Discussion: A&R Game

trainsskyscrapers

Hey guys! Hopefully Everybody knows what an A&R Does/Is. (If not, an A&R is the person on the label that chooses whether the tracks being passed in by producers are on the right track/in the right direction/have the right vibe/match the theme for the future album.

Let's pretend that we are the A&R for our favourite artist on their record label, and they're planning the release of an album in the near future.

Plan the name, theme, and use the tracks of other artists as a guide.

For example:

Artist: BEYONCE
Label: Parkwood/Columbia
Theme: Global Music/Tribal Influences/Anthemic
Producers: Diplo/Ryan Tedder/The-Dream/Red Triangle/Hit-Boy/Sia/Boots

Tracklisting:

1. Opening Track (Fight On - Cheryl Cole)
(The Lion King-esque vocals at the beginning alone make me love this song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bPqHmUqwUo

2. Hardly Breathing - Brandy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWyOFz0V7PI

(3-9 - Tracks From Fela Kuti , Michael Jackson, Frank Ocean, etc. )

10. Put It in A Love Song - Alicia Keys (This time all Beyoncé with AMAZING harmonies)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8afv17Ff0_8

11. Feel Again - OneRepublic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz1wRwD3eYM

12. Power - Kanye West (Bey Singing and Rapping to a much longer track with an almost acapella bridge and a breakdown)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouwCWDbBskU

13. Masterpiece (Mona Lisa) - Jazmine Sullivan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XifZ2-LDYJc

Bonus Track: Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart - Alicia Keys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZULyhfQmCg

Bonus Track 2: Crazy Girl - Rita Ora
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwdlz6D10Jo

Good Luck! I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

trainsskyscrapers

Artist: RIHANNA
Label: Roc Nation/Island Def Jam
Album Theme: Ice-Arctic/Minimalist
Producers: StarGate/Ester Dean/Dr. Luke/Max Martin/Cirkut/Afrojack/Diplo/Planet VI/Rock City

Tracks:

Ice Princess - Azealia Banks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9paz88pkmk

Happiness - Alexis Jordan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26jKtELitQE

Pills N' Potions - Nicki Minaj
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7ld-3nZUxA

The Crying Game - Nicki Minaj (Feat. Jessie Ware)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9qWbOJhMSA

Best Mistake - Ariana Grande
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21G5SJrQu_E

Bonus Track: Count Contessa - Azealia Banks

BadHabits

Artist: Rihanna
Label: Roc Nation/Island Def Jam
Album Theme: (Rihanna's own Thriller / Teenage Dream - full of hits) Love, Sex, Relationships, Self-Destruction, Partying
Genre: Pop, Pop-R&B
Producers: StarGate, Diplo, Jeff Bhasker, MikeWill, etc)

(Songs in no particular order)

1. Chandlier - Sia
2. Big Girls Cry - Sia
3. Elastic Heart - Sia
4. We Can't Stop - Miley
5. Wrecking Ball - Miley
6. Come And Get It - Selena
7. Do It Like A Dude - Jessie J
8. Problem - Natalia Kills
9. Mirrors - Natalia Kills
10. Do What You Want - Lady Gaga
11. All My Love - Ariana Grande
12. Love Me Harder - Ariana Grande
13. I Need A Doctor (part.2 feat. Eminem) - Dr. Dre, Eminem, Skylar

trainsskyscrapers

Artist: USHER
Label : RCA
Album Theme: Retro/Modern Grooves
Genre: Jazz/RnB/Blues/Soul/Pop/Dubstep/Synth/Funk
Producers: Diplo/Skrillex/Pharrell/Max Martin//Rico Love/Pop&Oak/Kanye West/Robin Thicke/Rich Harrison
Features: Beyoncé/Alicia Keys/John Legend/Sam Smith

(Songs)

1. Suit & Tie - Justin Timberlake
2. Won't Make A Fool Out Of You - Marcus Canty
3. Let The Groove Get In - Justin Timberlake
4. Schoolin Life - Beyoncé
5. Creole - Beyoncé
6. Collard Greens & Cornbread - Fantasia
7. Get Her Back - Robin Thicke
8. Wanna Be Startin Somethin - Michael Jackson
9. Superstition - Stevie Wonder
10. Somebody Else (Feat. Nicki Minaj) - Mario
11. One In A Million - NeYo
12. VSOP - K. Michelle
13. Something About the Night - K. Michelle
14. Stop The Clock - Elle Varner

Bonus:
Hey Ya (Acoustic Cover) - Rita Ora