The music business has gone through a technological shift as all businesses have. The Los Angeles Times profiled Hollywoods Musicians Institute that teaches students the new role of A&R.
A&R execs were in charge of discovering and signing talent and typically would spend their time scouring nightclubs and sifting through demos hoping to find the next big thing. A&R professionals would also spend time nurturing an act by pairing them with fitting producers and serve as liaisons with other divisions of the record company which are now carried out by independent consultants or the musicians themselves.
“There’s been a massive shift in A&R,” added Jeff Blue, the newest member of the institute’s A&R staff. “It’s evolving — and devolving — and more and more artists have to be their own record label.”
Today, major music labels do not have the time nor money to develop an act for any period of time.
“Instead of partnering singers, instrumentalists or composers with producers, they might pair them up with a music supervisor working on a popular television series or a video game franchise, media that have become great ways to break artists.”
Also, many of the old principles still apply, even though technology has changed how we go about business.
“It’s not impossible, of course, but Blue and the others note that, despite evolving technological ways for artists to connect with fans, it’s still true that the best way to get a gold record is to shake 500,000 hands through touring and personal appearances. And no amount of live Web chats or Facebook activity will substitute for good old songwriting skills.”
The bottome line – artists today must understand that they play the most important role in their success. The Beatles, Metallica, and all those game changer acts also were responsible for their fame and fortune. Sure, those acts eventually had major music labels supporting and marketing their efforts, but it was only after they proved themselves by writing great songs, performing shows and turning heads.
“Today, major music labels do not have the time nor money to develop an act for any period of time.”
No time to develop an act? There’s part of the problem and pisses me off to no end….
I said this very same thing in an interview I did last year. The days of development are over. Sorry Scott
But look at the bright side…all of this technology has made it so easy to do everything without a label…granted, not to same quality level, but it’s a starting point. Personally, have no interest in waiting around to be signed. Screw that! I make music b/c I love music. And digital stores have given every artist a platform to sell their music and merchandise. I just look at record labels as massive marketing machines. You do what you can on your own, and maybe, they will invest in your talent and get it out there to the mainstream. That is the current role of labels. I’m not mad b/c A&R’s don’t develop/babysit anymore. Now, they can focus on other things…like making you money 
Jessica, I see what you are talking about and agree on most points… however, the issue goes deeper. A&R expect a “Van Halen”-millions-of-records money machine to be plopped on their doorsteps. Or a Guns N Roses, etc… They’re pining for the days when bands did world tours, in arenas, sold out, etc. What they don’t realize is that all of those bands were so damn rough around the edges when they started out, they were molded with artist development by the labels into these monster bands (And if they do realize that, well, now it’s just sheer laziness). If they want something that insanely HUGE, they have to work at it…band AND label. it’s not just going to get dropped onto their doorstep, as “they don’t have time for artist development.” Really?? I just don’t want to hear them bitch that there’s nothing big out there.
As for wanting to get signed, it’s not the end-all/be-all, and people need to realize that. I think more and more people are coming around to that notion each day. (Thank God) But, the most attractive thing about being signed as an artist is the financial backing that a label can provide to it’s artists, and that’s what I think primarily attracts people to trying to get signed.
Scott –
Artist development really never worked that way. Artist Development just really meant having some extra pile of cash laying around and the band had an opportunity to stick around longer on the label despite poor album sales.
Van Halen and Guns n Roses were never molded. Do you really think David Lee Roth and Axl Rose sat in a classroom being told how to be rock stars and were instructed to hold the mic? Of course not.
True Artist development really involved younger actors, models, and singers who were signed but didn’t have the skills to be a true entertainer ala The American Idol candidates.
Each American Idol contestant gets a crash course on stage performance, media skills, engaging the audience, holding a mic, song selection, etc. That is artist development. Don’t get confused with artist development and a company having piles of cash for marketing.
Well said KOAR. Basically, the way I see it is that less development = fewer Britneys. And…I’m okay with that
No offense to Brit, but one is enough 
Dean,
Come on, I know that there was never a classroom where DLR and Axl sat down and learned how to rock. That’s just insulting; give me some credit. (Also, it’s obvious that you’ve NEVER heard the pre-label Van Halen bootlegs from backyard bbq’s… look ‘em up and then try to tell me that there was never any molding going on…)
It’s the label’s/artist’s job (hand-in-hand) to take it to the next level — to put the polish on it. Yes if an album didn’t do well, they’d throw money at the band to build them up into something that could sell more. Now, whether the label actually USED that pile of cash to better the band, that’s a different story and a corporate-workflow issue… There is nothing wrong with taking an exisiting product and helping define it a little more, and tweak it out. That falls under artist development.
The extreme range of “telling people how to hold a mic” to “how to talk to the press” is all part of development, sure. Obviously if the person knows how to rock, then they don’t need to be told how hold a mic or tune their guitar. But maybe they do need some pointers on how to talk with press, radio stations, etc. (to help sell themselves/records more…how do labels NOT have time for that!?!?). Producers working with bands is part of artist development. The potential is seen and worked up to higher levels. If the person doesn’t know how to hold a mic or tune a guitar, then they really shouldn’t be on a label to begin with. That’s just insane. Get some more experience, then we’ll talk….
American Idol? That is a slightly different situation. You’re pulling from the masses; some contestants who have only sung in front their camcorder on YouTube or on Rockband, others, are professional (professional–meaning they get paid for their work, i.e. working band/singer). Any artist that has gone on to do bigger things during/after the show I guarantee knew how to hold a mic before stepping foot onto that stage. Prove me otherwise on this and I stand corrected.
The degree of development needed (or not) varies from artist to artist.