusicCareers – A niche job board specifically for the music industry.
• Indeed – A widely used platform where major labels and independent companies post openings.
• Glassdoor – Allows you to search for A&R roles while also providing insights into salaries and company reviews.
• LinkedIn – A great resource for networking and finding A&R positions at various music companies.
• EntertainmentCareers.net – Features job postings specifically in entertainment and music.

Why A&R Professionals Need Music Analytics Tools

While passion and an ear for great music are essential for A&R professionals, success in today's industry requires data-driven decision-making. Music analytics tools help A&R teams discover promising new artists, track their growth, and make informed signing decisions. Two of the most powerful A&R tools in the industry are Viberate and Chartmetric.

Before diving into how these tools help A&R professionals, let's compare their pricing:

• Viberate starts at €19.90/month (billed annually at €239).
• Chartmetric costs $1400 per year or $160 per month.

Both tools provide valuable insights, but they take different approaches to talent discovery and analysis.

How Viberate Helps A&R Teams Find the Best Talent

Use A&R Tools for the Fastest Talent Discovery

Viberate provides A&R charts with genre, geolocation, and performance filters, allowing A&R professionals to identify rising talent efficiently. Instead of relying on personal bias, Viberate’s unbiased ranking system evaluates every artist based on their music and social media performance.

Apply Advanced Filters for Precise Talent Scouting

With Viberate’s A&R filters, users can quickly find artists based on location, genre, and fanbase size. The “HOT” filters help identify trending artists, while advanced sorting options allow A&R professionals to focus on specific platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and SoundCloud. The platform’s filtering system makes it easy to track emerging talent before they break into mainstream success.

Save and Track Your Talent Lists

A&R professionals can save their filtered charts for future reference. These saved charts update automatically, ensuring that talent scouts have fresh data every time they return. Additionally, users can follow specific artists, enabling ongoing monitoring of career trajectories.

Deep Performance Analysis

Viberate provides in-depth performance analytics for individual artists. The Career Health speedometer and Career Performance trajectory offer a quick overview of an artist’s momentum. With Custom View dashboards, A&R teams can streamline their scouting process by tailoring data analysis to their needs.

How Chartmetric Supports A&R Teams in Talent Discovery

Data-Driven Talent Discovery

Chartmetric is designed to help A&R professionals identify rising talent through data analytics. Instead of waiting to stumble upon new talent at a live venue, A&R teams can use Chartmetric’s tools to track digital buzz and engagement metrics.

The Prediction Model for Emerging Talent

One of Chartmetric’s most powerful features is its Prediction Model. This tool forecasts an artist’s potential growth on Spotify, helping A&R professionals spot rising talent before they gain widespread recognition.

For example, if an A&R scout is looking for unsigned Rock artists from the U.S., the Prediction Model can generate a list of over 500 artists expected to gain traction in the coming weeks. This list can be further refined by genre and other criteria, narrowing the selection to a manageable number of promising candidates.

Which Music Analytics Tool Is Right for You?

Both Viberate and Chartmetric offer powerful A&R tools, but the choice depends on your needs:

• Viberate is an excellent option for those looking for a cost-effective solution with real-time A&R charts, genre-based filters, and social media performance tracking.
• Chartmetric is ideal for A&R teams who want predictive modeling and deep data analysis, but it comes at a higher price point.

Final Thoughts

Landing a job in A&R requires a mix of industry knowledge, networking, and data-driven decision-making. While job portals like Indeed and LinkedIn can help you find openings, using music analytics tools like Viberate and Chartmetric will give you a competitive edge in scouting and developing new talent. By mastering these tools, you increase your chances of not only landing an A&R job but excelling in it.