Photography: Audrey Damier | @shotby.drey

What's it like to be an A&R, or to get scouted by one? Our first London-based NextGen Community event of 2025, in association with Kobalt and YGN, let young creatives in on everything they needed to know.

Hosted by our NextGen Community Producer, Talia Andrea, and featuring Darryl Parkinson (Senior A&R Manager at Kobalt) and Lunick Bourgess (Managing Director at Umbrella Songs), the panel unpacked everything there is to know about A&R. 

Darryl and Lunick shared their A&R journeys while busting common myths related to the role, and the audience, a mix of artists and budding A&Rs, learned all about the A&R process, from the role's successes and challenges, to some top tips for making their own way into the world of A&R.

After the panel, young creatives had time to network, while enjoying three performances from NextGen Fund artists, simon a., Coupdekat and Maddie Ashman.

Couldn't make it? Find out what you missed...

What Does an A&R Actually Do?

A&Rs (Artists & Repertoire) are responsible for discovering and developing talent. They sign artists, songwriters, and producers, help coordinate songwriting sessions, and ensure their roster gets the best creative opportunities. Their role extends beyond scouting—it involves networking, project management, and guiding artists toward success.

Breaking Into A&R: There’s No Single Path

Both Lunick and Darryl had different routes into A&R, showing that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Whether through blogging, networking, or artist management, getting into A&R is about identifying talent, building relationships, and proving your instincts are valuable.

A Day in the Life of an A&R: More Than Just Going to Gigs

While scouting new talent is part of the job, A&Rs also handle session planning, music licensing, label administration, and pitching songs for opportunities like sync deals. The role requires multitasking and strong organisation skills.

Hard Work Beats Talent if Talent Doesn’t Work Hard

Darryl and Lunick emphasised that consistency is just as important as raw talent. Artists who continuously improve, take feedback, and push themselves are more likely to break through. With 100,000 songs released daily, standing out requires dedication and strategic thinking.

What Not to Do: Avoid These Common Artist Mistakes

Patience is key—rushing into collaborations or deals without building a foundation can backfire. Artists should avoid demanding high-profile features too early in their careers and instead focus on growing their audience organically. Also, never sign contracts without legal advice—having a music lawyer is essential.

As part of our mission to support emerging creatives UK-wide, our NextGen Community Series has headed to Cardiff, Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow, providing networking opportunities as well as opening the doors to some of the music industry's key organisations, such as Meta, KISS FM and Levi's at their offices in London.

Not only have these events given young creatives the chance to connect, but they have also provided knowledge sharing opportunities from trailblazers and industry leaders, sharing tips and tricks about everything from building communities to leveraging social media platforms as an artist.